Asteroid Toutatis Makes Closest Pass in 651 Years

An asteroid named for a Celtic god of war will come as close to Earth this week as it has since 1353. The space rock known as Toutatis will come on Wednesday within 960,000 miles of


MSN Ends Hotmail #39;s Free Outlook Access

Citing a rise in spam abuse, Microsoft Corp. #39;s MSN division has ended free access to its Hotmail Web-based e-mail service through the Outlook and Outlook Express clients.


Grossman done for the season; Bears turn to the mighty Quinn

Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman will miss the remainder of the season after an MRI exam revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.


Bovina rolls; Clijsters ready to return in native Belgium

Hasselt, Belgium (Sports Network) - Third-seeded Russian Elena Bovina was an easy opening-round winner Monday at the inaugural Gaz de France Stars tennis event, where Belgian star Kim Clijsters will see her first action since early May this week.


Iraq hostages hopes rise after diplomat freed

An Iranian diplomat taken hostage in Iraq last month has been released by his captors but the fate of at least 11 other foreigners, including Briton Kenneth Bigley threatened with beheading, remains unclear.


US Envoy Denies Using Influence in Afghan Elections

The United States ambassador to Afghanistan denies allegations he is meddling in the country #39;s first direct presidential election, to be held on October 9. US ambassador to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, says that


Azzam release to improve Egypt-Israel ties

Egypt #39;s release of accused Israeli spy Azzam Azzam in an apparent swap for six Egyptian students held on suspicion of terrorism is expected to melt the ice and perhaps result


CNN Producer Seized by Armed Men in Gaza

GAZA (Reuters) - Armed Palestinians kidnapped an Israeli  Arab producer for the CNN television network from a car in Gaza  City on Monday after asking for him by name.


Fannie Mae Will Keep More Cash on Hand

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Embattled mortgage finance company  Fannie Mae FNM.N agreed to keep billions of dollars more cash  on hand while it corrects accounting problems, its government  regulator said on Monday.


Time Warner, Comcast in Talks on Adelphia

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Comcast Corp. CMCSA.O and Time  Warner Inc. TWX.N on Monday said they are in talks on a  possible joint offer to acquire bankrupt cable company Adelphia  Communications Corp. ADELQ.PK.


WorldCom, Microsoft cases before EU court

Two of the European Union #39;s landmark antitrust decisions against US companies are in court this week as WorldCom Inc. seeks a moral victory and Microsoft Corp.


Conan to Take Over 'Tonight' in Five Years

NEW YORK - NBC announced Monday that Conan O'Brien will take over from Jay Leno as host of the "Tonight" show. But he'll have time to write his jokes - the planned succession won't happen until 2009...


Bush Ridicules Kerry, Calls Him Indecisive

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - President Bush on Monday labeled rival Sen. John Kerry a political opportunist whose ever-changing positions undercut the Democrat's aspirations to be the nation's leader...


Bears QB Grossman to miss rest of season with torn ACL

Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman will miss the rest of the season after rupturing a ligament in his right knee. Grossman was injured in Sunday #39;s 27-22 loss to Minnesota when he scored on a 6-yard scramble at the 2-minute warning.


Stocks Slide As Oil Nears \$50 a Barrel

NEW YORK - Oil prices reached a new high and sent stocks lower Monday, but with trading on Wall Street light and losses only moderate, investors seemed to be coming to terms with near-\$50 per barrel crude.    After setting a new all-time record settlement price of \$48.88 on Friday, oil continued its march higher on Monday, renewing fears on Wall Street that the slowdown in profits and the economic recovery would extend through the end of the year due to high energy costs...


Pakistanis Arrest More Militant Suspects

Pakistani forces following up on a raid that killed a top al-Qaida fugitive arrested four more suspected extremists Monday, while the US Embassy warned that security constraints


Palestinians kidnap Israeli, a CNN producer, in Gaza City

By israelinsider staff September 27, 2004. An Israeli Druze citizen employed by CNN was kidnapped in Gaza City on Monday evening, by five armed Palestinians.


Russia Introduces Terror Resolution

UNITED NATIONS - Russia introduced a draft resolution Monday calling for a new list of suspects who would be subject to extradition in a stepped-up global campaign against terrorism. China welcomed it but Pakistan and other Security Council members eyed the proposal with caution...


Pakistani president says killing of Al-Qaeda militant is a blow <b>...</b>

The Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, says the killing of an al-Qaeda militant by security forces is a major blow against terrorism.


Two US Soldiers Killed in Iraq, One by Enemy Fire (Update1)

Two US 1st Infantry Division soldiers were killed in separate incidents today near Balad, Iraq, the US military said, and three Iraqi soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber near the insurgent-held city of Fallujah.


Oil hits NY closing record at 49.64 dollars

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (AFP) - Oil futures jumped to their highest closing on record Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, rising 76 cents to 49.


Comcast Corp. (CMCSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and Time Warner Inc. (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said they are in talks on a possible joint offer to


Federated to take 3Q hit from hurricanes

Depressed sales at Federated Department Store Inc. stores in Florida will cause third-quarter results to come in lower than expected, the company announced today.


Next to digital IDs, passwords look lame

How big is your key ring? There are the house keys, of course, and the car keys and the little fob for unlocking the doors from 30 feet away.


Commercial space travel to take flight?

Sir Richard Branson hopes his new company will be the first to send adventuresome tourists into space. Branson, founder of airlines, entertainment and telecom holding company Virgin Group, announced Monday


New Virgin Digital Music Club offers subscription service

Amaze your friends as CD-quality music comes out of your little plastic computer speakers! Then, pay us - monthly - even if you dont listen to anything, and even if you would rather listen to it on your portable music player.


HP Cuts Itanium-Based Workstations

Hewlett-Packard will stop selling workstations equipped with Intel #39;s 64-bit Itanium processors. HP said its workstation customers want chips that are more compatible with 32-bit software, like Intel #39;s Xeon and the AMD Opteron.


Asteroid makes close pass

An asteroid named after a Celtic god of war will this week make its closest journey past Earth for 651 years. The space rock known as Toutatis will come within 960,000 miles (about 1.5 million km) of Earth on Wednesday.


Apple posts details on 15-inch PowerBook G4 Display Repair <b>...</b>

Apple has finally formally addressed a well known display problem with the 15-inch PowerBook. The 15-inch PowerBook G4 Display Repair Extension Program offers replacement


Canas advances in Shanghai, Ferrero out

SHANGHAI (Ticker) - Third seed Guillermo Canas of Argentina became the first seeded player to reach the second round of the Heineken Open Shanghai.


Cancellation of telecast rights  Constitution Bench to hear <b>...</b>

THE three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Mr Justice N. Santosh Hegde, today referred the petition filed by Zee Telefilms challenging the cancellation of the telecast rights and re-opening the bidding process by the Board of Control for


Bears quarterback Grossman undergoes MRI for knee

September 27, 2004 - Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman injured his right knee late in the fourth quarter of the Bears #39; 27-22 loss to Minnesota on Sunday.


Clijsters sets for comeback

Former world number one Kim Clijsters will make her long-awaited return to action after a five-month injury absence at this week #39;s Gaz de France Stars in Belgium, China Radio International reported on Monday.


Schilling tops Yankees, 11-4

BOSTON - The Red Sox ended their home season in typical fashion with another brilliant performance by Curt Schilling and another benches-clearing confrontation with the Yankees.


Oil just shy of \$US50

THE cost of oil soared to a record \$US49.64 a barrel today as unrest in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia alarmed traders. Oil futures jumped to their highest closing price on record on the New York Mercantile Exchange.


Leggett  amp; Platt, Briggs in Supply Pact

Leggett  amp; Platt Inc. said Monday that it will supply lawnmower-engine maker Briggs  amp; Stratton Corp. with aluminum die castings for an assembly plant in Auburn, Ala.


Apple extends PowerBook screen repair program

Apple Computer is offering free replacement screens to owners of 15-inch PowerBook models whose machines have a flaw that causes the screen to display white spots.


CNN worker kidnapped in Gaza City

Armed men have seized an Israeli Arab producer working for the CNN television network from a car in Gaza City after asking for him by name.


Ingram Micro buys leading Asia-Pacific IT distributor

In a move the company says significantly strengthens its position in the growing Asia Pacific region, distributor Ingram Micro Inc.


UPDATE: US Investigating Tommy Hilfiger On Commissions

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Tommy Hilfiger Corp. (TOM) said a federal grand jury is investigating whether its US subsidiary has been inappropriately shifting


Stewart becomes federal inmate No. 55170-054

NEW YORK - Martha Stewart still does not know where she will do her time for lying about a stock sale, but she #39;s already been designated federal inmate No.


Kraft gets South Beach diet #39;s seal of approval

Kraft, the largest US food company, on Monday will reveal details of a high-stakes marketing gamble to tie many of its lines with the popular South Beach diet.


Virgin Group to enter online music market.

Richard Branson #39;s Virgin group said today that it would be entering the market of online music, a move which will put Virgin against other music services such as Apple iTunes, MSN Music and many other pay-per-song music services.


AT amp;T unveis the Ogo, a dedicate messaging device

Ogo is the first wireless messaging device to provide instant messaging (IM) and e-mail from all three leading providers - AOL, MSN, and Yahoo!


Cisco helps SMBs build app-ready networks

Cisco Systems Inc. continued its push into the small and medium-sized business market today with the announcement of new modular switches geared toward SMBs.


Gannon has broken vertebrae in his neck

Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon has a broken vertebrae in his neck that will sideline him at least six weeks. Gannon had an MRI exam Monday morning and was taken for further tests.


Browns lose LB Ben Taylor for season

Berea, OH (Sports Network) - Cleveland Browns linebacker Ben Taylor will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn tendon in his chest.


Roma, Madrid battle problems

LONDON -- Nobody has more problems at the start of the Champions League season than Real Madrid - unless it #39;s Italian side AS Roma.


CNN Producer Seized by Armed Men in Gaza

Armed Palestinians seized an Israeli Arab producer for the CNN television network from a car in Gaza City on Monday after asking for him by name.


Paralympics ceremony dropped after deaths

ATHENS, Greece -- The festive segment of the Paralympic closing ceremony was canceled Monday after seven teenagers were killed in a bus accident on the way to the games.


Fed Downplays Fears of High Consumer Debt (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. consumers are in good financial\shape, a top Fed official said on Monday, dismissing fears that\high levels of household debt are unsustainable.


Where Are They Now?

Remember some of the biggest winners from 1999? Yeah, Bill Mann forgot about a lot of them too.


Hilfiger's Tax Flap

A federal grand jury probes into the commission rates Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. paid to a non-U.S. subsidiary.


Tata Motors lists on NYSE

NEW YORK: Tata Sons chairman Ratan N Tata will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) here on Monday to mark the listing of group company Tata Motors on the world #39;s largest bourse.


Cisco offerings target small firms

Cisco this week will release products it says will help small companies deal with the complexities of LAN switch security, convergence and network management.


Anti-Spam Effort Killed Amid Patent Row

NEW YORK - A row over intellectual property claims from Microsoft Corp. has dealt a fatal blow to an ambitious effort by Internet engineers to create a technical standard for curbing junk e-mail.


Canas struggles, Ferrero out

A DETERMINED Guillermo Canas held off a strong early charge from Spain #39;s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez to win his first round clash at the Shanghai ATP event 7-6 6-1 today.


ESPN, Zee Offer Ad Revenue To BCCI

NEW DELHI: The telecast rights case for cricket to be played in India from October 2004 to 2008 has taken a turn, with varied offers coming from Zee, ESPN-Star and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).


Birthday bumps for Taj Mahal: Spike in pollution on Day 1

Amid all the hype surrounding its 350th anniversary, the Taj Mahal opened to higher than usual pollution on Monday. On a day that ministers at Agra Fort and Delhi promised to take the best care of the world


Iranian Diplomat Freed By Iraqi Captors

27 September 2004 -- An Iranian diplomat was freed by his captors in Iraq today after spending more than a month as a hostage. Iran #39;s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Faridoun Jahani, the Iranian consul in


Tata Motors #39; Kadle Says NYSE Listing Will Help Raise Capital

Tata Motors Ltd. #39;s new listing on the New York Stock Exchange will help India #39;s biggest maker of trucks and buses add investors, raise capital for acquisitions and improve its corporate


Adobe tries to unify digital camera market with new file standard

Adobe has announced ambitious plans to unify the digital camera market by creating a single file format that all digital cameras can record in.


Anti-Spam Effort Killed Amid Patent Row (AP)

AP - A row over intellectual property claims from Microsoft Corp. has dealt a fatal blow to an ambitious effort by Internet engineers to create a technical standard for curbing junk e-mail.


Swiss Cast Votes Online in Referendum (AP)

AP - Swiss authorities hailed as a success a test of Internet voting in a national referendum, even as computer security experts remain skeptical that any online balloting could ever be secure using current technologies.


Xcel Energy to Sell Broadband Unit, Take Charge (Reuters)

Reuters - Xcel Energy Inc.  plans to sell\its broadband communications unit in a bid to focus solely on\its core utility operations, the U.S. power producer said on\Monday.


Microsoft Reinvents Itself as EU Holds Firm (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) says it will obey any directives issued by the European Union \over the modification of Windows. European regulators have ordered the \world's biggest software maker to offer a version of its operating \system without its media player.


EC Set To Rule on PeopleSoft Acquisition (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - It looks as though the European Commission is getting ready to permit \Oracle's (Nasdaq: ORCL) US #36;7.7 billion hostile takeover bid of PeopleSoft (Nasdaq: PSFT). The ruling, which has been \widely anticipated after a similar consideration in the United States also \paved the way for Oracle's takeover, is expected to be handed down before the \end of October.


Unfortunate Canadian Whale Speared by Cruise Ship (Reuters)

Reuters - It wasn't until the U.S. cruise ship had\pulled into port in Atlantic Canada that those on board made a\gruesome discovery -- the body of a large whale was impaled on\the vessel's bow.


NASA Genesis Space Sample Shipped to Calif. Lab (Reuters)

Reuters - Scientists in California on Friday\began examining for the first time samples of solar wind\particles collected by the spacecraft Genesis, which crashed\earlier this month in the Utah desert when its parachutes\failed to open on landing.


A Computer In Every Classroom

Schools are spending a fortune on technology in the hopes of gaining relevance with Generation I.  Bad news--they've already lost.


Is SunnComm a sham or the next, big DRM success?

Feature From hell to hell and maybe heaven


Aid Workers Struggle to Feed Flooded Haitian Town (Reuters)

Reuters - More than a week after floods\devastated this impoverished Haitian city, aid workers were\struggling to bring food and clean water to thousands of\residents, some still perched on roofs.


Bush Mocks Kerry for 'Changing Positions' on Iraq (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush on Monday\mocked his Democratic rival John Kerry for shifting his\positions on Iraq so many times he could "debate himself" in\this week's face-off between the two candidates.


Nader Dispute Lands at Supreme Court (AP)

AP - Ralph Nader's last-ditch bid to win a spot on Oregon's presidential ballot has taken him to a place frequented by many candidates over the years  #151; the Supreme Court.


Lebanon al-Qaeda suspect dies

A suspected al-Qaeda leader arrested in Lebanon last week has died of a heart attack, officials say.


Briefly: HD-DVD group forms promotion unit

roundup Plus: Avici extends AT #38;T contract...IronPort spam shield gets steelier...Via brings PCI Express to AMD PCs...Rice lab makes nano parts less toxic.


Nanotechnology aims to cure smelly feet

Your secret shame is over. A start-up in Pennsylvania says it can cure foot-odor problems with nanosocks.


HD-DVD group forms promotion unit

Group to push development of HD DVD hardware and content, plus try to drive commercial adoption.


Apple to replace 'spotty' PowerBook screens

Company offers free replacement screens to owners of 15-inch models that display white spots.


Raiders' Gannon Has Broken Neck Vertebra (AP)

AP - Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon has a broken vertebra in his neck that will sideline him at least six weeks.


PalmSource to unveil smart-phone software

Operating system might help make up for a rough quarter and Microsoft nipping at the company's heels.


Favre Injures His Non-Throwing Shoulder (AP)

AP - No stranger to injuries, Brett Favre can add another ailment to his list: a bum left shoulder to go with a bruised left hamstring.


Americans to take on Spaniards in Davis Cup finale in December

Let #39;s start by dispensing praise to both the US and Spanish Davis Cup teams that will play for the chalice the first week of December.


Ooijer Ruled Out Until November

PSV Eindhoven defender Andr Ooijer is expected to miss upwards of a month due to an injury suffered during their weekend romp over Heerenveen.


Eagles FB Jon Ritchie Out for Season (AP)

AP - Philadelphia Eagles fullback Jon Ritchie will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Sunday's 30-13 victory over the Detroit Lions.


Accident at Dubai Airport Kills 8

A crane smashed into a wall during construction of an unfinished terminal at Dubai #39;s airport Monday, and witnesses reported at least eight workers were killed.


US Jets Pound Militant Positions in Iraq

Two car bombs killed seven Iraqi national guardsmen and a rocket barrage hit a police academy Monday as insurgents kept up their offensive to subdue Iraq #39;s beleaguered security forces.


Clijsters to Return in Gaz De France (AP)

AP - Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain rallied past ninth-seeded Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 Monday at the Gaz de France Stars, where Kim Clijsters will make her comeback this week from a five-month injury layoff.


Gannon Sidelined with Fractured Vertebrae

ALAMEDA, Calif. (Sports Network) - Oakland Raiders  quarterback Rich Gannon is expected to be sidelined for at  least six weeks after sustaining fractured vertebrae in his  neck.


Ex-Detroit Draft Pick Killed for Mobile Phone

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A young Spartak Moscow player has died  in hospital from injuries after being attacked on his way home,  the Russian ice hockey club said Monday.


Sun unveils mock Wal-Mart distribution center

Sun, an early leader in support of RFID, announced today the creation of a retail compliance test center that will simulate a Wal-Mart distribution center in order to evaluate RFID tag compliance for vendors.


Intel drops plans for Wi-Fi access point in Grantsdale

Intel Corp. no longer plans to turn its latest batch of chipsets into wireless access points, citing a lack of interest from PC vendors and the proliferation of standalone access points, a company spokesman said Friday.


New Palm Operating System Targets Smart Phones

By MAY WONG    SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- PalmSource Inc...


Stocks Fall on Oil, Dow Ends Below 10,000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks declined on Monday, as record  crude oil prices triggered fresh worry that energy costs will  erode corporate profits and consumer demand.


HP Spurns Intel

Plus, the \$600 billion cash cow, Kraft's diet pitch, and Samsung sets nano benchmark.


Lexar's for Pros; Investors Get Hose

The flash memory maker does fine in camera, but doesn't deliver for investors.


Stocks declined on Monday, as record crude oil prices triggered fresh worry that energy costs will erode corporate profits and consumer demand.


Virgin Boss Plans Private Space Flights

LONDON - The founder of Virgin Atlantic Airlines is spreading his wings. No longer content with conquering the skies, Richard Branson has set his sights higher-- much higher.


Swiss cast votes online in referendum

Swiss authorities hailed as a success a test of Internet voting in a national referendum, even as computer security experts remain skeptical that any online balloting could ever be secure using current technologies.


Sexton Gets The Start For UNC

For at least their next two games, Florida State will have a new face under center. Head coach Bobby Bowden announced Monday morning that redshirt sophomore Wyatt Sexton would start in place of fifth-year


McCown benched; Cardinals offense continues to struggle

Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green said last week that his team #39;s offensive system was the best in the league. Apparently the rest of the league never received the memo.


Talks with Musharraf  quot;very good quot;: PM

NEW DELHI: It was a grand homecoming for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he touched the Indira Gandhi International Airport here tonight after culminating his  #39;voyage of discovery #39;, as he described his nine-day tour of Britain and US.


Jordan: Italian hostages  #39;alive #39;

Jordan #39;s King Abdullah said in an interview published on Monday he believed two Italian women kidnapped in Iraq three weeks ago were still alive and Jordan was trying to obtain their freedom.


Jordan #39;s king leaves for France and Italy

Jordan #39;s King Abdullah II left here Monday on a two-day working visit to France and Italy, Jordanian TV reported. The king will hold talks with French President Jacques Chirac


Update 3: Comcast, Time Warner Consider Joint Bid

Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp. said they are exploring a potential joint bid for Adelphia Communications Corp., the troubled cable company that put itself on the block as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.


Devon sets 2 for 1 stock split, to buyback shares

Devon Energy Corp. (DVN.A: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said it set a two-for-one stock split and would buy back up to 10 percent of its shares, as the company #39;s cash levels


UPDATE 4-Nastech in obesity treatment pact with Merck

Shares of Nastech Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. (NSTK.O: Quote, Profile, Research) soared 70 percent on Monday after the company said it had formed an alliance with Merck  amp; Co.


IDC says commercial demand boosts PC outlook

Consistent gains in commercial personal computer demand will boost shipments of PCs to176.5 million units in 2004 on growth of 14.


Harrah #39;s, Caesars to Sell Four Casinos

Harrah #39;s Entertainment Inc. (HET.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Caesars Entertainment Inc. (CZR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said they have agreed to sell four casinos for


Update 4: Walgreen Earnings Rise 18 Percent in 4Q

Walgreen Co. increased its fourth-quarter profits by 18 percent despite slower growth in prescription drug sales industrywide, taking market share from competitors as it gains ground on the biggest US retailers.


Branson teams up with SpaceShipOne

British airline tycoon Richard Branson said Monday he has cut a deal with a US rocket ship company to take paying passengers into space.


Virgin Music launches music store

A bricks and mortar music store is transforming into a clicks and mortar presence, as the Virgin Group is launching a music store in the US.


HP Dumps 64-bit Interests

HP (Quote, Chart) is doing a lot of explaining after it revealed this weekend that it will no longer put Itanium processors in its high-performance workstations.


IronPort updates e-mail security appliance

SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - E-mail security systems vendor IronPort Systems Inc. is releasing new versions of its C-Series line of e-mail security appliances, with features that make it easier


Intel drops plans to make Grantsdale chip a Wi-Fi access point

SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Intel Corp. no longer plans to turn its latest batch of chip sets into wireless access points, citing a lack of interest from PC vendors and the proliferation of stand-alone access points.


Lexar launches new media card readers

Lexar Media today at Photokina (Hall 1.2, B-058) introduced two new Professional CompactFlash Readers designed for nearly instantaneous data transfer as well enhanced version of its multicard readers.


Charlton climb to seventh with 1-0 win over Blackburn

A 49th-minute header by Moroccan defender Talal El Karkouri gave Charlton Athletic a 1-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers on Monday that lifted the London club to seventh in the Premier League.


Syracuse football player stabbed during fight

Syracuse starting cornerback Tanard Jackson was released from the hospital Monday after being stabbed in the chest during a fight outside the campus student center.


Snohomish County gets nod for NASCAR track

An 850-acre tract of farmland in Snohomish County near Marysville is the preferred site for a new \$140 million, 75,000-seat NASCAR track, county and city officials said Monday.


Eagles lose Ritchie for the season

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Eagles fullback Jon Ritchie was placed on injured reserve Monday and will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL during Sunday #39;s game versus Detroit.


Bengals LB Webster out for season

Bengals middle linebacker Nate Webster will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Webster had surgery Monday to repair the patella tendon in his right knee, torn during the closing minutes of a 23-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.


Former aide implicates Fastow in Merrill barge deal

Reuters reported Monday that a former aide to Enron Corp. ex-Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow has implicated his former boss in pushing a bogus deal with Merrill Lynch that boosted Enron #39;s books.


King knows McCown is in tight spot

ATLANTA - Shaun King has been in Josh McCown #39;s situation as a struggling young quarterback trying to find his way in the NFL. He replaced McCown in the fourth quarter Sunday, but he wasn #39;t about to fuel a


MORE INJURY WOE FOR EAGLES

The team learned on Monday that full-back Jon Ritchie will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.


Update 2: Top Citigroup Executives Swap Jobs

In a move Citigroup Inc. said was aimed at broadening the experience of up-and-coming executives, two of its top managers are swapping jobs.


ISRAEL KILLS HAMAS LEADER IN SYRIA

Izzedin Subhi Sheik Khalil, 42, was killed in a bomb that destroyed his car in Damascus on Sunday. This was the first time a Hamas leader was assassinated in the Syrian capital.


Gunmen kill former Philippine rebel leader

Suspected communist rebels have shot dead the leader of a breakaway guerrilla group that entered into a peace agreement with the Philippine government, police say.


Unrest forces oil prices higher

Oil futures have jumped to their highest closing on record on the New York Mercantile Exchange, rising 76 US cents to \$US49.64 dollars a barrel, as unrest in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia alarmed traders.


Update 1: Airline Stocks Sink on Gloomy Outlook

The airline sector, clouded by US Airways Group Inc. #39;s recent bankruptcy and Delta Air Lines Inc. #39;s impending financial shortfall, sank deeper in Monday trading as low-cost carriers took a hit from lowered analyst ratings and rising oil prices.


Cisco Extends Catalyst to SMBs

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO - News) announced today the availability of a suite of new Cisco Catalyst switching products and services specifically designed and priced for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).


Sports: Gannon out at least six weeks

ALAMEDA, Calif. Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon has a broken vertebrae in his neck and he #39;ll be on the sidelines at least six weeks.


'Miraculous' Christ Washes Up in Texas Rio Grande (Reuters)

Reuters - A fiberglass statue of Christ\that washed up on a sandbar in the Rio Grande three weeks ago\is attracting scores of devout pilgrims to a police department\lost-and-found and being hailed as a miracle.


Angels' Eckstein Strengthened by Family (AP)

AP - David Eckstein proved he could play in the majors despite being smaller than many batboys. He fought through injuries. He learned to hang tight on the plate with a 95 mph fastball coming at him.


Rich Gannon out at least six weeks

The Oakland Raiders reported Monday that quarterback Rich Gannon will be sidelined at least six weeks with a neck injury. Gannon broke vertebrae in his neck when he collided helmet


McNair Hospitalized With Bruised Sternum (AP)

AP - Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair will stay in the hospital Monday night with a bruised sternum and will be listed as questionable on the NFL injury report.


Mashburn to Sit Out 2004-05 Campaign (Reuters)

Reuters - New Orleans Hornets forward\Jamal Mashburn will sit out the 2004-05 season due to a patella\femoral irritation of his right knee.


Attanasio Apparently Close to Brewers Buy (AP)

AP - Los Angeles investor Mark L. Attanasio appears to be close to an agreement to buy the Milwaukee Brewers from the family of baseball commissioner Bud Selig.


Florida State's Sexton to Start at QB Against North Carolina

Wyatt Sexton will make his first start at quarterback for FSU, replacing injured Chris Rix for Saturday's game against North Carolina.


Nigerian Oil Delta Rebels Say 'War' to Start Oct 1

LAGOS (Reuters) - The Nigerian rebel group fighting  government troops in the oil-rich Niger delta said on Monday it  will launch "all-out war on the Nigerian state" from Oct. 1 and  advised all oil companies to shut production by then.


Spector indicted for murder

Pop producer Phil Spector is indicted on a charge that he murdered an actress at his home 19 months ago.


Bill Overhauling Intelligence Faces Uncertain Fate in Senate

The Senate opened a floor debate today and moved toward a final vote on a bill endorsed by 9/11 commission leaders.


NYMEX Oil Rises on Nigerian Rebel Threat (Reuters)

Reuters - NYMEX crude oil futures jumped 36\cents in electronic trading on Monday evening to the\psychological  #36;50 a barrel level, the highest in the 21 years\oil futures have traded on the exchange, as Nigerian rebels\decided an "all-out" war against the government starting Oct.\1.


Stocks Fall on Oil, Dow Ends Below 10,000 (Reuters)

Reuters - The blue-chip Dow Jones average closed\below 10,000 for the first time in about six weeks on Monday as\a spike in oil prices to nearly  #36;50 a barrel renewed concerns\about corporate profits while analysts cutting recommendations\hurt tech stocks.


U.S. Jets Pound Militant Positions in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two car bombs killed seven Iraqi national guardsmen and a rocket barrage hit a police academy Monday as insurgents kept up their offensive to subdue Iraq's beleaguered security forces. U.S...


U.S. Oil Hits \$50 on Nigeria Supply Fears

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices reached a record \$50 a  barrel on Monday as Nigeria emerged as the latest focus for  worries about supply in an already tight worldwide energy  market.


Stocks Fall on Oil, Dow Ends Below 10,000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The blue-chip Dow Jones average closed  below 10,000 for the first time in about six weeks on Monday as  a spike in oil prices to nearly \$50 a barrel renewed concerns  about corporate profits while analysts cutting recommendations  hurt tech stocks.


Stocks Slip on Oil, Dow Falls Below 10,000

NEW YORK - Oil prices reached a new high and sent stocks lower Monday, pushing the Dow Jones industrials back below 10,000. But with trading on Wall Street light and losses only moderate, investors seemed to be coming to terms with near-\$50 per barrel crude...


DA Won't Prosecute Bishop Accused of Rape

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A district attorney said Monday that he would not prosecute Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Dupre on child rape charges because the statute of limitations has expired in the case...


Cingular Wireless plans to sell interactive unit

Fund manager Cerberus Capital Management to buy the Mobitex network, used to support a quarter of the world's BlackBerry users.


Toshiba presses Play on 60GB audio player

Up to 15,000 audio files can be stored on the company's upcoming hard drive-based player.


Q A: Grid Alliance president on winning enterprise converts

The Enterprise Grid Alliance, whose mission is to push the adoption of grid computing, is working on standards and specifications to make it easier to deploy vendor products in a grid environment, according to EGA President Donald Deutsch.


IDC Forum: Is IT creativity dead?

Speaking at the IDC-sponsored European IT Forum in Paris, controversial author Nicholas G. Carr and business consultant Don Tapscott disagreed about whether IT can spark business model changes that help companies gain strategic advantages over competitors.


IDC raises '04 PC growth view, trims '05 projection

Boosted by the strongest demand from businesses since 1999, PC shipments this year will be higher than previously anticipated, research firm IDC said today.


IronPort updates e-mail security appliance

IronPort Systems today unveiled new versions of its C-Series line of Email Security Appliances, offering new features to help administrators predict new virus outbreaks and manage corporate e-mail security.


Intel drops plans to make Grantsdale chip a Wi-Fi access point

Intel has dropped plans to turn its latest batch of chip sets into wireless access points, citing a lack of interest from PC vendors and the rising number of stand-alone access points.


Northwestern Medical cites performance boost from Concord software

Concord management software has helped uncover a range of problems at Northwestern medical group, which is now seeing improved system performance.


Microsoft is ready to remove media player for EU

Microsoft will be ready to comply with European Commission demands for changes to its Windows operating systems if a European court does not suspend the antitrust remedy, a company spokesman said today.


Qwest adds VoIP to 10 markets

Qwest Communications International has added its OneFlex VoIP services for small, medium, and enterprise businesses to 10 additional markets.


Oil prices charge toward \$50 a barrel; gasoline prices surge

Oil prices charged toward \$50 a barrel Monday, and gasoline prices surged to \$1.92 a gallon last week, as petroleum output in the Gulf of Mexico returns at a slower-than-expected rate after Hurricane Ivan and geopolitical unrest keeps traders on edge.


IATA says air traffic recovery continues, so do losses

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Monday that the air traffic has seen continued recovery but, with the industry loss for 2004 expected to be 3 to 4 billion US dollars, there is no excuse to relax.


Elephant Dung Helps Track Smuggled Ivory - Study

Using elephant dung and skin samples, researchers said they were able to make a map of elephant DNA that could help track down ivory poachers.


Toshiba presses play on 60GB audio player

com September 27, 2004, 2:20 PM PT. Toshiba on Monday announced in Japan that it #39;s upping the song capacity of its Gigabeat line of hard drive-based digital audio players.


49 min: El Karkouri scores the winner (Getty Images)

90 mins: And so the curtain comes down on a match of very fine margins. Not an epic by any stretch of the imagination but both teams worked extremely hard but never really showed enough craft to open the opposition defence.


WisPolitics: Brewers Reportedly Sold; Admirals Might be Close

While no official announcement has been made, Mark Attanasio, a Los Angeles investor, looks to be the new owner of the Milwaukee Brewers.


Gannon has broken vertebra in his neck

Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon has a broken vertebra in his neck that will sideline him at least six weeks. Gannon had an MRI exam Monday morning and was taken for further tests.


Microsoft to Offer Cheaper, Limited Windows in Russia

It's part of the company's effort to beat back Linux and piracy efforts in developing technology markets.


For 110,000, Branson offers his passengers a voyage into space

within 25 seconds - to 2,500mph. For no more than five minutes they will float about, 80 miles above planet Earth. Lavatory and in-flight drinks?


It #39;s part of the company #39;s effort to beat back Linux and piracy efforts in developing technology markets. Microsoft says it will offer a simplified and lower-priced version of Windows XP in Russia, matching


UPDATE 1-Charlton climb to seventh with 1-0 win

A 49th-minute header by Moroccan defender Talal El Karkouri gave Charlton Athletic a 1-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers on Monday that lifted the London club to seventh in the Premier League.


Gardenhire has winning touch

It is 4:30 pm on Tuesday, the day after the Minnesota Twins clinched their third consecutive American League Central Division title.


U.S. Senate to Weigh Bill Targeting Web Song Swaps (Reuters)

Reuters - After weeks of negotiations, the\U.S. Senate could take action this week on a bill that would\make it easier to sue "peer-to-peer" networks like Kazaa and\LimeWire that allow users to copy music and movies over the\Internet.


IDC Raises '04 PC Growth View, Trims '05 (Reuters)

Reuters - Shipments of personal computers\this year will be higher than previously anticipated, boosted\by the strongest demand from businesses in five years, research\firm IDC said on Monday.


US Trsy  quot;glad to see quot; UK idea on poor country debt

A US Treasury Department spokesman on Monday gave a positive, though muted, reception to a British proposal to ease the debt of heavily indebted poor countries, which was unveiled over the weekend.


Microsoft to Offer Cheaper, Limited Windows in Russia (PC World)

PC World - It's part of the company's effort to beat back Linux and piracy efforts in developing technology markets.


U.S. Senate to Weigh Bill Targeting Web Song Swaps

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After weeks of negotiations, the  U.S. Senate could take action this week on a bill that would  make it easier to sue "peer-to-peer" networks like Kazaa and  LimeWire that allow users to copy music and movies over the  Internet.


Gasoline Price Up, Diesel Hits Record (Reuters)

Reuters - Rising crude oil costs are taking a\toll on U.S. consumers, as the national price for gasoline\jumped 5.1 cents a gallon over the last week and diesel fuel\hit a record high, the government said on Monday.


Gasoline Price Up, Diesel Hits Record

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rising crude oil costs are taking a  toll on U.S. consumers, as the national price for gasoline  jumped 5.1 cents a gallon over the last week and diesel fuel  hit a record high, the government said on Monday.


Tommy Hilfiger Shares Tumble on Probe

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Tommy Hilfiger Corp. TOM.N  fell as much as 26 percent on Monday after a federal grand jury  subpoenaed documents on commissions paid to a foreign  subsidiary of the clothing maker.


Iraq Clears Debt, Opens Way for Aid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraq cleared around \$81 million in  debt it owed the International Monetary Fund late last week,  fund sources said on Monday, opening the way for the first aid  to flow from the global lender to Iraq.


Reseller CDW upgrades abilities, ambitions

Company offers higher-end equipment and new expertise for selling complicated combinations of products.


Homeland Security Still Falling Short With IT Work

GAO said the department has to work on seven key practices. It #39;s progress so far is a  quot;work in progress, quot; GAO says. By Eric Chabrow.


IBM Carves New RFID Unit

The Sensor and Actuator Solutions group will create services and software related to RFID systems. By Laurie Sullivan. IBM has created the Sensor and Actuator Solutions group to support devices such as those used in radio-frequency identification setups.


Rovers get another headache

A FIRST goal for Charlton from Moroccan defender Tala El Karkouri saw them preserve their unbeaten Premiership home record as they beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0.


Ruano Pascual upsets Kostanic

SPANIARD Virginia Ruano Pascual has fought back from a set down to upset ninth-seeded Croat Jelena Kostanic at the Gaz de France Stars WTA event in Belgium today.


LIONS MUST DO WITHOUT JONES

Detroit Lions rookie running back Kevin Jones will be sidelined at least two weeks with a high right ankle sprain. Since the Lions have a bye this weekend, coach Steve Mariucci is hoping that Jones will just miss the October 10 game at Atlanta.


Palestinian gunmen abduct CNN producer

GAZA, SEPTEMBER 27: Armed Palestinians kidnapped an Israeli Arab producer for CNN TV network from a car in Gaza City on Monday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.


Unrest in Saudi Arabia spotlights terrorism battle

RIYADH: The  quot;terrorist quot; murder of a French citizen in Jeddah and another shoot-out on Monday between suspected Islamist militants and security forces in the Saudi capital have


UN calls bird flu  #39;world crisis #39;

Two UN agencies have warned that bird flu is set to remain a serious threat to animal and human life worldwide in the near future.


For schools, Apple offers special iMac G5, eMac

With the release of the new iMac G5, some educational technology departments might want to check Apple's online education store, where they'll find an additional model available only to education institutions. Cheaper eMacs are there, too.


IBM delivers Masala

IBM later this week will deliver its long-awaited DB2 Information Integrator, code-named Masala, which contains a sophisticated search engine that allows corporate users to dig out and analyze data across a wide range of IBM and non-IBM information data stores, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.


Is Organized Crime Controlling Your PC?

Symantec report says Internet attacks for financial gain on the rise.


Oil price hits \$US50 a barrel

Crude oil futures hit \$US50 in electronic after-hours trade in New York, setting a new record as supply worries intensified. In regular trading the November benchmark contract for light sweet crude on the


Airline Industry Seen Losing Up to \$4 Bln in 2004

The global airline industry stands to incur losses of between \$3 billion and \$4 billion this year as surging oil prices wipe out any hope of profit created by rising passenger traffic, the International Air Transport Association said


Palmsource reboots Cobalt, but no phones  #39;til 2005

Palm kicks off its European developer conference in Munich this week with details of a new release of its Cobalt OS. Cobalt 6.1 will feature new GSM and 802.


IronPort Adds Virus Preemption, Courts Dell

Some reseller partners of security appliance vendor IronPort Systems are taking the good with the not so good. IronPort partners like Peter Kolb, director of data sales at Triple A Networks, a technology integrator


Intel drops plans for Wi-Fi access point in Grantsdale

Intel no longer plans to turn its latest batch of chipsets into wireless access points, citing a lack of interest from PC vendors and the proliferation of standalone access points, a company spokesman said Friday.


McNair remains hospitalized with bruised sternum

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair remained in a Nashville hospital Monday because of a bruised sternum, but tests revealed no serious injuries.


Real v Roma: Clash of the down and outs

Two clubs seemingly vying to make theirs the most miserable start to a season - Real Madrid and AS Roma -ill meet on their return to Champions League duty.


Pearl murder suspect Farooqi shot dead

Pakistan claims its security forces have killed a leading al-Qa #39;ida member who was a main suspect in the kidnap and murder of the journalist Daniel Pearl, and an assassination


Yahoo Rolls Out Tests of Redesigned Start Pages (Reuters)

Reuters - Online media company Yahoo Inc.\ late on Monday rolled out tests of redesigned start\pages for its popular Yahoo.com and My.Yahoo.com sites.


Virgin to Launch Commercial Space Flights (AP)

AP - Airline mogul and adventurer Richard Branson announced plans Monday to boldly go where no private transport company has gone before  #151; into space.


Haiti Doctors Operate Without Electricity (AP)

AP - Doctors are performing amputations without electricity or running water while waste from this city's shattered sewage system contaminates mud and floodwaters, infecting wounds that threaten to turn gangrenous.


Egypt FM to visit Israel, push for full Gaza pullout (AFP)

AFP - Visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said he plans to travel next week to Israel and underscore the need for Israel's total pullout from Gaza.


US asks Laos to probe alleged massacre of Hmong children (AFP)

AFP - The United States said it was taking  quot;very seriously quot; reports that the Laotian military massacred ethnic Hmong children, urging Vientiane to launch a probe on the issue.


High court asked to hear case forcing unfaithful husband to continue support (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - VANCOUVER (CP) - A man who the B.C. Court of Appeal found was "carrying on behind his wife's back" and must continue spousal support payments will contest the ruling in the country's highest court because it contravenes the Divorce Act and could have national importance, his lawyer said Monday.


AdWatch: Kerry Ad Asks About Iraq Solution (AP)

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


Iraqis wary as school year starts

Six million students are expected to begin school Saturday in a key test of security.


Al Qaeda's Uzbek bodyguards

As Pakistan rounds up more Al Qaeda operatives in its cities, hundreds of Uzbek fighters remain in the tribal hills.


Basque group warns of new attacks

The Basque separatist group, Eta, says it will continue its violent campaign for self-determination.


Tommy Hilfiger Shares Tumble on Probe

Shares of Tommy Hilfiger Corp. (TOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fell as much as 26 percent on Monday after a federal grand jury subpoenaed documents on commissions paid to a foreign subsidiary of the clothing maker.


Milton says small Bombardier airliners put Air Canada in shape to <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Air Canada #39;s new regional jets, including 50-seat Bombardier planes that start arriving next month, will put the company in better shape to compete than its rivals, CEO Robert Milton boasted Monday.


Harrah #39;s, Caesars to sell four casinos to satisfy regulators

Harrah #39;s Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment Inc. have agreed to sell four hotel-casinos to an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC for about 1.2 billion dollars.


Virgin launches subscription-based music service

On Monday, Virgin Group subsidiary Virgin Digital launched an online store designed to leverage the name recognition of its brick-and-mortar Virgin Megastore while competing with a subscription-based model.


Adobe Sets the Agenda

NEW YORK - As the photography trade show Photokina kicks off this week in Cologne, Germany, graphics software giant Adobe continues to set the agenda in both the professional and consumer markets.


Microsoft Charges For Hotmail-Outlook Connection

Microsoft on Monday announced it would start charging users to access their Hotmail accounts from the Outlook or Outlook Express e-mail clients.


Big push for radio tags that tell you what #39;s in the box

IBM announced yesterday that it will invest US\$250 million (S\$425 million) over the next five years and employ 1,000 people in a new business unit to support products and services related to sensor networks.


Hughes Pleased Despite Defeat

Mark Hughes maintained Blackburns hard effort would soon earn their just rewards - after his side went down 1-0 to Charlton in tonights Barclays Premiership clash at The Valley.


Problem-hit Real and Roma in face-off

LONDON - Nobody has more problems at the start of the Champions League season than Real Madrid - unless it #39;s Italian side AS Roma.


Korea Opposes Enlarging UN Security Council: Foreign Minister Ban

Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon expressed his viewpoint that he supported the augmentation of the seats of non-permanent Security Council members, and opposed increasing the numbers of permanent members, at the foreign minister talks held Friday between


SAS launches automated forecasting tool

SAS unveiled on Monday a forecasting tool, SAS High-Performance Forecasting, targeted at industries that do large volumes of forecasts.


IDC sees mixed future in worldwide PC market

SAN FRANCISCO - Consumers are easing off on PC purchases as corporations ramp up their purchases, according to the latest data from market researcher IDC. Slackening consumer demand will help lower expectations for the market in the second half of 2004 and into 2005, IDC said Monday.


Cash-rich, commodity-starved mainland goes shopping overseas

SINGAPORE: The mainland #39;s plan to buy Canadian mining giant Noranda for some US\$5 billion is just the beginning of an overseas acquisition march fuelled by swollen foreign exchange reserves and a need to secure natural resources.


AT amp;T Wireless Unveils Ogo Messenger Device

Targeted for the teen and young-adult consumer markets, the Ogo will retail for \$99 following a \$30 mail-in rebate. Its clamshell design includes a 4K color screen and full Qwerty keypad with


Cisco shakes up switch management

Cisco Systems is shaking up its network management with the release of two new switches. Aimed at mid-sized enterprises, the switches acknowledge that there are large numbers of people who are not confident


Ironport Release New Version Of C-Series Appliance

Ironport Systems today announced the latest version of the e-mail security company #39;s C-Series E-Mail Security Appliance. The new version formalizes the release of Ironport #39;s Virus Outbreak


El Karkouri goal secures lucky win for Charlton

Talal El Karkouri #39;s first goal for Charlton ensured the club #39;s best start to the Premiership to date, though the statistic may reflect favourably on


Bates wise to spare Britain #39;s young hopefuls in Austria

At least the innocent were spared possible humiliation. Even though Britain lost to Austria 3-2 last weekend and remain in the second division of the Davis Cup, Jeremy Bates was


Focal point: Bill Parcells vs. Joe Gibbs

Nobody respects coach Joe Gibbs more than me, but this week I see the Cowboys and coach Bill Parcells having the upper hand. I #39;m sure Gibbs is going to get the Redskins back to an elite level, but this is just his first season.


All eyes turn to Old Trafford as Rooney returns

Wayne Rooney, the hero of England #39;s European Championship campaign in Portugal in June, makes his long-awaited return to action, probably as a substitute in Manchester United #39;s tricky Champions


Source: Brewers accept offer from buyer

The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to accept an offer from Los Angeles investor Mark L. Attanasio to buy the team from the family of baseball commissioner Bud Selig.


US pounds militant positions in Iraq

BAGHDAD - US jets pounded suspected militant positions in a Baghdad slum Monday as two car bombs killed seven Iraqi national guardsmen and a rocket barrage hit a police academy.


Unions firm on deadline for Iraq troop withdrawal

Tony Blair was facing a damaging defeat last night over demands for the early withdrawal of British troops from Iraq after failing to buy off the votes of the four big unions at Labour #39;s annual conference.


Interview: Minister says Sudan open to idea of autonomy in Darfur

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said here on Monday that his government is open to the idea of granting some sort of autonomy to the western Darfur region where


Israel Threatens Syria With Pre-Emptive Strike

JERUSALEM, 28 September 2004 - Israel accused Syria yesterday of directing terrorism and said it could face pre-emptive strikes against militants on its territory, but stopped short of saying it killed a Hamas leader in Damascus.


Indonesia says it wants permanent Security Council seat

Indonesia announced on Monday its aspiration for a permanent seat on an expanded United Nations Security Council, saying it should be given a voice on thecouncil.


Diamonds stolen at Paris show

Two diamonds jointly worth together worth over 7.8 million have disappeared from an antique dealers #39; show in Paris. During the event at the famous Louvre museum, a glass case holding the jewels was forced open.


Iraq Clears Debt, Opens Way for Aid (Reuters)

Reuters - Iraq cleared around  #36;81 million in\debt it owed the International Monetary Fund late last week,\fund sources said on Monday, opening the way for the first aid\to flow from the global lender to Iraq.


Citigroup Elevates Krawcheck to CFO Post

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc. C.N named Sallie  Krawcheck chief financial officer on Monday, extending her  reach across the world's largest financial services company and  bolstering her image as Wall Street's most powerful woman.


Cingular Wireless plans to sell interactive unit

Cingular Wireless said Monday that it plans to sell a wireless data network that supports about a quarter of the world #39;s Blackberry users to a New York-based fund manager.


Cisco Enhances SMB Offerings

Cisco Systems (Quote, Chart) has modified its Catalyst switching products to help small and medium-sized businesses deploy converged data, voice and video networks.


S #39;pore tuning in to track inventory

SINGAPORE has been one of the earliest countries to make use of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries use RFID to detect the cars that pass through them.


Cingular Sells Interactive Unit, Keeps Key Customers

Cingular Wireless said Monday it has agreed to sell its Cingular Interactive unit to investment banking firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, but will retain the operation #39;s e-mail customers and several key accounts.


Virgin tunes in to online music

RICHARD Branson #39;s Virgin Group said today it was jumping into the market for online music, with a  quot;Digital Megastore quot; offering US customers song downloads for 99 US cents (\$1.


IBM Invests \$250M in RFID

IBM announced Monday a \$250 million investment in RFID (radio frequency identification), an emerging technology that is being mandated by the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.


Hurricane hits NASA spaceport

The third hurricane to hit NASA #39;s spaceport in just over a month, blew out more panels and left more gaping holes in the massive shuttle assembly building.


World Oil Prices Hit \$50 Barrel

Crude oil prices have jumped to \$50.00 a barrel in after hours trading in New York. The psychologically significant level was reached in electronic trading after the close of the markets Monday.


Fudo is mad, Farrell is bad

This looks like the *real* beginning of the end for Itanium. The workstation market is two-fold. There are those that use workstations for computing tasks (scientific, visualization, whatever) and those that


No problem is found after bomb alert on jet

LONDON A police search found no threat to a Greek airliner that was forced to make an emergency landing in Britain after a bomb alert, officers said Monday.


New Study Challenges Online Buying Methods (AdWeek.com)

AdWeek.com - With 75 percent of Americans online today, the Internet has come of age as a reach medium, and a new report suggests that advertisers need to understand how a Web site's audience builds over time and adjust their buys accordingly.


Intel Corp. Makes Marketing Push for Centrino Chip (Reuters)

Reuters - Intel Corp.  on Monday\launched a global advertising campaign for its Centrino\notebook computer chips, aiming to boost sales of a brand that\has brought the world's largest chip maker more than  #36;3 billion\in revenue since its start last year.


Hotlines: Blue Man Group Returns in  #36;120 Mil. Centrino Campaign (AdWeek.com)

AdWeek.com - NEW YORK -- Intel is reintroducing the Blue Man Group, not used since 2001, in a campaign for its Centrino mobile technology for wireless computing.


Sun-Red Hat Relationship Frays Further (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - In an interview with eWEEK.com and in his Weblog, Red Hat's Michael Tiemann lashes out at Sun as the two companies start to compete head-on.


San Francisco Plan Aims to Slash Greenhouse Gases (Reuters)

Reuters - Three days after California\regulators adopted tough rules to cut car pollution, San\Francisco's mayor unveiled a plan on Monday to reduce\greenhouse gas emissions, saying cities must take action\because the Bush administration is ignoring global warming.


Intel Corp. Makes Marketing Push for Centrino Chip

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp. INTC.O on Monday  launched a global advertising campaign for its Centrino  notebook computer chips, aiming to boost sales of a brand that  has brought the world's largest chip maker more than \$3 billion  in revenue since its start last year.


Envoy: Iraq Elections to Happen on Time (AP)

AP - The top U.S. official in Baghdad said Monday that nationwide elections would be held in Iraq early next year as scheduled regardless of how large a U.N. presence the world body manages to send to oversee the vote.


Campaigns Focus on Iraq in Ads (AP)

AP - President Bush claims John Kerry "doesn't even know where he stands" on the war, while the Democrat accuses Bush of having "no plan what to do" in Iraq  #151; dueling television ads setting the stage for the candidates' Thursday night debate over foreign policy.


Unease at UN Over Russian Terror Blacklist Plan

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Several U.N. Security Council  nations expressed misgivings about a draft resolution  introduced by Russia on Monday that would create a new  blacklist of terrorist suspects subject to extradition.


Toutatis: Almost Too Close for Comfort

The asteroid Toutatis last flew close by Earth in 1992 and 1996, but it has not come as close to us as it will this year since 1353. On Wednesday morning, scientists and skywatchers alike will be able to witness its passage within only four Earth-moon distances.


As First Debate Nears, Rivals Seek to Bring Iraq Into Focus

President Bush ridiculed Senator John Kerry today, and Mr. Kerry assailed the president's Iraq policy in a statement issued by his campaign.


DA Won't Prosecute Bishop Accused of Rape

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A district attorney said Monday that he would not prosecute Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Dupre on child rape charges - despite a newly unsealed indictment in the case - because the statute of limitations has expired...


Microsoft flexes more open-source muscle

Microsoft releases code for FlexWiki Web collaboration program--the company's third application to go public.


Dell and AOL expand PC program for needy students

"TechKnow" program doles out PCs to children who complete special class, meet standards regarding grades and attendance.


Air travel increases, but profits down

The International Air Transport Association said Monday international air travel and cargo transport rose more than expected. In the first eight months of this year, passenger travel increased by nearly 19


TechBrief: Vodafone seeks new frontiers

Vodafone said Monday that it remained interested in acquisitions in France, eastern Europe, Asia and Africa as the mobile phone company detailed cost cuts that it expects will reach an annual 2.


Stripped-Down Windows Ready For Europe

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Microsoft says if a judge won #39;t suspend a European Union antitrust ruling, the company is ready to put a stripped-down version of Windows on the market.


Virgin #39;s next destination: space

LONDON Richard Branson, the adventurous entrepreneur behind the Virgin Group, said Monday that he would form a commercial space travel company that would start carrying passengers by 2007.


HP dropping workstations with Intel chip

Hewlett-Packard Co. will no longer sell computer workstations using the Intel Itanium chip, which the two giant tech companies worked together to design.


IBM bets on sensor unit

IBM was to announce on Monday that it would invest \$250 million over the next five years and employ a thousand people in a new business unit to support products and services related to sensor networks.


Cisco Continues SMB Push

its so-called  quot;SMB-Class extensions quot; -- to the Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series of modular switches; a new Cisco Network Assistant; and the new Catalyst 4948 fixed switches.


When Clusters Collide

s collisions go, the one taking place in the vicinity of the constellation Hydra is a doozy. Out there, some 800 million light-years from Earth, two galactic clusters - one with about 1,000


AOL Formalizes Cellular Phone IM Program

AOL today announced its Mobile Developer Program designed to formalize the company #39;s three year-old push into the cellular phone instant messaging business.


Security trio merge to create one-stop giant

THE merger of high-profile information security companies Betrusted, TruSecure and Ubizen signals a strategic shift in the market place.


Branson fires up space flight plan

AUSTRALIAN bubbly would be available on Virgin #39;s first flights into space, British tycoon Richard Branson promised today. The Virgin airlines founder hopes five space ships, each carrying five passengers and


HP discontinues Itanium workstation sales

The long and sordid story of Intel #39;s flagship 64-bit CPU, Itanium, took another twist today, and from an unexpected source. Citing poor sales demand, Hewlett-Packard will discontinue sales and development of its own Itanium 2-based workstation line.


Bengals Struggling to Stop Opposing Backs (AP)

AP - Jamal Lewis, 180 yards. Marshall Faulk, 121. Lee Suggs, 186. Curtis Martin, 196. Lewis again, this time for 186.


George Johnson on Sports: NFL, Baseball, WNBA

Description: George Johnson talks about the NFL, WNBA playoffs, baseball pennant races and other sports headlines. There #39;s the music which means it #39;s time to bounce.


US are Davis Cup final underdogs, says Roddick

World number two Andy Roddick says the United States will probably be the underdogs in the Davis Cup final against hosts Spain in December.


Shadow of Perry still looms over British game

Britain last won the Davis Cup in 1936. You can account for the paucity of confidence in the British team last weekend when you realise their last victory predates rationing.


Top-seeded Ferrero pulls out in Shanghai

Top-sseded Juan Carlos Ferrero pulled out of the Heineken Open Shanghai Monday because of wrist and knee injuries. Ferrero, the former world No.


Davis Cleared to Play

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin senior running back Anthony Davis, who has missed the Badgers last three games due to an eye injury sustained during the teams season-opener on Sept.


GANNON SUFFERS BREAK

After having his 2003 season shortened by a shoulder injury, Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon will miss at least six weeks with a broken vertebra in his neck.


Heavy Rain Washes Out Mets-Braves Game (AP)

AP - The remnants of Hurricane Jeanne rained out Monday night's game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves.


5 are killed as wall in Dubai falls

At least five people were killed and a dozen were injured Monday after an unfinished wall collapsed during construction of a multi-billion-dollar expansion of the Dubai International Airport, airport authorities said.


GAZA STRIKE KILLS MILITANT

A Palestinian militant has been killed and three other people wounded in an Israeli helicopter strike on a car in the southern Gaza Strip.


A thawing thought

Islamabads assurance to New Delhi that Pakistan will not seize the Siachen glacier if Indian troops withdraw from it is welcome.


Surviving Haitians pray for 1,500 killed by Jeanne; more

The general in charge of UN peacekeepers in Haiti is critical of the slow pace of aid getting to hungry and sick residents, many left homeless by flooding.


Jordan prime suspect over Hamas hit list

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has said an Arab country might have helped Israel assassinate one of its members in Damascus . Although Hamas spokesman Usama Hamdan, who called


Missouri Linebacker Suspended for Game (AP)

AP - Missouri starting linebacker David Richard has been suspended from Saturday's Big 12 game against Colorado.


"The Sims 2" hits one million sales

The virtual life game sold more than a million copies in its first 10 days on the market, Electronic Arts said.


Heavy Rain Washes Out Mets-Braves Game

The remnants of Hurricane Jeanne rained out Monday's game between the Mets and the Atlanta Braves. It will be made up Tuesday as part of a doubleheader.


Hornets' Mashburn Out for the Season

Jamal Mashburn and the New Orleans Hornets announced Monday that the former All-Star's right knee injury had shown no improvement.


No Decision on Hamm

Paul Hamm fights to keep his gymnastics gold medal during a hearing before the sports world's highest court Monday but the panel adjourns without making a decision.


Source: Brewers Accept Purchase Offer

The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to accept an offer from Los Angeles investor Mark L. Attanasio to buy the team from the family of baseball commissioner Bud Selig.


News: U.N. warns of nuclear cyber terror risks

The International Atomic Energy Agency warns of the possibility of system sabotage by intruders and corrupt insiders.\


Study: Compact Disc Rocks On

Digital music is ramping up, but Jupiter Research reports that the venerable CD will remain the best-selling format throughout the remainder of the decade.


Nymex crude oil prices soar to 50 dollars per barrel

Nymex crude oil surged to a record of 50 dollars per barrel Monday as traders concerned that the petroleum production in the Gulf of Mexico would not return tonormal soon.


Cemex to acquire UK rival

LONDON The Mexican cement company Cemex said Monday that it would buy the British concrete maker RMC Group for 2.3 billion to expand in Europe and increase its product line.


Citigroup stuns Wall Street with shake-up

Sallie Krawcheck became the most powerful woman on Wall Street yesterday when she was named chief financial officer of Citigroup, the biggest bank in the world.


services will make cash flow, says Vodafone

Vodafone, the world #39;s largest mobile phone company, believes it can generate an extra 2.5 billion in cash every year by reducing costs and getting customers to spend more on their phones.


Lazard seeks float for \$3bn

Lazard is moving towards a flotation that could raise \$3billion and overhaul the complex structure of the powerful investment bank.


Virgin to Offer Space Flights (Even, Sort of, at Discount)

Sir Richard Branson, owner of the Virgin Group, announced on Monday that he would offer travelers the chance to go to the edge of space beginning in 2007, for \$190,000 a ticket.


Virgin launches US music downloads

BRITISH tycoon Richard Branson #39;s Virgin Group is jumping into the market for online music, with a  quot;Digital Megastore quot; offering US customers song downloads for US99c (\$1.


Security Companies Plan Merger

Computer-security companies TruSecure Corp. and Betrusted Holdings Inc. said last week they would merge to create a new company called Cybertrust that would sell a portfolio


Geek notes

BENQ #39;S new digital music player line, the Joybee 180, comes in three different designs, each with an additional cover you can swop around.


Crisis summit for clubs in turmoil

In moments of crisis, it can be comforting to know that there is someone worse off. It may be a small crumb, but it is one that both Real Madrid and AS Roma cling to gratefully as they


Wisconsin running back Davis cleared to play

Running back Anthony Davis, who missed No. 20 Wisconsin #39;s last three games with an eye injury, has been cleared to play this weekend against Illinois.


Let the Rooney Era begin at Man U

LONDON, SEPTEMBER 27: Wayne Rooney might be seen in the red of anchester United for the first time on Tuesday. United manager Alex Ferguson calls him the best English player in the last 30 years, and hes


Virgin launches new digital music service

Virgin Group announced on Monday that it has launched a new online music store that will offer music downloads for the regular price of \$0.


Paleontologists Put Ancient Long-Necked Monster in Its Place

iraffes evolved long necks to browse in trees high above the competition. That is as plain as the explanation the wolf in granny clothing gave Little Red Riding Hood for his big teeth:  quot;The better to eat you with, my dear.


US hails al-Qaida death, but wants more

The US State Department lauded Pakistan #39;s killing of a top al-Qaida member, but said more was needed. It #39;s an important development, department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said.


Israel warns Syria over terrorism

JERUSALEM: Syria is directly involved in terrorism and will not be granted immunity by Israel, the deputy defence minister said on Monday, but stopped short of claiming formal responsibility for the killing of a Hamas leader in Damascus.


Health Highlights: Sept. 27, 2004

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:    ------    Average Cost of U.S. Nursing Home is \$70K Annually: Survey      The average cost of a private room in a nursing home in the United States is \$70,080 a year, or \$192 a day, according to a survey released Monday by the MetLife Mature Market Institute...


HP sinks utility project, lays off some workers

Firm to sell Utility Data Center package as separate software modules. UDC staff handed walking papers.


Oil flirts with 50 a barrel before retreating

PARIS Oil prices rose to a record Monday but shied away from the \$50-a-barrel mark, as traders expressed concerns that hurricanes had hurt output in the United States while commercial supplies remained low.


Cemex to buy RMC for US\$4.15bil

LONDON: Mexico #39;s Cemex, the world #39;s third-largest cement maker, has agreed to buy Britain #39;s RMC Group for around 2.3bil (US\$4.


Rio Tinto: Demand good despite high oil prices

MELBOURNE: The world #39;s second-largest diversified miner, Rio Tinto Ltd Plc, said yesterday high oil prices were increasing its costs but were not dampening demand for its key commodities.


Wales put faith in height for autumn Tests

The Welsh coach Mike Ruddock #39;s attempt to inspire his national side to fresh heights took on a whole new meaning yesterday when he included the tallest player in the country in a 29-man squad for the forthcoming internationals against South Africa, New


Adobe, Kodak team on photo printing

Adobe Systems is making Kodak's Ofoto the preferred online printing service in consumer versions of its Photoshop image editing applications.


'The Sims 2' hits one million sales

The virtual life game sold more than a million copies in its first 10 days on the market, Electronic Arts said.


Russia next in line for cheap Windows

Microsoft this week added Russia to the list of the countries that will see a budget-priced version of Windows XP, what developer dubs  quot;Starter Edition.


Hamm faces Yang for gold in high court of sports

The disputed Olympic gold medal is wrapped in a pair of white socks in Paul Hamm #39;s parents #39; house in Waukesha, Wis. Whether that medal stays there is up to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland


YOUR news source for Monday, September 27, 2004

NASHVILLE -- After Chris Brown #39;s 26-yard touchdown run that finally quenched the Tennessee Titans #39; touchdown thirst Sunday afternoon, it became apparent that quarterback Steve McNair was hurt.


Bears lose Grossman for season

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Rex Grossman #39;s latest stint as starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears lasted all of three games. Grossman, 24, suffered a season-ending ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday #39;s 27-22 loss at Minnesota.


One more NBA setback -- the last? -- for unfulfilled Mashburn

At 6-feet-8, 250 pounds, he came into the NBA in 1993 as the fourth pick overall by the Dallas Mavericks following his junior year, when he was a first-team All-American for Rick Pitino at Kentucky.


Israelis kill 7 Palestinians; CNN crewman abducted

JERUSALEM Seven Palestinians were killed in scattered violence on Monday that included an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip and an incursion by soldiers into a West Bank refugee camp.


\$20M LOUVRE DIAMOND THEFT

Two diamonds worth nearly A\$20 million have been stolen in a daylight robbery from a high-end antique and jewelry dealers #39; show at a showroom below the famous Paris Louvre museum.


France advises its citizens against travelling to Saudi Arabia

quot;Given the increase in attacks since April and in the context of an elevated terrorist threat, travelers planning to go to the kingdom are advised to delay their trip for the moment except for imperative professional reasons, quot; the French Foreign Ministry


'Warlords' Threaten Afghan Polls - Rights Group

KABUL (Reuters) - Regional and factional leaders pose as  much of a threat to Afghanistan's elections as a Taliban  insurgency, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.


Fannie Mae to Keep More Cash on Hand

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Embattled mortgage finance company  Fannie Mae FNM.N agreed to keep billions of dollars more cash  on hand while it corrects accounting problems, its government  regulator said on Monday.


Senate Debate Signals Split on Bills to Create Spy Post

The bill, which would establish the post of national intelligence director, has powerful critics in both parties.


Florida Residents Line Up for Food, Water

VERO BEACH, Fla. - People lined up for more than a half-mile for food and water, while others searched in vain for generators in the sweltering heat Monday as Florida residents began cleaning up all over again, demoralized by the fourth hurricane in six weeks to batter the state...


Ford Launches Its All-New 2005 Mustang

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. launched its all-new 2005 Mustang on Monday, the fifth generation of the iconic sports car the company sorely needs to help lift sluggish U.S...


IATA Says Airline Fuel Bill Up USD\$10 Billion

The global airline industry stands to incur losses of between USD\$3 billion and USD\$4 billion this year as surging oil prices wipe out any hope of profit created by rising passenger traffic, the International Air Transport Association said on Monday.


New Palm System Targets Smart Phones (AP)

AP - PalmSource Inc. has finally answered the smart-phone call. The maker of Palm operating systems for handheld computers plans to introduce Tuesday its first version designed specifically for so-called smart phones.


Sports briefs for December 6, 2004

In the best-of-five Davis Cup final against Spain on the slow red clay at Olympic Stadium, Andy Roddick lost both of his matches in the United States #39; 3-2 loss at Seville, Spain.


Branson promises to send tourists into space by 2007

Seasobed Sir Richard Branson watchers could be forgiven for thinking there was nothing left on the planet to escape the red and white Virgin logo.


Virgin Enters Online Music Business

Virgin Group Ltd. on Monday launched its online music store, pitting the retailer best known for its music  quot;megastores quot; with tech companies such as Apple Computer Inc.


HP to stop using Intel Itanium chips

HP announced that it will discontinue the use of Intel Itanium microprocessors due to the limited demand in the market from its customers.


Jeanne Costs Money, Time at Florida Spaceport

Jeanne was the third hurricane in six weeks to damage Florida #39;s Kennedy Space Center but NASA would not say on Monday whether the damage will set back plans to resume space shuttle flights next March.


Start-up banks on Java hardware boost

A Silicon Valley start-up called Azul Systems plans to start selling hardware next year designed to make it faster and more efficient to run Java programs.


Mars Orbiter Camera #39;s Eagle Eye in the Sky

The spacecraft Mars Global Surveyor has been in orbit at Mars for seven years and is still pulling off amazing feats of aerial imaging.


Yahoo Gives Web Site a Facelift (AP)

AP - Internet powerhouse Yahoo Inc. has given its popular Web site a facelift to highlight some of the features that the company has been improving during the past year.


Players #39; union files grievance against Guillen suspension

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - One day after the Anaheim Angels suspended outfielder Jose Guillen without pay for the remainder of the season, the players #39; association filed a grievance to overturn the penalty on Monday.


Intel Shelves Plan to Turn Desktop Into Wi-Fi Hub (Reuters)

Reuters - An ambitious plan to turn\millions of desktop computers into hubs of wireless Internet\access has been shelved after PC makers balked at the price of\the feature, Intel Corp.  said on Monday.


Pakistan deals big blow to militants

Al-Qaeda man linked to plots against Musharraf and a US newsman #39;s death shot dead. Another killed in Iraq. ISLAMABAD - Two key Al-Qaeda members were killed by security forces over the weekend, inflicting a heavy blow on the terrorist network.


Analysis / Danny Rubinstein - A new departure in the conflict

The abduction of Israeli journalist Riad Ali in Gaza yesterday is an extraordinary event, apparently the first of its kind in the history of the conflict in the territories.


12 Killed in Fresh Iraq Violence

BAGHDAD, 28 September 2004 - Fresh Iraq violence killed 12 people yesterday as an Iranian diplomat was freed after a 55-day hostage ordeal at the hands of the same militant group which is holding two French newsmen.


Linux Could Become A Big Force In The Weather-Forecasting Field (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - The flock of hurricanes that hit Florida this season is putting more pressure on forecasters to provide fast, reliable information.


IBM, HP, Sun Micro Sensing Opportunity In RFID Sensor Field (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - The answer -- if you believe Hewlett-Packard  , IBM   and Sun Microsystems   -- is those bar codes printed on the side of just about every product sold today.


Small Earthquakes Rattle Mount St. Helens (AP)

AP - Small earthquakes rattled Mount St. Helens at the rate of one or two a minute Monday, and seismologists were working to determine the significance of some of the most intense seismic activity in nearly 20 years.


Students' Bus Powered by Vegetable Oil (AP)

AP - It's not unusual for the students traveling cross-country aboard an old school bus to get a craving for fried chicken. Or popcorn. Or french fries. That's because their vehicle is powered by vegetable oil, and the used oil they put in their tank can carry the telltale odors of the restaurant it came from.


UK's Branson to Launch Space Tourism in 2007 (Reuters)

Reuters - Richard Branson, Britain's best-known\entrepreneur and part-time daredevil, plans to launch the\world's first passenger service to space in 2007, offering\zero-gravity flights for  #36;198,600.


Intel Shelves Plan to Turn Desktop Into Wi-Fi Hub

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - An ambitious plan to turn  millions of desktop computers into hubs of wireless Internet  access has been shelved after PC makers balked at the price of  the feature, Intel Corp. INTC.O said on Monday.


Long-Short Funds Have Uneven Record (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - At a time when rapid growth in hedge funds might suggest that their mutual fund counterparts -- long-short funds -- would also prove popular, few investors seem to have much appetite for mutual funds they can sell short.


Yen Pressured by Rising Oil Prices

TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen remained under strong pressure on  Tuesday after oil prices hit record highs, raising concern  about the impact on Japan's import-dependent economy.


Briefly: Credit union beefs up database security

roundup Plus: Computer scientists slam e-voting machines..."The Sims 2" hits 1 million sales...Adobe, Kodak team on photo printing...Cray promotes two execs.


Senate weighing work-visa changes

U.S. senators are debating a controversial measure to exempt foreign student graduates from the cap on H-1B visas.


Start-up banks on Java hardware boost

Hardware expected to begin selling next year is designed to make it faster and more efficient to run Java programs.


Credit union beefs up database security

IPLocks will help Western Corporate Federal Credit Union meet government security requirements.


James Hardie CEO and CFO stand aside

The chief executive and chief financial officer of embattled building products company James Hardie Industries have stood aside in the wake of the findings of a special inquiry into the company #39;s asbestos liabilities.


UPDATE 1-Devon to sell oil properties, buyback shares

Devon Energy Corp. (DVN.A: Quote, Profile, Research) set a two-for-one stock split and plans to buy back up to 10 percent of its stock, as soaring oil and gas prices pushed up


An ambitious plan to turn millions of desktop computers into hubs of wireless Internet access has been shelved after PC makers balked at the price of the feature, Intel Corp.


Hamm fights to keep Olympic gold medal

Yet another chapter in the gold medal mess of US gymnast Paul Hamm was written in a courtroom Monday. Hamm appeared at a hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Laussane, Switzerland.


Charlton Defeats Blackburn 1-0, Moves to Seventh in Premiership

Talal El Karkouri scored his first goal in English soccer as Charlton defeated Blackburn 1-0 to rise to seventh in the Premiership standings.


Show must go on without Grossman

LAKE FOREST - In the early stages of the season Rex Grossman proved to be developing into a playmaker, but it also became his downfall.


Thai woman #39;s bird flu raises fears virus is passed between humans

A THAI woman was yesterday diagnosed with bird flu after her sister and niece died with symptoms of the virus, raising the possibility that the illness had passed from human-to-human for the first time.


Compuware readies tools for Microsoft apps development

Compuware plans to enhance its suite of products for the Microsoft development platform, with tools to improve application performance, code quality, and security.


CA ex-CEO Kumar loses perks after indictment

SAN FRANCISCO - Computer Associates International Inc. has revoked perks, including office space and home security services, that it handed out to former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sanjay Kumar after he left the company last month.


Tokyo Stocks Fall After Oil Spike (Reuters)

Reuters - Tokyo's Nikkei average fell 0.9 percent\by mid-morning on Tuesday and was on course for an eighth day\of losses as a broad range of stocks wilted after oil prices\spiked to  #36;50 a barrel and U.S. stocks made more losses.


Bush, Kerry Pause to Trade Barbs on Iraq (AP)

AP - President Bush and rival Sen. John Kerry paused from private debate practice on Monday to accuse each other of a lack of clarity on Iraq as they campaigned in "must win" states for each  #151; the Republican incumbent in Ohio and his Democratic challenger in Wisconsin.


US bishop sex abuse case dropped

A child abuse case against a former US bishop is dropped, hours after he was charged.


Straw justifies Mugabe handshake

Jack Straw defends his handshake with Zimbabwe's much criticised President Robert Mugabe.


Asbestos scandal forces Hardie CEO, CFO to step down

SYDNEY: The top two executives of James Hardie Industries NV stepped down today, a week after a government inquiry found the company broke the law and lied to thousands of asbestos victims and financial markets.


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Open Lower on Oil Surge

Tokyo stocks opened lower Tuesday due to concerns about rising oil prices, while the dollar rose against the Japanese yen. The Nikkei Stock Average was down 53.


Vodafone chief outlines 2.5bn plan to cut costs

Arun Sarin, the chief executive of Vodafone, revealed yesterday the company was expecting to deliver annual cash flow improvements of 2.


Stingy Falcons Defense Key to 3-0 Start (AP)

AP - Maybe the Atlanta Falcons aren't a one-man team after all. While Michael Vick commands most of the attention, the defense should get the bulk of the credit for the Falcons' 3-0 start  #151; their best since 1986.


Last hurrah for Expos

With a three-game set vs. Florida, Montreal bids adieu to its pro baseball team Hurdles exist, but relocation process now appears irreversible, by Richard Griffin.


Chargers Name Rivers No. 2 Quarterback (AP)

AP - Philip Rivers just got a lot closer to taking his first snap with the woeful San Diego Chargers.


Expos Announcement Might Come Thursday (AP)

AP - Exactly 33 years after the Washington Senators played their final game, the nation's capital might learn on Thursday that major league baseball plans to return next season.


Wisconsin Back Davis Cleared to Play (AP)

AP - Running back Anthony Davis, who missed No. 20 Wisconsin's last three games with an eye injury, has been cleared to play this weekend against Illinois.


The Expos Will Probably Move South to Washington

After two and a half years in limbo as a ward of Major League Baseball, the Montreal Expos appear to be heading to a new home in Washington.


The Yankees' Rotation Leaves Heads Spinning

The Yankees should soon clinch their seventh consecutive division title, but they have little reason to be confident in their starters.


MLB, O's Talk Deal

Baseball will continue negotiations with Peter G. Angelos on a financial package that could clear a path for the Expos to begin play at RFK Stadium in time for Opening Day.


Key Backups Praised

The reserves are the key reason for Baltimore's 2-1 record and its place atop the AFC North standings following Sunday's thumping of Cincinnati, 23-9.


Gannon Out 6 Weeks

Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon has a broken vertebrae in his neck that will sideline him at least six weeks.


Mexican firm buys RMC for 2.3bn

RMC, the world #39;s biggest supplier of ready-mixed concrete, has agreed a 2.3bn takeover deal from Cemex of Mexico, raising fears of job cuts and quarry closures.


Tax inquiry hits Hilfiger shares

Clothing maker Tommy Hilfiger suffered a mauling on Wall Street yesterday after disclosing it was the subject of a federal investigation that analysts said appeared to focus on tax avoidance.


Fastow Helped Craft Merrill Barge Deal-Former Aide

Enron Corp. former Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow helped cook up a bogus deal with Merrill Lynch to sell and buy back Nigerian power barges to inflate Enron #39;s earnings


VNU sells Yellow Pages

VNU, the Dutch market research and information group, yesterday sold its directories business for 2.1bn (1.4bn) to venture capital groups Apax Partners and Cinven.


FSA rejects call to rescue savers

MPs and the main City watchdog are at odds over the plight of millions of policyholders  quot;trapped quot; in closed with-profits funds.


CA revokes some of Kumar #39;s benefits

Computer Associates International Inc. said Monday it has revoked home security and office support benefits to former Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Kumar, who was indicted last week on


British tycoon plans for commercial space flights

British airline magnate Richard Branson announces a hugely ambitious plan for the world #39;s first commercial space flights, saying he will send  quot;thousands quot; of fee-paying astronauts into orbit in the next five years.


AOL wants developers to get the message

America Online is putting out a call to developers to bring its instant-messaging software to more cell phones. The AOL Mobile Developer program, announced Monday, is meant to reduce the time manufacturers


Manning outguns Favre

Peyton Manning threw for 393 yards and five first-half touchdowns and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Green Bay Packers 45-31 in a wild, high-scoring game on Sunday.


Pakistani forces kill leading al-Qaida militant in shootout

Pakistani security forces arrested more terrorist suspects yesterday, a day after killing the country #39;s leading al-Qaida figure and most wanted terrorist.


Simon Tisdall

Since throwing his weight behind the Bush administration after September 11 2001, Pakistan #39;s president, Pervez Musharraf, has successfully portrayed himself as an indispensable ally in the US-led  quot;war on terror quot;.


Fannie Mae to Keep More Cash on Hand (Reuters)

Reuters - Embattled mortgage finance company\Fannie Mae  agreed to keep billions of dollars more cash\on hand while it corrects accounting problems, its government\regulator said on Monday.


CORRECTED: Oil Strikes New Record on Supply Fears

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures hit a new  record on Tuesday at \$50.01 a barrel as worries about the  stability of supplies from Iraq, Nigeria and Russia compounded  concerns over low fuel stocks ahead of peak winter demand.


Tokyo Stocks Fall After Oil Spike

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average fell 0.9 percent  by mid-morning on Tuesday and was on course for an eighth day  of losses as a broad range of stocks wilted after oil prices  spiked to \$50 a barrel and U.S. stocks made more losses.


Fannie Mae to boost reserves, rework transactions to fix <b>...</b>

Under pressure from federal regulators, mortgage giant Fannie Mae has agreed to boost its reserve cushion against risk by several billion dollars.


David Jones flags 5 profit growth in FY05

David Jones Limited (DJS) said today that it expected a 5 increase in profit after tax in the 2005 financial year after a strong rally in FY04 net profit.


Players #39; union files grievance to overturn Guillen #39;s suspension

The players #39; association filed a grievance Monday seeking to overturn the Anaheim Angels #39; suspension of left fielder Jose Guillen.


8m gem robbery near Louvre

DIAMONDS worth nearly 8m were stolen from an antique dealers #39; show near the Louvre museum in Paris yesterday. The two diamonds were taken in a daylight robbery while a member of staff manning a stand at


James Hardie #39;s Macdonald Stands Aside for Regulator #39;s Inquiry

James Hardie Industries NV said Chief Executive Officer Peter Macdonald will stand aside during a probe by Australia #39;s securities regulator into allegations he misled investors about


Man United defends agents #39; fees

Manchester United yesterday revealed that it agreed payments to players #39; agents of 5.5m last year, equivalent to more than 9 of the club #39;s operating profit and almost 20 of its pre-tax profit.


Hearing to be held Friday in Oakland

The Major League Baseball Players Association on Monday filed a grievance to reverse the Angels #39; decision to suspend outfielder Jose Guillen for the remainder of the season and the postseason.


France seeking to put pullout on agenda

WASHINGTON France said Monday that it would take part in a proposed international conference on Iraq only if the agenda included a possible US troop withdrawal, thus complicating the planning for a meeting that has drawn mixed reactions.


Lehmann: I don #39;t know how to take being axed

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has admitted that he was shocked to find out that he had been dropped from the Arsenal side on Saturday.


Austrians back on top

Everyone kept wondering when Austria #39;s alpine powerhouse would show up for the new World Cup season and the answer was emphatically provided on Sunday.


SpaceShipOne to Try for  #36;10 Million Ansari X-Prize (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. team that took the first\privately funded, manned ship into space makes a bid to capture\a  #36;10 million prize this week -- signaling that commercial\space travel has nearly arrived.


Ecuador's Galapagos Park Rangers End Strike (Reuters)

Reuters - Galapagos park rangers on Monday\ended a strike that had blocked tourist sites in the exotic\islands for more than two weeks after the Ecuadorean government\accepted their demands for a change in park leadership.


7 Palestinians Killed; CNN Producer Held (AP)

AP - Israelis killed seven Palestinians in attacks Monday, including a Gaza airstrike that killed one militant and wounded a militia commander, who vowed revenge from his hospital bed.


Reporters Put Under Scrutiny in C.I.A. Leak

The investigation of the disclosure of C.I.A. agent Valerie Plame's identity seems to have been both exhaustive and inconclusive.


Fannie Mae Agrees to Sweeping Changes

Fannie Mae, the nation's largest mortgage buyer, agreed to major changes in its accounting and management practices.


UPDATE 1-Ecclestone sets Silverstone deadline

Silverstone #39;s owners have been given 48 hours to agree a contract for next year #39;s British Grand Prix, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Monday.


Going to Bush Rally, Finding Strings Attached

The Bush campaign has pressed rally audiences to work as foot soldiers, before, during and immediately after Bush events.


Audit Finds Large FBI Translation Backlog

WASHINGTON - The FBI has a backlog of hundreds of thousands of hours of untranslated audio recordings from terror and espionage investigations, despite large increases in money and personnel for translations since the 2001 terror attacks, a Justice Department audit released Monday said.    In addition, the audit by Glenn A...


FBI Said to Lag on Translations of Terror Tapes

Three years after the Sept. 11 attacks, more than 120,000 hours of potentially valuable terrorism-related recordings have not yet been translated by linguists at the


BoSox Clinch Second Straight Playoff Berth (AP)

AP - The Boston Red Sox clinched their second straight trip to the playoffs, rallying past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-3 Monday night behind Manny Ramirez's AL-leading 43rd home run.


Sun Beat Mystics 80-70 to Even Series (AP)

AP - Lindsay Whalen matched her career-high with 21 points and the Connecticut Sun beat the Washington Mystics 80-70 Monday night to even the best-of-three WNBA Eastern Conference semifinal.


Spanish bonus for Auckland

Spain #39;s Davis Cup win over the United States has gifted New Zealand #39;s top men #39;s tournament its headline act. The eyes of the tennis world will now undoubtedly be on the Spanish trio of Rafael


Angels Taking High Road in Pennant Race

On the day the Anaheim Angels played for first place, several players crammed onto an L-shaped couch in the visiting clubhouse, turned toward a flat-screen television and pressed their internal mute buttons.


Cowboys lead Washington 7-0 after first quarter

Eddie George scored on a 1-yard run with 4:01 left in the first quarter to give the Dallas Cowboys a 7-0 lead over the Washington Redskins on Monday night.


McCown Still Starting QB for Cardinals (AP)

AP - Despite being benched after three fumbles against Atlanta, Josh McCown is still the Arizona Cardinals' quarterback.


11 named to Japanese Cabinet

TOKYO Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reshuffled his Cabinet yesterday for the third time since taking power in 2001, replacing several top ministers in an effort to boost his popularity, consolidate political support and quicken the pace of reforms.


Iranian, Egyptian hostages freed; 12 killed in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AFP) - An Iranian diplomat and an Egyptian telecom worker held for days by Islamic militants in Iraq were freed as 12 people died in fresh violence across the country.


Have Trophy, Will Travel

It took Navy 25 years to bring the Commander-In-Chief trophy back to Annapolis and considering what it took to get it again, the Midshipmen aren't set to let it go any time soon.


Crude Breaks \$50 on Nigerian Supply Fears

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures broke through  \$50 to a new record on Tuesday, on worries over supply  disruptions from Nigeria and other major producers.


James Hardie shares rally

Shares in James Hardie Industries NV rallied on news that two key executives will stand aside, rather than resign, over the company #39;s underfunding of asbestos compensation.


Cabrera homers and Beckett shuts down Expos bats in 4-1 Marlins <b>...</b>

MONTREAL (CP) - Josh Beckett scattered four hits over seven solid innings and Miguel Cabrera homered Monday as the Florida Marlins snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Montreal Expos.


Braves eye sweep for skipper

com. If the Braves sweep their doubleheader against the Mets at Turner Field on Tuesday, Braves manager Bobby Cox will become the ninth manager in history to record 2,000 career wins.


Blue Jays 4, Orioles 1

Gregg Zaun homered and Orlando Hudson had three hits and an RBI, leading the Toronto Blue Jays past the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 Monday night.


Microsoft Crafts Backup Plan

Microsoft Corp. officials said yesterday that the company has spent millions of dollars preparing a version of its Windows operating system without a program for playing digital music and


Japan-Europe flight fares to rise 5 as oil prices continue to <b>...</b>

TOKYO : International carriers are to raise fares on flights from Japan to Europe by five percent in mid-January to cope with soaring oil prices, Japanese airlines said.


Virginia, Fairfax Commit Funds To Help Lure New IBM Jobs

The state of Virginia and Fairfax County each pledged \$600,000 to entice International Business Machines Corp. to bring 1,250 high-paying new government contracting jobs to Fairfax.