TiVo, Netflix may join forces

Shares of TiVo Inc. and Netflix Inc. rose Tuesday after a published report said the two Bay Area firms were set to join forces to rent downloadable movies over the Internet.


Salton Loss Widens, Hurt by Charges

Salton Inc. , a maker of household appliances with brands such as Westinghouse and George Foreman, on Wednesday reported wider quarterly losses, hurt by hefty restructuring charges.


Space/Astronomy Blog Archives

NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe issued a statement regarding the damage left behind at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Frances.


Sven is cool

Under-pressure England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson insists he does not fear the sack even if his team lose in Poland tonight. Speculation is mounting that the Swede will lose his job if England


Italian Leaders Condemn Kidnapping of Aid Workers in Iraq

Italy is again under shock over the kidnapping of two of its aid workers in Iraq, this time young women who were in Baghdad to assist with reconstruction efforts.


Hurricane Ivan Charges Westward Through Caribbean

The latest in a series of violent storms continues to charge westward through the Caribbean, after making a direct hit on Grenada, knocking over trees and utility poles.


Frances Fouls Up Phones, Power

Florida's power and telecommunications infrastructure suffered a serious blow when Hurricane Frances blew in over Labor Day weekend. Portable cellular phone service stations and generators offer only a temporary fix. By Jacob Ogles.


Flight ID Rules Fuel Fresh Furor

A privacy advocate who is suing the government for allegedly forcing airlines to ID passengers is pressing to have his case aired publicly. Government attorneys, meanwhile, want the court to hear their arguments in secret. By Ryan Singel.


Voter Bounty Hits Hundred Grand

The brains behind Hot or Not have turned their attention -- and their wallets -- to getting people to join the electorate. Twin \$100,000 prizes are up for grabs to those who register to vote. By Dan Brekke.


Slide Rule Still Rules

Decades have passed since the pocket calculator relegated the trusty slide rule to near obscurity. Now, an exhibit celebrates the lengthy history of the device, featuring the slide rules of celebrity geeks. By Michelle Delio.


Bright Lights, Burning City

This year's Burning Man festival was alive with light all day and all night, as luminescent art and wild displays of fire lit the desert skies. Daniel Terdiman reports from Black Rock City, Nevada.


State to Slam Diebold With Suit

California Attorney General Bill Lockyer will move forward with a false-claims lawsuit against the electronic voting-machine maker. The Golden State accuses Diebold of installing electronic voting systems that were not tested or approved.


Hurricane Hammers Shuttle Program

Winds and water wreak havoc on the Kennedy Space Center. The damage could delay space flights scheduled for next spring.


Before-the-Bell: JetBlue, Oracle Fall (Reuters)

Reuters - Shares of JetBlue Airways Corp.\ fell nearly 8 percent in premarket trading on\Wednesday after warning that the recent hurricanes in Florida\would hurt its earnings.


Heineken Profit Falls As Sales Increase (AP)

AP - The Dutch brewer Heineken NV reported its profit fell 27 percent due in part to the weaker dollar despite a rise in sales in the first half of the year.


DJ Sees Profit Shortfall on Weak Ad Sales

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dow Jones   Co. on Wednesday cut its  earnings forecast for the current quarter, citing weakness this  month in key advertising categories at its flagship newspaper,  The Wall Street Journal.


Israel's Sharon Agrees to Changes to W. Bank Barrier

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon agreed to  changes in the route of Israel's West Bank barrier on Wednesday  but insisted on keeping key Jewish settlement blocks inside,  political sources said.


Gunmen Take Three Hostage at Ugandan Ministry

KAMPALA, Uganda (Reuters) - A small group of suspected  gunmen stormed Uganda's Water Ministry Wednesday and took three  people hostage to protest against proposals to allow President  Yoweri Museveni to run for a third term.


Microsoft Delays SP2 Delivery--Again

Software giant allows users more time to prepare for XP's security fix.


BA to sell Qantas stake; analysts see alliance shakeup

LONDON : British Airways (BA) said it would sell its 1.1 billion Australian dollar (770 million US) stake in Australia #39;s Qantas in a move seen as likely to fuel a major realignment of airline alliances.


Chicken strips boost McDonald #39;s

McDonald #39;s Corp. said Wednesday worldwide sales at its namesake restaurants open at least 13 months rose 3.9 percent in August, helped by strong sales of new menu items, including fried chicken strips.


EU Ponders Appeal of Sugar Subsidy Ruling

The European Union said Wednesday it would consider appealing a World Trade Organization ruling that found its subsidies to European sugar producers violate global trade rules.


Stocks may slide

US stock futures fell Wednesday before a speech by US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan in which he is expected to restate the central bank #39;s commitment to raising interest rates in a measured way.


EU approves GMO seed for planting across bloc

The European Union approved on Wednesday the first biotech seeds for planting and sale across EU territory, angering green groups who maintain they could contaminate other crops.


BBC, Media Giants in Talks Over Worldwide Unit

The BBC confirmed on Wednesday it had held talks with media companies including Time Warner, Bertelsmann and Walt Disney about its commercial subsidiary


Cash America Declares Special Dividend Related to Sale of

FORT WORTH, Texas - (BUSINESS WIRE) -ept. 8, 2004  -h America International, Inc. (NYSE: PWN) announced today that its Board of Directors, at a specially called meeting, declared a one time special


Dow Jones  amp; Co. on Wednesday cut its earnings forecast for the current quarter, citing weakness this month in key advertising categories at its flagship newspaper, The Wall Street Journal.


Nokia #39;s Series 80 handsets to include Blackberry software

NEW YORK, September 8 (New Ratings) - Nokia (NOK.NYS) reportedly announced yesterday that its Series 80-based handsets, which are scheduled to be launched in 1Q05, would integrate the BlackBerry software.


Red Hat upgrades security

Linux software maker Red Hat on Tuesday released an update to its enterprise product with security upgrades, support for IBM Power5 servers, new driver support and bug fixes.


Tkachuk scores four as US defeats Russia 5-3 in World Cup quarter <b>...</b>

Tkachuk, who didn #39;t show up on time for Team USA #39;s morning meeting at the Xcel Energy Center, was wide awake by game time and scored four goals in a 5-3 victory over Russia in a World Cup of Hockey quarter-final elimination game Tuesday.


With Gibbs back, Redskins raise expectations

Ashburn, Va. -- Joe Gibbs walked past the three Super Bowl trophies in the office lobby and stood in front of a photo, taken at the White House, of the last Washington Redskins team 1999 to win more games than it lost.


College Football

Tyrone Willingham, admitting his disappointment with Notre Dame #39;s offense, reiterated Tuesday that the Fighting Irish can turn things around.


US beats Russia, advances to semis

Keith Tkachuk had four goals and an assist to lead the United States into the World Cup of Hockey semifinals with a 5-3 victory last night over Russia in St.


Gators Anxious To Play; Crowder And Herring Will Play 9/8/2004

The Long mystery surrounding whether or not linebacker Channing Crowder and safety Jarvis Herring would serve their suspensions now or later has been resolved.


Hurricane Ivan Devastates Grenada

ST. GEORGE #39;S, Grenada Sept. 8, 2004 - Hurricane Ivan made a direct hit on Grenada, killing at least three people as it turned concrete homes into piles of rubble and hurled the island #39;s landmark red zinc roofs through the air.


British soldier charged with Iraqi #39;s murder

A 21-year-old British soldier has appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court charged with the murder of a civilian in Iraq. Trooper Kevin Lee Williams, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, is charged with murdering


Anwar Seeks Court Clearance

A bid by Malaysias former deputy leader Anwar Ibrahim to clear his criminal record and return to politics gained pace today as the nations highest court said it would rule next week on an appeal to overturn his corruption conviction.


Brunei prepares for royal wedding

BRUNEI was rolling out the red carpet Tuesday for royals and government leaders attending the grand wedding of the heir to the throne of this oil-rich south-east Asian sultanate.


Delta CEO Sees 6,000 to 7,000 Job Cuts (Reuters)

Reuters - Delta Air Lines Inc.  Chief\Executive Gerald Grinstein on Wednesday said his transformation\plan for the struggling No. 3 U.S. airline would include 6,000\to 7,000 job cuts over the next 18 months and a dehubbing of\its Dallas/Fort Worth operation.


Israel Whistleblower May Marry American (AP)

AP - Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu said Wednesday he wants to replace his Israeli citizenship with a foreign one, perhaps Palestinian, and is considering marrying an American pen pal.


Delta CEO Sees 6,000 to 7,000 Job Cuts

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL.N Chief  Executive Gerald Grinstein on Wednesday said his transformation  plan for the struggling No. 3 U.S. airline would include 6,000  to 7,000 job cuts over the next 18 months and a dehubbing of  its Dallas/Fort Worth operation.


Spurs overcome sloppy effort to top Bulls

With his mother living in France, and his father, brothers and grandparents living in Chicago, Tony Parker doesn #39;t get to play in front of his family that often.


Coke Enterprises Cuts Earnings Forecast

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. CCE.N, the  world's largest bottler of Coca-Cola drinks, on Wednesday  lowered its earnings forecast for the year, citing lower-than  expected volume in North America and Europe.


Austrians, Italian prevail in slalom

BEAVER CREEK - Most individuals wouldn #39;t be able to turn a steering wheel 63 times in less than a minute. Try it on skis. Some racers in Sunday #39;s Birds of Prey slalom didn #39;t even make it through the first


Boston Scientific's Ireland Plant Cleared

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Boston Scientific Corp. BSX.N said on  Wednesday that inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug  Administration found no problems at a plant in Ireland that  makes Taxus heart stents, which were the subject of a recall.


Mylan Says It's Committed to King Deal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mylan Laboratories Inc. MYL.N on  Wednesday said investor Carl Icahn's opposition to Mylan's  proposed purchase of King Pharmaceuticals Inc. KG.N does not  affect Mylan's commitment to complete the transaction.


BA Reignites Iberia Takeover Talk with Qantas Cash

British Airways is in prime position for Europe #39;s most attractive potential airlines merger but analysts say strict ownership laws bar any speedy deal with Spain #39;s Iberia.


UPDATE 2-Delta to cut 6,000 to 7,000 jobs, close Dallas hub

Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said it will cut 6,000 to 7,000 jobs, or about 10 percent of its work force, over the next 18


Coke Enterprises Cuts Profit Forecast

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s largest bottler of Coca-Cola drinks, on Wednesday cut its earnings forecast due to lower-than-expected


Wal-Mart CEO Sees Culture Change as Lawsuits Mount

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. can no longer remain sheltered in its Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters while potentially costly lawsuits pile up, Chief Executive Officer Lee Scott said on Wednesday.


Columbus near middle of traffic congestion ranking

Commuters in the Columbus metropolitan area waited an average of 29 hours in traffic tie-ups in 2002 -- making it the 39th most congested large city in the nation, according to a report by the Texas Transportation Institute.


Continental Adds Airfare Surcharges

Continental Airlines Inc. said Wednesday it will tack on surcharges to plane tickets purchased by phone or at US airports, joining several other domestic carriers that recently have added similar fees to alleviate


Icahn attempting to block another corporate takeover

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn and a group of investors are opposing yet another corporate takeover. The investors, led by Icahn, have accumulated a 7 percent stake in Mylan Laboratories Inc.


Dow Jones cuts forecast, stock sinks

Company cites weak Wall Street Journal ads, analysts predict weak results at other newspaper chains. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dow Jones  amp; Co.


Boston Scientific says FDA clears Ireland plant

Boston Scientific Corp. on Wednesday said US drug regulators inspected the Natick-based company #39;s Ireland plant that makes Taxus drug-coated stents and gave the facility a clean bill of health.


Salton #39;s 4Q Loss Widens on Charges

Salton Inc., the maker of George Foreman grills and other household appliances, posted a wider quarterly loss for the three months ended July 3, hurt by charges from cutting staff and closing US facilities despite a rise in revenue.


Intel goes for dual-core

p2pnet.net News:- Intel will offer dual core  #39;two-in-one #39; microprocessors across all product lines starting next year. And by 2006, most chips sold for desktop and notebook PCs, as well as server computers


Watch TV, Zoom In

Sony has developed a computer chip that allows viewers to zoom in on any part of a TV image, such as a favorite soccer player or an intruder on security-camera footage, while keeping the image sharp.


Criticism and Praise for New HDS Storage Platform

Hitachi Data Systems #39; (Quote, Chart) TagmaStore Universal Storage Platform was designed to grab market share from high-end competitors EMC and IBM (Quote, Chart).


Cleaning Up Kennedy Space Center After Frances

Summary - (Sep 8, 2004) NASA workers are continuing to assess the damage that Hurricane Frances wreaked on the Kennedy Space Center when it tore through Cape Canaveral over the weekend.


California Joins Suit Against E-Voting Vendor Diebold

Stanford University professor and e-voting activist David Dill said the Diebold case fits with a national pattern that is influencing the adoption of electronic voting before its time.


Tellabs Slashes AFC Buyout Price

Tellabs (TLAB:Nasdaq - news - research) rose early Wednesday after it slashed 20 from the price it will pay for Advanced Fibre (AFCI:Nasdaq - news - research).


Microsoft Sets a New Deadline for XP Service Pack 2

The company #39;s automatic blocking tool for SP2 will only work until April 2005. After that, Microsoft will push its security update automatically to all XP customers.


Oracle Micro-Sizes App Prices For Small Businesses

It #39;s pushing its Application Server Standard Edition One, a full-sized version of the Standard Edition app server, but priced at \$4,995.


Mobile-game market to boom, study says

The US mobile-game industry will leap to annual revenue of \$1.8 billion by 2009, according to a new study from market research company In-Stat/MDR.


Apple Issues Mega Security Update

Computer maker Apple (Quote, Chart) has released a security update to fix more than a dozen flaws in the Jaguar and Panther versions of its flagship Mac operating system.


Red Hat ups security for Enterprise Linux 3

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 3 limits how much damage a hacker could do. The company said the release is ahead of schedule and not a reaction to any specific threat.


Fuel savings of 10-15 in cities with PSA Peugeot Citrons <b>...</b>

Jean-Martin Folz, CEO of PSA Peugeot Citron yesterday unveiled the Groups new Stop  amp; Start system at a ceremony in Paris attended by Serge Lepeltier, French Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development, and Patrick Devedjian, French Minister of


Sony readies high-definition camcorder

Sony plans to launch a new camcorder in November that can record and play back high-definition video. The device, part of the company #39;s Handycam line, records and plays back video with a resolution of 1,440


SugarCRM sweetens new open-source CRM product

SEPTEMBER 08, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Open-source software start-up SugarCRM Inc. will release the first commercial enterprise version of its Linux-based open-source CRM application tomorrow, starting at \$149 per seat for the first year.


Star Trek Makes MMO Leap

Online, the final frontier; the venerable Star Trek franchise prepares to make the leap into the MMO universe. Perpetual Entertainment has announced its plans to bring the 24th century series to the digital world.


August sees 10 per cent spam drop

August saw a 10 per cent drop in spam levels, according to email security company Messagelabs. The company said there was a sequential drop in spam with levels falling from 94.


T-Mobile Flashes Flarion Trial

Wireless carrier T-Mobile International AG today confirmed it is carrying out trials of Flarion Technologies Flash OFDM equipment in European air space.


The reign has ended

Vijay Singh #39;s long quest for No. 1 finally comes to fruition after he knocks off Tiger Woods on Labor Day at the TPC of Boston.


Fantasy Spin:

The Dolphins have acquired Lamar Gordon from the St. Louis Rams for a third-round draft choice next season. The deal fills the apparent void at running back for Miami, although Gordon #39;s impact likely won #39;t be felt in the first week of the season.


Tkachuk sends  #39;em packin #39;

So much, it was put to Brian Leetch, for the theory that Team USA is too old. Team USA is alive in the World Cup of Hockey on the wings of last night #39;s 5-3 victory over Team Russia in quarter-final action in St.


Reid gets four-year extension through 2010

Andy Reid received a four-year contract extension from the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday that will take him through the 2010 season.


Hamburg hampered by Lauth knock

Hamburg SV striker Benjamin Lauth will be sidelined for up to four weeks because of complications to a fractured foot and perhaps longer if surgery is required, coach Klaus Toppmoeller said on Wednesday.


Jets place Mickens on IR, sign Buckley

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The New York Jets placed veteran cornerback Ray Mickens on injured reserve Wednesday and signed defensive back Terrell Buckley.


GAME DAY PREVIEW Game time: 10:00 PM

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle Storm look to end a three-game losing streak when they host the defending WNBA champion Detroit Shock at Key Arena on Wednesday.


For Phil, it #39;s out with Titleist, in with Callaway

Less than a week after being released from the remaining 16 months on his five-year contract with The Acushnet Co., Phil Mickelson has signed a multiyear pact with Callaway Golf, according to the company.


Can Bonds reach 700 in Coors Field finale?

Bonds will look to make the most of his last visit of the year to hitter-friendly Coors Field as the San Francisco Giants wrap up a two-game series with the Colorado Rockies.


Scientist Has Concerns About Uses of DNA (AP)

AP - The scientist who discovered genetic "fingerprinting" two decades ago said Wednesday that he has some concerns about the use of the technology.


CT Scan Reveals Dino Skeleton's Secrets (AP)

AP - A CT scan of dinosaur bones from northwest Wyoming could help resolve a dispute about the great Tyrannosaurus rex.


Eagles Reward Reid with Four-Year Extension

Philadelphia, Pa. (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia  Eagles locked up their most successful head coach in franchise  history Wednesday, signing Andy Reid to a four-year contract  extension.


New Fissure Opens on Etna Volcano (Reuters)

Reuters - A new fissure yawned open on the\southeastern side of Sicily's Mount Etna volcano on Tuesday,\oozing out enough lava to cross a city block, researchers said.


Bush Laments Loss of U.S. Troops in Iraq (AP)

AP - With the number of American military deaths in Iraq surpassing 1,000, President Bush said Wednesday "we mourn every loss of life" and declared that the United States was making good progress in the war against terrorism.


Arsenal, Rosenborg ready for tie

London, Dec 07 - Arsenal face a decisive Champions League Test against Rosenborg on Tuesday. If the English Premier League champions can beat the Norwegian outfit, then progress to the last sixteen of the tournament is assured.


Global survey shows 30 of 35 countries want Kerry in White House (AFP)

AFP - A majority of people in 30 of 35 countries want Democratic party flagbearer John Kerry in the White House, according to a survey released showing US President George W. Bush rebuffed by all of America's traditional allies.


EU Approves GMO Seed for Planting Across Bloc (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Union approved on\Wednesday the first biotech seeds for planting and sale across\EU territory, flying in the face of widespread consumer\resistance to genetically modified (GMO) crops and foods.


Report: N.Korean Envoy Warns of Nuclear Arms Race

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's uranium enrichment  experiment four years ago is a "dangerous movement" that could  trigger a nuclear arms race in northeast Asia, a North Korean  envoy told the South's Yonhap News Agency Wednesday.


Russia Ready to Strike Against 'Terror' Worldwide

BESLAN, Russia (Reuters) - Russia's top general threatened  Wednesday to attack "terrorist bases" anywhere in the world, as  security services put a \$10 million bounty on two Chechen  rebels they blame for last week's school siege.


Israel's Sharon Agrees Changes to W. Bank Barrier

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon agreed  Wednesday to changes in the route of Israel's West Bank barrier  but insisted on keeping key Jewish settlement blocks inside,  political sources said.


U.S. Deaths in Iraq Top 1,000; Aid Groups Eye Exit

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Dozens of international aid agencies  considered quitting Iraq Wednesday following the abduction of  two Italian women, and as the U.S. military death toll rose  above 1,000.


U.N. Wants Stronger Mandate for AU Monitors in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sudan (Reuters) - African Union (AU) monitors of  a shaky cease-fire in Sudan's remote Darfur region should have  an expanded mandate but stop short of peacekeeping, a United  Nations official in Sudan said Wednesday.


N.Ireland Peace Deal Revival Far Off - Adams

DUBLIN/BELFAST (Reuters) - One week before top-level talks  to salvage a deal for sharing power between Catholics and  Protestants in Northern Ireland, there is still no framework  for accord, the leader of the main Catholic party said  Wednesday.


One in Five Germans Wants the Berlin Wall Back

BERLIN (Reuters) - Fourteen years and a trillion euros  after reunification one in five Germans would like to see the  barrier that split the country during the Cold War put back, a  survey found Wednesday.


Delta announces job cuts

Indianapolis, Sept. 8 - The news hit an already suffering industry hard. Delta Airline #39;s restructuring calls for a reduction of ten percent of its workforce, or about 7,000 people.


Lexmark recalls 39,431 printers

The potentially faulty machines were sold under the Lexmark, IBM and Dell brands. The company has recalled these products because they could short circuit and potentially give users an electric shock.


Relentless Hewitt in quarters

LLEYTON HEWITT continued his red-hot run to reach his fifth straight US Open quarter-final at Flushing Meadows today. Australia #39;s 2001 champion obliterated unseeded Slovak Karol Beck 6-4 6-2 6-2 in 1hr 40min


Winning ways back for Lions?

There was a glow to every face in Beaver Stadium, a look of relief dissolving any despair that might have remained. Those happy expressions of players and fans carried an optimistic belief -- that this was


Golfing Roundup: Singh ends Tiger #39;s run of 5 in row

Vijay Singh won the PGA Tour player of the year award yesterday for the first time, ending Tiger Woods #39; five-year hold on the honor with a season that left no debate about who was No.


Palestinian PM threatens to quit

PALESTINIAN prime minister Ahmed Qurie has again threatened to resign over differences with leader Yasser Arafat ahead of a meeting of donor countries who help fund the Palestinian Authority, officials said today.


Bush laments loss of life in Iraq

US President George Bush pays tribute to US soldiers killed in Iraq as the death toll tops 1,000.


Delta plans to cut 10 of staff

Delta Air Lines is planning to cut 7,000 jobs, or about 10 of its workforce, as the US carrier fights to avoid bankruptcy.


Africa #39;s Health Worker Exodus: Who #39;s at Fault?

African health workers aren #39;t just being lured away by better salaries in rich countries. They are fleeing squalid and unsafe workplaces and staggering workloads.


Roddick having a real blast

From his very first service game of this US Open, defending champion Andy Roddick announced that he had his throttle on full power and wasn #39;t going to back off.


NL race tightens; Bonds homers

The Chicago Cubs are just a half-game ahead of the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros in the NL wild-card race after falling to the visiting Montreal Expos, 7-6, on Brian Schneider #39;s go-ahead single in the 12th inning.


PROBLEMS INCREASE FOR TOPPMOLLER

Hamburg manager Klaus Toppmoller has been dealt a second blow in 24 hours as he clings to his job. Toppmoller is widely tipped to be the first managerial casualty of the Bundesliga season and his squad have


Kerry, Keeping Up Criticism of Bush, Lists Costs of Iraq War

John Kerry argued today that the president left a trail of broken promises on the path to war and has squandered billions.


BA to offload Qantas stake

BRITISH Airways today announced plans to sell its 425 million stake in Australias Qantas Airways to cut debt and take advantage of consolidation in Europe.


Northwest Backs Down: Following Backlash, Carrier Rescinds GDS <b>...</b>

Northwest Airlines late last week rescinded a policy to levy fees on travel agent bookings made through global distribution systems.


Mylan exec blasts financier #39;s plan to block King merger

PITTSBURGH The chief executive of Mylan Laboratories says a move by Wall Street financier Carl Icahn (EYE #39;-kahn) to halt Mylan #39;s acquisition of King Pharmaceuticals is wrongheaded.


Accor Hotels Group Reports Drop in Profit

PARIS - French hotels group Accor SA on Wednesday reported a 24 percent drop in first-half net profit as its brands such as Sofitel and Motel 6 suffered from the uneven recovery in the global travel market.


Space Capsule Crashes in Utah

The Genesis space capsule, which promised scientists potential clues to the origin of the solar system, crashed to Earth today.


Group Franz Ferdinand Wins Mercury Prize

LONDON - Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand, whose debut album has been hailed by critics as a masterpiece of pop, won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize.    The Glasgow-based quartet were the favorites among the 12-strong shortlist to take home the award for their self-titled album...


Jets Lose Cornerback Mickens to Torn ACL

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Jets cornerback Ray Mickens was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, while Terrell Buckley was signed to take his place...


New Technology Estimates Fast-Food Demand

PITTSBURGH - Do you want fries with that? Never mind, we already know. A Pittsburgh startup, HyperActive Technologies Inc., is testing technology at area fast-food restaurants designed to give kitchen workers a good indication of what customers want before the hungry souls even get close enough to place an order...


Stocks Mixed on Greenspan's Assessment

NEW YORK - Investors were unmoved by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's improved assessment of the economy, and stocks remained mixed Wednesday in light trading.    While Greenspan said the economy has "regained some traction" after the summer's slowdown, he echoed Wall Street's concerns over energy prices, which have fallen from record highs in recent weeks but stubbornly remain above \$40 per barrel...


Delta to Cut Up to 7,000 Jobs in 18 Months

ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines will cut up to 7,000 jobs, reduce wages and pull back at its Dallas-Fort Worth airport hub as part of a sweeping restructuring plan that could still leave it vulnerable to bankruptcy.    The job cuts representing about 10 percent of its overall work force will come over the next 18 months, Delta chief executive Gerald Grinstein said Wednesday during a meeting with 300 of the company's middle managers...


U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq Pass 1,000

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. warplanes hammered suspected militant strongholds in Fallujah on Wednesday after a suicide bombing there and a series of attacks in Baghdad pushed the number of U.S...


ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines will cut up to 7,000 jobs, reduce wages and pull back at its Dallas-Fort Worth airport hub as part of a sweeping restructuring plan that could still leave it vulnerable to bankruptcy, company CEO Gerald Grinstein said Wednesday.    The job cuts representing about 10 percent of its overall work force will come over the next 18 months, Grinstein said during a meeting with 300 of the company's middle managers...


Stocks Mixed Ahead of Greenspan Testimony

NEW YORK - Stocks were little changed early Wednesday as investors awaited testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan before a House budget panel.    In morning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.08 at 10,342.71...


Hurricane Ivan Devastates Grenada

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada - Hurricane Ivan made a direct hit on Grenada, killing at least three people as it turned concrete homes into piles of rubble and hurled the island's landmark red zinc roofs through the air...


North Korea Warns of 'Nuclear Arms Race'

North Korea on Wednesday warned of a "nuclear arms race" in Northeast Asia following the recent revelation that South Korean scientists enriched a tiny amount of uranium four years ago, a news report said.


Hyundai Motor to set up commercial JV in China

SEOUL - Hyundai Motor Co, South Korea #39;s largest carmaker, said Wednesday it will build a commercial vehicle joint venture in China by 2010.


Game on for wireless data

Although set to remain a niche market, mobile gaming will continue its rise as a generator of wireless data usage and revenue, new research has claimed.


Woolworths to take on Apple #39;s iTunes

UK High Street retailer Woolworths will this year launch a digital music download service, the company #39;s parent revealed today.


Red Hat Packs More Punch Into RHEL 3.0

With Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 lined up for release next year, the open source solutions vendor has released a power pack to ensure that customers using the existing version 3.0 have access to the latest enhancements in Linux.


Penn State heading in right direction

After a spring in which Joe Paterno went from bad cop to really bad cop, the Nittany Lions responded with their finest season-opening performance in five years.


Boston offense sox A #39;s again

The 7-1 loss cuts Oakland #39;s AL West lead to 1 1/2 games and thrills the Red Sox faithful. By Tim Casey -- Bee Staff Writer. It #39;s not too late to get into a Fantasy Sports League.


Turkish mine fire toll rises

EIGHT bodies were pulled from an underground tunnel in a copper mine in northern Turkey where a massive fire broke out today, local officials said.


Palestinian PM Renews Threat to Resign

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie has renewed a threat to resign in a tussle for power with Yasser Arafat just six weeks after retracting his previous resignation, officials said on Wednesday.


Feds go for hypothetical defence in airline ID case

Rule might or might not exist. But then it'd be secret


1,000 workers rally behind Swansea IT strikers

Council claims union 'holding people of Swansea to ransom'


Wi-Fi Alliance unveils media streaming quality tech

WMM to 'kick start' wireless consumer electronics


Interview with the pornogami Grand Master

Exclusive Zen and the art of paper-based sex


Greenspan: Economy Regaining Traction

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy has escaped a  recent soft patch and seems to be picking up steam, Federal  Reserve chief Alan Greenspan said on Wednesday in remarks  economists saw as cementing a September rate rise.


Delta to Cut Up to 7,000 Jobs

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL.N on  Wednesday said it will cut 6,000 to 7,000 jobs, or about 10  percent of its work force, over the next 18 months and drop  Dallas/Fort Worth as a hub as it tries to avert bankruptcy.


JetBlue Profit to Be Hurt by Hurricanes

NEW YORK (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp. JBLU.O on  Wednesday lowered its estimate for third-quarter earnings,  citing disruptions from Hurricanes Charley and Frances.


ING Reveals Improper Trading Case Details

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. unit of Dutch financial  services group ING Groep NV said on Wednesday a review of  improper trading in its mutual funds showed only isolated  incidents of impropriety.


Spammers given boot by net host

A campaign by anti-spam groups has persuaded a large US net service provider to ban spammers using its network.


GM Hikes Incentives After Weak Sales

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. GM.N on  Wednesday raised its cash incentives by between \$500 and \$1,000  on most of its 2005 model year vehicles, a week after company  officials expressed disappointment with August sales.


Job Openings Rise, Hires Fall in July

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More U.S. jobs were available in  July though fewer people were hired, the Labor Department said  on Wednesday.


Hurricane Ivan Devastates Grenada

MIAMI (Reuters) - Powerful Hurricane Ivan charged west  through the Caribbean on Wednesday after killing at least four  people and smashing homes in a devastating punch to the tiny  spice island of Grenada and glancing blows to nearby islands.


Greenspan Economic Forecast Upbeat

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said today that U.S. economic growth has picked up since slowing sharply in the late spring.


Delta Announces 7,000 Job Cuts

Delta Air Lines will cut up to 7,000 jobs, or 10 percent of its overall work force, during the next 18 months, company CEO Gerald Grinstein said Wednesday.


Continental Airlines Adds Service Fee

Continental Airlines Inc. on Wednesday joined a string of major carriers in charging service fees for airline tickets booked at reservations centers or airport ticket counters in the United States.


Accor hotel chain sees first-half profit jump

PARIS, Sept 8 (AFP) - The French hotel chain Accor said Wednesday that pre-tax first-half profit had jumped 25 percent to EUR 225 million (USD 270 million) as business picked up in high-end hotels abroad.


Lexmark #39;s Laser-Quick Response

Before you click the print icon on your computer screen again, you may want to check the serial number of your printer. Lexmark (NYSE: LXK), a leading manufacturer of


Italian politicians set aside squabbles to work for release of two <b>...</b>

Squabbling Italian politicians pledged Wednesday to put aside their differences over the Iraq war and work together to free two female aid workers


Eagles Extend Reid's Contract Through 2010 (AP)

AP - Andy Reid received a four-year contract extension from the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday that will take him through the 2010 season.


Greenspan: Economy Regaining Traction (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. economy has escaped a\recent soft patch and seems to be picking up steam, Federal\Reserve chief Alan Greenspan said on Wednesday in remarks\economists saw as cementing a September rate rise.


Cisco Plans to Accelerate New Product Offerings (Reuters)

Reuters - Cisco Systems Inc. , the\world's largest maker of gear for directing Internet traffic,\plans to offer twice as many new products this year as ever in\its history, its chief executive said on Wednesday.


ING Reveals Improper Trading Case Details (Reuters)

Reuters - A U.S. unit of Dutch financial\services group ING Groep NV said on Wednesday a review of\improper trading in its mutual funds showed only isolated\incidents of impropriety.


Zombie PCs spam, phish, harass on the sly (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Criminals deploy zombies herded into netwoks of a few hundred to more than half a million compromised PCs. Uses vary from the simply annoying (spam attacks) to the unsavory and criminal.


Attacks on Disney #39;s Eisner Abate

Each day in a Delaware courtroom, the inner workings of the old Walt Disney Co. are on display. A shareholder lawsuit over the eye-popping severance received by former president Michael S. Ovitz


Greenspan: Economy Regaining Some Traction (AP)

AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Wednesday the economy has "regained some traction" after a late spring slowdown that was triggered by a sharp spike in oil prices.


Livewire: Web Aids Search for the Right -- or Left -- Mate (Reuters)

Reuters - The run-up to the U.S.\presidential election is casting the spotlight on a new crop of\Web sites for political-minded singles who are seeking Mr. or\Ms. Right ... or Left.


Two Programs Rescue Damaged Discs (AP)

AP - You know it's bound to happen: One of the CDs you've burned is going to stop working  #151; be it from scratches, aging, poor manufacturing or the fact that it was made with old software.


Japan crush India while South Korea and China struggle (AFP)

AFP - Newly-crowned Asian champions Japan stayed on course for the 2006 World Cup in convincing fashion while 10-man South Korea as well as China were made to struggle in qualifying matches.


Auditor general weaves tale of sponsorship abuses (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Auditor General Sheila Fraser continued to weave a tale of financial mismanagement Wednesday, singling out the Public Works Department, Via Rail and a variety of private ad agencies for criticism at the federal sponsorship inquiry.


Nokia Goes Hollywood (The Motley Fool)

The Motley Fool - To coin a phrase: It was the best of product placements. It was the worst of product placements. On Sept. 10, Finnish cell-phone handset maker Nokia (NYSE: NOK - News) will become a major Hollywood action movie star opposite Kim Basinger. Its new Nokia 6600 videophone will get the title role in the film "Cellular," distributed by Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX - News) New Line Cinema, as the heroic phone used by a police officer to track down a kidnapped Ms. Basinger.


Lawsuits Propel Wal-Mart Changes - CEO (Reuters)

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc.  can no\longer remain sheltered in its Bentonville, Arkansas,\headquarters while potentially costly lawsuits pile up, Chief\Executive Officer Lee Scott said on Wednesday.


Bill Clinton Helps Launch Search Engine

NEW YORK - Former president Bill Clinton on Monday helped launch a new Internet search company backed by the Chinese government which says its technology uses artificial intelligence to produce better results than Google Inc.


Mickelson Switches to Callaway Equipment (AP)

AP - It didn't take Masters champion Phil Mickelson long to find a new equipment deal, signing an endorsement contract with Callaway Golf on Tuesday just one week after he left Titleist.


Intel Silent on Jayhawk Replacement (PC World)

PC World - Chip maker offers few details about its plans for dual-core server processors.


Jury rules 9/11 was two attacks

Attaching victory to a string of defeats, a jury yesterday agreed with World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein #39;s claim that the planes that struck the Twin Towers represented two separate, insurable events.


EU Considers Appeal of WTO Sugar Ruling

The European Union said Wednesday it would consider appealing a World Trade Organization ruling that found its subsidies to European sugar producers violate global trade rules.


Football: England v Poland

Sven-Goran Eriksson may gamble by playing goalkeeper Paul Robinson and striker Jermain Defoe in Poland.


Delta to Cut Up to 7,000 Jobs

Delta will cut up to 10 percent of its work force over the next 18 months as part of a restructuring plan that the airline said would save \$5 billion a year in costs by 2006.


Greenspan Says Economic Expansion Was Slowed by Oil Prices

Greenspan's moderately upbeat forecast today is likely to cement expectations that the central bank will raise interest rates for a third time in two weeks.


Stocks Are Mixed on Greenspan's Testimony

Investors were unmoved by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's improved assessment of the economy, and stocks remained mixed today in light trading.


Genesis Space Capsule Crashes Into Desert

DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah - The Genesis space capsule, which had orbited the sun for more than three years in an attempt to find clues to the origin of the solar system, crashed to Earth on Wednesday after its parachute failed to deploy.    It wasn't immediately known whether cosmic samples it was carrying back as part of a six-year, \$260 million project had been destroyed...


Intern MD Injects Patient With Olive Oil

STEYR, Austria - A medical intern at a western Austria hospital mistakenly injected an elderly patient with olive oil instead of antibiotics after mixing up bedside vials, officials said Wednesday.    The patient, a 79-year-old woman in the hospital for an appendectomy, was not in life-threatening condition, hospital director Harald Geck told the Austria Press Agency...


Russia Threatens to Strike Terror Bases

MOSCOW - A top Russian general on Wednesday warned the military will strike "terrorist bases in any region of the world," while authorities offered a \$10 million reward for information leading to two Chechen rebel leaders blamed for last week's deadly raid on a school.    In a nationally televised meeting, Prosecutor-General Vladimir Ustinov also briefed President Vladimir Putin on the investigation into the taking of more than 1,200 hostages in a school last week in the southern Russian town of Beslan...


Stocks Fall After Greenspan Testimony

NEW YORK - Investors were unmoved by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's improved assessment of the economy, with stocks falling modestly Wednesday in light trading.    While Greenspan said the economy has "regained some traction" after the summer's slowdown, he echoed Wall Street's concerns over energy prices, which have fallen from record highs in recent weeks but stubbornly remain above \$40 per barrel...


Woodward Confirmed As Lions Coach

Sir Clive Woodward has been confirmed as coach of the British Lions #39; tour of New Zealand next year with a special meeting of the Lions committee on Wednesday fully backing his appointment.


National League Preview from The Sports Network

(Sports Network) - Barry Bonds can equal two huge baseball milestones tonight. However, aside from personal achievements, the San Francisco slugger is more focused on his team #39;s drive to the playoffs, and


Russian vow  #39;a threat to everyone #39;

Russia #39;s threat to target  quot;terrorists anywhere quot; is a danger to Britain, Europe and the rest of the world, a top Chechen separatist based in the UK has warned.


US soldier among 7 killed: Deputy governor in Iraq kidnapped

Gunmen abducted the US-appointed deputy governor of Anbar province on Wednesday, relatives of the official said. Several masked gunmen stormed the house of Bassem Mohammad Munajed in the


India, Pakistan report progress on Kashmir, other disputes

India and Pakistan said Wednesday they were considering scaling back thousands of troops from the Siachen Glacier, the world #39;s highest battlefield, and reported other progress


Cisco Plans to Accelerate New Product Offerings

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc. CSCO.O, the  world's largest maker of gear for directing Internet traffic,  plans to offer twice as many new products this year as ever in  its history, its chief executive said on Wednesday.


Cramming Features Into Phones

The cell phone industry is banking on cell phone that seem more like personal assistants --dialing numbers, zapping text messages from fancy keyboards, taking pictures and serving as digital Rolodexes.\-washingtonpost.com


Sasser Worm Creator Charged With Sabotage

A German teenager who created the Sasser worm that disrupted computers around the world in May has been charged with computer sabotage, prosecutors said Wednesday.


PBS: The Video Game Revolution

Documentary filmmaker and host Greg Palmer takes your questions about the PBS documentary, "The Video Game Revolution."


Solar capsule crashes into Earth

The Genesis sample-return capsule hits the ground at high speed after its drogue parachute fails to open.


UK 'green energy' centre created

Four organisations join forces to create a UK centre for marine renewable energy.


Genesis Space Capsule Crashes In Utah Desert

The Genesis space capsule, which had orbited the sun for more than three years in an attempt to find clues to the origin of the solar system, crashed to Earth on Wednesday after its parachute failed to deploy.


Unusual Number of Storms Hit Land in Florida

An unusual number of storms have made landfall in Florida in the last month, and the hurricane season is only halfway through. But experts say there is no easy answer for the run of bad luck other than the fact that the law of averages may be catching up with the state after several relatively calm hurricane seasons.


Newly Identified Gene May Link Alcoholism and Depression

By CHERYL WITTENAUER    ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Scientists say they've identified a gene that appears to be linked to both alcoholism and depression, a finding that may one day help identify those at higher risk for the diseases and guide new treatments...


Briefly: AOL updates instant messenger

roundup Plus: Push-to-talk wiretaps on feds' speed list...Tellabs scales back AFC buy...Top McAfee exec to step down...IDC says external disk storage up.


Microsoft extends block to SP2 auto update

Corporate customers now have until early 2005 to tinker with things before ingesting XP's Service Pack 2.


Earnings alert: SCO to cap legal expenses

Plus: Novell sees weakness in IT spending...Salesforce reports rise in profit...Nortel to lay off 3,500...Intuit posts loss while revenue rises.


SEC May Delay Reviews

A Securities and Exchange Commission official yesterday signaled that the agency may grant foreign companies whose stock trades on U.S. exchanges a brief delay to comply with a controversial accounting reform.


Teenager admits eBay domain hijack

A 19-year-old school pupil has reportedly confessed to taking ownership of the domain of the eBay Germany Web site.


Mobile-game market to boom, study says

By 2009, games will account for about 4 percent of all wireless-data revenue in the United States, In-Stat/MDR predicts.


Sony readies high-definition camcorder

The electronics giant is betting that consumers are ready to spend a couple grand to up the quality of their home movies.


Microsoft under your thumb

New keyboard and mouse from the company's hardware division include fingerprint readers.


Five tech firms at a crossroads

Netflix, PalmSource, Research In Motion, TiVo and Vonage have great products and were first to market, but can they hold their leads?


EarthLink to offer voice, data Blackberry device

Internet Service Provider (ISP) EarthLink Inc. Wednesday announced it is extending its reach as a communications company by offering Research in Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry 7750, which is both a wireless phone and a data device.


Independence Continues to Struggle

The Dulles-based low-fare carrier filled only 52 percent of its seats in November, compared with 52.8 percent in October, the airline's parent, Flyi Inc., reported Monday.


Siemens releases patch for series 65 phones

DSSELDORF, GERMANY - Siemens AG has received the green light from operators to offer a patch for a software defect in some of its 65 series mobile phones that could cause hearing damage, the Munich-based manufacturer said Tuesday in a statement.


Nokia plans new, lighter version of Communicator

Trying to regain some of its lost market share, Nokia Corp. is hoping to woo both enterprise and consumer customers with a lighter, sleeker version of its high-end Communicator handset that will be released worldwide at the beginning of next year, the company announced Wednesday.


Intel Silent on Jayhawk Replacement

Chip maker offers few details about its plans for dual-core server processors.


Intel Outlines WiMax Plans

Upcoming chips will lead to relatively inexpensive hardware, company says.


Molson boss says Molson-Coors mer

Canadian brewer Molson Inc. #39;s proposed merger with Adolph Coors Co. may lack sufficient shareholder support because there soon may be another offer to consider, Molson #39;s chief


Mylan chief assails Icahn #39;s plan to stall King acquisition

The head of Mylan Laboratories Inc. lashed out at Wall Street financier Carl Icahn for trying to stop the company #39;s acquisition of brand-name drug maker King Pharmaceuticals


Cash America Sells 2 European Units

Cash America International Inc., the world #39;s largest pawnshop operator, reported Wednesday that it sold the company #39;s two European units in a single transaction and agreed to purchase a 41-store pawnshop chain based in Las Vegas.


Smart Phone Market Growing Rapidly

The smart phone market will grow more crowded Wednesday with the debut of two devices directed at opposite ends of the customer spectrum: a BlackBerry for consumers with a newfangled keyboard and a Nokia phone-organizer for mobile business professionals.


Sony Developing TVs That Zoom in on Screen Image

TOKYO (AP) -- Sony Corp. (SNE) has developed a computer chip that allows viewers to zoom in on any part of a TV image, such as a favorite soccer player or an intruder on security-camera footage, while keeping the image sharp...


Solar wind space capsule crashes

A space capsule containing solar wind ions, due to be captured in mid-air by helicopter, crashed into the Utah desert without deploying either of its two parachutes at 1158 EDT (1658 BST) on Wednesday.


California sues Diebold over voting systems

Secretary of State Kevin Shelley has alleged that Diebold deceived California with aggressive marketing that led to the installation of touch-screen voting systems that were not tested or approved nationally or in California.


T-Mobile trials Flash-OFDM in the Netherlands

MAIDENHEAD, United KingdomT-Mobile International said it has deployed a trial of Flarion Technologies FLASH-OFDM system for its mobile broadband services in The Hague, the Netherlands.


New Technology Estimates Fast-Food Demand at Restaurants

By CHARLES SHEEHAN     PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Do you want fries with that? Never mind, we already know. A Pittsburgh startup, HyperActive Technologies Inc., is testing technology at area fast-food restaurants designed to give kitchen workers a good indication of what customers want before the hungry souls even get close enough to place an order...


Tennis: Game, set, errors: Serena pays price

NEW YORK In a memorable match that featured quality tennis and controversy, Jennifer Capriati outlasted Serena Williams, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, in a US Open quarterfinal.


RAIN DELAYS START IN NEW YORK

Top seed Roger Federer and two-time champion Andre Agassi hope to meet in the showpiece match at the US Open on Wednesday, but only if Mother Nature co-operates.


Robinson pitches for top England job

BAGSHOT - Andy Robinson made his pitch to become England #39;s next fulltime head coach by insisting the champions could do what no side has done before and successfully defend the World Cup in France in 2007.


Reid gets four-year extension through 2010

Reid, entering his sixth season in Philadelphia, has led the Eagles to three consecutive losses in the NFC championship game. He is in the third year of


Japan thrashes India to win fourth qualifier

Asian champion Japan overcame a lethargic first half display to outplay India 4-0 in an Asian zone World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.


Los Angeles Dodgers Team Report - September 8

(Sports Network) - Odalis Perez threw five innings last Thursday against the Diamondbacks before leaving the game with tightness in his biceps.


New GuruNet Beta includes Desktop Search\\Bob Rosenschein and his team are online with the beta release of a new Gurunet client (ver. 5.2, Windows only). Their useful GuruNet answer/reference tool now includes a desktop search app. We haven't has a chance to try it out yet (we will) but we ...


Yahoo Testing Travel Search Engine

Yahoo Testing Travel Search Engine\\Yahoo is launching its public beta test of a travel search engine based on its recent acquisition of online travel company FareChase. In a statement to the Search Engine Journal, Yahoo made the test site available to the public Tuesday evening for testing the searching of ...


News: McAfee AV ate my application

An Australian software developer has been left fuming after the latest virus definition update from McAfee caused his package to be wrongly identified as a Trojan horse programme.


Motorola Aims to Sharpen Design Edge

CHICAGO (Reuters) - In a 26th-floor office suite  overlooking Lake Michigan, some 40 industrial designers,  mechanical engineers and specialists in fields ranging from  anthropology to musicology converge for their daily dance:  developing mobile phones for Motorola Inc.


Dell builds business service center in China

More round-the-clock centers to provide service and support for business customers are planned for Europe and Japan.


Debit Cards  Give Plastic Edge Over Paper

2003 was the first time plastic and other electronic payment methods beat out paper, according to a survey released yesterday by the Federal Reserve.


EarthLink Takes a Bite of BlackBerry

ISP's customers have a new option for obtaining their e-mail on the go.


WTO confirms big trade powers EU, US must dismantle cotton, sugar <b>...</b>

The World Trade Organisation confirmed two separate rulings Wednesday outlawing farm subsidies paid by the United States to cotton farmers and by the European Union to its sugar producers.


Firms to post drug data

Faced with a growing clamor for better disclosure, drug manufacturers said yesterday that they will begin a voluntary system of publicly posting the


Capsule from Genesis Space Probe Crashes in Utah Desert

A capsule carrying solar material from the Genesis space probe has made a crash landing at a US Air Force training facility in the US state of Utah.


Intel unveils plans for multitasking chip

Chip maker Intel Corp. has announced plans to improve its flagship products in ways that could redefine the role of a microprocessor in a computer and help the company stay ahead of its competitors.


Hyundai To Set Up Commercial Vehicle Joint Venture in China

quot;Hyundai Motor must tap China #39;s commercial vehicle market to produce one million vehicles there in 2008, quot; Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo said at the signing ceremony held at Hyundai #39;s main office in southern Seoul.


3G gets jittery with new super fast rival

The latest contender, Flash OFDM technology carries data 10 times faster and is cheaper than 3G phone networks. AMSTERDAM: Europe #39;s second largest mobile carrier T-Mobile said it had started the continent #39;s


Vijay #39;s officially The Man

Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus had Vijay Singh in mind recently when he talked about why some players endured and others did not.  quot;There are some guys who play as a means to an end, quot; Nicklaus said.


Motorola Aims to Sharpen Design Edge (Reuters)

Reuters - In a 26th-floor office suite\overlooking Lake Michigan, some 40 industrial designers,\mechanical engineers and specialists in fields ranging from\anthropology to musicology converge for their daily dance:\developing mobile phones for Motorola Inc.


Missouri's Visit a Major Coup for Troy (AP)

AP - Alfred Malone isn't just interested in letting people outside the state know Troy football exists or proving the Trojans can hang in there against a major conference team.


US drafts new UN resolution on Sudan over Darfur (AFP)

AFP - The United States presented a draft UN resolution that steps up the pressure on Sudan over the crisis in Darfur, including possible international sanctions against its oil sector.


Miller Lifts Nuggets

Andre Miller scores 29 points as the Nuggets sprint to a 115-102 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.


Nineteen dead, 17 injured in Turkish mine tunnel fire (AFP)

AFP - A huge fire swept through a copper mine in northern Turkey, killing at least 19 workers and injuring a further 17, a local official there said.


Economy in Many Regions Slowed in Summer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The economy in many areas of the  United States grew at a slower pace in late July and August as  household spending softened, the Federal Reserve said in a  report on Wednesday.


Stocks Slip, Profit Warnings Weigh

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were slightly lower on  Wednesday as a number of companies warned over earnings, while  Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's relatively upbeat  remarks on the economy gave investors no major surprises.


Illinois Proves Rank

Sporting their brand-new No. 1 ranking, Illinois reigns 14 three-pointers on Chicago State as the Illini cruise to a 78-59 triumph on Monday night.


Mortgage Delinquencies Up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage delinquencies rose in  the second quarter of 2004 from the first quarter, but an  improving U.S. economy and strong home price appreciation  should keep the downward trend in delinquencies intact, a U.S.  mortgage industry group said on Wednesday.


Kidd Returns in Win

Jason Kidd is credited with an assist on Richard Jefferson's jumper that gave the Nets an 88-86 victory over the Raptors on Monday.


Space Shuttle Repairs Could Top  #36;2.2B (AP)

AP - NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe said Wednesday the cost of fixing all that ails the space shuttle fleet could top  #36;2.2 billion  #151; double the estimated price tag given to Congress a year ago.


Italy unites behind Iraq hostages

Italian politicians agree to work together to try to secure the release of two women kidnapped in Iraq.


Arabs Want Reform, But Cool to U.S. Help - Poll

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Arabs rate improving quality of life  issues as more important than political reform in their  countries and are mostly cool to U.S. involvement in their  internal affairs, according to a new poll released on Monday.


Bush Backs Budget Authority for New Intelligence Post

President Bush shifted his stance today on how much power a new national intelligence director should have.


Space Capsule Crashes in Utah

DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah, Sept. 8  #0151; A NASA capsule bearing precious atomic specimens that Hollywood stunt pilots were prepared to catch as it came into earth's atmosphere crashed into the desert this morning after a parachute that was to slow its fall failed to deploy.


Delta to eliminate D/FW hub, cut jobs to save \$5 billion

Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) is eliminating its Dallas/Fort Worth Airport connecting hub, dropping some daily flights from the airport, and cutting between 6,000 and 7,000 jobs throughout its system over


UPDATE 1-US mortgage delinquencies up, foreclosures down

US mortgage delinquencies rose in the second quarter of 2004 from the first quarter, but an improving US economy and strong home price appreciation should keep the downward trend in delinquencies intact, a US mortgage industry


Demands over mobile radiation

It should be easier for mobile users to discover the amount of radiation generated by their handsets,  a leading expert says.


Land of Potatoes Aims to Be High-Tech Hot

NAMPA, Idaho (Reuters) - Jeffrey Moeser and his company are  aiming to change the future of home entertainment.


Genesis Crash a Disappointment, But Was a Better Simulation

Some science may have been lost as the Genesis space capsule landed in the Utah desert with a thud. But there might be a glimmer of good news in the failed NASA mission.


Intel Pushes Dual-Core Tech to Mainstream

Intel is on track to introduce work-sharing dual-core processors across all its product lines by the end of next year. The technology is part of a strategy shift at Intel away from processor speed and toward performance.


Nokia to launch all-in-one phone

Mobile handset maker Nokia today announced the Nokia 9300, a new high-end smartphone. Dubbed by the company its smartest smartphone, with voice and data capabilities, the Nokia 9300 is meant to be an all-in-one device for users.


EMC  quot;buy quot;

NEW YORK, September 8 (New Ratings) - Analysts at First Albany maintain their  quot;buy quot; rating on EMC (EMC.NYS). The target price is set to \$13.


Microsoft extends life of XP SP2 download blocker

Microsoft is giving customers a little more time to test Windows XP Service Pack 2 by extending the time that a download-blocking mechanism will be in effect.


Mobile Gaming Ongoing Revenue Booster

Mobile gaming users already play games an average 5.1 hours per week on various devices in the home, including PCs, game consoles and handhelds, versus 2.9 hours per week for all wireless users.


T-Mobile starts first European test of a Flarion network

AMSTERDAM T-Mobile, Europe #39;s second largest mobile carrier, said on Wednesday that it had started the Continent #39;s first trial of a high-speed wireless Internet service that uses Flash OFDM technology.


Sybase Offers Database to Linux Community

Although Forrester analyst Noel Yuhanna believes Sybase has a firm foothold in its market, the company faces competition from some large players.


Should Star Trek Die?

securitas writes  quot;The New York Times Television reporter William S. Kowinski writes about questions of the Star Trek franchise #39;s viability due to overexposure, audience fatigue and creative exhaustion.


Eagles ink Reid through 2010

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - Andy Reid will get a few more chances to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl. The Eagles on Wednesday signed Reid to a four-year contract extension through the 2010 season.


Astros outfielder Beltran day-to-day

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Houston Astros center fielder Carlos Beltran is listed as day-to-day with a bone bruise on his right elbow.


Putin #39;s response

Will the Beslan massacre unify - or divide - the West in the global war on terrorism? The massacre of school children by Islamic terrorists in the North Osettian town of Beslan horrified the civilized world.


Abduction planned to the second

Armed to the teeth, the kidnappers beat up a hapless guard, dragged a screaming Iraqi hostage by her hair and took off in broad daylight.


Continental to begin ticket surcharges

NEW YORK - Continental Airlines joined a growing number of airlines that plan to charge service fees when tickets are sold through traditional outlets.


Coca-Cola Enterprises Cuts 2004 Outlook

ATLANTA - Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the largest bottler of Coca-Cola products, lowered its full-year earnings outlook and put its third-quarter forecast below analysts #39; expectations due to softer-than-expected volume trends.


270K Fewer Workers Will Have Been Hired In 2004--ITAA

Staffing trends--including offshore outsourcing--continue to strip IT workers from their jobs, according to the trade association.


Lexmark recalls 39,400 US printers

Printer manufacturer Lexmark is recalling 39,400 laser printers following fears over potential electric shocks. The printers could potentially short-circuit and present a danger of injury to users although there have been no reports of any incidents.


Hitachi upgrades storage line

Hitachi Data Systems has announced a new enterprise storage lineup to include features such as a virtualisation which allows customers to manage up to 32Petabytes of internal and external storage.


Microsoft Doubles Blocking Time For SP2

Sep. 08, 2004. Microsoft on Tuesday doubled the time that businesses can block Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) from downloading automatically, giving them until mid-April, 2005, to test the update.


Cycling: Menchov wins fifth stage in Spain

MORELLA, Spain : Russia #39;s Denis Menchov won the fifth stage of the Tour of Spain, a 186.5km run between Zaragoza and here. The overall race lead was claimed by Spaniard Manuel Beltran from his US Postal teammate Benoit Joachim.


Russian hostage town mourners vent anger at Putin

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Beslan on Wednesday to vent anger at Russian President Vladmimir Putin and demand the resignation of regional


Nineteen Dead, 17 Injured In Turkish Mine Tunnel Fire

ANKARA, Sept 8 (AFP) - A huge fire swept through a copper mine in northern Turkey on Wednesday, killing at least 19 workers and injuring a further 17, a local official there said.


Brunei Prepares for Asia #39;s Lavish Wedding of the Year

Dignitaries and blue bloods from around the world began arriving today for the lavish nuptials of the crown prince of the tiny, oil-rich sultanate of Brunei, in what is expected to be Asias wedding of the year.


Tension-Filled Nights Loom for Europe's Big Guns

LONDON (Reuters) - The remaining seven vacancies in the  first knockout stage of the Champions League will be decided  this week with some of Europe's biggest clubs anxiously  considering their fates.


German teen indicted over Sasser computer worm (AFP)

AFP - German prosecutors indicted an 18-year-old student on suspicion of creating the Sasser computer worm that paralyzed millions of computers around the world last spring.


Eagles Reward Reid with Four-Year Extension

PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Eagles  locked up their most successful head coach in franchise history  Wednesday, signing Andy Reid to a four-year contract extension.


Lawmakers call on White House to back renewal of ban on assault weapons (AFP)

AFP - Lawmakers in the Senate warned that the likely demise next week of a 10-year-old federal ban on semi-automatic assault guns will lead to a flood of such weapons on the streets of cities across the United States.


New probe opened into death of US football star-turned-soldier (AFP)

AFP - The US Army has launched a new investigation into the tragic death of a former US football star, who turned down a lucrative sport career to fight the war on terror as a special forces soldier, a military official disclosed.


Iran faces 'nuclear ultimatum'

Iran is likely to be given an ultimatum to suspend all uranium enrichment activities, top UK officials say.


Study: meager recovery for IT job market

The number of US information technology workers rose 2 percent to 10.5 million in the first quarter of this year, but demand for them is dropping, according to a new report.


Dow Jones Sees Shortfall on Weak Ads

Dow Jones  amp; Co. (DJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday cut its earnings forecast for the current quarter, citing weakness this month in key advertising categories


Brussels approves GM oilseed rape

The European Commission said on Wednesday it favoured allowing US biotech giant Monsanto to sell a genetically-modified oilseed rape known as GT73 in the 25-nation European Union.


InBev #39;s Labatt to Cut 180 Jobs, Close Canada Brewery (Update1)

InBev #39;s Labatt Breweries, which makes Blue, Bud and Bud Light beers, said it will close its New Westminster, British Columbia, brewery on April 21, eliminating 180 jobs.


NASA Capsule Containing Solar Wind Particles Crashes (Update1)

A space capsule containing NASA #39;s first sample from space in more than 30 years crashed into the Utah desert today after its parachutes failed to open.


Nokia Announces 9300 Smartphone

Nokia today announced the Nokia 9300, a new high-end smartphone with integrated full keyboard, that replaces its 9290 Communicator.


Hitachi Ups High-End Storage Ante

The new HDS storage platform and software enables extensive virtualization, heterogeneous management and universal storage-agnostic replication, Hitachi said.


Honey, I Shrunk the Price

AFC shareholders must be praying it won #39;t drop any further, as this is a deal that, when Tellabs initially proposed an all-stock purchase, was worth as much as \$2.


Apple security hole fixes

p2pnet.net News:- Apple Computer has issued a patch for 15 Mac OS X security flaws. But,  quot;It ain #39;t us - it #39;s them! quot; - it #39;s saying of some of the problems,  #39;them #39; being certain open source components.


Menchov wins fifth stage; Manuel Beltran takes lead at the Spanish <b>...</b>

Denis Menchov of Russia won the fifth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Wednesday, while Manuel Beltran of the US Postal Service took the overall lead from teammate Benoit Joachim.


IT employment in the United States rose 2 percent in the first quarter, but the demand for IT workers continues to drop.


Kerry Links Iraq War, U.S. Economic Woes (AP)

AP - Democrat John Kerry sought to link the Iraq war to U.S. economic woes on Wednesday, calling President Bush's move against Baghdad a "catastrophic choice" that so far has drained  #36;200 billion in needed resources at home.


Judge Finds Abortion Ban Unconstitutional (AP)

AP - A third federal judge has ruled the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional, adding judicial weight that some experts say could keep the issue from reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.


UN Watchdog Says Work Hindered by Absent U.S. Audits

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.N.-mandated agency said on  Wednesday its task of watching over Iraq's oil money was being  hampered by the Bush administration's failure to hand over  audits of Iraq contracts awarded without competitive bids,  including to Halliburton .


Delta warns of bankruptcy as it moves to cut 7,000 jobs

Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that it would cut 6,000 to 7,000 jobs over the next 18 months as part of a sweeping restructuring plan that the airline said would save \$5 billion a year in costs by 2006.


BA to sell Qantas stake, cutting debt

LONDON British Airways said Wednesday that it would sell its stake in Qantas Airways and use the proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet for acquisitions in Europe.


Texas Instruments Trims Revenue Estimates

Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest maker of chips for cell phones, trimmed its third-quarter revenue outlook on Wednesday as customers


Grey Global awaiting bidders

LONDON As a deadline for bids drew near, Grey Global, the New York-based advertising and marketing company, was expected to receive at least two bids to buy the company, with a possible third offer still uncertain, people briefed on the process said


UPDATE 4-Mylan says committed to King deal despite Icahn

Mylan Laboratories Inc. (MYL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , a maker of generic drugs, and King Pharmaceutical (KG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment


Continental adds fees to some ticket purchases

Continental Airlines said Wednesday that it was joining other US carriers in imposing new fees on tickets bought at US airport counters and reservation centers.


Nursery chain to liquidate

Frank #39;s Nursery  amp; Crafts, the lawn and garden retailer, declared bankruptcy Wednesday for the second time, and said it will start going-out-of-business sales as soon as it receives approval from Bankruptcy Court.


Cincinnati drivers stuck in the slow lane

Commuters in the Cincinnati metropolitan area waited an average of 38 hours in traffic tie-ups in 2002 -- making it the 27th most congested large city in the nation, according to a report by the Texas Transportation Institute.


Concerto Buys Rockwell Unit

It #39;s the end of an era for both outbound and inbound call centers when Concerto acquires the venerable Firstpoint Contact switch-making operation from Rockwell.


GM boosts incentives on  #39;05 models

After slow sales last month, General Motors increases rebates on 2005 model-year cars and trucks. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - After a drop in sales last month, General Motors Wednesday announced increased cash incentives on 2005 model year cars and trucks.


NASA space probe crashes in desert

NASA #39;s high hopes for a clean reading of the Sun #39;s atomic signature seemed dead Wednesday after the 450-pound Genesis spacecraft came tumbling down in Utah, where it landed with a terrible thud.


Fossil find proves dinosaurs looked after their babies

The mystery of whether dinosaurs were indifferent parents or cared for their young may have been solved by a discovery in China. More than 100 million years ago an adult dinosaur was buried


ITAA: IT job growth to slow for rest of 2004

SEPTEMBER 08, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Although there was a slight 2 increase in IT employment early in the year, IT job growth is expect to slow for the remainder of 2004, according to a report released today by the Arlington, Va.


Criminal investigation of voting machine maker Diebold dropped

The California Attorney General #39;s office has decided not to pursue criminal charges against McKinney-based Diebold Election Systems Inc.


Microsoft Doubles Blocking Time For SP2

Microsoft has doubled the time that businesses can block Windows XP SP2 from downloading automatically, giving them until mid-April to test the update.


NASA prepares BlackBerry backup

With Florida facing the possibility of its third hurricane in a month, NASA is putting together a backup plan for its message system based on Research in Motion Ltd.


HDS unveils TagmaStore array

SEPTEMBER 08, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - NEW YORK -- Hitachi Data Systems Inc. yesterday announced the general availability of a new high-end storage sub-system that it said is unprecedented in its ability to


Tellabs Slashes Price of AFC Merger

Original terms of the merger called for Advanced Fibre #39;s stockholders to receive 1.55 Tellabs shares and \$7 in cash for each of their shares, in a deal then valued at \$1.


AOL updates instant messenger

America Online launched on Wednesday the latest version of its instant messaging software, expanding support for sharing pictures and adding several subscription-based features.


Red Hat Now at  #39;NX #39; Level

Though its next official full release is still months away, enterprise Linux player Red Hat (Quote, Chart) is rolling out the latest incremental update to its Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 3 product.


T-Mobile tries start-up #39;s wireless technology

European cell phone giant T-Mobile International said Wednesday that it #39;s conducting a trial of super-fast wireless broadband gear from Flarion Technologies, giving the New Jersey start-up its first step into the European broadband market.


Study: Spammers use e-mail ID to gain legitimacy

With few junk e-mail filters supporting a protocol for verifying the source address of digital messages, spammers have adopted it themselves as a way to appear more legitimate, stated a report released on Wednesday.


Sybase Offering Flagship Database For Linux

Officials at Sybase (Quote, Chart) are jumping on the database giveaway bandwagon with an offering tailored to the Linux community.


Mars Was Watery for Eons

Sept. 8, 2004 - Mars may be cold, dry and dusty today but it once had a watery climate that lasted for much of its history, according to a study published in the British science journal Nature on Thursday.


Sasser kid charged with computer sabotage

The self-confessed author of the infamous Sasser worm has been charged with computer sabotage. Sven Jaschan, 18, was arrested in the village of Waffensen near Rotenburg, in northern Germany, in connection


U.S. Deaths in Iraq Top 1,000, Aid Groups Eye Exit

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Dozens of international aid agencies  considered quitting Iraq on Wednesday following the abduction  of two Italian women, and as the U.S. military death toll rose  above 1,000.


World-Klinsmann encouraged by brave draw with Brazil

New Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said he was encouraged by his team #39;s brave 1-1 draw with world champions Brazil in a friendly international on Wednesday.


Soccer: Del Piero answers critics by steering Italy to narrow win

CHISINAU : Italy #39;s 2006 World Cup campaign gathered momentum despite a scrappy 1-0 win away to Group Five rivals Moldova. The Italians, who failed to reach the knockout stages of Euro 2004, should have had


Switzerland and Ireland share spoils

Ireland drew 1-1 with Switzerland in their World Cup qualifier to partially avenge a defeat to the hosts before Euro 2004. A 2-0 defeat to the Swiss in the same city last October ended Ireland #39;s


Left-hander hopes to start Saturday

Atlanta Braves: Left-hander Mike Hampton was not able to pitch for the Braves on Wednesday, still bothered by a stiff neck that kept him out of his scheduled start Monday.


Matsui breaks out of slump as Yankees thrash Rays

NEW YORK - Hideki Matsui produced three hits with two RBIs Tuesday and snapped an 0-for-16 slump, helping the Yankees crush the Devil Rays 11-2.


BYU doesn #39;t renew contracts of men #39;s, women #39;s athletic directors

PROVO, Utah - Brigham Young University revamped its athletic department Wednesday, but said the move was made after a months-long internal review rather than as a reaction to the recent sexual abuse allegations that have rocked the steadfast Mormon


Russian Cyclist Menchov Wins Tour of Spain 5th Stage

Russian cyclist Denis Menchov has won the fifth stage of the Tour of Spain and US Postal service rider Manuel Beltran of Spain has taken the overall lead.


U.S. Piles Pressure on Sudan with New U.N. Measure

UNITED NATIONS/KHARTOUM, Sudan (Reuters) - The United  States piled pressure on Sudan Wednesday to accept a more  powerful monitoring force in Darfur with a new U.N. draft  resolution threatening sanctions on its oil industry.


Envoy Calls Russia #39;s Threats Dangerous

A London-based Chechen rebel representative said Wednesday that Russia #39;s threats to attack terrorists around the world amount to a warning to European countries that Russian forces


US Sees No Immediate Push for Sanctions on Iran

The Bush administration does not plan to seek immediate sanctions against Tehran even if it succeeds in getting Iran #39;s nuclear program referred


MINE FIRE KILLS 19 IN TURKEY

A huge fire has swept through a copper mine in northern killing at least 19 workers and injuring another 17 according to local officials.


Confusion Over Fate of French Hostages in Iraq

Confusion surrounded the fate of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq on Thursday after a new purported statement from the kidnappers denied they had demanded a \$5 million ransom or set a 48-hour deadline.


Milosevic #39;s new defense may curb his offense

THE HAGUE The ghosts that have long threatened Slobodan Milosevic have finally appeared in court, fundamentally altering the war crimes trial of the former Yugoslav president.


UN welcomes India-Pakistan talks

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Wednesday urged further dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve issues, including the question of Jammu and Kashmir.


Typhoon Songda Lashes North Japan, 30 Reported Dead

A weakening Typhoon Songda lashed northern Japan with high winds and heavy rain on Wednesday after carving a trail of destruction in wide areas, with media reports saying


Afghans remember slain anti-Taliban commander amid tight security

Some 20,000 Afghans paid tribute Wednesday to slain anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massood, packing a stadium in Kabul ringed with security to guard against attacks by the still-active Islamic militia.


Ex-Banker Quattrone Gets 18 Months Prison

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former investment banker Frank  Quattrone was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 months in prison,  two months more than the harshest recommended penalty, for  obstructing probes into suspected kickbacks involving some of  the hottest stock offerings of the 1990s.


Greenspan: Economy Regaining Traction

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy is pulling out of a  June soft patch and picking up steam, Federal Reserve chief  Alan Greenspan said on Wednesday in remarks economists saw as  cementing a September interest-rate rise.


NBA Wrap: Kidd Returns, Lifts Nets to Victory

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jason Kidd returned to the New Jersey  lineup and assisted on Richard Jefferson's game winning basket  with 7.1 seconds left as the Nets beat the Toronto Raptors  88-86 in NBA play Monday in East Rutherford.


Delta to Cut Up to 7,000 Jobs

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL.N said on  Wednesday it would cut 6,000 to 7,000 jobs, or about 10 percent  of its work force, over the next 18 months and drop Dallas/Fort  Worth as a hub as it tries to avert bankruptcy.


U.S. Open Apologizes to Serena After Overrule Error

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Open organizers have apologized  to Serena Williams for a controversial line call in her  quarter-final loss to Jennifer Capriati on Tuesday.


Italy plays role of Europe's immigration gatekeeper

Italy wants the rest of the Continent to stiffen border patrols and asylum guidelines.


Cold Winter Seen Boosting Heating Demand

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. winter will be longer and  slightly colder than the last, private forecasters say,  spelling a spike in heating oil and natural gas demand even as  high oil prices drive up the cost of heating.


Not a Pretty Picture for Avon, Stock Down

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Avon Products Inc. AVP.N, the  world's largest direct seller of cosmetics, on Wednesday  forecast a slide of as much as 10 percent in U.S. operating  profit as it grapples with weaker sales of key beauty items.


U.S. Stocks Slip as Profit Warnings Weigh

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slipped on Wednesday after  several companies issued profit warnings, while Fed Chairman  Alan Greenspan's remarks that the economy was pulling out of a  summer soft patch did little to quell expectations for a rate  hike later this month.


Treasuries Rise on Greenspan's Remarks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasury prices bounced higher on  Wednesday after Fed Chief Alan Greenspan proved less  enthusiastic about U.S. economic growth prospects than many  investors had foreseen.


Economic Growth Slowed in Many Regions

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While the U.S. economy continued to  grow in late July and August, growth slowed in several regions  as household spending softened, the Federal Reserve said on  Wednesday.


Soldiers Detain 14 Iraqis, 10 Bomb Makers (AP)

AP - U.S. troops captured 14 Iraqis, including 10 wanted for making explosive devices to attack coalition forces, the military said Tuesday.


Texas Instruments Trims Revenue Estimates

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Texas Instruments Inc. TXN.N,  the largest maker of chips for cell phones, trimmed its  third-quarter revenue outlook on Wednesday as customers worked  off inventories of unsold chips, making it the second major  chip supplier to pare third-quarter expectations.


Dolphins Acquire RB Gordon from Rams

Davie, Fla. (Sports Network) - The Miami Dolphins bolstered  their depleted running corps on Wednesday, acquiring running  back Lamar Gordon from the St. Louis Rams in exchange for a  2005 third-round draft pick.


15 U.S. Agencies Told to Share Earth Data (AP)

AP - The White House on Wednesday told 15 federal agencies to better share scientific data about the Earth among themselves and with other nations.


Quattrone Gets 18-Month Sentence

A federal judge slammed former Wall Street banking star Frank P. Quattrone Wednesday with an 18-month prison sentence for obstructing a federal securities investigation, ruling that the investment banker lied on the stand during his trial.


Plants - the Silent Witnesses to Crime (Reuters)

Reuters - Microscopic traces of pollen\are increasingly being used by world police forces to track\down both victims and offenders, a British conference heard on\Wednesday.


SA drops WMD violations charges

Nuclear trafficking charges against the owner of a South African engineering plant are dropped.


Guantanamo prisoner to be freed

A tribunal rules for the first time that a prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay should be freed.


Wall Street star Quattrone jailed

Frank Quattrone, once one of Wall Street's most celebrated bankers, is jailed for obstruction of justice.


Reporters on the Job

You Say You Want a Revolution? Staff writer Howard LaFranchi was back in Baghdad #39;s Sadr City neighborhood Wednesday (see story) where he worked during a reporting stint in Iraq last fall.


Space Probe Fails to Deploy Chute, Slams into Earth (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, UTAH \  -- A NASA spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the Utah desert this \  morning, putting a disastrous end to a years-long mission to bring back samples \  of the Sun.


Cubesats: Tiny Spacecraft, Huge Payoffs (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - LOGAN, UTAH -- Experts say \  the big news in spacecraft building involves ultra-small CubeSats.


New batteries aid climate battle

\A new generation of rechargeable lithium batteries could reduce global warming, a leading expert says.


Kerry, Sharpening Criticism of Bush, Lists Costs of Iraq War

John Kerry said today that because of poor administration planning the war had cost taxpayers \$200 billion.


Fed Chief Hints at More Interest Rate Rises

Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said today that economic expansion had "regained some traction," and suggested that the central bank would stick to its plan of gradually raising interest rates.


Kerry Links Iraq War, U.S. Economic Woes

WASHINGTON - Democrat John Kerry sought to link the Iraq war to U.S. economic woes on Wednesday, calling President Bush's move against Baghdad a "catastrophic choice" that so far has drained \$200 billion in needed resources at home...


Stocks Drop After Greenspan Testimony

NEW YORK - Investors adopted a wait-and-see attitude on the economy, despite Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's improved assessment, and bid stocks modestly lower Wednesday as Wall Street waits for better economic and earnings news.    While Greenspan said the economy has "regained some traction" after the summer's slowdown, investors looked past his congressional testimony, focusing instead on uncertainty about the health of the economy, third-quarter earnings pre-announcements and fiscal policy...


Genesis Space Capsule Crashes in Utah

DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah - The Genesis space capsule, which had orbited the sun for three years gathering potential clues to the origin of the solar system, crashed to Earth and cracked open Wednesday, exposing its collection of solar atoms to contamination.    Flight engineers suspect a set of tiny explosives failed to trigger the capsule's parachutes, and the capsule slammed into the Utah desert at 193 mph...


At Least Nine Killed by Hurricane Ivan

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada - Hurricane Ivan made a direct hit on Grenada with ferocious winds, causing "incalculable damage" and killing at least nine people as it turned concrete homes into rubble and hurled hundreds of the island's landmark red zinc roofs through the air, officials said Wednesday...


Eagles Extend Coach's Contract Four Years

PHILADELPHIA - Andy Reid sold hot dogs to supplement his income as an assistant coach at San Francisco State 20 years ago.    Reid can afford to buy out that hot dog vendor now...


Bush Visits Fla., Gives \$2B in Relief Aid

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - President Bush on Wednesday helped distribute bottled water, bags of ice, food and \$2 billion in federal aid to hurricane-battered residents of this vital electoral state...


Bacall Balks After Kidman Called 'Legend'

LONDON - How old is a movie legend? Definitely older than 37-year-old Nicole Kidman, according to screen veteran Lauren Bacall. Bacall became irritated during an interview with Britain's GMTV Wednesday when the younger actress was described as "a legend."  "She's not a legend," Bacall said, cutting off interviewer Jenni Falconer in mid-sentence...


Astros Beat Reds 5-2 for 12th Straight Win

Roger Clemens got his 326th win to tie Eddie Plank for 11th on the career list, and the Houston Astros hit four first-inning home runs to beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 Wednesday and tie a team record with their 12th straight win.


Browns' Winslow Buys Dad's Jersey Number

Kellen Winslow Jr. already had his Hall of Fame father's soft hands. Now he's got his number, too.


Russia Offers Bounty for Chechen Rebels

Russia's top general threatened on Wednesday to attack "terrorist bases" anywhere in the world, as security services put a \$10 million bounty on two Chechen rebels they blame for last week's school siege.


Musharraf takes Blair into confidence

LONDON: President General Pervez Musharraf has succeeded in persuading British Prime Minister Tony Blair about the severity of Kashmir and Palestine disputes.


Intel looks to fend off AMD with new 2006 chipset

Exclusive Blackford confirmed


Register accused of publishing lies!

FoTW A small, but perfectly formed, flame


Microsoft Puts Fingerprint Readers Into Hardware

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O on Wednesday  unveiled a new array of keyboard and mice, with some featuring  built-in fingerprint readers to make it easier for users to log  on to personal computers and Web sites.


House Panel OKs Copyright, Spyware Bills

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hackers who secretly install  "spyware" on others' computers and Internet users who copy  movies and music without permission could face up to three  years in prison under bills that advanced in Congress on  Wednesday.


Panel Moves Against Spyware, Net Piracy

People who illegally share copyrighted music and movies over the Internet could be jailed for up to five years under a bill approved by a powerful congressional panel Wednesday.\-washingtonpost.com


Cystic fibrosis stem cells made

\The first human stem cell line with the mutation for cystic fibrosis (CF) has been developed by UK researchers.


U.S. Faces Growing Feral Cat Problem

Millions of feral cats #151;domestic animals that have become wild #151;are said to be running free throughout the U.S., threatening birds and public health.


Poachers Target Musk Deer for Perfumes, Medicines

Musk has been used in perfume and traditional remedies for 5,000 years. But now the deer that secretes the valuable substance is becoming threatened across its range.


Motions in Nearby Galaxy Cluster Reveal Hidden Superstructure

Chandra X-Ray Observatory -- A nearby galaxy cluster is facing an intergalactic headwind as it is pulled by an underlying superstructure of dark matter, according to new evidence from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.     Astronomers think that most of the matter in the universe is concentrated in long large filaments of dark matter and that galaxy clusters are formed where these filaments intersect...


Stocks Lower After Greenspan Testimony

Investors focused instead on uncertainty about the health of the economy, third-quarter earnings pre-announcements, and fiscal policy.


Ex-Banker Quattrone Gets 18 Months Prison

Former investment banker Frank Quattrone was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 months in prison, two months more than the harshest recommended penalty, for obstructing probes


Consumer Borrowing Jumps by 6.4 Percent

Consumers stepped up their borrowing in July by the largest amount since the beginning of the year, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.


Cullen makes monetary gaffe

Finance Minister Michael Cullen has made an embarrassing gaffe by apparently announcing the Reserve Bank #39;s decision to raise interest rates a day early.


Genesis capsule carrying solar dust crashes

WASHINGTON : NASA #39;s Genesis capsule slammed into the Utah desert after its parachutes failed, leaving scientists unsure if they could retrieve the bits of solar dust captured on its three-year mission.


Nokia 9300 QWERTY Communicator

The Nokia 9300 is a high-end smartphone for business users, it runs on the Symbian Series 80 OS and has a full sized QWERTY keyboard waiting to be flipped open.


Teenager indicted over Sasser computer worm

Verden - German prosecutors on Wednesday indicted an 18-year-old student on suspicion of creating the Sasser computer worm that paralysed millions of computers around the world last year.


Del Piero recalled for Italy

Azzurri manager Marcelo Lippi has confirmed that Alessandro del Piero is one of five new faces to face Moldova in the World Cup qualifier in Chisinau.


Three red cards in Cardiff

The Ulstermen finished the match with nine men while the Welsh, who fought back from 2-0 down, had 10 on the field. The match exploded after just nine minutes when both teams were reduced to 10 men.


Europe: Vieira sent off: wins for England, Italy

England lifted the pressure off the shoulders of coach Sven-Goran Eriksson on Wednesday after a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Poland.


US demands Iran suspend all enrichment-related activities

The United States reiterated on Wednesday its demand that Iran must suspend all enrichment-related activities. Boucher claimed that Iran #39;s latest promises to suspend some


Flood threat in China not over yet

China #39;s Sichuan province faced the threat of epidemics after the worst flooding in a century killed at least 172 people and left scores missing, while water levels at the huge Three Gorges Dam swelled.


US analyst testifies on Bosnian war as a Milosevic defense witness

A former US policy analyst, testifying for the defense at Slobodan Milosevic #39;s war crimes trial Wednesday, said part of the groundwork


Briefly: Dolby, Intel sound off for developers

roundup Plus: AOL updates Instant Messenger...Push-to-talk wiretaps on feds' speed list...Tellabs scales back AFC buy...Top McAfee exec to step down.


Czech out this Microsoft Office alternative

Software602 updates its productivity package, which started as a creation of Czech hobbyists.


US stocks remain lower after Greenspan #39;s comment

Wall Street stocks ended mostly lower Wednesday as investors adopted a wait-and-see approach on the economy, despite Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan #39;s bullish assessment on the economy.


Florida storms cutting a wide economic path

Hurricane Frances may have almost doubled the estimated recovery cost for Florida as relief officials gear up to deal with


NZ Dollar Gains, Bonds Fall After Central Bank Raises Rates

New Zealand #39;s dollar rose and bonds fell after the central bank raised the nation #39;s benchmark interest rate for a fifth time and signaled it may boost rates again to curb inflation.


California Joins Suit Against E-Voting Vendor Diebold

The state of California has dropped a criminal investigation into the company that sold it electronic voting machines but instead will join an existing lawsuit charging that the company made


XP SP2 Deadline Extended

Microsoft (Quote, Chart) has pushed back the deadline for the complete delivery of its Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) to April 2005.


ENGLAND: Tradition is the key

In utterly predictable fashion, the tabloid media and internet forums across Britain are ablaze with calls for Svens head in the wake of the 2-2 draw with Austria in Englands opening qualifier for World Cup 2006.


At IDF: iMac look-alikes and monitors as hats

All-in-one machine at Intel confab bears resemblance to new Apple PC. Also: High-tech sandwich boards?


Top Iraqi Official Abducted

BAGHDAD, 9 September 2004 - US forces killed at least six Iraqis in the insurgent bastion of Fallujah yesterday as the kidnapping of two Italian aid workers in central Baghdad spurred foreign charity staff to consider leaving Iraq.


Despite IDF operation, Qassams hit Sderot

Seven Qassam rockets landed in the western Negev yesterday although the Israel Defense Forces had earlier moved a large contingent of troops into the northern Gaza Strip to prevent the firing of Qassams on Sderot.


Intel demos dual core, uncorks Napa

Chipmaker's multiprocessing technology makes its stage debut, and Intel looks to its next take on Centrino.


Intel marketing exec headed for Cadence

Ajay Malhotra was lured to Cadence by the firm's CEO, an Intel alumnus, sources say.


Steve Jobs back at Apple

After cancer surgery, the chief executive hits meetings, with plans to return to full-time work later this month.


Study: Spammers use e-mail ID to gain legitimacy

Spammers are a key adopter of a technology meant, in part, to fight spam.


T-Mobile tries on start-up's wireless gear

Flarion Technologies is making its European debut by powering T-Mobile's wireless broadband service in The Hague.


Dolby, Intel sound off for developers

Companies plan tools for improving high-end audio for PCs with Intel inside.


High-tech feng shui

After stumbling in its efforts to diversify, Lenovo is returning to its core PC business, its chairman tells Wharton.


Astros Beat Reds 5-2 for 12th Straight Win (AP)

AP - Roger Clemens got his 326th win to tie Eddie Plank for 11th on the career list, and the Houston Astros hit four first-inning home runs to beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 Wednesday and tie a team record with their 12th straight win.


World Wants Bush Out of the White House: Poll (Reuters)

Reuters - The world wants President Bush out\of the White House, according to a poll released on Wednesday\that shows in 30 of 35 countries people preferred Democrat\candidate John Kerry.


Microsoft Puts Fingerprint Readers Into Hardware (Reuters)

Reuters - Microsoft Corp.  on Wednesday\unveiled a new array of keyboard and mice, with some featuring\built-in fingerprint readers to make it easier for users to log\on to personal computers and Web sites.


Ex-Banker Quattrone Gets 18 Months Prison (Reuters)

Reuters - Former investment banker Frank\Quattrone was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 months in prison,\two months more than the harshest recommended penalty, for\obstructing probes into suspected kickbacks involving some of\the hottest stock offerings of the 1990s.


U.S. Sees No Immediate Push for Sanctions on Iran (Reuters)

Reuters - The Bush administration does not\plan to seek immediate sanctions against Tehran even if it\succeeds in getting Iran's nuclear program referred to the U.N.\Security Council, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.


Facing pressure, ISP Savvis moves to cut off spammers

Savvis Communications, one of the world's largest ISPs, said it is terminating service to about 40 of its customers who have been using its networks for spamming purposes.


Hurricane Ivan Kills 20 in Grenada, Heads West (Reuters)

Reuters - Hurricane Ivan killed at least 20 people\as it laid waste to the tiny spice island of Grenada, officials\said on Wednesday as the storm swept through the Caribbean\heading west.


NBA: New Jersey 88, Toronto 86

Richard Jefferson, who scored 26 points, hit a jumper with seven seconds left Monday to give the New Jersey Nets an 88-86 win over the Toronto Raptors.


Rockets Trade With Bulls for Mutombo (AP)

AP - Hoping to find the rugged low post presence they've been sorely lacking, the Houston Rockets acquired veteran center Dikembe Mutombo in a trade with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.