Consumers spent frugally for a fourth straight month in September, giving major retailers only modest gains during the critical back-to-school season.


Investing With Borrowed Dimes

Only invest on margin if you know what you're doing -- and maybe not even then.


Flu Vaccine Failure Spotlights Faulty System

By PAUL ELIAS     SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The crisis in the nation's flu vaccine supply has led to renewed calls to modernize a half-century-old manufacturing system that relies on millions of chicken eggs and a lot of educated guesswork.    Because it takes at least six months to produce the annual flu vaccine, no manufacturer can replace the 46 million shots Chiron Corp...


Israeli Military Kills Three Palestinians in Gaza

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops killed two Palestinian  teenagers and a gunman in the Gaza Strip on Thursday as the  Israeli army pressed ahead with its biggest and bloodiest  offensive in Gaza for four years.


Oil Prices Again Hit Record Highs in US

Oil prices have hit record highs in the United States for the third straight day in early trading Thursday, amid continuing concerns about the supply of crude oil.


EU warns of evidence against harmful US aerospace subsidies

The European Union warned the US ambassador to the WTO Thursday that the EU had abundant proof that US aerospace subsidies are harming European competitors by undercutting prices and causing them to lose markets.


ECB keeps rates steady despite surging oil prices

BRUSSELS - European Central Bank left its key interest rate at a post-war low of two percent Thursday with ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet playing down worries about weakening economic growth but warning about the risks posed by surging oil prices.


Interest rate is held at 4.75

Interest rates have been kept at 4.75 amid signs that five rises over the last year had finally put the brakes on house prices and consumer spending.


Bombardier Aerospace to cut 2,000 jobs

Bombardier Aerospace said on Thursday it will cut about 2,000 jobs at its Montreal-area and Belfast operations and the severance costs linked to the layoffs will affect current year results.


Costco profit beats forecast

Wholesale retailer shares jump on news profit beat expectations by 4 cents a share, sales up 11. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Costco Wholesale Corp.


ATI Technologies 4th-Qtr Profit Doubles as Sales Rise (Update2)

ATI Technologies Inc., the world #39;s second-biggest maker of computer-graphics chips, said fourth- quarter profit more than doubled, helped by sales of graphics- enhanced cell phones and high-definition televisions.


Stronger provisions

NEWS Corporation has agreed to retain its full foreign listing on the Australian Stock Exchange if shareholders approve the company #39;s proposal to shift to the US.


Update 1: Clorox, Henkel in \$2.8 Billion Deal

Clorox Co. and Henkel KGaA have agreed to a \$2.8 billion stock swap and cash deal, in which Henkel will sell back its 29 percent ownership stake in Clorox in return for \$2.


Wal-Mart September Sales Up 10.8 Percent

Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday that its net sales grew 10.8 percent in September, helped by a boost from its international division and strong sales at Wal-Mart locations.


Russia Could Finish Kyoto Approval by Year-End

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia could ratify the Kyoto Protocol  by the end of the year and kick-start global attempts to  control climate change, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov  said on Thursday.


Crewman Critical as Canadian Sub Still Adrift

DUBLIN (Reuters) - A crewman rescued from a fire-damaged  Canadian submarine adrift in the Atlantic was moved to  intensive care in hospital on Thursday as his condition  worsened.


Crew face third night on fire sub

The crew of a Canadian submarine drifting off the west coast of Ireland face another night at sea as rescue efforts continue.


Pope replaces sex scandal bishop

Pope John Paul II accepts the resignation of an Austrian bishop over a porn scandal at a seminary in his diocese.


UN warns of 'growing Gaza crisis'

A group of 12 United Nations agencies warn of an impending humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.


Stocks Slip on Oil, Soggy Sept. Sales

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday,  pressured by record oil prices, disappointing September sales  from retailers and a drop in drug stocks.


EU-US Plane Fight May Turn to Peace Deal

GENEVA (Reuters) - Washington and Brussels may have gone  for their guns in a fight over plane subsidies, firing off huge  tit-for-tat cases at the World Trade Organization (WTO), but  analysts say a peaceful deal may yet be done.


Google Print: The Next Big Thing

NEW YORK - Yesterday, Howard Stern--who loudly claims to dominate media, but has rarely, if ever, added one iota to the sum of human knowledge--made waves by announcing he will move his act to another media.


Music piracy: What should be done?

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is to take legal action against people who download music illegally from the internet. The organisation has said it will target individuals who make music available


VoIP Gains Ground With Bank Of America Deal

The largest voice-over-IP business deployment revealed to date presents new opportunities, for both the bank that #39;s using it and the services provider that #39;s implementing it.


Gilchrist #39;s follow-on fears

AUSTRALIAN captain Adam Gilchrist admitted today he was spooked by the prospect of enforcing the follow-on because of Steve Waugh #39;s fateful attempt during the Calcutta Test of 2001.


A-Rod becomes a Yankee

No matter how good or bad of a year Alex Rodriguez had this season in New York, his first year in pinstripes would ultimately be judged on how he performed in October.


Hawks face curse of byes

KIRKLAND - Bye weeks provide NFL teams a welcome reprieve from the rigors of a 16-game season. For the Seahawks under coach Mike Holmgren, the down week has carried another meaning.


Woodgate suffers further injury setback

Real Madrid centre-back Jonathan Woodgate had to retire from a practice match on Thursday after suffering a recurrence of his thigh muscle injury.


Grover #39;s making name with mane

a huge mass of unruly brown locks perched upon his head that forced him to go up a helmet size -- or Purdue #39;s 4-0 start that has gotten him a little notoriety on campus.


Sosa reportedly fined \$87,400

The Chicago Cubs are not ignoring the fact that Sammy Sosa arrived late to last Sunday #39;s season finale, and then left early. The club announced Wednesday the slugger will be fined a day #39;s pay - or \$87,400, according to the Chicago Tribune.


German Press Review: A Long Way for Ankara

German newspapers on Thursday commented on Turkey coming a step closer to fulfilling a 40 year old dream after the European Commission recommended that the EU begin membership talks with Ankara.


Blair Calls for EU Reaction Force for Africa Clashes (Update3)

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called for the European Union to develop the capability by next year to deploy troops to Africa within 10 days as part of plans to fight poverty, disease and war in the region.


Time for the UN to act on Irans nuclear program

There is substantial evidence that Iran is developing a capability to manufacture nuclear weapons while claiming that it is only for peaceful power-generating purposes.


The choice: how the contenders shape up

Mark Latham #39;s central pledge is to restore the rungs to his metaphorical  quot;ladder of opportunity quot; by giving tax relief and incentive to lower and middle-income earners, restoring bulk-billing levels, making schools funding fairer and based on need and


Libya Deported 1,000 Egyptian Migrants from Italy

Libya said today it had deported 1,000 Egyptian migrants back home after their controversial expulsion from Italy. Italy airlifted illegal immigrants to Libya this week in a bid to deter would-be asylum seekers


UN Peacekeepers, Haitian Police Arrest 75 in Sweep

UN peacekeepers and Haitian police say 75 people have been arrested during a sweep aimed at curtailing violence in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.


Defense keeps San Diego in charge

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers' long nightmare is coming to an end. And if the Chargers do go on and break their eight-year playoff drought, they can thank their anonymous defense.


Sirius and Stern

There is more to Howard Stern's migration to satellite radio than meets the FM dial's eye.


A Dazed and Confused America

Many of us are bewildered by common documents -- with dangerous results.


Bank of America to cut 4,500 jobs beginning this month

CHARLOTTE, NC - Bank of America said Thursday it will cut about 4,500 jobs beginning this month as a result of its merger with FleetBoston Financial Corp.


Global strength repels oil surge

Oil prices keep climbing but for the moment the economists are sticking to the line that the global and Australian economies will weather the storm.


Bank keeps interest rates on hold

THE Bank of England #39;s monetary policy committee kept Britain #39;s 11m homebuyers, businesses and the City happy today when it left interest rates on hold at 4.75 for the second month in a row.


Retailers report modest gains in September

Consumers spent frugally for a fourth straight month during September, giving major retailers modest gains during the critical back-to-school season.


BUTTON PLEADS FOR SILVERSTONE FUTURE

Jenson Button today issued a passionate defence of Silverstone, insisting it would be  quot;devastating quot; if the British Grand Prix was axed.


Nalbandian loses at Japan Open

Second-seeded David Nalbandian of Argentina lost at the Japan Open on Thursday, beaten by Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 in the third round.


Zenit Eyes Lazio, Newcastle in Draw

Zenit St. Petersburg faces the daunting prospect of being picked to play against Lazio, Newcastle United or Feyenoord in Tuesday #39;s draw for the inaugural group stage of the UEFA Cup.


Hill out for nine months

London - Richard Hill, a key member of the long-established England World Cup-winning back row, will be out of action for up to nine months after knee surgery.


In Pakistan, 2 bombings kill dozens at Sunni rally

MULTAN, Pakistan Two bombs planted in a car and motorcycle exploded at a gathering of Sunni Muslim radicals in central Pakistan before dawn Thursday, killing at least 39 people and wounding about 100 others in what police suspected was a sectarian attack.


UN to investigate terrorist link

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has dispatched a team to Jerusalem to look into allegations that a UN ambulance driver was filmed putting a Qassam rocket into his vehicle.


Investors back News revisions

THE News Corporation Ltd has won the battle to gain local support for its move to the US after unveiling far-reaching concessions on corporate governance.


Stocks Fall on Climbing Oil Prices

A disappointing retail sales report and the threat of oil prices reaching \$53 per barrel sent stocks lower Thursday in early trading.


Unisys to lay off 1,400 workers worldwide

Unisys Corp. plans to cut 1,400 jobs, primarily in general and administrative areas, and consolidate its office space worldwide, it announced Wednesday.


Bombardier to Cut 2,000 Aircraft Jobs on Weak Demand (Update1)

Bombardier Inc., the world #39;s third- biggest maker of commercial airplanes, said it will reduce production of its regional jets because of weak demand and cut about 2,000 jobs.


Taiwan Semi sales dip

TSMC, the world #39;s largest contract chip maker, said Thursday its sales fell in September for the first time in 7 months and warned they could continue to drop as demand falters amid a broad industry slowdown.


Racing: Consortium claims it has agreed terms to keep Silverstone <b>...</b>

LONDON : A consortium, including former world champion Nigel Mansell, claims it has agreed terms to ensure Silverstone remains one of the venues for the 2005 Formula One world championship.


Hewitt survives at Japan Open, Sharapova advances

Top seed Lleyton Hewitt was pushed to three sets by a Japanese player for the second day in a row at the \$860,000 Japan Open on Thursday.


Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

com. Orlando Cabrera has already figured out how to part the Red Sea. With a three-run double in the top of the ninth, Cabrera sent waves of red-clad Angels fans to the exits.


Newcastle #39;s profits fall

Newcastle United #39;s profits for the year ending July 31 dropped more than three million pounds (\$6.7 million Cdn) from the year before, the Premier League club said Thursday.


Clorox Helps German Soap Maker Buy Dial

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Henkel, the German soaps and  adhesives group, has shed its 29 percent stake in Clorox,  raising \$2.84 billion to pay for its purchase of U.S.  detergents and cosmetics maker Dial Corp.


Bengals finish strong

BALTIMORE -- First, Carson Palmer tossed the ball all over the field during his finest day in the NFL.


ATI Technologies boosts outlook after Q4 profit almost triples to <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Graphics chip maker ATI Technologies Inc. is boosting its outlook well above analysts #39; estimates after a strong fiscal fourth quarter in which profit almost tripled and revenue soared 50 per cent.


Partners said to support Lazard IPO

Memo says offering has support, muting talk that some fear IPO will give bank head too much power. LONDON (Reuters) - Head of Lazard Bruce Wasserstein has  quot;near unanimous support quot; from the working partners


Google Launches Google Print

Researching things on the web is an essential part of everyday business - but too often books and other printed sources get left behind.


459 sued for file-sharing in Europe, 28 in the UK

The European music industry today announced a major crackdown against file-sharing, the practice of sharing copyrighted songs over the internet using networks like Kazaa, with the filing of 459 suits against file-swappers, 28 of whom are British.


New Palm Handheld Features More Memory, No Wi-Fi

The T5 is a slim and shiny business device that looks like a stretched-out T3 (3.1 quot; x 4.8 quot; x 0.6 quot; HWD, 5.1 oz), minus the slider design.


VoIP Gains Ground With Bank of America Deal

The largest Voice-over-IP business deployment revealed to date presents new opportunities for both the bank that #39;s using it and the services provider that #39;s implementing it.


Woods scuba dives amid wedding reports

Golfer Tiger Woods went scuba diving Tuesday off a yacht reported to hold Swedish fiance Elin Nordegren and guests, while Barbados #39; ritziest resort, Sandy Lane Hotel and Golf Club, prepared pagodas for a lavish celebration overlooking the Caribbean Sea.


Bank mulls rival proposal for Manchester United

The head of a British boutique investment bank, Seymour Pierce, is considering a financial restructuring of Manchester United as a possible rival proposal to a planned takeover by US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer.


Bank of America Cutting 4,500 Jobs in Reorganization (Update3)

Bank of America Corp., the third- biggest US bank, will cut 4,500 jobs in addition to the 12,500 positions it will eliminate as part of the purchase of FleetBoston Financial Corp.


EU Confident In Aircraft Subsidy Dispute With US

The European Union voiced confidence on Thursday that it could win its case against the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over state aid for aircraft rivals Boeing and Airbus.


Eurozone rates on hold again

The European Central Bank has left interest rates in the eurozone unnchanged for the sixteenth consecutive month. Despite a slowdown in the 12-nation zone, the bankers today (Thursday) decided not to adjust the rate of 2.


Bombardier Aerospace cutting 2,000 jobs in Montreal, Belfast; more <b>...</b>

MONTREAL (CP) - Bombardier Aerospace is cutting about 2,000 jobs - including 1,440 in the Montreal area - because of slowing demand for its Canadair Regional Jets.


Another son of Mondavi quits at the winemaker

OAKVILLE, California A second Mondavi is loosening ties to the California winemaking company Robert Mondavi, which plans to divest its high-end wine assets.


Novell Packs More Power In New Desktop Release

Novell today announced the November availability of SuSE Linux Professional 9.2, targeted at both unfamiliar users and open source enthusiasts, and compatible with standard 32-bit PC processors as well as AMD Athlon 64 and Intel Extended Memory 64


Music Industry Group Launches Piracy Suits (AP)

AP - An international music industry group said Thursday hundreds of lawsuits were being filed across Europe accusing people of piracy for illegally sharing music on the Internet.


Star-Power Surge for Satellite Radio (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Shock jock Howard Stern's decision to jump ship from traditional radio gives a boost to the emerging technology of blasting tunes, news and other staples of AM and FM radio via satellite.


Mount St. Helens Calms Down, Scientists Lower Alert (Reuters)

Reuters - Government scientists said that\volcanic activity on Washington state's Mount St. Helens had\started to taper off and downgraded their safety warning on\Wednesday, following nearly two weeks of seismic activity and\steam eruptions.


Digital radio sales 13m 'by 2008'

Thirteen million digital radios will be sold in the UK by the end of 2008, industry body DRDB predicts.


Dillon needed 1 to get 2

CLEVELAND -- In Corey Dillon's postgame interview with the media yesterday, the running back indicated he hurt his leg after he had gained 98 yards in the first half, but he wanted to go back in for 2 more yards and his seventh 100-yard game this season.


More than 53,000 Nigerians killed in three years of ethnic strife (AFP)

AFP - Three years of fighting between rival Christian and Muslim ethnic groups in the central Nigerian state of Plateau has claimed 53,787 lives, a third of them children, the state administration said.


Minority Liberals to oppose Bloc amendment, put government on line (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Paul Martin's minority government is set to put its political life on the line Thursday by opposing a Bloc Quebecois amendment to the throne speech.


Bush, Kerry have similar postwar strategies (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - President Bush says U.S. forces will stay in Iraq as long as necessary but no longer. John Kerry says he wants to bring U.S. troops home but will not "cut and run" before the country is stable. Despite differences over how the United States went to war, either man as president would pursue a similar strategy now, their campaign statements show.


Big Changes Likely in Bush Cabinet if He Wins (Reuters)

Reuters - If President Bush defeats Democrat\John Kerry on Nov. 2, Republicans expect many new faces in a\second-term Bush Cabinet.


Afghans Say Trouble Inevitable But Won't Stop Vote

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai vowed on  Thursday that a historic presidential election would be  successfully held this weekend and reflect the people's wishes  despite inevitable sabotage attempts by Taliban fighters.


Parents Mull Flu Vaccines Amid Shortage

DENVER - While officials across the nation are urging healthy adults and schoolchildren to skip their annual flu shot, parents are mulling their options. The news that British regulators have shut down a major flu-shot supplier carries particular concern in Colorado, which was the epicenter of last year's flu season with 12,885 reported cases and the deaths of 12 children...


U.S. Raises Alert in Baghdad's Green Zone

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two American soldiers were killed and two others were wounded in separate attacks involving roadside bombs, U.S. officials said Thursday, and 20 Iraqis were arrested in the north in operations against those suspected of planting explosives...


Bank of America reveals plans to lay off 4,500

Bank of America said Thursday it will layoff 4,500 employees as part of the companys ongoing integration of FleetBoston Financial.


News deal paves way for move

GLOBAL media giant News Corp succumbed to intense institutional pressure yesterday and agreed to retain its full foreign listing on the Australian Stock Exchange if shareholders approved the company #39;s proposal to shift to the United States.


Clorox Helps German Soap Maker Buy Dial

Henkel, the German soaps and adhesives group, has shed its 29 percent stake in Clorox, raising \$2.84 billion to pay for its purchase of US detergents and cosmetics maker Dial Corp.


Nintendo Says 12 DS Games to Debut in Japan

Japan #39;s Nintendo Co. Ltd. said on Thursday it will make available 12 software titles for its new  quot;DS quot; handheld game console when the dual-screen machine debuts in Japan on Dec. 2.


Worley buys US partner

WORLEY Group became a true global player in mining services yesterday with the acquisition of an American partner. The \$US245 million (\$A350 million) purchase of US-based Parsons E amp;C will turn Worley into a near billion-dollar business.


Honeywell LCD suit targets Apple, others

Industrial conglomerate Honeywell International on Wednesday said it has filed a lawsuit against 34 electronics companies including Apple Computer and Eastman Kodak, claiming patent infringement of its liquid crystal display technology.


NBC Adding Delay to NASCAR Telecasts (AP)

AP - NBC is adding a 5-second delay to its NASCAR telecasts after Dale Earnhardt Jr. used a vulgarity during a postrace TV interview last weekend.


Defense was up for challenge

CLEVELAND -- The Patriots' defense wasn't tested much while the outcome was in doubt during a 42-15 victory over the Cleveland Browns yesterday. The Patriots allowed one first down and picked off a Luke McCown pass in taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.


Sosa Fined  #36;87,400 for Last-Game Bolt (AP)

AP - Sammy Sosa was fined  #36;87,400  #151; one day's salary  #151; for arriving late and leaving early at the Cubs' regular-season finale at Wrigley Field.


Music Industry Group Launches Piracy Suits

An international music industry group said Thursday hundreds of lawsuits were being filed across Europe accusing people of piracy for illegally sharing music on the Internet.


Chinese Prosperity Seen as Threat to Endangered Wildlife

Many endangered species are under threat from growing prosperity in China, where exotic animals are butchered for gourmet banquets, exotic medicines or luxury goods.


Woodgate re-injures thigh during scrimmage

Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Real Madrid and English international defender Jonathan Woodgate re-injured his left thigh during practice Thursday.


Now is the hour for Vogts

From Mount Florida to Moldova, five days in which Scotland #39;s World Cup fate will be spinning like a top. Five days in which wee Berti could be king, could be clown.


FIFA Plans Show to Kick Off 2006 World Cup (AP)

AP - The 2006 World Cup will break with tradition and begin with a separate show a day before the opening game.


Australian Voters Face Stark Choice on Iraq

Australian Prime Minister John Howard gave his last nationally televised campaign speech today as he bids for a fourth three-year term.


Gaza battle rages

ISRAEL #39;S deadly offensive in northern Gaza entered its ninth day with the Government vowing to press on until Palestinian rocket fire stopped.


Report: Cubs Fine Sosa \$87,400

CHICAGO (Sports Network) - Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa  has reportedly been fined \$87,400, equal to his salary for one  game, by the team for his decision to leave Sunday's season  finale early.


Hewitt Survives at Japan Open, Sharapova Advances

TOKYO (Reuters) - Top seed Lleyton Hewitt was pushed to  three sets by a Japanese player for the second day in a row at  the \$860,000 Japan Open Thursday.


Mauresmo Struggles Past Schnyder at Filderstadt

FILDERSTADT, Germany (Reuters) - New world number one  Amelie Mauresmo struggled to a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Patty  Schnyder in the second round of the Filderstadt Grand Prix on  Thursday.


Newark, NJ OKs Arena for Devils Hockey Team -- Paper

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Newark, New Jersey's City Council has  approved plans for a \$310 million hockey arena for the New  Jersey Devils, local newspapers said on Thursday.


Security Concerns Shelve MSN Messenger 7

Beta testers find flaws in a new feature of the instant messaging app.


Bank of America to Cut 4,500 More Jobs (Reuters)

Reuters - Bank of America Corp.  on\Thursday said it would increase the number of jobs it will cut\by 36 percent to 17,000 after its acquisition of FleetBoston\Financial as it simplifies operations.


Oil Hits \$53 High on Supply Worries

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices set a new record at \$53 a  barrel on Thursday on concerns over tight winter heating fuel  supplies and news that a strike in Nigeria could put some crude  exports on hold.


Storms Soak Retailers' September Sales

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top U.S. retailers, including Wal-Mart  Stores Inc. WMT.N, reported lackluster September sales on  Thursday as warm weather and the string of hurricanes that  battered the East Coast dampened buying.


Bank of America to Cut 4,500 More Jobs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp. BAC.N on  Thursday said it would increase the number of jobs it will cut  by 36 percent to 17,000 after its acquisition of FleetBoston  Financial as it simplifies operations.


Oil Sets New \$53 High Supply Concerns

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices set a new record at \$53 a  barrel on Thursday on concerns over tight winter heating fuel  supplies and news of an unexpected strike at Nigerian oil  terminals.


Dollar Dips Ahead of Greenspan, Jobs Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar slipped on Thursday as  traders adjusted positions to neutral levels ahead of Friday's  key U.S. payrolls report but some analysts think the currency  is poised to rally against the euro.


Bank of America to Cut 4,500 Jobs

Bank of America said Thursday it will cut about 4,500 jobs, or about 2.5 percent of its work force, beginning this month as a result of its merger with FleetBoston Financial Corp.


Bank of America to Cut 4,500 More Jobs

Bank of America Corp. (BAC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said it would increase the number of jobs it will cut by 36 percent to 17,000 after its acquisition of FleetBoston Financial as it simplifies operations.


Sensitivity wins for News Corp

The detail of the agreement News Corporation has struck with the Australian Council of Super Investors confirms the extent of the victory achieved by ACSI and its campaign partner, Corporate Governance International.


UPDATE 1-Smith Barney sees Delta bankruptcy soon

Smith Barney analyst Daniel McKenzie on Thursday said he saw a high probability that Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , struggling to cut costs to avoid bankruptcy


A nice opening act

CLEVELAND -- Returning kicks is dangerous work. It is a job for adrenaline junkies and those overloaded with fast-twitch muscle fiber, because things are not always what they seem.


Netscape #39;s Andreessen Predicts New Browser Wars Ahead

Alternative Web browsers like Safari and Firefox will grow in popularity and force Microsoft to respond by improving Internet Explorer, predicts Marc Andreessen, founder of Netscape Communications.


Viet Nam determined to fight illegal trade in wild animals and <b>...</b>

Bangkok (VNA) - The Vietnamese Government has shown its determination in the fight against the illegal trade in wild animals and plants as well as its goodwill in the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) by


Microsoft Kicks Off SMB Partner Road Show

Microsoft is taking its SMB show on the road. The software giant is using recreational vehicles to tour the United States, bringing in partners of Hewlett-Packard and Cisco.


Microsoft Fixes Key SP2 Issue

Microsoft has issued an update for Windows XP SP2 to address installation problems caused by a third-party adware program, TV Media.


BBC Wants Help With Dirac Codec

Number Ten Ox writes  quot;According to The Register the BBC wants help to develop their open source video codec Dirac.  #39;Lead developer Dr.


Bosses  #39;too trusting #39; of outsourcer #39;s security

CEOs aren #39;t taking the care that they should with their customers #39; data when they outsource, according to a new survey of senior management.


Glazer - has yet to reveal his hand (Getty Images)

Manchester United are not likely to find out if Malcolm Glazer intends to launch a takeover bid until next week at the earliest. The American business tycoon is widely believed to be pondering a bid for the


#39;A dream come true #39;, says Clarke

Michael Clarke entered Australian folklore at the Chinnaswammy Stadium today, by converting his overnight 76 into a brilliant 151 on his Test debut.


Pakistan Bombing Prompts Ban on Gatherings

MULTAN, Pakistan Oct. 7, 2004 - Pakistan announced a ban on religious and political gatherings nationwide after a bomb attack against Sunni Muslim radicals in a central city early Thursday killed at least 39 people and wounded about 100 others.


Cambodian Monarch Wants Out

King Norodorn Sihanouk, known as much for his colorful personality as his controversial statesmanship, has been synonymous with Cambodia #39;s modern history for six decades.


Citigroup Takes On Intel

The financial services giant takes over non-memory semiconductor chip production.


Pavano hears Yankees' sales pitch; next step Baltimore

names The Carl Pavano tour across the American League wrapped up its New York engagement yesterday with the free agent righthander meeting with Yankees officials and Reggie Jackson . Pavano, who went to Yankee Stadium Saturday to meet with team trainers and video personnel, had dinner in Manhattan with Yankees president Randy Levine , general manager Brian Cashman , and ...


Unbeaten Auburn gets squeezed out of Orange

ATLANTA -- It came down to simple math. Three teams trying to squeeze into two slots. No computer printout, no voter bias, no pleas by coaches could solve that problem for the Bowl Championship Series.


Bill Imposes Prison Time Over 'Spyware' (AP)

AP - The House on Thursday passed the second bill in three days that would outlaw "spyware," irritating software that quietly monitors the activities of Internet users.


Spyware Bills Win House Approval (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Two bills designed to curb the proliferation of Internet "spyware" took another step toward law this week with overwhelming approval from the House of Representatives, but supporters said they face a tough race against the clock to get Senate approval before Congress disperses for the November elections.


Intel preaches gospel of mobile diversity

Analysis Standardised phones? Pah!


Oil Prices Keep Rising

The cost of a barrel of oil jumped more than 25 cents in just a few hours Thursday -- hitting \$52.53. .At this rate, the price could be aiming for the \$53 mark soon.


Sudan Resumes Peace Talks with Southern Rebels (Reuters)

Reuters - Sudan's government and southern rebels\resumed talks on a final peace deal on Thursday amid fears that\tensions in the oil-producing south and the newer Darfur crisis\could plunge Africa's biggest country into chaos. Underscoring\the external pressures on Khartoum to end its 21-year-old\southern civil war, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special\representative to Sudan, Jan Pronk, warned both sides not to\re-open previous agreements signed in May.


Celtics trip on first step in loss to Kings

SACRAMENTO -- Celtics coach Doc Rivers knows the first game of an extended West Coast swing can set the tone for the entire trip. Boston can only hope its 119-105 loss to the Kings last night does not set a pattern for the remaining four games on the itinerary. Otherwise, the trip might seem a lot longer than the scheduled ...


Blair outlines 'immense and powerful' moral case for helping Africa (AFP)

AFP - British Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a clarion call for the world to help Africa free itself from poverty, disease and conflict, describing his personal crusade for the continent as  quot;the one noble cause worth fighting for quot;.


Sub tragedy may divert Martin's first major foreign tour as PM (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The tragic events aboard HMCS Chicoutimi may divert Paul Martin's first major foreign tour as prime minister.


Sudan Resumes Peace Talks with Southern Rebels

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Sudan's government and southern rebels  resumed talks on a final peace deal on Thursday amid fears that  tensions in the oil-producing south and the newer Darfur crisis  could plunge Africa's biggest country into chaos.


Spyware Bills Win House Approval

Two bills designed to curb the proliferation of Internet "spyware" took another step toward law this week, but they are racing against the clock as Congress prepares to disperse for the November elections. -washingtonpost.com


Tributes touch DNA pioneer's family

The family of DNA pioneer Professor Maurice Wilkins has been touched by floods of tributes from around the world.


Nigerian clashes: '50,000 killed'

The number of people killed in communal clashes in central Nigeria is far higher than previously thought, a new government study says.


Austrian Novelist Jelinek Wins Nobel Prize

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Austrian writer Elfriede Jelinek, a reclusive author whose feminism, leftist politics and pacifism are common themes in her works, won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for what the Swedish Academy called her "musical flow of voices and counter-voices in novels and plays."   Her most famous novel, "The Piano Teacher" in 1983, was adapted into a 2001 film by director Michael Haneke, although her other works are well-known in German-speaking countries and she is widely translated in French.    Jelinek, 57, told The Associated Press in Vienna she would not attend the Dec...


Recording Industry Broadens File-Sharing Wars

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is firing up its campaign against illegal file-sharing with 459 legal actions against music uploaders.


BBC demos open-source codec

The BBC has demonstrated an open source video codec named Dirac which it claims offers twice the bit rate of MPEG-2. According to a story on The Register, the new codec was revealed at the LinuxWorld exhibition


Astros #39; aces trump Braves #39; depth

Before the Braves-Astros series began, the conventional wisdom was that the Astros deserved the nod as favorites -- even though they barely squeaked into the playoffs and won fewer games than Atlanta.


Trojan pretends to do good

Symantec warns Net users of Trojan horse that removes adware but alters security settings in computers.


NBC Adding Delay to NASCAR Telecasts

NBC is adding a 5-second delay to its NASCAR telecasts after Dale Earnhardt Jr. used a vulgarity during a postrace TV interview last weekend.


Sosa Fined \$87,400 for Last-Game Bolt

Sammy Sosa was fined \$87,400 - one day's salary - for arriving late and leaving early at the Cubs' regular-season finale at Wrigley Field.


Boston Marathon Champ Johnny Kelley Dies

Johnny Kelley, a two-time Boston Marathon champion who became a beloved figure in the history of the race by running it a record 61 times, died at 97.


'Pure' outsourcing model falls from favor

BANGALORE, INDIA -- The purely offshore outsourcing model is out of favor, and Indian business process outsourcing (BPO) companies are finding that they need U.S. facilities and staff to run operations for their American clients.


Drug Stocks Fall as Journal Blasts FDA (Reuters)

Reuters - Shares of large U.S. and European drug\makers fell on Thursday after a prominent cardiologist\questioned the safety of new arthritis drugs and the\performance of U.S. regulators in monitoring drug safety.


Tyson, Union Ratify Iowa Plant Contract (Reuters)

Reuters - Workers at the Tyson Foods Inc. \retail deli plant in Cherokee, Iowa, ratified a five-year labor\agreement, which includes bonus pay, a competitive health-care\plan, and a flexible retirement savings program, Tyson said on\Thursday.


EU-US Plane Fight May Find Peaceful Deal

GENEVA (Reuters) - Washington and Brussels may have gone  for their guns in a fight over plane subsidies, firing off huge  tit-for-tat cases at the World Trade Organization (WTO), but  analysts say a peaceful deal may yet be done.


Fannie Mae Investigation

Lawrence J. White, professor of economics at New York University's Stern School of Business, discusses the investigation into accounting practices at Fannie Mae.


Do You Take Cash, Credit or Chip?

A Japanese company creates a memory card which could change the method of spending money. Also: Google to set up digital book samples    hellip;. Nintendo equips handheld console   hellip;. and more.


Infocus: Defeating Honeypots: Network Issues, Part 2

The purpose of this paper is to explain how attackers behave when they attempt to identify and defeat honeypots, and is useful information for security professionals who need to deploy honeypots in a more stealthy manner. Part 2 looks at Sebek-based honeypots, snort_inline, Fake AP, and Bait and Switch honeypots.


European Economies: Orders and Retail Sales Decline (Update2)

German factory orders dropped more than economists expected in August and a gauge of European retail sales fell for a second month in September, adding to evidence that economic growth may be slowing amid record oil costs.


Bank mulls rival proposal for Manchester United

LONDON : The head of a British boutique investment bank, Seymour Pierce, is considering a financial restructuring of Manchester United as a possible rival proposal to a planned takeover by US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer.


Hewit advance to the third round of the Japan Open

Australian Lleyton Hewitt ousted home favourite Goichi Motomura 6-0 3-6 6-1 to advance to the third round of the Japan Open on Wednesday.


Most Coral Reefs Under Threat, Some Resilient (Reuters)

Reuters - About 70 percent of the world's coral\reefs have been wrecked or are at risk from human activities\but some are showing surprising resilience to global warming, a\report said on Monday.


Nintendo unveils lineup for DS handheld

Madden NFL 2005 and Spider-Man 2 are among the dozen video games Nintendo Co. says it plans to offer for is new DS handheld system within a month of the product #39;s November launch.


Initial jobless claims fall 37,000

The US Labor Department said Thursday first-time applications for unemployment benefits fell last week for the first time in four weeks.


Do You Take Cash, Credit or Chip?

A leading Japanese electronics company is developing memory cards that can be used to make cashless payments, open locks and read identification with a simple flick.


Wish Upon a Starbucks

Shares of Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) slipped last night in after-hours trading when the coffee champ reported same-store sales that were more lackluster than usual.


Energy lifts TSX; Dow dips

The Toronto stock market was on positive ground this morning as energy stocks continued to benefit from record high oil prices that hit \$53 (US) a barrel.


Parmalat to sue Bank of America

Administrators at bankrupt Italian food group Parmalat have filed a lawsuit against Bank of America, reportedly claiming \$10bn (5.


Nintendo Unveils Lineup for DS Handheld (AP)

AP - Madden NFL 2005 and Spider-Man 2 are among the dozen video games Nintendo Co. says it plans to offer for is new DS handheld system within a month of the product's November launch.


Google invades Amazon turf

Google is invading Amazon.com turf with its latest Internet service, it was reported Thursday. Google, the search-engine kingpin, is introducing a program called Google Print for book publishers who want to


UK Music Industry to sue 28 persistent file sharers

The BBC has today reported that 28 UK file sharers are to be sued by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The BPI warned in March it would take legal action against users of peer-to-peer music services


Bill Imposes Prison Time Over  #39;Spyware #39;

WASHINGTON - The House on Thursday passed the second bill in three days that would outlaw  quot;spyware, quot; irritating software that quietly monitors the activities of Internet users.


Siebel Refocuses on Customers

LOS ANGELESSiebel Systems Inc., under the leadership of new CEO Mike Lawrie, is rededicating itself to ensuring enterprises #39; success at implementing, deploying and managing its market-leading but complex CRM software applications.


Nintendo seeks to dominate portable game market with new console (AFP)

AFP - Japanese video game giant Nintendo said it will seek to retain its dominance of the portable game market with the launch of wireless Nintendo DS, a hand-held double-screen console.


Starmap plans push into US and Asia (FT.com)

FT.com - Starmap, an international alliance of second-tier European mobile operators, including Wind of Italy and MMO of the UK, is looking to expand its membership into the US and Asia as it seeks to rival the global footprint of leading operators such as Vodafone.


Mauresmo wins first match as world No. 1

Amelie Mauresmo overcame a slow start Thursday to win her first match as the world #39;s top ranked player, beating Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 7-5, 6-4 at the Porsche Grand Prix.


India still in the game: Harbhajan

Harbhajan Singh, who claimed five wickets in Australia #39;s first innings in the first Test in Bangalore, does not believe the game has slipped away from India, who are facing the prospect of a follow-on.


Judge in London gives okay to let premature baby die

LONDON (AFP) - Doctors caring for a critically-ill premature baby, Charlotte Wyatt, were given permission by a British judge to allow her to die if her condition seriously deteriorates and her breathing stops.


Ethics in Practice

In debate, participants often present ethics as an overriding consideration.  nbsp;Sometimes, ethics is referenced by several  nbsp;participants in support of contradictory positions.  nbsp;When this happens debate tends to stall, as participants lack a framework for resolving their varying ethical valuations.  nbsp;In the interest of keeping K5 flamewars running smoothly, below is an attempt to outline what such a framework might look like.


U.S. 30-, 15-Year Mortgage Rates Rise (Reuters)

Reuters - Interest rates on U.S. 30-year and\15-year mortgages edged higher this week amid signs the economy\is improving, stoking inflation concerns, mortgage finance\company Freddie Mac said on Thursday.


U.S. 30-, 15-Year Mortgage Rates Rise

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Interest rates on U.S. 30-year and  15-year mortgages edged higher this week amid signs the economy  is improving, stoking inflation concerns, mortgage finance  company Freddie Mac said on Thursday.


Drugs, Oil Drag Stocks Lower

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were knocked lower on Thursday  as investors worried that rising prices for oil and commodities  would shrink corporate profits, while drug shares fell on  possible stricter scrutiny from regulators.


Asia-Europe Forum Grows, Myanmar Irritates

HANOI, Vietnam (Reuters) - An Asia-Europe forum accepted  Myanmar and 12 other new members Thursday ahead of a summit  strained by Yangon's human rights record and detention of  democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.


Finally, A Boeing-Airbus Showdown

The European Jetmaker Has Long Skirted Subsidy Rules. Now Washington #39;s WTO Complaint Will Drag That Abuse Into The Light Of Day.


UPDATE 11-Oil sets new \$53 high on winter worries, Nigeria

Oil prices scaled new heights at \$53 for US crude on Thursday on concerns over tight winter heating fuel supplies and an unexpected strike at Nigerian oil terminals.


Duma wants convincing arguments for Kyoto ratification

MOSCOW, October 7 (Itar-Tass) - The State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament will ratify the Kyoto Protocol, but to make this decision, lawmakers want the government to present  quot;rather convincing arguments and figures, quot; a number of


US 30-, 15-year mortgage rates rise in latest week

Interest rates on US 30-year and 15-year mortgages edged higher this week amid signs the economy is improving, stoking inflation concerns, mortgage finance company Freddie Mac said on Thursday.


Group sues illegal file-swappers in Europe

The Federation of the Phonographic Industry said it filed 459 lawsuits against illegal music file-sharers in Europe. The suits were filed on behalf of Warner Music Group.


Piggyback developers in a bind over IE

com October 7, 2004, 9:50 AM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.


Kodak, Sun settle potential \$1B lawsuit

(October 7, 2004) - Eastman Kodak Co. and Sun Microsystems Inc. have settled their contentious legal dispute over Java programming language, skirting a trial on financial damages that could have brought Kodak more than \$1 billion.


Spyware Legislation To Take Effect Jan. 1

Some experts doubt whether the California law will have much impact on illegal spyware activity. By George V. Hulme. A new California law aimed at curbing spyware, software applications that surreptitiously


Report: VoIP to Top 12M Homes by 2009

The number of US households using Voice over IP (define) will rocket from 400,000 to 12 million over the next five years, a new report from JupiterResearch predicts.


Taiwan #39;s VIA Joins 64-bit Chip Fray

After watching nearly every other semiconductor manufacturer produce their x86 64-bit chips, VIA Technologies has come to the table.


Group including Mansell says it has deal to save British GP

A group that includes former Formula One champion Nigel Mansell said Thursday it had reached a deal with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to promote the race.


Cubs Fine Sosa for Leaving Game

The Chicago Cubs have fined Sammy Sosa a club-record \$87,400 -- one day #39;s pay -- for leaving the team #39;s last game shortly after it began.


Dodgers #39; Weaver eager to escape NY state of mind

Jeff Weaver says the potent St. Louis Cardinals lineup reminds him of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox batting orders. That #39;s about the only New York comparison the former Yankee wants to summon tonight.


Oklahoma still owns Texas in the Red River Shootout

Back in 1961, when Tommy Nobis was a freckle-faced, raw-boned high school linebacker from San Antonio, he took a recruiting visit to Oklahoma.


ST. LOUIS (2-2) At SEATTLE (3-0)

KEY MATCHUP -- Rams RB Marshall Faulk vs. Seahawks front seven. The sometimes pass-happy Rams are most effective when they use balanced attack, like last week when they jumped out to 24-0 halftime lead after calling 19 running plays and 18 passes.


Baby Charlotte can be allowed to die, judge rules

Charlotte Wyatt, the premature baby clinging to life in a hospital oxygen box, is to be allowed to die if her breathing stops. A High Court judge today gave Charlotte #39;s doctors permission not to resuscitate


Britain: Weapons Report Proves Hussein Was a Threat

Britain says a CIA report that concludes Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction before the US-led invasion last year nonetheless confirms that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein posed a threat that could not be ignored.


Oil Hits \$53 High on Supply Worries

Oil prices set a new record today on concerns over tight winter heating fuel supplies and news that a strike in Nigeria could put some crude exports on hold.


Paisley to meet Blair as efforts continue to secure North deal

Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley is due to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London today as part of ongoing efforts to restore devolved government in the North.


Wish Upon a Starbucks

For some investors, today may seem like a discount day for shares of the coffee purveyor.


Mount St. Helens Volcanic Eruptions: 1980 vs. Now

When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, people hundreds of miles away heard the roar. The blast turned day to night, leveled miles of forest, and claimed 57 lives.


Does Mars Methane Indicate Life Underground?

New methane readings from a space probe raise the possibility that microbial life could exist on Mars. Some scientists, though, remain skeptical.


New Dinosaur Discovered: T. Rex Cousin Had Feathers

Scientists say they have found a small, earlier cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex that had at least a partial coat of feathers. Includes image gallery.


Chimps Shown Using Not Just a Tool but a "Tool Kit"

Wild chimpanzees have been filmed using tools in combination to extract termites from mounds #151;further evidence that tool use is not unique to humans.


Extinct Giant Deer Survived Ice Age, Study Says

Like the woolly mammoth, a giant, prehistoric deer survived the last ice age, a new study shows. So what caused the Irish elk's eventual extinction?


CA adds utility-like mainframe pricing

Computer Associates introduces usage-based pricing model for mainframe software.


Netline touts open-source move

The maker of a rival Microsoft Exchange product that went open source says its new beta would have taken 10 times longer to do alone.


In Japan, it's TV gadget heaven

Want tiny? Here's an eyepiece TV. Want big? There's a wall-size display. All video devices great and small hit the floor at CEATEC.


Word mangled by unpatched security hole

A highly critical and unpatched security hole in Microsoft Corp.'s ubiquitous Word software could be used to launch a denial of service attack and give system access.


French security policy bombs

French police ended their practice Sunday of hiding plastic explosives in air passengers #39; luggage to train bomb-sniffing dogs after one such bag got lost, possibly ending up on a flight out of Paris #39; Charles de Gaulle airport.


Parmalat files US lawsuit

THE bankrupt Italian food group Parmalat said today its special administrator Enrico Bondi has filed a US lawsuit against Bank of America.


Google Creates Searchable Book Library

Amazon already has book-searching technology and last month launched A9.com, a subsidiary that adds personalization features to search results.


Kodak, Sun settle over damages in Java dispute

ROCHESTER, NY Eastman Kodak has reached an out-of-court settlement with Sun Microsystems over the damage phase of Kodak #39;s successful lawsuit regarding Sun #39;s Java computer programming language.


CA offers usage-based pricing for mainframe tools

Computer Associates Thursday introduced a usage-based pricing and licensing option for its mainframe management products, aligning its offerings with IBM #39;s On Demand model.


Security concerns put MSN Messenger beta on hold

Microsoft has suspended the beta testing of the next version of its MSN Messenger client because of a potential security problem. Testers discovered a potential security issue in the early version of MSN Messenger


House OKs bill imposing prison time for  #39;spyware #39;

WASHINGTON - The House on Thursday passed the second bill in three days that would outlaw  quot;spyware, quot; irritating software that quietly monitors the activities of Internet users.


Singh, Els among stars at Duhill

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Ticker) -- The world #39;s top golfers team up with famous faces from the worlds of film and sport on Thursday for the start of the 2004 Dunhill Links championship.


Astros-Braves Game 2 preview

The Houston Astros refuse to live in the past, especially with their immediate future looking so bright. Roy Oswalt, the National League #39;s only 20-game winner, will try to give Houston a commanding lead in


Cubs fine Sosa \$87,400 (one day #39;s pay)

Chicago slugger Sammy Sosa was fined \$87,400 Wednesday for leaving the ballpark while the Cubs were playing the Atlanta Braves in the season finale.


Caldwell Confident Despite Injury Woes

Gary Caldwell insists he is confident Scotland can overcome their injury problems to secure the right results against Norway and Moldova.


Red River Shootout is Fair Game

This Saturday, the undefeated meet. No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 5 Texas take aim for a win at the 99th Red River Shootout. The rivalry is one of the biggest games in college football.


Judge in London gives okay to let premature baby die

LONDON : Doctors caring for a critically-ill premature baby, Charlotte Wyatt, were given permission by a British judge to allow her to die if her condition seriously deteriorates and her breathing stops.


Israel Backs 2-State West Asia Solution: US

Washington, Oct. 7 (NNN): The United States said on Thursday that it has got assurances from Israel that it still backs the two-state solution to the West Asian conflict.


US Arms-Grade Plutonium Starts Road Journey Across France

A consignment of US weapons-grade plutonium began a north-south road journey across France to be turned into fuel to make electricity by Areva SA, the world #39;s biggest maker of nuclear reactors, Greenpeace France said.


CA adds utility-like mainframe pricing

com October 7, 2004, 10:30 AM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.


Microsoft stops winking on MSN 7.0 beta

Microsoft has delayed beta testing of the next version of MSN Messenger because of a security flaw. Vulnerabilities were discovered in MSN Messenger 7.0, due to be released today, after testers found it had


Defoe - excited about Old Trafford clash

Jermain Defoe is convinced England #39;s new-look  #39;awesome #39; forward line can douse the Welsh dragon #39;s fire at Old Trafford on Saturday.


Retailers and Their September Sales (AP)

AP - September sales and sales for the fiscal year to date reported by leading retailers.


Pfizer Will Weather the Storm

The company will likely come out on top regardless of the outcome of the latest controversies.


Shock jock Stern has \$690m to launch his ego into orbit

HOWARD Stern, the New York radio star with the super-sized hair and ego, has given censors the finger by announcing a \$US500 million (\$690 million) deal to move over to the fledgling and largely unregulated airwaves of satellite radio.


US, EU take to skies in battle of the giants

In a nasty trade battle that could rattle the multibillion-dollar aerospace industry, the US and Europe formally sued one another in the World Trade Organisation over the huge government subsidies paid to their respective aircraft giants, Boeing and Airbus


Bombings in Paskistan Deadly blasts occurred outside a gathering <b>...</b>

MULTAN, Pakistan - Two bombs, one planted in a car, one attached to a motorcycle, exploded at a gathering of Sunni Muslim radicals in central Pakistan before dawn today, killing at least 39 people and hospitalizing about 100 others.


5th Asia-Europe begins in Hanoi

The Philippine government is expected to strongly advocate for a closer partnership between the countries in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe when the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) kicks off in Hanoi, Vietnam Friday.


Senate Talks Fail on File-Sharing Software (AP)

AP - Entertainment groups and consumer organizations were unable Thursday to reach a compromise over a Senate proposal aimed at manufacturers of file-sharing software commonly used to steal electronic copies of music, movies and computer programs.


Google launches new Web site for readers, publishers (AFP)

AFP - Leading Web search engine Google launched a new site for book lovers at the world's largest publishing show that will provide a new avenue for sales.


Rent-A-Car Cos. Expanding to Face Rivals (AP)

AP - It's part of an intensifying car rental rumble: As Enterprise Rent-A-Car increases its visibility at airports, longtime airport leader Hertz is muscling into America's neighborhoods, Enterprise's closely guarded turf.


Sudan Peace Talks Resume for South as Tensions Brew (Reuters)

Reuters - Sudan's government resumed\talks with rebels in the oil-producing south on Thursday while\the United Nations set up a panel to investigate charges of\genocide in the west of Africa's largest country.


UN Panel to Look Into Genocide in Sudan's Darfur (Reuters)

Reuters - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi\Annan named a five-member panel on Thursday led by Italian\judge Antonio Cassese to investigate whether genocide has taken\place in Sudan's Darfur region.


Toronto doctor changes story under cross-examination, panel hears (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - A Toronto doctor accused of co-signing thousands of prescriptions without seeing patients changed his story several times under heated cross-examination at his disciplinary hearing Thursday.


Bush Defends Iraq Invasion Despite Report (AP)

AP - Faced with a harshly critical new report, President Bush conceded Thursday that Iraq did not have the stockpiles of banned weapons he had warned of before the invasion last year, but insisted that "we were right to take action" against Saddam Hussein.


Bush, Kerry on Issue of Drug Importation (AP)

AP - Three times a week, The Associated Press picks an issue and asks President Bush and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry a question about it. Today's question and their responses:


Bush Defends Iraq War Despite Report Finding No Illicit Arms

President Bush conceded today that Iraq did not have the banned weapons he had warned of, but insisted that "we were right to take action."


Rockets Hit Hotel in Baghdad; Shiite Rebel Offers Truce Deal

The rocket attack temporarily overshadowed a pledge by a top aide to Moktada al-Sadr to disarm his militia.


Ethics Rebuke to DeLay Prompts Democratic Calls for Ouster

House Democrats declared that the latest case against the leader of the Republican majority proved that he was unfit to lead.


Saddam Hussein Sowed Confusion About Iraq's Arsenal as a Tactic of War

Saddam Hussein hid behind ambiguities and evasions about whether Iraq possessed illicit weapons, partly as a deterrent to Iran.


Two Rockets Hit Downtown Baghdad Sheraton

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two rockets hit a downtown Baghdad hotel housing foreigners and journalists Thursday, and gunfire erupted in the neighborhood across the Tigris River from the U.S. Embassy compound...


Stocks Fall on Poor Retail Sales, Oil

NEW YORK - Disappointing retail sales and oil prices that threatened to top \$53 per barrel sent stocks lower Thursday as investors worried that rising energy costs could further hamper consumer spending.    With a number of companies having already warned that energy costs would squeeze third-quarter profits, investors saw the September retail sales report as reason to worry that a sustained rise in oil prices could harm fourth-quarter results as well...


Briefly: CA adds utility-like mainframe pricing

roundup Plus: The company also expects to meet or exceed analyst estimates...Salesforce.com reports subscriber surge...RealNetworks signs up Red Flag Linux.


Russia Could Finish Kyoto Approval by Year-End

Russia could ratify the Kyoto Protocol by the end of the year and kick-start global attempts to control climate change, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said on Thursday.


Economic optimism hikes mortgage rates

Mortgage rates climbed for the second consecutive week on news that the economy may soon be improving, according to surveys conducted by mortgage buyer Freddie Mac and Bankrate.


Dial #39;s parent sells Clorox interests

Germany #39;s Henkel and California #39;s Clorox Co. Thursday agreed to a \$2.8 billion stock swap and cash deal. Under the agreement, Henkel will sell back its 29 percent ownership stake in Clorox in return for \$2.


McGahee Still Waiting His Turn With Bills (AP)

AP - Running back Willis McGahee is biding his time, if not biting his tongue, regarding his limited role in the Buffalo offense. The 2003 first-round pick is not entirely content, but maintains he's not frustrated spending most of Buffalo's first three games  #151; all losses  #151; watching from the sideline as a backup to Travis Henry.


#39;Rocket man #39; has local ties

com.  quot;It was a flawless flight and a glorious day for our family, quot; said William Binnie. He, wife Catherine and daughters Sheila and Katie had good reason to celebrate on Monday.


Uganda Opposes Trade in Ivory

A TEAM of wildlife officials has left for a global meeting in Bangkok, Thailand to oppose the lifting of the ban imposed on ivory trade.


ESPN.com #39;s Pitching Preview  2004 MLB Playoffs

In Thursday #39;s two NLDS Game 2 matchups, Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver has a tough assignment vs. St. Louis, while the Astros aim to take a commanding series lead over Atlanta with their second Cy Young candidate on the mound in as many days.


Twin bombs take terrible death toll

AT least 39 people were killed when two bombs exploded at a gathering of Sunni Muslim radicals in the central Pakistan city of Multan early yesterday.


Phelps Eases Back Into Pool at Short Course Meet

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Michael Phelps made a comfortable  return to the pool at the world short course swimming  championships Thursday, touching first in his preliminary heat  in the 200 meters freestyle.


Ferrer Upsets Ferrero in Lyon

LYON (Reuters) - Third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero suffered a  shock defeat at the hands of fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in  the second round of the Lyon Grand Prix Thursday.


Graeme McDowell Hits 62 to Match Old Course Record

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Reuters) - Briton Graeme McDowell  took a leaf out of Tiger Woods's book to equal the St. Andrews  Old Course record of 62 Thursday and take a three-stroke lead  in the Dunhill Links Championship first round.


SAP plans to move administrative jobs to Prague

German business software vendor SAP plans to relocate a number of administrative jobs from its German headquarters and European subsidiaries to Prague, in a move aimed at streamlining its operations and reducing costs.


Treasuries Lower Despite Auction Results

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices slipped on  Thursday as a well-received auction of inflation-protected debt  failed to quell market anxiety one day before the government  releases its national employment report for September.


Oil, Drug Woes Send Stocks Down

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Thursday as investors  worried that oil's jump to a record \$53 a barrel would hurt  consumer spending and cut into corporate profits.


US, EU Trade Blows on Aircraft Subsidies

WASHINGTON, DC / BRUSSELS, Belgium - 10/07/04 - Whatever meager goodwill was gained by the move yesterday - albeit tardy - by Congress to act on the contentious Foreign Sales Corporation - Extraterritorial Income Act (FSC-ETI) export tax mechanism has


Fed could pause on rates if economy slows-Bernanke

A slowdown in the US economy could justify a pause in the Federal Reserve #39;s interest rate increases, Fed Governor Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.


Henkel to sell Clorox stake

Henkel, the German consumer goods group, said yesterday night it would swap its 29 per cent stake in Clorox for a combination of the US companys operating businesses and its stake in a joint venture with Henkel, and about \$2.


UPDATE 2-US pension agency chief warns of solvency risk

The longer-term solvency of the US agency that insures pensions is at risk, threatened by troubled airlines and other companies failing to fund their retirement plans, the agency #39;s director said on Thursday.


Plus a change in Franco-US relations

At meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund the French said non to the US proposal of writing off 90-95 per cent of Iraqs \$12bn of bilateral debt.


KPMG Settles Lernout   Hauspie Lawsuit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting  firms, agreed to settle a shareholder lawsuit over the collapse  of Belgium's Lernout   Hauspie Speech Products N.V., by  agreeing to pay \$115 million, one of the law firms representing  investors said on Thursday.


Sirius Satellite Signs Howard Stern to 5-Year Accord (Update9)

Howard Stern, host of the top-rated radio show for young men in New York and Los Angeles, will move to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.


PeopleSoft Softens Opposition to Oracle Merger

There was a twist in Oracle #39;s hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft earlier this week when a PeopleSoft director testified in court that he would be open to discussions about a merger.


US pension agency chief says solvency at risk

The longer-term solvency of the US fund that insures traditional pensions is at risk, the director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.


Putin aide warns of dangers to economy ECONOMIC POLICY

President Vladimir Putin #39;s economic adviser has warned that Russia is jeopardising its economic growth by drifting away from liberal market reforms and moving towards increased state intervention.


Four deals taking off in busy IPO day

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Retailer New York  amp; Co. and medical equipment firm InterLace delivered premiums Thursday as the two initial public offerings distinguished themselves among a pack of four deals.


Bank of America To Lay Off 4,500

Bank of America will begin this month to cut 4,500 jobs across the company, predominantly in non-customer-facing positions. Bank of America said the cuts will spell \$150 million in severance


Further rate rises in balance as factories stall again

The Bank of England was handed an unexpected dilemma yesterday as factories suffered their worst fall in output for two years but house prices bounced back sharply.


Music Industry Sues European Internet Pirates

The music industry has targeted 459 prolific  quot;uploaders quot; in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and the UK, who they accuse of illegally providing their music collections to others on online file-sharing networks.


Sony Moves Forward with Blu-Ray DVD Standard

Sony rivals Toshiba, Sanyo and NEC are working on HD-DVD rather than Blu-ray. Both are designed to have much more storage capacity than the current generation of discs.


Stem Cell Molecules Repair Genetic Damage

Researchers report that embryonic stem cells sent molecular signals that repaired fatal genetic damage to heart cells in laboratory mice.


Tech Briefs

The city of Seattle, which is considering building a municipally owned high-speed Internet network, has named a task force to study proposals that include a Wi-Fi, WiMax, cable or fiber optic system.


Component of volcanic gas may have played a significant role in <b>...</b>

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are reporting a possible answer to a longstanding question in research on the origins of life on Earth--how did the first amino acids form the first peptides?


Spyware Bills Win House Approval

Two bills designed to curb the proliferation of Internet  quot;spyware quot; took another step toward law this week with overwhelming approval from the House of Representatives, but supporters said


Nokia, Motorola plan handset units in India

Leading mobile handset makers like Nokia and Motorola could soon follow LG in setting up manufacturing operations in India. A Motorola India official said the company is seriously considering manufacturing mobile phones in the country.


Phelps Eases Back Into Pool at Short Course Meet

Michael Phelps made a comfortable return to the pool at the world short course swimming championships Thursday, touching first in his preliminary heat in the 200 meters freestyle.


Press Row: Pundits praise Pedro

com. Pedro Martinez was the focal point of press coverage after pitching the Red Sox into a two-up position over the Angels in the American League Division Series.


Familiar Faces in French Team

France tonight named their team for Saturdays World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland - with eight of Raymond Domenechs starting line-up possessing Premiership experience.


Owen is closer to England go-ahead

England striker Michael Owen took part in a full training session on Thursday, but keeper David James missed out as they prepared to face Wales.


Quiet week precedes Afghan elections

EDITORS NOTE: This is one in an occasional series in October about the 160 members of Fort Waynes 221st Ordnance Company in Afghanistan.


Sharon pounds Gaza

The Israeli army has embarked on a vicious punitive bombardment in Gaza. The clampdown in Gaza is ostensibly in retaliation for the death of two Israeli settler children in a Hamas missile attack on the settler town of Sderot on 30 August.


Australia #39;s Howard Stresses Economic Record in Even #39; Election

Prime Minister John Howard is betting eight years of economic growth and interest rates at a three- decade low will win him a fourth consecutive term in office when 13 million Australians elect a new government tomorrow.


Quick Draw on Wynn Resorts

Investors roll the dice on Steve Wynn's new resort, bidding the stock up though the place won't open until April.


KMPG Agrees to Pay \$115 Million to Settle Suit

The accounting firm KPMG has agreed to settle a shareholder lawsuit claiming the company failed in its audit of a software company which later collapsed.


Maryland is thrown for a loss

TJ Thompson scored 27 points as George Washington upset No. 12 Maryland, 101-92, yesterday in the championship game of the BB amp;T Classic in Washington, the Colonials #39; fifth straight victory.


Schu doesn #39;t rule in France

Michael Schumacher may rule the roost at the pinnacle of motor sport, but he failed to become  #39;Champion of Champions #39; at the novel event inside Paris #39; Stade de France.


KPMG Settles Lernout  amp; Hauspie Lawsuit

KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms, agreed to settle a shareholder lawsuit over the collapse of Belgium #39;s Lernout  amp; Hauspie Speech Products NV, by agreeing to pay \$115 million, one of the law firms representing investors said


Update 1: Music Industry Group Launches Piracy Suits

The international record industry escalated its fight against music piracy Thursday, announcing that it will file hundreds of lawsuits across Europe against individuals and groups it accuses of illegally sharing music through the Internet.


Volcanoes May Have Sparked Life on Earth, Study Says

Peptides are chains of amino acids. They form the proteins that are the basis of living cells. Scientists have had little success in demonstrating a plausible chemical reaction that could have formed peptides


Palm OS to favour phones

PalmSource is to focus on wireless devices with its new version of Palm OS, but can it succeed against the likes of Microsoft and Symbian?


U.S. Names Cyber Chief, House Eyes More Clout for Job (Reuters)

Reuters - The Department of Homeland Security\named an acting U.S. cybersecurity chief on Thursday as\Congress weighed whether to give the position greater clout to\fight hackers, viruses and other online threats.


IBM renews vows to mainframe (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - IBM shored up commitment to its mainframe computing platform Thursday with a series of new technologies, investments in emerging markets, new industry-focused solutions, and new partnerships.


Mount St. Helens' Crater Floor Rising (AP)

AP - Part of Mount St. Helens' crater floor has risen 50 to 100 feet since Tuesday while earthquake rates have been low, signs that magma is moving upward without much resistance, scientists said Thursday.


Williams lends hand to Jones

Roy Williams wasn #39;t the Lions #39; most productive rookie Sunday, but he played a big role in two plays that helped tailback Kevin Jones, another member of the Lions #39; 2004 rookie class.


Report: Chip-gear industry having a good year

Gartner says 2004 is likely to be one of the best years for the semiconductor capital gear market, but next year isn't looking quite so hot.


Details of New John Kerry Television Ad (AP)

AP - Details of a new television ad from Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry to begin airing this week:


Rebuked Lawmaker Withstands Calls to Step Aside (Reuters)

Reuters - House of Representatives Majority\Leader Tom DeLay, admonished twice in six days by his chamber's\ethics committee, withstood calls on Thursday by rival\Democrats and citizen groups that he step aside.


Qwest, DirecTV bring satellite TV to Western states

The two companies expand an alliance to bundle DirecTV's service with the telecom provider's own offerings.


Bush defends action against Iraq

President Bush backs his policy on Iraq, despite confirmation that Saddam Hussein did not have WMD.


At Japan show, it's all gadgets great and small

The CEATEC exhibit rounds up everything from wall-size "wallpaper" displays to the Scopo eyepiece TV.


Actor Fox Appears in Kerry Campaign Ad

NEW YORK - Actor Michael J. Fox is returning to TV - in a commercial praising Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry for his stance on stem cell research...


Rockets Hit Downtown Baghdad Sheraton

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Militants fired rockets at a hotel housing foreigners in the heart of Baghdad on Thursday night, causing minor damage, while U.S. officials said two American soldiers were killed by roadside bombs outside the capital and authorities arrested 20 Iraqis suspected of planting homemade explosives...


IBM renews vows to mainframe

IBM shored up commitment to its mainframe computing platform Thursday with a series of new technologies, investments in emerging markets, new industry-focused solutions, and new partnerships.


ATI Reports Record Quarterly Revenues

Thanks to PC and consumer product sales, Ontario, Canadas ATI Technologies Inc. today announced its second consecutive quarter with record revenues.


US bank mergers good for stability, says Greenspan

Alan Greenspan, Federal Reserve chairman, said yestedray that the wave of US bank mergers since 1995 had increased the stability of the financial sector.


Unisys to ax 1,400 workers

Unisys Corp. said Wednesday night that it plans to lay off about 1,400 employees, mostly in general and administrative areas. The computer hardware, software and services company didn #39;t say how many of the


Sudan peace talks resume for south

sets up a panel to investigate charges of genocide in the west of Africa #39;s largest country. A Sudanese intelligence official said the government was arming tribes to counter a perceived new rebel threat in the east.


Removing Palestine

quot;The significance of our disengagement plan is the freezing of the peace process. It supplies the formaldehyde necessary so there is no political process with the Palestinians effectively


Google introduces wireless service

Google Inc. on Thursday launched a beta test version of Google SMS, a new service that lets users of wireless devices query Google for specific information, such as business or residential phone listings, product prices and word definitions, the company announced.


Oil Hits \$53 on Winter Worries, Nigeria

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices scaled new heights at \$53 for  U.S. crude Thursday on concerns over tight winter heating fuel  supplies and an unexpected strike at Nigerian oil terminals.


Flip Open That Cellphone: It's IM on the Move

Although it grew up on desktop PCs, instant-messaging software has gone mobile  and it looks more and more as if it has outgrown its roots in teenage chatter.


Biolase hits 20-mo. low on Q3 warning

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Biolase Technology Inc. took a dive to a 20-month low Thursday after the maker of lasers used in dental procedures warned that it would report a third-quarter loss and lower-than-anticipated revenue.


Greenspan Has Kind Words for a Predecessor

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan praised predecessor Paul Volcker for being willing a quarter-century ago to ratchet up interest rates to end a long bout of dangerous inflation.


Reuters bets big on Bangalore unit

Mr Geert Linnebank, Editor-in-Chief and Global Head of Content, Reuters; Mr Kiran Karnik, President, Nasscom; and Mr N. Dharam Singh, Chief Minister of Karnataka, at the inauguration of Reuters #39; new facility in Bangalore on Thursday.


Study: VoIP to proliferate in US households

The number of US households that use Net phone technology is expected to reach 12 million by 2009, a new study has shown. About 17 percent of all broadband homes in the United States will use Web telephony


Press Row: A-Rod earns his stripes

com. Alex Rodriguez had yet to prove to Yankees fans that he was worth his hefty price tag before this American League Division Series against the Twins.


Minnesota seeks win, not revenge vs. Mich.

The unbeaten Golden Gophers led Michigan by three touchdowns with a quarter left, yet lost 38-35.  quot;Do you really think that I have to remind them we blew a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter against Michigan last year?


Bank of America to cut 4,500 jobs

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) plans to cut about 2.5 percent, or 4,500 jobs from its workforce, and it #39;s unclear how those cuts will affect Austin employees.


Mortgages rates up this week

Mortgage rates around the country went up this week, with 30-year mortgages climbing to the highest level since early September. Freddie Mac, in its weekly survey released Thursday, reported that rates on


ATI Technologies 4th-Qtr Profit Doubles as Sales Rise (Update4)

ATI Technologies Inc., the world #39;s No. 2 maker of computer-graphics chips, said fourth-quarter profit more than doubled on surging demand for components used in digital televisions and mobile phones with color screens.


The Web, Take 2.0

SAN FRANCISCO -- The next time you visit one of your favorite Web sites, you may be contributing to it as much as you #39;re taking from it.


Co-Founder of Google #39;s Blogger Leaving Company

Web search leader Google Inc. (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said the head of its Web log service, Blogger, will leave at the end of the week to pursue other interests.


HP Shows New Inkjet, Laser Printers

At TechXNY this week, Hewlett-Packard reminded business users that it is still an active innovator in printers and imaging devices.


Braves look to tie up series

Mike Hampton has never won a Division Series game, but he needs to pitch at a top level today to help the Atlanta Braves pull even in their first-round set against the Houston Astros.


Sosa fined \$87,400 for last-game bolt

CHICAGO - Sammy Sosa #39;s agent said Thursday he likely will file a grievance after the Chicago Cubs star was fined \$87,400 - one day #39;s salary - for arriving late and leaving early at the season finale.


Domenech names experimental midfield for Ireland

France #39;s coach Raymond Domenech opted for an experimental midfield on Thursday when he named his side to take on Ireland in a World Cup qualifier this weekend.


Latest news briefs from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Both vice presidential candidates said Yasser Arafat is not a partner for peace. As Vice President Dick Cheney faced off in Cleveland on Tuesday night against Sen. John Edwards (DN.


Stocks Close One Percent Lower

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The major stock indexes ended 1  percent lower on Thursday after crude oil rose to a record \$53  a barrel and drug makers like Pfizer Inc. PFE.N and Merck    Co. MRK.N sank on worry that the government may intensify  scrutiny of that sector.


Oil prices scaled new heights at \$53 for U.S. crude Thursday on concerns over tight winter heating fuel supplies and an unexpected strike at Nigerian oil terminals.


Marriott's 3Q Earnings Up 45 Percent

Hotel operator Marriott International Inc. said its third-quarter earnings rose 45 percent as growing demand for rooms helped drive revenue up 9 percent.


Biolase cuts outlook, shares tumble

Medical technology company Biolase Technology Inc. (BLTI.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday cut its outlook for the third and fourth quarters, sending its shares tumbling by


Ferguson issues Blues warning

Alex Ferguson sounded a warning note to Chelsea after they maintained their five-point gap at the top of the Barclays Premiership with a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle.


Nokia Eyed for Pace of Recovery at Phones Unit

Investors will be looking to see if the world #39;s top mobile phone maker Nokia can sustain momentum at its recovering handset unit into the key Christmas season when it reports earnings next week.


NTPC issue sold 4 times on Day 1

National Thermal Power Corporations (NTPCs) initial public offering (IPO) opened to a thumping response today, and was subscribed almost four times.


Consumers Tighten Borrowing in August

WASHINGTON Oct. 7, 2004 - Consumers cut back on their borrowing in August by the largest amount since the end of 1990 as confidence in the economy fell and energy prices surged.


Newspaper Companies #39; Profit Seen Rising

NEW YORK - Hurt by erratic advertising demand, many of the nation #39;s newspaper companies will fail to deliver the profits they had hoped for in the latest quarter.


Read book snippets on Google

SAN FRANCISCO -- If you want to hit the books online, you can point your Internet browser to hit the online search engine Google. The site invited publishers to include entire books in its index, which will


British P2P File Sharers Face Legal Action

The British Phonographic Industry threatens tough action.  quot;We will get IP addresses and names, quot; a spokesperson said.  quot;P2P users have a misconception that they are anonymous, but they are not.


Kodak, Sun Settle Java Lawsuit

Eastman Kodak Co. and Sun Microsystems Inc. have settled their lawsuit over whether Sun infringed on Kodak #39;s patents in creating the Java platform.


Google Sends Out an SMS

Google this week launched a beta test version of Google SMS, a new service that lets users of wireless devices query Google for specific information, such as business or residential phone listings, product prices, and word definitions, the company says.


HP unveils cheaper, faster, smaller mono printers

Hewlett Packard has introduced a new range of smaller, quicker and cheaper mono printers targeted at the home, SME and enterprise markets.


Sosa fined \$87,400 by Cubs

Sammy Sosa was fined \$87,400 -- one day #39;s salary -- for arriving late to the Cubs #39; regular-season finale at Wrigley Field and leaving the game early.


Italian premier tells EU immigration control top priority

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday that the problem of immigration was one of three priority issues facing his government, the day after it resumed mass deportations of illegal immigrants.


UN, Haitian police round up 75 in dawn sweep to curtail violence

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): UN peacekeepers and Haitian police rounded up 75 people for questioning Wednesday in a dawn sweep of the capitals Bel-air district, bastion of former president Jean Bertrand Aristides partisans, aimed at quelling violence


Israel Retracts Allegations about Transporting Rockets by UNRWA #39;s <b>...</b>

Following allegations that UNRWA help transporting Qassam rockets in its vehicles, the Israeli government retracted Tuesday its allegations, Israeli Haaretz Online Daily reported.


Music industry sues Net song-swappers

The piracy-battered music industry will for the first time sue British, French and Austrian music fans, including a French school teacher


For the record 7 October

The founder of the Netscape browser, software which once vied for the top spot with Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer, has said he believes the browser wars may be back.


Opportunity Rover Stumbles Upon Rocky, Maybe Watery, Find

Almost by accident, NASA #39;s Mars rover Opportunity has found a rock that may point to a second water event in the red planet #39;s past.


Microsoft delays IM beta release over security concerns

com October 7, 2004, 12:45 PM PT. There #39;s no doubt the Internet will continue to make its mark in the world of business and technology.


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

St. Louis -- Jason Marquis pitches tonight with both eyes facing forward. He has tried it the other way. It didn #39;t work, not while he played in Atlanta.


A European Turkey stands to be a guiding light for the Muslim <b>...</b>

Is Turkey ready to officially become part of Europe? The world will know the answer in another 10 years. A decade may sound a long time, but the ball is finally rolling on Turkey #39;s European Union membership after 40 years of wavering talks.


Suspected Shiite bombs kill 39 Pakistani Sunnis

Two bombs planted in a car and motorcycle exploded before dawn this morning at a gathering of Sunni Muslim radicals in central Pakistan, killing at least 39 people and wounding about 100 others.


Sadr aide released from US detention in Iraq

A top aide to radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was freed from US detention on Thursday, an aide to Sadr said. Sheikh Moayad al-Khazraji, who was believed to have been held


Israeli Cat out of the Bag

One of Ariel Sharon #39;s closest advisers, in fact, his former chief of staff, Dov Weisglass, has revealed to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz the ulterior motives behind Sharon #39;s unilateral decision to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.


Hong Kong bank crushes more than customer #39;s spirits

Hong Kong - A Hong Kong bank that trashed 83 safety deposit boxes and their valuable contents apologised on Wednesday for the blunder and offered customers a compensation package worth up to 12.


Auburn: Unbeaten, unhappy

Now Auburn knows what it #39;s like to be the odd team out -- a feeling Southern Cal knew only too well last year. This year, though, the Trojans have no complaints.


Hurt by erratic advertising demand, many of the nation #39;s newspaper companies will fail to deliver the profits they had hoped for in the latest quarter.


Kodak, Sun Settle Patent Case

Three days after a jury found Sun Microsystems (Quote, Chart) had infringed on Eastman Kodak patents, the two parties settled their lawsuit out of court.


Bush defends war despite arms report

US President George W. Bush on Thursday defended his decision to go to war against the  quot;unique threat quot; of Iraq, despite an official US report that Baghdad did not have weapons of mass destruction, as a Shiite militia pledged to disarm.


Doctors told to let baby Charlotte die

The parents of a premature baby have lost their battle to force doctors to keep tiny 11-month-old Charlotte alive if she stops breathing a fourth time.


Co-Founder of Google's Blogger Leaving Company (Reuters)

Reuters - Web search leader Google Inc.\ on Thursday said the head of its Web log service,\Blogger, will leave at the end of the week to pursue other\interests.


First Look: Polaroid's Snazzy Photo Printer (PC World)

PC World - Thermal printer produces great-looking snapshots, but they don't come\  cheap.


REVIEW: GPS Navigation in a Mobile Phone (AP)

AP - O.K., so I don't like asking for directions. But I don't get lost so often that I need to spend more than  #36;1,000 on a built-in car navigation system to plot my course with global positioning satellites.


Kodak, Sun Microsystems Settle Java Suit (AP)

AP - Eastman Kodak Co., poised to ask for more than  #36;1 billion in damages from Sun Microsystems Inc., has reached an out-of-court settlement in a long-running patent dispute over the Silicon Valley company's Java programming language.


Death Stars: Sterilizing the Galactic Center (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Anyone looking for signs of extraterrestrial life need not look in the center of our galaxy.


Rockets Hit Downtown Baghdad Sheraton

BAGHDAD, Iraq Oct. 7, 2004 - Rockets struck a Baghdad hotel housing foreign contractors and journalists late Thursday, drawing return fire and underscoring the precarious security in the heart of the Iraqi capital.


AT T to Cut About 7,000 Jobs (Reuters)

Reuters - AT T Corp.  will cut about\7,000 jobs and reduce the value of its assets by  #36;11.4 billion\due to its retreat from traditional consumer telephone\services, the company said on Thursday.


Labor Costs, Hurricane Hit Alcoa Profit (Reuters)

Reuters - Alcoa Inc. , the world's\biggest aluminum producer, said on Thursday that net income for\the quarter rose slightly, as labor problems and the effect of\Hurricane Ivan offset high aluminum prices.


Japanese Cars Tops Fuel Efficiency List (AP)

AP - Japanese vehicles dominate the government's annual list of vehicles with the best fuel economy, but Ford Motor Co. can claim the most fuel efficient pickup and sport utility vehicle.


La-Z-Boy Shares Tumble on Lowered Outlook (AP)

AP - Shares of furniture maker and retailer La-Z-Boy Inc. fell nearly 13 percent Thursday after the company lowered its second-quarter outlook on rising raw material costs.


Stocks Fall on \$53 Oil, Drug Sector Woes

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks sank on Thursday as crude oil  climbed to a record \$53 a barrel and major drug makers' shares  slid on the possibility they will face more stringent scrutiny  from regulators.


Labor Costs, Hurricane Hit Alcoa Profit

NEW YORK (Reuters) -  Alcoa Inc. AA.N, the world's  biggest aluminum producer, said on Thursday that net income for  the quarter rose slightly, as labor problems and the effect of  Hurricane Ivan offset high aluminum prices.


Oil Prices Hit \$53 a Barrel, Then Stage a Retreat

This winter, as crude oil touched \$53 a barrel today, they will translate into higher heating bills for American households.


AT T to Cut 7,000 Jobs and Reduce Assets by \$11.4 Billion

The new measures are due to AT T's retreat from selling services to consumers, the company said today.


Government to Rest in Enron Fraud Trial

The government prepared to rest its fraud and conspiracy case today following testimony from a key Enron executive that a barge sale was a sham designed to inflate profits.


Radio Astronomers Remove the Blindfold

PPARC -- UK radio astronomers at the Jodrell Bank Observatory, working with colleagues from Europe and the USA, have demonstrated a new technique that will revolutionise the way they observe.     To create the very best quality images of the sky, they routinely combine data from multiple telescopes from around the world  a technique called Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)...


Walking a Bit More May Help Keep Weight Off

By JOSEPH B. VERRENGIA    DENVER (AP) -- A year ago, Dr...


Oracle may be readying new PeopleSoft bid

During courtroom testimony, a director for the database giant offers insight into the future of the takeover bid.


Syrian President Makes Peace Overtures (AP)

AP - Fearful of being left behind, Syrian President Bashar Assad has been saying something quite startling  #151; that he is willing to resume peace talks with Israel unconditionally.


Martha Stewart Accuses US of Hiding Key Memos

A day before Martha Stewart was to start serving a prison sentence, the lifestyle trendsetter on Thursday accused prosecutors of withholding evidence she hopes will help


Tanguay, Zednik join NHL #39;s influx to Europe

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Colorado Avalanche left wing Alex Tanguay and Montreal Canadiens right wing Richard Zednik have both signed with European teams, joining a growing list of talent who will play overseas during the NHL #39;s current labor dispute.


Explosion in Hotel at Israel-Egypt Border

An explosion rocked at hotel in the Egyptian border town of Taba, near Israel, on Thursday and a large number of casualties were reported, Israel Radio reported.


Qwest, DirecTV expand satellite deal

The two companies increase an alliance to bundle DirecTV's service with the telecom provider's own offerings.


SAP touts NetWeaver enhancements

SAP is rolling out a new set of Java and business intelligence enhancements to its NetWeaver middleware and integration stack.


IBM spells out mainframe strategy

IBM is laying out a new road map for its mainframe that will include the adoption of the Common Information Model standard that allows different platforms to exchange information.


Attachmate details new Synapta tools

Attachmate's new Synapta presentation and builder tools are designed to abstract host information so developers can more quickly build composite applications with existing assets.


CA offers usage-based pricing for mainframe tools

Computer Associates said all of its products for use with IBM's zSeries mainframes and the zOS operating system are now available on a pay-as-you-go basis.


Users mixed on Siebel's 'Chapter Two' direction

Users of Siebel's CRM software offered mixed reviews on the "Chapter Two" strategy the company unveiled this week as a way to revitalize its sagging fortunes and help customers complete successful software rollouts.


Howard Schmidt to lead U.S. CERT

Howard Schmidt, chief security officer at eBay and a former White House cybersecurity adviser, has been named chairman of the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.


Andreessen: Microsoft to make Internet Explorer more competitive

The success of alternative Web browsers could push Microsoft to more aggressively leverage its dominance of Internet client software, said Marc Andreessen, one of the founders of Netscape.


Q A: Cognos CEO calls business intelligence ROI a 'fuzzy' metric

Cognos CEO Rob Ashe says companies are demanding a more tangible means of measuring the return on their business intelligence investment.


Analysis: PeopleSoft's future hard to predict

Last week's firing of Craig Conway as PeopleSoft's CEO, followed by testimony from a PeopleSoft director this week that he would be open to discussions with Oracle if the price was right, appears to have changed the dynamics between the two companies.


Brief: CA expects loss on restructuring, settlement charges

Although Computer Associates met its sales forecast for its second quarter, it will post a loss for the period as it absorbs restructuring charges and the \$225 million it agreed to pay in compensation for its accounting violations.


First Look: Polaroid's Snazzy Photo Printer

Thermal printer produces great-looking snapshots, but they don't come cheap.


Congressional Bill Imposes Prison Time Over 'Spyware'

By TED BRIDIS    WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House on Thursday passed the second bill in three days that would outlaw "spyware," irritating software that quietly monitors the activities of Internet users.    It would add penalties of up to five years in prison for people convicted of installing such programs without a computer user's permission...


International Music Industry Group Launches Piracy Suits

By JANE WARDELL    LONDON (AP) -- The international record industry escalated its fight against music piracy Thursday, announcing that it will file hundreds of lawsuits across Europe against individuals and groups it accuses of illegally sharing music through the Internet.    The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, representing record companies tired of losing millions of dollars in revenue, said its affiliates are filing 459 lawsuits in Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Austria...


MSNs Search Engine Preview is Back

MSN's Search Engine Preview is Back\\At the end of July I reviewed MSN's first tech preview for their new search engine. I wasn't impressed. (Man, I'm getting crabby. Hey you kids, get off my lawn! Where's my Geritol?!) Now there's another preview available at http://techpreview.search.msn.com/ and the relevancy is much ...


IceRocket Adds Blog Search to New Features\\IceRocket, the search engine that has been hailed by many for their approach to "pioneering commercial search by putting the interests of wants and consumers before advertisers" has recently added some new features which are sure to increase their buzz - but not as ...


Anti-Spyware Bill Passed by House

Anti-Spyware Bill Passed by House\\Legislation prohibiting spyware practices was passed Tuesday by the United States House of Representatives in a 399-1 vote. Termed the Spy Act, this bill not only prevents all things associated with spyware, but it also requires that opt-ins, notices and consents accompany any legal software that ...


Columnists: Fueling the Fire

The latest Symantec Threat Report can provide us with information, knowledge, and even a little bit of wisdom -- about what has truly become an epidemic and an avenue for organized crime.


Microsoft Looks to Expand Windows at Home (AP)

AP - Efforts by Microsoft Corp. and the PC industry to expand into to the living room will get a boost next week as they show off technologies that try to balance Hollywood's piracy fears with the appeal of digital media.


Sun: MS truce clears way to open source Solaris

LinuxWorld If that's selling out, we want to sell out more often


Blast in Egypt-Israel Border Hotel, Bomb Suspected (Reuters)

Reuters - A huge blast tore through an Egyptian\hotel used by vacationing Israelis at the border resort of Taba\on Thursday, scattering dozens of bodies in what Israeli media\said was a suspected car bombing.


Iran Wants Syria Cooperation in Face of U.S. Pressure (Reuters)

Reuters - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami\said on Thursday Syria and Iran had to cooperate for the sake\of peace in the Middle East and in the face of pressure from\the United States.


Crippled Sub Under Tow After Fire (Reuters)

Reuters - A British tug on Thursday began towing a\crippled Canadian submarine to safety, a day after a fire\killed one crewman and critically injured another.


Peru TV Shows Images of Man Burned Alive (AP)

AP - Peru's state-run television station broadcast images Thursday of villagers in the country's remote Lake Titicaca region dousing an accused thief with gasoline and setting him ablaze.


Red Sea hotel blast leaves at least seven wounded: Israeli medics (AFP)

AFP - An explosion at a hotel in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Taba neighbouring Israel left several casualties, Israeli police and medical sources said.


Explosion Rattles Kabul Ahead of Elections (AP)

AP - A loud explosion rattled the Afghan capital early Friday, the day before historic elections, and an international peacekeeper said the blast occurred several hundred yards from peacekeeping headquarters.


Democrats: Republican 'Hammer' should step down (AFP)

AFP - Outraged Democrats called for the resignation of senior Republican lawmaker Tom DeLay for a  quot;disturbing pattern of corruption quot; following his censure by a House ethics panel.


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US Wants Israel to Explain Comment on Peace Process

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States wants Israel to  further explain an Israeli official's statement that Israel  aims to freeze the peace process and effectively deny the  Palestinians a state, a U.S. official said on Thursday.


Ukraine enters third week of crisis with new deadlock (AFP)

AFP - Ukraine entered its third week of political crisis with a new deadlock, as the opposition clashed with the ruling regime over changing the constitution ahead of a new runoff presidential vote ordered by the supreme court.


U.S. Bomb-Grade Plutonium Convoy to Cross France

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - A heavily guarded convoy of  vehicles believed to be carrying a large shipment of U.S.  weapons-grade plutonium crossed France on Thursday on its way  for recycling, despite protests by anti-nuclear campaigners.