Web Sites Spoof Bush, Kerry With Parodies (AP)

AP - If you're not ready to feverishly debate Iraq or the deficit in this bitterly divisive election year, you can always surf the Web, where politics is frequently nothing but a big joke.


Induce Act remains locked up in Committee

Yesterday we reported that the Senate Judiciary Committee would be taking up the Induce Act once again. They did so this morning, and the bill failed to advance because of strong opposition from the technology


Sandisk launches 8 GByte and high-speed CompactFlash cards

Sandisk increased capacities and bandwidths of its CompactFlash product line. The cards are now available with up to eight GByte of space and twice the data transfer speed of the previous generation.


Netflix, TiVo to Develop Joint Product (Reuters)

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


Nobel Scientists' 'Natural Selection' Takes Decades (Reuters)

Reuters - Charles Darwin would have had to wait\decades for his own "natural selection" as a Nobel prize winner\and Stephen Hawking might never get one, if his physics\theories are not proved or widely accepted in his lifetime.


Going Private: The Promise and Danger of Space Travel (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - A flurry of space tourism milestones and announcements in recent days signals that human spaceflight is shifting from governments to the private sector, space experts say.


As X Prize Slips Away, Canadian Still Vows to Launch (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - The leader of a Canadian team preparing to launch a piloted rocket into suborbital space is committed to making the spaceflight, even as hopes to win an international private space race appear to be slipping away.


Dow Knocked Lower by Merck's Drug Recall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Drug maker Merck   Co. Inc. MRK.N  dominated trading in U.S. stocks on Thursday, single-handedly  driving the 30-stock Dow Jones average lower after it withdrew  its arthritis drug Vioxx because a study showed it doubled the  risk of heart attack and stroke.


General Mills Cereals Going Whole Grain

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


Limit sweet deals for Fannie Mae

Accounting scandals, first at Freddie Mac and now alleged at Fannie Mae, call into question the future of those government-sponsored but investor-owned companies that buy home mortgages from lenders.


The Community Around Martha Stewart #39;s Prison

Description: Lifestyle maven Martha Stewart is preparing to serve time in the federal prison for women in Alderson, WV NPR #39;s Noah Adams speaks with Hillary and John Benish, proprietors of Alderson Hospitality House -- a hostel for prison visitors -- about


UN envoy says war crimes likely in Darfur

UNITED NATIONS : A UN envoy told the Security Council that widespread war crimes likely had taken place in Sudan #39;s troubled Darfur region.


Study: Consumers take cyberattacks lightly

More than a third of those surveyed said they had a greater chance of being struck by lightning than of being hit by malicious code.


AT T, Vonage slash Net telephony rates

The Internet phone service providers try to win over consumers who now have a host of options when it comes to making calls.


'Wardriving' conviction is first under Can-Spam

Man pleads guilty to spamming people through unprotected hot spots, again raising concerns about risks of open-access Wi-Fi.


TiVo, Netflix sign development deal

TiVo CEO Mike Ramsay resigns from his board position at Netflix to avoid conflicts of interest.


New FEMA intranet helps support hurricane victims

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently rolled out an Intranet that has helped it handle overflow processing for hurricane disaster relief.


Linksys goes dual-band on Wi-Fi

A router and clients for both notebooks and desktops can provide Wi-Fi connectivity over either of two unlicensed radio bands.


EU judge to Microsoft: Justify penalty suspension

A European Court judge today pressed Microsoft to explain how it would suffer irreparable harm if it follows EU orders to share technology with competitors, but offered no clues as to how he'll rule.


Brief: FedEx taps Opsware to automate global data center operations

FedEx said today that it will use software from Opsware Inc. to help it make the most of its IT resources.


A European Court judge today pressed Microsoft to explain how it would suffer irreparable harm if it follows EU orders to share technology with competitors, but he offered no clues as to how he will rule.


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

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


Postal Service asks Stamps.com to stop taking PhotoStamp orders

The U.S. Postal Service wants Stamps.com to stop taking orders for its PhotoStamps program, which allows customers to print individualized photos on stamps, pending a review of the program.


Munich migrates to Linux despite EU debate

Germany's third-largest city decided to equip 14,000 computers with Linux and other open-source office apps, despite concerns about patent infringements raised in the debate over new European Union patent laws.


Call center services on the horizon

Two carriers plan hosted, IP-based services that provide automatic call distribution, interactive voice response, call control, monitoring and customer-history databases.


Red Hat acquiring LDAP server from AOL's Netscape unit

Red Hat Inc. is adding Netscape Directory Server and Netscape Certificate Management System to its software arsenal through a \$25 million deal with America Online Inc.


Microsoft loses FAT patent, wins Smart Tag case

Microsoft Corp. is fighting a rejection by U.S. patent authorities of a patent for its FAT (file allocation table) file system, the company said Thursday. Meanwhile, it's celebrating a jury decision clearing it of patent infringement charges related to a feature in its Office software.


FDA urging Vioxx users to consider other options

Tampa, Florida - If you or someone you know is taking the arthritis drug, Vioxx, its been pulled from the market. The manufacturer, Merck  amp; Co.


IBM settles pension claims, other liability capped

San Francisco, September 30: IBM on Wednesday said it will take a third-quarter charge of \$320 million to settle all but two claims of an ongoing lawsuit claiming its pension plan discriminated against older workers, in exchange for capping its potential


RIM profits soar to \$70.6M (US) in Q2

WATERLOO, Ont. - Research In Motion, which has seen demand for its BlackBerry wireless e-mail devices soar this year, reported another strong quarter today with revenues more than doubling to \$310.


University, Samoa to share AIDS drug earns

BERKELEY, Calif. -- The University of California at Berkeley and the government of Samoa have agreed to split profits from any AIDS drug researchers develop from a rainforest tree.


Pepsico profit up, cuts jobs, shares rise

NEW YORK: PepsiCo Inc., the world #39;s No 2 soft drink company, said today quarterly profit rose due to tax benefits and strong earnings at its key Frito-Lay snack and North American beverage units.


Wachovia Names Capital Management Head

Wachovia Corp., the fourth-largest US bank, on Thursday said its capital management chief will retire from the company and be replaced by the head of the group in charge of its integration with recently acquired SouthTrust Corp.


Forstmann announces deal for IMG

Buyout firm Forstmann Little  amp; Co. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cleveland, Ohio-based IMG. IMG is being acquired from trusts established by the late Mark McCormack, who founded the company, and


Want to travel on a private space jet? Pack nerves of steel.

. - As soon as Monday, Burt Rutan could send his split-tailed space guppy past the envelope of blue sky for the second


Revoking Microsoft #39;s FAT Patent Would Stir Innovation

Opinion: In its initial rejection of Microsoft #39;s claims regarding the FAT file system, the US Patent and Trademark Office seems to be rediscovering a law barring  quot;obvious quot; patents.


AT amp;T to Offer Service at Circuit City

Telecommunications giant AT amp;T Corp. said on Wednesday that it will offer its CallVantage Internet-based phone service at consumer electronics retailer Circuit City Stores Inc.


Climate change plus human pressure caused large mammal extinctions <b>...</b>

Berkeley - A University of California, Berkeley, paleobiologist and his colleagues warn that the future of the Earth #39;s mammals could be as dire as it was between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago, when a combination of climate change and human pressure resulted


Apple readies European iTunes expansion, Switzerland store

Apple says it will deliver its iTunes music service to more European countries next month. Corroborating several reports in recent months, Reuters is reporting today that Apple Computer is planning the next


Users resist RFID hype

Despite speakers at the EPCglobal US conference talking up the benefits of radio frequency identification, many US companies are still waiting to see a clear reason to adopt RFID technology.


Ecclestone slams Silverstone

Bernie Ecclestone has launched a stinging attack on Silverstone #39;s owners after dumping the British Grand Prix from the Formula One calendar.


Williams has surgery on left knee, out for season

Safety Shaun Williams of the New York Giants will be sidelined the rest of the season after surgery on his left knee on Thursday. Williams was hurt in practice last Friday, when he intercepted a pass and landed awkwardly.


China will target 800 missiles at us, says Taiwan

TAIPEI - China is likely to have 800 ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan before the end of 2006, Taipei #39;s defence minister said yesterday as he pressed the case for an US\$18-billion (\$30.


Schrder Mulls Cancelling Afghan Trip

German Chancellor Gerhard Schrder could cancel his trip to Afghanistan in early October if the violence there escalates, a government source said Thursday after a rocket attack on a German-run reconstruction team.


Court Doctors Examine Pinochet for Trial (Reuters)

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


Rangers need penalties to see off Maritimo (AFP)

AFP - Rangers clinched a place in the lucrative group stages of the UEFA Cup with penalties deciding their first round match against CS Maritimo.


China wants Canada to hand over North Koreans who stormed embassy (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - BEIJING (CP) - China urged the Canadian Embassy on Thursday to hand over 44 possible North Korean asylum-seekers, while officials said nine North Koreans who entered a U.S. school in Shanghai had been handed over to Chinese police.


Nervous Democrats link Kerry's debate fortunes with their own (AFP)

AFP - Anxious Democrats in Congress were counting on their presidential challenger John Kerry to stage a comeback in his debate against President George W. Bush, as they nervously prepare for a vote in November on their own future.


Secular drive challenges Spain's Catholic identity

Socialists want to bolster Spain's church-state barrier.


Zambia refugees face food cuts

Over 100,000 refugees in Zambia will have their food rations cut by half due to lack of money, the UN says.


Football: Rangers win on penalties

Gregory Vignal's penalty sends Rangers into the Uefa Cup group stage after a nail-biting 120 minutes at Ibrox.


Netflix, TiVo to Develop Internet Movie Product

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Online DVD rental service  Netflix Inc. NFLX.O and digital video recorder maker TiVo  Inc. TIVO.O on Thursday said they would jointly develop a  product to download movies over the Internet that could mark a  revolution in home entertainment.


Bush and Kerry Prepare to Meet in Their First Debate in Miami

In the hours before tonight's debate, President Bush comforted Floridians, while John Kerry got some last-minute advice.


String of Baghdad Bombs Kills 35 Children

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A string of bombs killed 35 children and wounded scores of others as U.S. troops handed out candy Thursday at a government-sponsored celebration to inaugurate a sewage plant...


Stocks End Mostly Lower on Vioxx Troubles

NEW YORK - Wall Street closed out a dismal third quarter with a mixed performance Thursday after Merck   Co. said it would be forced to remove its best-selling Vioxx arthritis drug from the market...


House Defeats Gay Marriage Ban Amendment

WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled House emphatically defeated a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage Thursday, the latest in a string of conservative pet causes pushed to a vote by GOP leaders in the run-up to Election Day.    The vote was 227-186, far short of the two-thirds needed for approval on a measure that President Bush backed but the Senate had previously rejected...


Merck Pulls Vioxx

If you use Vioxx to help ease the pain of arthritis, you better start shopping around for new drug. Merck, the maker of Vioxx is voluntarily pulling the popular drug off the shelves because new research finds an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


Aids and a Samoan tree

The University of California, Berkeley, has signed an agreement with the Samoan government to isolate, from a tree, the gene for a promising anti- Aids drug and to share any royalties from the sale of a gene-derived drug with the people of Samoa.


Financials Mostly Flat Despite Probes

Shares of financial services stocks on Thursday generally shrugged off a Securities and Exchange Commission action against Raymond James Financial Services Inc.


Cubs Lose Another Heartbreaker to Reds (AP)

AP - Javier Valentin doubled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 12th inning and the Cincinnati Reds played spoiler again, sending the Chicago Cubs to a crushing 2-1 defeat Thursday.


Open source - The Salvation Army of software?

Is open source becoming the dumping ground for no-longer-wanted software, sort of like a Salvation Army dropoff point for programs instead of old clothes?


AT amp;T, Vonage cut prices on Internet calling

AT amp;T (T) and Internet telephone provider Vonage said Thursday they are cutting prices for their residential Internet calling services by \$5 a month, the strongest signs yet of a price war in the nascent market.


RFID #39;s Impact On Supply Chains Grows, Execs Say

The impact radio-frequency identification has throughout an entire supply chain is top of mind for a number of companies experimenting with the technology.


Tiger plays through agony of back injury to show inner drive

Tiger Woods produced one of the most remarkable rounds of his glittering career yesterday. A four-under-par 68 on the first day of the AmEx World Championship at Mount Juliet


SportsNetwork Game Preview

(Sports Network) - With losses in four of their last five games to non-playoff teams, the Chicago Cubs know they can #39;t falter over their final four games of the season, or they will miss the playoffs.


No baloney, Rooney #39;s the real deal

WE SHOULD preserve in aspic this week in the Champions League. I have a suspicion that we will not see in our lifetime a debut quite as startling, quite as memorable as Wayne Rooney for Manchester United at Old Trafford.


Blackhawks #39; Ruutu needs surgery

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Blackhawks forward Tuomo Ruutu will undergo surgery Friday to repair a subluxation of his left shoulder.


Rodman Thinks Nuggets Could Use Him (AP)

AP - The point guard thought he was great. The general manager had no comment. Dennis Rodman himself? He thinks the Denver Nuggets could really use a guy like him.


Rebel Leader Meets with Nigerian Government to Stop Violence in <b>...</b>

The leader of a militia group from the southern oil-rich region of Nigeria says talks between government officials and rebels continued in Abuja late into the evening on Thursday.


2 Indonesians held in Iraq

BAGHDAD - Two Indonesian women working for an electricity firm are among 10 new hostages reported seized by militants in Iraq. The Arab news network Al-Jazeera showed footage yesterday in which a group called


Latham #39;s ace: free health care for the over-75s

SYDNEY - Australia #39;s opposition leader Mark Latham may have dealt the killer blow against his rival John Howard in the run-up to next week #39;s federal election by offering free medical care to people aged above 75.


Rocket explodes at scrapyard, killing 10

GHAZIABAD: Thursday was just another working day for Santosh Khushwaha (22), a worker at Bhushan Steel #39;s plant in Sahibabad. Till about 3.20 pm.


Trip to Ireland Memorable for Some Golfers (AP)

AP - Some players at the 84 Lumber Classic thought they were getting a perk unlike any other on the PGA Tour. They wound up with a flight they won't soon forget.


Washington, DC Plans \$410 Million Bonds for Stadium

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington, D.C., plans to sell \$410  million in tax-exempt and taxable bonds by the end of 2005 to  finance a stadium for professional baseball, city officials  said on Thursday.


Dunn Sets Strikeout Record

Cincinnati Reds slugger Adam Dunn set the major league record for strikeouts in one season with 190, when he fanned in his first two at-bats Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.


Nortel plans to lay off 3,250 employees

Nortel Networks Corp. will lay off approximately 1,400 employees in the U.S. and about 950 in Canada, with those employees to be notified by the end of June 2005, the network equipment vendor said in a regulatory filing Thursday that fleshed out earlier announcements of the coming layoffs.


Technology aims for cooler datacenters

Syska Hennessy, an engineering, technology, and construction company, unveiled this week a unique design for cooling datacenters that would allow companies to pack almost double the number of servers into a datacenter space.


Justice Dept Opens Fannie Mae Probe

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


SEC Charges Raymond James with Fraud

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators on  Thursday charged brokerage Raymond James Financial Inc. RJF.N  with fraud over misconduct by a former broker charged with  misappropriating about \$8.7 million in investor funds.


Agency Sues Lucent Over Pension Policy

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A federal civil rights agency  sued Lucent Technologies Inc.LU.N on Thursday, charging the  telecom equipment maker had discriminated in its pension policy  against women workers who took pregnancy leave.


China's thirst for oil gets into top gear

The taste for oil is growing faster in China than anywhere else in the world, making it the second biggest importer after the US.


Progress on Eurostar strike talks

Eurostar describes talks with the RMT union aimed at averting strike action as "very constructive".


Argentina Leader Calls IMF Head  #39;Plantation Owner #39;

Argentina #39;s leftist president called IMF head Rodrigo Rato an old-style  quot;plantation owner quot; for trying to force the South American country to swallow free-market reforms as a condition for aid.


Oil prices head higher despite Nigeria peace talks

LONDON, Sept 30 (AFP) - Oil prices resumed their march towards 50 dollars in New York on Thursday even as peace talks were set to resume in major producer Nigeria and following an unexpected rise in US crude inventories.


Mexico Expects to Double Auto Output in 10 Years (Update1)

Mexico expects to double automobile capacity in 10 years, attracting investment of as much as \$10 billion from foreign automakers, Economy Minister Fernando Canales said in an interview.


No progress in Sun-Times labor talks

Negotiations to avoid a strike by union journalists at the Chicago Sun-Times are heading into overtime. With the tabloids labor agreement set to expire tomorrow, labor and management appear no closer to a deal than they were Sept.


Wachovia exec McMullen retires

Wachovia Corp. said Thursday that Don McMullen Jr., head of its capital management unit, is retiring at year-end. He will be replaced by David Carroll, 47, who has led the company #39;s merger integrations and corporate marketing.


DoCoMo unveils prototype micro fuel cell for 3G handsets

TOKYO - NTT DoCoMo on Thursday unveiled what it calls the nation #39;s first prototype micro fuel cell aimed at boosting battery life for its powerful third-generation FOMA handsets.


British Grand Prix to be Dropped from Formula One Next Year

News reports from Britain say the British Grand Prix race will be dropped from next year #39;s Formula One calendar, because of a financial dispute between race organizers and Formula One chief Bernie Eccelstone.


Soccer: Big Names Through to UEFA Cup Group Stage

Most of the big names advanced safely to the inaugural group stage of the UEFA Cup after a frantic night #39;s action Thursday, though Parma, Real Zaragoza and particularly Rangers, cut it fine.


Avery Johnson returning to Mavs

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - The Dallas Mavericks signed free agent Avery Johnson on Thursday, bringing the guard back to the team for which he played during parts of 2002 and 2003.


Favorites dominate in advancing in UEFA Cup

Mike Hanke scored three second-half goals and led Schalke 04 into the inaugural group stage of the UEFA Cup Thursday with a 4-0 beating of Latvia #39;s Liepajas Metalurgs.


Arsenal #39;s dilemma proves costly

TRONDHEIM (Norway) - To attack or not to attack, that is the question Arsenal have yet to figure out in the Champions League. And it cost the Premiership kings two points against Norwegian champions Rosenborg


AT amp;T Cuts Internet Phone Service Prices

AT amp;T Corp. is trimming the price of its new Internet-based telephone service for the second time in six months, prompting a top rival to follow suit.


Senate Panel Delays Induce Act Vote Again

WASHINGTON -- For the third time in three weeks, the US Senate Judiciary Committee decided to take no action on the controversial Induce Act aimed at illegal file swapping on peer-to-peer (define) networks.


DVD Forum approves HD-DVD RW standard

The DVD Forum has approved the physical disc specifications for the rewritable version of HD-DVDs (High Definition/High Density-DVDs), taking the format an important step nearer to mass production.


Vic koalas to go on the pill

Victorian environment officers are about to embark on an ambitious campaign, implanting contraceptives in 2,000 koalas. The new koala management strategy is designed to protect the koalas and their environment.


Passengers safe after plane bomb scare

A plane load of British-bound passengers diverted to Amsterdam after a bomb scare was back in the UK. British Airways flight 983 from Berlin #39;s Tegel Airport was due to arrive at London #39;s Heathrow Airport at


Buyer's Remorse? (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - The early take on Oracle's tender offer for PeopleSoft was that it was insincere. Oracle boss Lawrence Ellison just wanted to sabotage PeopleSoft's relations with customers. So said various pundits when the takeover was announced a year ago.


French Foreign Ministry official rushed to Amman amid hope for hostage release (AFP)

AFP - France has sent a senior foreign ministry official to the Jordanian capital Amman as part of efforts to secure the release of two French hostages in Iraq, the ministry announced.


Gaza Hospital Is Overwhelmed With Wounded (AP)

AP - Frantic doctors tended to patients on a blood-smeared hospital floor and operated on cafeteria tables, as medics rushed in with more wounded and mangled bodies.


Campbell sets Oct. 28 byelection date for vacant Surrey riding (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - VICTORIA (CP) - The B.C. government will hold its first byelection since being elected in 2001 on Oct. 28.


Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment Fails in House (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. House of Representatives\failed on Thursday to muster the two-thirds majority needed to\pass a proposed constitutional amendment backed by President\Bush to ban gay marriage.


Judge to Weigh Removing Media Player from Windows

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - A European Union judge will weigh on  Friday whether Microsoft should be forced to remove its music  and video player from its Windows operating software, in a  second day of hearings at the EU's second-highest court.


Chances of New U.S.-EU Aircraft Pact Dwindling -EU

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and the European  Union are unlikely to reach agreement on a new civil aircraft  pact, a European Union official said on Thursday, increasing  chances the two sides could fight out the issue at the World  Trade Organization.


Tensions erupt in Haitian capital

Shots are fired at a protest in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince as looting impedes the relief effort flood hit Gonaives.


Russia jails killers of African

Russia's first race hate murder trial ends in long jail terms for three men who killed an African medical student.


HSBC Group Chairman to Retire

David Eldon will retire next year as chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. and the Hang Seng Bank, HSBC Group said Monday.


Research In Motion 2Q Profit Soars

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


Blair to Have Medical Procedure on Heart

LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he will undergo a medical procedure Friday to correct an irregular heartbeat, a surprise announcement linked to treatment he had a year ago.    Blair also used the opportunity to end months of speculation about his leadership future by announcing that he intends to serve a full third term if his party is re-elected in national elections expected next year...


A European Union judge will weigh on Friday whether Microsoft should be forced to remove its music and video player from its Windows operating software


Red Hat to Buy Netscape Server Programs

Red Hat Inc. announced Thursday that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with America Online Inc. to acquire its Netscape Security Solutions software assets.


762 More sued by the RIAA

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


Salesforce.com Tackles Outsourcing On Demand

SAN FRANCISCO -- Salesforce.com (Quote, Chart) CEO Marc Benioff is hoping to do to call centers and help desks what he has accomplished in the CRM space.


Apple Announces Expansion of Euro iTunes

An Apple executive has told Reuters that the company will expand its European iTunes Music Store next month. Apple Vice President Eddie Cue told the news service that Apple plans to cover


Writethru: Blair to go hospital for heart procedure

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Thursday night he will go into hospital Friday and stay overnight for a procedure to correct irregular heartbeats.


Dozens of children among 44 killed by Baghdad bombings

Dozens of children were killed yesterday when three car bombs exploded in a coordinated attack in Baghdad that left 44 people dead and more than 200 injured.


Pinochet Undergoes Psychiatric Tests

Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet has undergone psychiatric tests to determine if he is fit to stand trial for alleged human rights abuses during his 17-year rule.


Australian Police Charge 191 in Child Pornography Crackdown

Australian police have charged almost 200 people -- including child care workers, doctors and teachers - - in the nation #39;s largest crackdown on child pornography.


South Carolina's 'Pops' Goes Late Night (AP)

AP - Sounds like David Letterman is as big a "Pops" fan as most everyone else.


Soccer: Big Names Through to UEFA Cup Group Stage

LONDON (Reuters) - Most of the big names advanced safely to  the inaugural group stage of the UEFA Cup after a frantic  night's action Thursday, though Parma, Real Zaragoza and  particularly Rangers, cut it fine.


Athletics Hold Ichiro in Check, Move Back Into First

Ichiro Suzuki went home without the major league hits record, thanks to Oakland's determined pitching staff -- and a much bigger hit by Bobby Crosby.


Cubs Lose Another Heartbreaker to Reds

Javier Valentin doubled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 12th inning and the Cincinnati Reds played spoiler again.


Ailing Woods Lurks in Ireland

A 4-under 68 left Tiger Woods two shots behind British Open champion Todd Hamilton after one painful round in the American Express Championship.


Microsoft set to release MSN Messenger 7.0 beta

A select group of testers next week will get an early look at MSN Messenger 7.0, the next version of Microsoft Corp.'s popular instant messaging client.


Dell to sell new ServGate appliances

BOSTON - Security appliance maker ServGate Technologies Inc. next week will announce a new line of products through Dell Inc.'s Web site, providing hardware with integrated antivirus, spam filtering and other security features for small businesses.


Justice Dept Opens Fannie Mae Probe (Reuters)

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


Nigerian Oil Delta Talks to Resume Friday

ABUJA (Reuters) - Talks between a rebel warlord and the  Nigerian president aimed at preventing an explosion of violence  in the oil-producing Niger Delta will resume Friday, an  organizer said.


Baseball: After 34 years, baseball returns to Washington

Forget the mayhem in Iraq, the presidential elections, even last night #39;s candidates #39; debate. A banner headline yesterday in The Washington Post proclaimed the only news in


Thailand on warpath against bird flu

BANGKOK - Millions of volunteers led by emergency teams fanned out across Thailand yesterday in a new drive to fight bird flu after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gave officials 30 days to eradicate the epidemic.


iMac G5: Most Elegant Desktop Ever

#147;I am writing these words on the most elegant desktop computer I #146;ve ever used, #148; writes Walt Mossberg about the iMac G5 in the Wall Street Journal,  #147;a computer that is not only uncommonly beautiful but fast and powerful, virus-free and surprisingly affordable. This machine takes up no more space on a desk than a flat-panel monitor. In fact, the entire computer is contained behind a flat-panel screen in a space just 2 inches thick  #151; thinner than most flat-panel monitors alone. #148; Sep 23


Navistar Up 2.7 Percent in Pre-Trade (Reuters)

Reuters - Shares of Navistar International Corp.\ rose 2.7 percent before the bell on Monday after the\commercial truck maker said it expects higher fourth-quarter\earnings and revenue.


US Requests More Debt Relief for Poor Nations

The United States is calling on international lending institutions to reform their ways of operating so that they can give more aid to poor nations.


IMG sold for 400m

IMG Group, the agency behind Tiger Woods, Liz Hurley, James Brown and Michael Schumacher, is being sold to a New York investment house for an estimated 400m.


StorageTek #39;s Storability Buy Marks Second Industry Acquisition <b>...</b>

For the second time this week, a storage hardware vendor has acquired a storage software vendor. On Thursday, officials of Louisville, Colo.


Microsoft #39;s FAT Patent Rejected

The US Patent Trademark Office has rejected all claims to patents for a Windows file format held by Microsoft. Under a reexamination process initiated earlier this year by the recently formed Public Patent


Sun pushes OpenOffice standard

Sun Microsystems is backing European Union efforts to standardize office document formats, including a proposal that would enable people to switch easily between Microsoft-based documents and those created with open-source software.


Phishers hook US consumers

US consumers and businesses have lost an estimated \$US500 million (\$688 million) to the internet scam known as  quot;phishing quot;, with seven out of 10 lured to fake websites, according to a survey.


Fuel cell #39;s got the power for 3G handsets

Japanese mobile network operator NTT DoCoMo announced on Thursday that it has developed a prototype micro fuel cell that will recharge a third-generation mobile phone.


Chelsea and CSKA win, ousted coach Ranieri loses

PARIS: Chelsea beat Porto, Barcelona blew away Shakhtar Donetsk and AC Milan struck twice in the last two minutes to sink Celtic but Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was the biggest winner of them all.


Lazio Complete Formality

A good Lazio side had no difficulty in administrating the second leg of the Uefa Cup first round in order to qualify to the next stage.


Scouting Report On South Carolina

The most important thing to remember when looking at the strengths and weaknesses of South Carolina as opposed to the strengths and weaknesses of Alabama is that nothing South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz can be believed.


Car Bombings Kill 50, Leave 145 Hurt In Iraq

Baghdad, Sept. 30 (NNN): At least 50 people, including 35 children, were killed and 145 others injured in a series of car bombings in Iraq on Thursday, reports reaching here said.


Over 150 people arrested in child pornography crackdown

MARK COLVIN: Teachers, doctors, police and childcare workers are the people we trust with our children. But members of those professions are among more than 150 people arrested in the biggest child pornography crackdown that Australia has ever seen.


Chances Dwindling for US-EU Aircraft Pact

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and the European  Union are unlikely to reach a new civil aircraft pact covering  Boeing Co. and Airbus, an EU official said on Thursday,  boosting the chances the two sides will take their subsidy  countercharges to the World Trade Organization.


AT amp;T cuts Internet phone service prices

AT amp;T Corp. is trimming the price of its new Internet-based telephone service for the second time in six months, prompting a top rival to follow suit.


StorageTek Scoops Up Storability for ILM Portfolio

Storage Technology Corp. (StorageTek) acquired Storability Inc. on Thursday for an undisclosed sum in an attempt to boost the storage management and monitoring software delivery capabilities of its ILM (information lifecycle management) portfolio.


Gartner: Four Out Of Five Linux PCs End Up Running

Although Linux backers boast of a growing market share on the desktop, especially in booming regions like Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, those numbers are hugely inflated, a research firm said Thursday, because most of the PCs actually


Shearer and Kluivert help themselves

Graeme Souness #39;s honeymoon period as Newcastle manager continued in the Middle East last night, Alan Shearer helping himself to a hat-trick and Patrick Kluivert scoring twice as


Stewart #39;s vision betrayed by Government apathy

quot;A bitter blow, quot; decreed Sir Jackie Stewart on the news that the circuit which hosted the first Formula One grand prix on May 13, 1950, had been dropped.


Ex-Steeler dies in fiery wreck after police chase

Herkimer, NY (Sports Network) - Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk was killed in a collision with a tanker truck after leading police on a highway chase for 40 miles in upstate New York Thursday morning.


Drug withdrawal gives Merck palpitations

By Rosie Murray-West, City Correspondent (Filed: 01/10/2004). US pharmaceutical giant Merck lost about a quarter of its value yesterday after it pulled arthritis drug Vioxx owing to concerns over heart attacks as a side-effect.


Research In Motion beats estimates

But shares fall in after-hours trading even though the company reports a sharply higher 2Q profit. TORONTO (Reuters) - Research In Motion Ltd.


Sports management giant IMG sold to investment company

IMG, the sports and celebrity management group that represents such star names as Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher and Elizabeth Hurley has been sold, it announced.


SIA: Supply Chain Saved Chip Sales

Faced with mountains of inventory, quick thinking by some semiconductor manufacturers helped the market avoid its first decrease in chip sales since the war in Iraq began.


Mars consolidates advertising with Omnicom

LONDON Mars, the candy and food company that owns brands like Milky Way and Starburst, said Thursday that it was consolidating much of its global advertising account with units of Omnicom Group, dealing a blow to Grey Global Group and its soon-to-be parent


Computer sets world speed record

AN IBM machine has reclaimed the title of world #39;s fastest supercomputer, overtaking a Japanese model which caused shock waves within United States government agencies when it set a computing speed record in 2002.


Theater: An unfortunate debut for Spacey

LONDON  quot;Cloaca, quot; apparently, is the Latin word for  quot;sewer, quot; which might seem a strange image with which to launch a new theatrical regime.


FOOTBALL: WAYNE WILL NAB RECORD SAYS DENIS

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Denis Law last night tipped Wayne Rooney to break all his Old Trafford scoring records. Law was the ultimate United marksman and is still widely acclaimed as  #39;The King #39; for his amazing goalscoring feats.


35 children killed in Baghdad blasts

BAGHDAD In one of the most horrific attacks here since the fall of Saddam Hussein, a pair of car bombs tore through a street celebration Thursday at the opening of a government-built sewer plant, killing 41 Iraqi civilians, at least 34 of them children


UN Seeks to Speed Arrival of Peacekeepers in Haiti

The United Nations says it is trying to speed up the arrival of peacekeeping troops in Haiti to help with emergency relief in the wake of Tropical Storm Jeanne, which wreaked havoc in the Caribbean nation earlier this month.


Scientists Protest Kennewick Man Bill (AP)

AP - Scientists hoping to study the ancient skeleton known as Kennewick Man are protesting a bill by Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell that they say could block their efforts.


U.S. Launches Assault on Rebel-Held Iraqi Town

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces have launched a major  offensive on the rebel stronghold of Samarra after a series of  horrific car bombings in Baghdad on Thursday that killed 41  people, mostly children.


UN Rights Officials Talks of War Crimes in Darfur

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. envoys told the Security  Council on Thursday that war crimes had probably occurred on "a  large and systematic scale" in Sudan's Darfur region and called  for foreign police to help stop abuses.


Navy Probes New Iraq Photos

An online photo album showing Navy SEALS with Iraqi prisoners prompts an investigation. A military prosecutor says they're simply evidence of juvenile behavior, but they may violate the Geneva Convention, which prohibits souvenir photos of prisoners of war.


US launches Samarra offensive

US and Iraqi forces begin a major operation against rebels in Iraq's northern city of Samarra, reports say.


Labour Party retains Hartlepool

Labour wins the Hartlepool by-election with a reduced majority, as the Conservatives are beaten into fourth place.


Questions About Drug Safety System Emerge After Arthritis Drug <b>...</b>

The Food and Drug Administration insists that until pharmaceutical giant Merck presented new information this week, there was not enough evidence to pull the arthritis drug Vioxx off the market.


Scientists wrapping up salvage job on Genesis spacecraft that <b>...</b>

Three weeks after the Genesis space capsule slammed into the Utah desert after its parachutes failed to deploy, NASA scientists remain hopeful they can salvage the mission and reveal clues about the origin of the solar system.


Three share lead at Southern Farm Bureau Classic

Madison, MS (Sports Network) - Harrison Frazar shot a seven-under-par 65 on Thursday to share the lead with Glen Day and John Senden after the opening round of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic at Annandale Golf Club.


Royals pitcher to see back specialist

Kansas City Royals: Left-hander Jimmy Gobble was scratched from his start against the White Sox after an MRI revealed a problem in his lower back.


Magical day for Meehan

It was a day to seek refuge on the Rowley Mile here yesterday, not only from the showers but also from the results. There was a 22-1 winner in the first race of the Cambridgeshire meeting, and the 11-1 chance Nights Cross took the second.


Routine operation but more evidence of heart trouble

Tony Blair will undergo a catheter ablation operation which will correct his heart #39;s abnormal rhythm - a condition the Prime Minister has suffered from in the past.


Rebels Turned Away From Haitian City

GONAIVES, Haiti Sept. 30, 2004 - Rebel fighters tried to deliver food aid and organize their own security patrols in Gonaives, but were turned away by UN peacekeepers who said their weapons weren #39;t welcome


400 illegal immigrants land on Italian island

ROME About 400 illegal immigrants landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa overnight, officials said Thursday, the latest in a wave of landings that has angered the government.


Ichiro Moves Within One Hit of Record as A's Win

OAKLAND, California (Reuters) - Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki  could only manage a lone hit in five at-bats to draw within one  of the single season record of 257 as the Oakland A's picked up  a vital 3-2 win over the Mariners Thursday.


Who's Recycling Techno Trash?

No current figures exist for how much e-junk is recycled, but industry experts believe it's a sliver of the total. People don't know where to take their used electronics, and toxic components are a mounting problem.


Schwarzenegger Vetoes Sports Diet Supplement Bill

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - After signing a law that bars the  sale of performance-enhancing supplements to minors, California  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a separate measure on  Thursday that would bar schools from accepting sponsorships  from firms that make the dietary supplements.


The Cuban Biotech Revolution

Embargo or not, Fidel Castro's socialist paradise has quietly become a pharmaceutical powerhouse. (They're still working on the capitalism thing.) By Douglas Starr from Wired magazine.


Cell-Tower Emission Risks Probed

After nearly a decade of debate, no one can say for sure whether radiation from cell phones is harmful to humans or not. So researchers are conducting a series of independent studies to try to settle the matter. By Joanna Glasner.


Pitcher Shot in Leg

Rookie Kyle Denney was hit in the calf by a shot that came through the side of the Indians' bus Wednesday as the team traveled to the airport after a victory over the Royals.


Study: Musicians Dig the Net

A new study finds that artists and musicians love the internet, using it to promote themselves and their work. But they are divided on whether illegal file sharing helps or hurts them. By Katie Dean.


Several Explosions Reported in Spain

At least four explosive devices detonated Monday around Spain after telephone warnings from callers claiming to speak on behalf of the armed Basque separatist group ETA, news report said.


U.N. Web Site Viewers Strongly Prefer English (Reuters)

Reuters - The vast majority of visitors to\the U.N. Web site look at English-language pages, and\relatively few call up Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or\Spanish pages, the United Nations said on Thursday.


Netflix, TiVo Team Up on Broadband Movie Delivery (PC World)

PC World - Stream movies to your PC or download them to your TiVo by 2005.


Sun upgrades J2SE platform (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Application developers got several new options last week as Sun Microsystems updated J2SE, Borland upped its CORBA ante, and Compuware announced products that will work with Microsoft #8217;s Visual Studio 2005 toolbox.


Blogs May Be a Wealth Hazard

If you've got a blog and a job, beware. The two sometimes don't go together, as many ex-workers are finding out. By Rachel Metz.


Scientists Wrap Up Genesis Salvage Work (AP)

AP - Three weeks after the Genesis space capsule slammed into the Utah desert after its parachutes failed to deploy, NASA scientists remain hopeful they can salvage the mission and reveal clues about the origin of the solar system.


Pilot, Designer of Rocket Plane Confident (AP)

AP - The pilot and designer of a private rocket plane say they are confident it could return to the sky next week in a quest to claim a multimillion-dollar prize, despite a harrowing flight in which the spacecraft rolled dramatically while hurtling toward the edge of the atmosphere.


Feds Ply Waters Off Ga., Seek Lost H-Bomb (AP)

AP - Experts dragged sensors from boats and divers scooped soil from the ocean bottom Thursday, looking for radioactive clues to the location of a hydrogen bomb lost off the Georgia coast in 1958.


Tokyo Stocks Jump After BOJ Tankan

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 1.47 percent  by mid-morning on Friday with broad range of stocks getting a  lift thanks to a higher-than-expected key figure in the Bank of  Japan's latest corporate sentiment survey.


Yen Rises on Corporate Sentiment Poll

TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen rose on Friday after a closely  watched Bank of Japan (BOJ) survey showed further improvement  in Japanese business sentiment.


Netflix, TiVo to Develop Internet Movie Product

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Online DVD rental service  Netflix Inc. NFLX.O and digital video recorder maker TiVo  Inc. TIVO.O on Thursday said they would jointly develop a  product to download movies over the Internet, a deal uniting  two of the fastest growing brands in home entertainment.


Oil Markets to Overshadow China G7 Debut

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Soaring oil prices may again hijack  Friday's gathering of finance chiefs from the world's top  economic powers, though a U.S. drive to pressure  China over  currency policy was gathering steam on Thursday.


Sun pushes OpenOffice standard

Sun backs an EU standards push for interoperability between office software. Microsoft says it's already there.


Spyware on My Machine? So What?

There's a reason why so many PCs are infected with spyware and adware: Users seem to have stopped caring about having online privacy. Many are saying spyware is a small price to pay for free applications. By Michelle Delio.


Poor hurt by aid conditions

Privatisation and trade liberalisation policies foisted on developing countries in return for financial help are often bad for the poor, according to a confidential government paper.


Microsoft fights EU Windows curbs

Microsoft was close to a deal with the European Commission earlier this year which would have revealed more of its secrets than it has now been ordered to hand over, a court was told yesterday.


McCormack #39;s sports empire sold for 390m

IMG, the sports and celebrity management group that lists Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and golfer Tiger Woods among its clients, was yesterday sold for \$700m (390m).


Chelsea outplays champs

The Blues defeated FC Porto 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, while CSKA Moscow, the club sponsored by the Russian billionaire, won 2-0 at home to Paris Saint Germain.


Woods breaks through pain

DEFENDING champion Tiger Woods won a remarkable battle with pain by posting a four-under-par 68 in the first round of the American Express World Championship at Mount Juliet in County Kilkenny yesterday.


Shearer leads way as big guns book group stage places

MOST of the big names, including the Alan Shearer-inspired Newcastle United, progressed safely to the new group stage of the UEFA Cup after a frantic nights action last night, although Parma and Real Zaragoza cut it fine.


Millwall, Ferencvaros fans clash

BUDAPEST -- One man was stabbed in violence before the UEFA Cup tie between Hungarian champions Ferencvaros and English side Millwall on Thursday.


UN force in Congo gets a boost

Britain, France and the US have agreed to a 5,900 increase in the strength of the UN force in the Democratic Republic of Congo, fewer than half the reinforcements requested by the secretary general, Kofi Annan.


TiVo, Netflix sign movies-on-demand deal

And Mike Ramsay, TiVo's CEO, resigns from his board position at Netflix to avoid conflicts of interest.


Dell green-lights photo printers

PC maker expanding printer business with new photo printers. Digital cameras also a possibility.


Sun upgrades J2SE platform

Application developers got several new options last week as Sun Microsystems updated J2SE, Borland upped its CORBA ante, and Compuware announced products that will work with Microsofts Visual Studio 2005 toolbox.


Netflix, TiVo Team Up on Broadband Movie Delivery

Stream movies to your PC or download them to your TiVo by 2005.


Dell to Sell More Security-Proofed Business Hardware

New ServGate hardware, starting at less than \$1000, has integrated antivirus, spam filtering, and other security features.


400 Darfur refugees dying every day

THE first detailed medical study of survivors of the Sudanese genocide suggests the death toll has been seriously underestimated and concludes the massive attacks in the Darfur region amount to a demographic catastrophe.


Netflix, TiVo team up on broadband movies to the home (MacCentral)

MacCentral - Netflix Inc. and TiVo Inc. have signed an agreement to let TiVo subscribers access Netflix's library of movies over broadband Internet connections, the two companies announced Thursday.


Iraq Bombings Kill 35 Youths, Hurt Scores (AP)

AP - A string of bombs killed 35 children and wounded scores of others as U.S. troops handed out candy Thursday at a government-sponsored celebration to inaugurate a sewage plant. It was the largest death toll of children in any insurgent attack since the start of the Iraq conflict.


Britain's Blair Faces Heart Op But Vows to Lead On

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said  he would go into hospital on Friday to correct recurrent heart  palpitations, but he vowed to serve a full third term in office  if he wins an election expected next year.


Blair to Have 'Routine' Heart Treatment

LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he will undergo a medical procedure Friday to correct an irregular heartbeat, calling it a routine treatment that won't prevent him from seeking another term in office.    The 51-year-old prime minister said the procedure will involve local anesthetic and will not affect his job...


Courtney Love Sued by LA Travel Agency

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Rocker Courtney Love was sued Thursday by a travel agency that claims she ordered nearly \$50,000 in airline tickets but refused to pay...


Ichiro Nears Hit Record in Mariners' Loss

OAKLAND, Calif. - Ichiro Suzuki went home without the major league hits record, thanks to Oakland's determined pitching staff - and a much bigger hit by Bobby Crosby...


China signs US #36;2.1B worth of contracts for 23 Airbus jets, German goods (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - BEIJING (AP) - China signed contracts Monday worth nearly  #36;2.1 billion US to buy 23 Airbus jetliners and other German industrial goods.


Chiefs' Hall Sits Out With Painful Lip (AP)

AP - Dante Hall, Kansas City's All-Pro kick returner, could only stand on the sideline at practice on Thursday, icing his painfully infected lower lip.


Minaya Named Power Source for the Mets

Fred Wilpon, the Mets' owner, on Thursday insisted that Omar Minaya would have 'full autonomy' as the team's new general manager and president of baseball operations.


Ichiro a Hit Away From the Single-Season Record

With a hard single to right field Thursday against the Athletics, the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki posted his 256th hit of this season.


Collins Firmly Strides Into a Starting Role Without Any Misstep

Quarterback Kerry Collins, who helped lead the Giants to the Super Bowl four years ago, came off the bench to lead the Oakland Raiders to a victory Sunday.


India Cricket Bd:Sony TV To Televise Matches Vs Australia

NEW DELHI (Dow Jones)--India #39;s cricket board late Thursday said Sony Entertainment Television Ltd. will telecast four home matches against world champion Australia starting next week.


Rattay expects to play Sunday for 49ers

Quarterback Tim Rattay expects to return to the San Francisco 49ers #39; starting lineup Sunday after a two-week absence. Rattay separated his throwing shoulder during San Francisco #39;s season opener Sept.


It happens frequently in the NFL The starting quarterback gets hurt, and the backup has to take that nervous jog to the huddle and bark instructions, trying to


Chiefs #39; Hall Sits Out With Painful Lip

_ Dante Hall, Kansas City #39;s All-Pro kick returner, could only stand on the sideline at practice on Thursday, icing his painfully infected lower lip.


Truce between rebels, Nigerian government, appears to be holding

A tentative truce between rebels and government troops in Nigeria #39;s oil-rich south appeared to be holding Thursday as the two sides held a second round of talks in the capital, officials said.


Yen Rises on Corporate Sentiment Poll

TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen rose on Friday after the Bank of  Japan's closely watched "tankan" survey showed further  improvement in Japanese business sentiment.


Arthritis Drug Is Withdrawn by Its Maker

Merck said that it would stop selling Vioxx, because a study found that it doubled patients' risk of heart attack and strokes.


A Vast Arms Buildup, Yet Not Enough for Wars

The United States will spend more than \$500 billion on security this year, a high-water mark that is creating boom times in the armaments industry.


Senden, Frazar and Day share lead after first round at SFB Classic

John Senden closed his 7-under 65 with his second eagle of the round and shared the lead with Harrison Frazar and Glen Day after the first round of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic on Thursday.


Senden soars into Mississippi lead

Australian golfer John Senden holds a share of the lead after the first round of the PGA Tour event in Mississippi. Senden began and ended the back nine with eagles on his way to a 7-under- par 65.


Netflix, TiVo Make Deal Official (AP)

AP - Netflix Inc. and TiVo Inc. made official Thursday their deal to create a service that will use high-speed Internet connections to pipe DVD-quality movies into the homes of their mutual subscribers.


Open Source Needs an Arbitration Board (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - Opinion: The ongoing intellectual property fight between Furthermore and Miro shows the need to address possible IP conflicts before they become public or courtroom battles.


Sweden Returns Smuggled Australian Aborigine Bones (Reuters)

Reuters - Sweden handed over to a group of\Australian aborigines on Thursday the remains of about 20 of\their ancestors smuggled out of Australia almost 90 years ago\by a Swedish zoologist who pretended they were kangaroo bones.


China wants answers on oil-for-food

CHINA today called for a swift resolution to the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal, saying it wanted to see an independent and objective investigation.


China signs contract for Airbus jets

China signed contracts Monday worth nearly \$2.1 billion to buy 23 Airbus jetliners and other German industrial goods. The \$1.3 billion Airbus deal calls for a state company that


U.S., Iraqi Forces Take Key Samarra Buildings (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. and Iraqi troops took control\of government and police buildings in Samarra early on Friday\after insurgents had undermined security in the Iraqi city, the\U.S. military said.


Rebel Chief: Sudan Hides Gov't Fighters (AP)

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


Pro-Aristide March Turns Violent in Haiti (AP)

AP - Gunfire erupted as Haitians calling for the return of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched near the presidential palace on Thursday, killing at least three police officers as hundreds scattered to safety in side streets.


France Seeks Larger U.N. Force in Congo (AP)

AP - France introduced a Security Council resolution Thursday that would increase the U.N. force in Congo by 5,900 troops, less than half the amount requested by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.


150 Arrested for Child Porn in Australia (AP)

AP - Police arrested more than 150 people and seized computers holding more than 2 million images of child pornography in Australia's biggest crackdown yet on child porn, police said Thursday.


Cheney, Edwards to Meet in Ohio Debate (AP)

AP - Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards, the vice presidential candidate, will meet Tuesday at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland for their only debate before the Nov. 2 election.


U.S., Iraqi Forces Take Key Samarra Buildings

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi troops took control  of government and police buildings in Samarra early on Friday  after insurgents had undermined security in the Iraqi city, the  U.S. military said.


2 Car Bombings in Iraq Kill 41, Many Children

The bombs called forth a scene of dying children and grieving parents, some of them holding up blood-soaked clothes.


Asia ; New Violence Hits S.Thailand After  #39;Peace Bombing #39;

In another incident, two gunmen shot dead a former prosecutor in Pattani province on Sunday, police said. The bird campaign, launched by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra weeks ahead of a general election, caught


Courtney Love Sued by LA Travel Agency

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Rocker Courtney Love was sued Thursday by a travel agency that claims she ordered nearly \$50,000 in airline tickets, but wouldn't pay...


Iraq Bombings Kill 35 Youths, Hurt Scores

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A string of bombs killed 35 children and wounded scores of others as U.S. troops handed out candy Thursday at a government-sponsored celebration to inaugurate a sewage plant...


Microsoft to Argue EU Antitrust Order Damages Its Trademarks

Microsoft Corp., the world #39;s largest software maker, will tell a European Union judge the EU #39;s antitrust ruling forcing the company to offer a version of Windows without a video and music


Japan firms sentiment at 13-year high

Japans most closely watched business sentiment barometer rose to its highest in 13 years in September but the outlook for the coming months dimmed, underscoring concern that the economic recovery is losing steam.


Yankees Clinch 7th Straight AL East Title (AP)

AP - Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees clinched their seventh straight AL East title, beating the Minnesota Twins 6-4 Thursday night for their 100th victory of the season.


Orioles Cruise Past Blue Jays 9-3 (AP)

AP - Miguel Tejada homered and drove in three runs to boost his major league-leading RBIs total to 146, and the Baltimore Orioles cruised past the Toronto Blue Jays 9-3 Thursday night.


STK Grabs Storage Management Vendor

Tape storage king StorageTek puts new pressure on the storage-management market with an acquisition. By Martin J. Garvey. Storage Technology Corp.


Souness Relieved As Magpies Soar

Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness was relieved that none of his players got injured during the Magpies 5-1 Uefa Cup demolition of Israeli side Hapoel Bnei Sachnin.


PITCAIRN WITNESS: CULTURE OF SILENCE

In the first of a series of Pitcairn sex abuse trials, a British woman allegedly raped during her childhood on the remote Pacific island has told a court that men on the island were given free rein to treat young girls as sexual playthings.


Japan says yuan policy up to China ahead of G7

Japanese officials, arriving in Washington on Thursday for a historic meeting between the Group of Seven (G7) nations and China, distanced themselves from US demands for a review of China #39;s currency policy.


Victory No. 100 Gives Yankees Another A.L. East Title

Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, helping the Yankees clinch their seventh straight A.L. East title with their 100th victory of the season.


Upbeat Wilkens Likes New Pieces to Knicks' Puzzle

Knick Coach Lenny Wilkens steered away from predictions Thursday, but he found more to like than not to like as he surveyed the coming season.


Thrown for a Loss

Considered an early Super Bowl contender, the Chiefs come to Baltimore on Monday still looking for their first win.


Tejada Powers Orioles

Miguel Tejada homers and drives in three runs to boost his major league-leading RBI total to 146, and the Orioles cruise past Toronto, 9-3, Thursday night.


Bies: Oil Has Shaped Fed Growth Outlook

IRVING, Texas (Reuters) - Oil prices have shaped the  Federal Reserve's outlook for the U.S. economy but an upgrade  of second quarter GDP boosts its confidence that growth is  regaining momentum, a top Fed policymaker said on Thursday.


Tokyo Stocks Jump After BOJ Tankan

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 1.33 percent  by midday on Friday, led higher by banks and insurers thanks to  a higher-than-expected key figure in the Bank of Japan's latest  corporate sentiment survey.


Debt Relief Deal for Poor Nations Seems to Be Near

The U.S. and top financial institutions indicated that they were closing in on an agreement to forgive the debts of many of the world's poorest countries.


U.S. and Europe Fail to Resolve Dispute on Aircraft Subsidies

Trade officials failed to resolve their dispute over government subsidies to aircraft manufacturers, especially Airbus and Boeing.


Volkswagen, Malaysian Carmaker in Talks

Malaysian carmaker Proton is in talks with Volkswagen about a potential partnership, which could boost the German auto giant #39;s presence in the Southeast Asian market.


Study debunks treatment for clogged arteries

A highly touted technique that uses radioactive seeds to clear clogged arteries offers no long-term benefit, according to a new study.


prize-winning space launch

The team behind the SpaceShipOne rocket plane says it plans to win the \$10 million Ansari X Prize on Monday, after deciding that the unexpected tumble encountered during this


Australia #39;s Frisky Koalas to Get Hormone Implants

Lusty Koalas in southern Australia are going to be put on the pill to stop them breeding too quickly and putting too much strain on their eucalyptus-forest home.


RIAA sues another 762

p2pnet.net News:- Through their RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), the members of the Big Four record label cartel have sued another 762 people, bringing the total to close to 5,800.


Team buses to have police protection after incident

There will be police escorts and protection for the Chicago White Sox team buses during their series against the Royals. Kevin Hallinan, Major League Baseball #39;s vice


Thirty killed in Gaza battle

DAVID HARDAKER: In Israel #39;s deepest thrust into the Gaza Strip in four years of conflict, 30 people have been killed in a single day of combat.


150 arrested for child porn in Australia

Police arrested more than 150 people and seized computers holding more than 2 million images of child pornography in Australia #39;s biggest crackdown yet on child porn, police said Thursday.


Yen Rises on Corporate Sentiment Poll

The yen rose on Friday after the Bank of Japan #39;s closely watched  quot;tankan quot; survey showed further improvement in Japanese business sentiment.


Vioxx #39;s Removal May Not Affect Care Much

Patients taking Vioxx for pain relief have many alternatives, and the popular drug #39;s withdrawal from worldwide markets yesterday should have little practical effect on clinical care, experts said.


Johnson Will Retire Nov. 1 As CACI #39;s No. 2 Executive

The Arlington government contractor said in a statement that the 58-year-old Johnson, its second in command, is leaving  quot;to pursue personal interests and spend more time with his family and


White Sox 9, Royals 2

Mark Buehrle pitched a four-hitter for his fourth complete game of the season, leading the Chicago White Sox over the Kansas City Royals 9-2 Thursday night.


For Giants, Rookie Is Quick Study at Safety

A loose-leaf notebook was perched on a stool at Gibril Wilson #39;s locker Thursday, but probably not for long. Wilson is a rookie safety for the Giants, and the


E.U. Regulators Say Microsoft Had Agreed to Sanctions (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - LUXEMBOURG, Sept. 30 -- European regulators testified here Thursday that before settlement talks with Microsoft Corp. broke down last spring, the company had agreed to  antitrust sanctions that the software giant now claims would cause irreparable harm to its business and is fighting to stave off.


Australia's Frisky Koalas to Get Hormone Implants (Reuters)

Reuters - Lusty Koalas in southern Australia\are going to be put on the pill to stop them breeding too\quickly and putting too much strain on their eucalyptus-forest\home.


Fed Governor Assessment of Economy Upbeat (Reuters)

Reuters - Federal Reserve Governor Susan\Bies on Thursday delivered an upbeat assessment of the U.S.\economy, saying both the household and business sectors\appeared to be in good shape.


Fed Governor Assessment of Economy Upbeat

IRVING, Texas (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Governor Susan  Bies on Thursday delivered an upbeat assessment of the U.S.  economy, saying both the household and business sectors  appeared to be in good shape.


Market  Batters Merck

Shares of Merck and Co. plunged nearly 27 percent Thursday on news that the pharmaceutical giant was pulling the popular arthritis pain medication Vioxx off the market.


US Airways, Pilots Union Near Cost-Cutting Accord

US Airways and its pilots union are close to reaching a \$300 million cost-cutting agreement, a key part of a restructuring plan that the airline says it needs to help it emerge from bankruptcy.


Johnson Will Retire  As CACI's No. 2 Executive

CACI International Inc.'s president of U.S. operations, L. Kenneth Johnson, will retire Nov. 1.  The Arlington government contractor said in a statement that the 58-year-old Johnson, its second in command, is leaving "to pursue personal interests."
\-The Washington Post


Consumer Spending Was Flat in August

Consumer spending was flat in August even though incomes rose, the Commerce Department reported yesterday, providing more mixed signals about the economy's recent strength.


Arthritis Drug Vioxx Is Taken Off Market

The decision by Merck   Co. came after a study confirmed simmering concerns that it significantly raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. More than 2 million people take Vioxx worldwide, making this the largest voluntary drug recall in history.


Pfizer Lawyers Grill Dissenting Executive

A drug company executive who spoke out in support of Montgomery County's proposal to import drugs from Canada and similar legislation before Congress said that his company has launched an investigation into his political activities.


From Spam To Lacrosse, A Day for The Books

New laws aimed at prosecuting big-time Internet spammers, helping small businesses and elevating lacrosse to the status of "state team sport" will become effective today in Maryland.


IMF Predicts Faster Growth In Global Economy This Year

Oil prices may have just hit record levels, but the International Monetary Fund is even more bullish about global economic growth in 2004 than it was six months ago.


Update 2: NY Firm Buying Sports and Talent Agency

International Management Group, a sports and celebrity management and marketing firm that has represented Tiger Woods, Joe Montana and Derek Jeter, is being sold to a New York buyout specialist firm in a cash deal valued at more than \$700 million.


Nikkei sharply up on strong tankan

TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Japanese stock indexes rose by midmorning Friday after the central bank #39;s closely watched tankan business sentiment survey showed a better-than-expected confidence among large manufacturers.


Soggy summer hits Boots #39; sales growth

HIGH street giant Boots reported a cooling in sales growth today after disappointing summer weather stalled demand for suncare products.


Koalas Put on  #39;The Pill #39; to Control Population

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


Senate postpones vote on file-swapping bill

com September 30, 2004, 9:28 AM PT. There #39;s no doubt the Internet will continue to make its mark in the world of business and technology.


DoCoMo plans fuel cell recharger

NTT DoCoMo has developed a prototype methanol fuel cell recharger for demanding mobile phones. The charger relies on a replaceable methanol cartridge and hydrogen


Windows piracy must not harm Linux

In the endless war of words and numbers between Windows and The Rest, Gartner has chipped in with a paradoxical observation. Forty percent of PCs sold with Linux installed are subsequently hosed clean and


Mourinho #39;s Chelsea beats his former club FC Porto 3-1 in Champions <b>...</b>

Jose Mourinho brushed aside sentiment as Chelsea beat his former club, defending champion FC Porto, 3-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday.


Souness Salutes  #39;World-Class #39; Kluivert

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has tipped Patrick Kluivert to re-establish himself as one of Europes top strikers after watching him help to dismantle Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin.


Trinidad returns as requested, will face Mayorga

For the last two-plus years, Felix  quot;Tito quot; Trinidad did as he pleased. He spent time with his wife and children. He ate very well, rode his horses and went to cockfights and boxing matches with his friends.


American League Game Summary - Minnesota At New York

Bronx, NY -- Bernie Williams hit a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the New York Yankees clinched their seventh consecutive American League East title with a 6-4 victory over Minnesota at Yankee Stadium.


Pat Burrell goes 4-for-4 as Philadelphia beats the Marlins 7-4

Pat Burrell went 4-for-4, including a tiebreaking two-run single in Philadelphia #39;s six-run seventh inning, helping the Phillies rally for a 7-4 victory over the Florida Marlins on Thursday night.


Police arrested in child-porn raids

POLICE officers are among more than 150 people charged with about 2000 child sex offences resulting from Australia #39;s biggest crackdown on internet child pornography.


News of 10 new kidnaps increases gloom in Iraq

MILITANTS in Iraq yesterday claimed they had kidnapped another ten people, dampening any optimism that the freeing of two Italian hostages might have marked a turning point in the hostage crisis.


Blair to stay for third term

DAVID HARDAKER: Britain #39;s Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced he #39;s to be admitted to hospital later today Australian time for a heart procedure.


AL Wrap: Rangers Overcome Angels, A's Draw Level (Reuters)

Reuters - Adrian Gonzalez drove in three runs\with a pair of hits as the Texas Rangers beat Anaheim 6-3 in\Arlington on Thursday, dropping the Angels into a first place\tie with Oakland in the AL West.


Undefeated Navy Sinks Air Force 24-21 (AP)

AP - Geoff Blumenfeld picked a good time to make his first field goal of the season, nailing a 30-yarder with 4 seconds left to lift Navy to a 24-21 victory over Air Force on Thursday night.


Microsoft Vows Fight on Patent Rejection (AP)

AP - In a preliminary ruling, the government rejected Microsoft Corp.'s 1996 patent on technology for saving files on computers using easy-to-remember names.


Web Founder Promotes Future Cooperation (AP)

AP - The inventor of the World Wide Web told a technology conference on Wednesday that making the Web more useful hinges on a familiar challenge: Getting the players behind the technology to agree on standards governing how computers communicate with one another.


U.S. Launches Assault on Rebel-Held Iraqi Town (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. forces in Iraq on Friday launched a\big offensive in the rebel stronghold of Samarra and said they\had secured key government and police buildings.


Congressional probe sought over jailing of US vigilantes in Afghanistan (AFP)

AFP - A lawyer for one of three Americans jailed in Afghanistan for illegally running a private anti-terror campaign and secret jail has asked for a US Congressional probe to look into bringing the trio home.


Aborigines left out of Australian election, says senator (AFP)

AFP - Once again, Australia's Aboriginal community has been forgotten as the country prepares for a general election, according to its only indigenous senator, Aden Ridgeway.


Dow Knocked Lower by Merck #39;s Drug Recall

Drug maker Merck  amp; Co. Inc. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) dominated trading in US stocks on Thursday, single-handedly driving the 30-stock Dow Jones average lower


Anschutz Purchases Journal Newspapers

Philip F. Anschutz, Denver billionaire and DC United investor, yesterday announced the purchase of the Journal Newspapers Inc., the Alexandria publisher of three Washington area suburban daily


Consumer Spending Was Flat in August

Consumer spending was flat in August even though incomes rose, the Commerce Department reported yesterday, providing more mixed signals about the economy #39;s recent strength.


How difficult is it to discard Internet Explorer?

Recent months have been terrible for Internet Explorer. Their have been tons of bug and security flaw reported. So much so, many security agencies have started recommending people who surf online to shift to alternate browsers.


Bernie #39;s blast clinches AL East

com. Those numbers each represent something important for the Yankees, who wrapped up the American League East title on Thursday night with a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins.


American League Game Summary - Anaheim at Texas

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Adrian Gonzalez stroked two hits and knocked in three runs, Chris Young pitched six strong innings for the win, and the Texas Rangers salvaged a four-game set with a 6-3 victory over Anaheim one night after being


Japan death toll from Meari rises to 19, 8 missing

The death toll from a tropical storm buffeting Japan rose yesterday to 19 after searchers found more victims, including two men buried inside their homes beneath mud and debris that had barreled down a mountainside.


Direct links can be a first step in building trust, say scholars

Both Taiwan and China should see the issue of cross-strait direct transportation links as the initial step to creating mutual trust between each other, ahead of the concerns for regional peace, local scholars suggested yesterday.


Arthritis drug Vioxx pulled from market

THE Ministry of Health yesterday urged Jamaicans to immediately discontinue the use of the arthritis drug Vioxx (refecoxib), which was pulled off the market yesterday by its manufacturer Merck  amp; Co.


Lower prices driving Boots sales

Boots has seen good sales growth across the past six months, but has taken a hit on margins as customers respond enthusiastically to its Lower Prices Youll Love marketing campaign.


Yen Eases Slightly After 'Tankan' Rally

TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen eased against the dollar on  Friday, failing to hold gains made on a stronger-than-expected  reading for the Bank of Japan's "tankan" survey of business  sentiment.


Red Hat To Get Netscape Security Assets for \$25 Million

Leading open source vendor Red Hat said it will acquire certain security-related assets of Netscape Security Solutions from America Online for US\$25 million.


Tokyo Stocks Jump by Midday

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 1.33 percent  by midday on Friday, led higher by banks and insurers thanks to  a better-than-expected corporate sentiment survey by the Bank  of Japan.


- UMPIRES: Home,Andy Fletcher; First, Tim Welke; Second, Gary <b>...</b>

- Lew Ford flied out to right. None on with one out and Jacque Jones due up. - Jacque Jones grounded out to second. None on with two out and Torii Hunter due up.


Bush Sees a Safer America, While Kerry Sees a 'Colossal Error'

President Bush said he had acted aggressively to protect the U.S., and John Kerry said Mr. Bush had made a "colossal error" of judgment in Iraq.


Yankees Clinch 7th Straight AL East Title

NEW YORK - Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees clinched their seventh straight AL East title, beating the Minnesota Twins 6-4 Thursday night for their 100th victory of the season.    With the crowd standing and hollering, Williams connected with one out to set off an enthusiastic celebration...


Boots sales get a drenching

HIGH-STREET retailer Boots reported a cooling in sales growth yesterday after disappointing summer weather stalled demand for suncare products.


Connecticut 29, Pittsburgh 17

Cornell Brockington rushed for 185 yards and one touchdown Thursday night to lead Connecticut to a 29-17 victory over Pittsburgh, the Huskies #39; first Big East win as a conference member.


AL Wrap: Rangers Overcome Angels, A #39;s Draw Level

Adrian Gonzalez drove in three runs with a pair of hits as the Texas Rangers beat Anaheim 6-3 in Arlington on Thursday, dropping the Angels into a first place tie with Oakland in the AL West.


Australia could step up childsex crackdown, PM warns after <b>...</b>

SYDNEY : Prime Minister John Howard promised new legislation if it was needed to fight child pornography following more than 200 arrests in a major Australia-wide crackdown on Internet pornography.


BCCI vows to produce live telecast of Australia series

CALCUTTA: The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced it would go ahead with live telecasts of the upcoming home Test series against Australia and South Africa despite a raging court battle.


Microsoft seeks to suspend EU antitrust ruling

Microsoft Corp. fought yesterday for a suspension of a landmark European Union antitrust ruling pending its appeal, arguing that being forced to share its closely guarded software codes with rivals now would do it irreversible damage.


We #39;ll telecast Australia Tests

The Indian cricket board Monday told the Supreme Court it would provide live pictures of the upcoming India-Australia Test series that Prasar Bharati would telecast within the country and another company would do so abroad.


TV coverage confirmed

AUSTRALIA #39;S  quot;last frontier quot; Test cricket series against India will be shown on live television in this country following an 11th hour TV rights deal.


Sports: Denney says says go-go boots helped prevent serious injury

MINNEAPOLIS Cleveland Indians pitcher Kyle Denney says the go-go boots he was wearing may have prevented a bullet from seriously injuring his leg.


Search Engine Forums Spotlight

Links to this week's topics from search engine forums across the web: Click-Fraud Said to be 50 of Clicks - PPC  #91;Pay Per Click #93; And Affiliate Marketing, Will It Last? - Press Releases for Link Development - New Adwords Traffic Estimator - AdWords: Is Broadmatch Really Bad? - Marketing Tactics with Shopping Search Engines - How To Optimize PDFs


NBA-Suns Scorch Trail Blazers, Kings Beat Celtics

Quentin Richardson poured in 37 points, including eight three-pointers, and Shawn Marion added 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 121-99 thrashing of the host Portland Trail Blazers Sunday.


Area Codes, Now Divorced From Their Areas

It used to be safe to assume that dialing 212 made a phone ring in Manhattan, but in this era of mobile telecommunications, calls connect people, not places.


Microsoft Asks Appeals Court in Europe to Delay Punishment

Microsoft warned a European appeals court that software developers and consumers would face dire consequences should it be penalized.


Judge Strikes Down Section of Patriot Act

A federal judge ruled that the provision broadly violated the Constitution by giving federal authorities unchecked powers to obtain private information.


I.B.M. Employees Get \$320 Million in Pension Suit

I.B.M. said that it had agreed to pay \$320 million to its employees to settle in part a class-action lawsuit over its pension plan.


Sun Micro, UT Austin, Team Up on Supercomputer (Reuters)

Reuters - Sun Microsystems Inc. \and the University of Texas at Austin are set to flip the\switch on Friday on a unique supercomputer that will vastly\speed up massive data analysis and visualization to tackle\time-critical problems such as weather prediction.


Sun Micro, UT Austin, Team Up on Supercomputer

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sun Microsystems Inc. SUNW.O  and the University of Texas at Austin are set to flip the  switch on Friday on a unique supercomputer that will vastly  speed up massive data analysis and visualization to tackle  time-critical problems such as weather prediction.


House Defeats Gay Marriage Ban Amendment (AP)

AP - The House emphatically rejected a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage Thursday, the latest in a string of conservative pet causes advanced by Republican leaders in the run-up to Election Day.


President Bush said he acted to protect the U.S., while John Kerry said Mr. Bush had made a "colossal error" of judgment in Iraq.


House Ethics Panel Says DeLay Tried to Trade Favor for a Vote

A panel admonished Representative Tom DeLay for improperly trying to win the vote of a lawmaker during a floor fight over a bill.


Brown just looking for respect

PHILADELPHIA  It should have been a happy day for Sheldon Brown. He had come up with his first interception of the season, after all, and he had done so against no less a quarterback than Brett Favre.


Open-source process server set for release

More open-source software for businesses: The Apache Software Foundation is launching a project for a Java process automation server.


DoCoMo unveils phone fuel cell

NTT DoCoMo has unveiled what it calls the Japan #39;s first prototype micro fuel cell aimed at boosting battery life for its powerful third-generation  quot;FOMA quot; handsets.


British Grand Prix Threatened

Reports that the British Grand Prix has been dumped from next year #39;s Formula 1 World Championship are a little premature, although that #39;s not to say it won #39;t happen.


Double Dutch for Magpies as Shearer bags a hat-trick

ALAN SHEARER and Patrick Kluivert fired Newcastle into the group stage of the Uefa Cup in Tel Aviv last night. United skipper Shearer claimed the second European hat-trick of his career and Kluivert helped


Sports: Brewers 7 Cardinals 6

ST. LOUIS Keith Ginter hit a three-run homer as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-to-6. The NL Central champion Cards suffered a season-high fourth straight loss.


Russian Cabinet Backs Pact on Climate Change

After years of debate among political and economic leaders here, the Russian cabinet on Thursday endorsed the 1997 Kyoto accord on global climate change.


Car Bombs Rock Baghdad

A series of bombs targeting US forces were detonated in a western Baghdad neighbourhood, leaving scores of dead and wounded. Interior Ministry spokesman Colonel Adnan Abd al-Rahman said two car bombs and a


Another Comeback Victory, Another Division Title for Yankees

It took 61 come-from-behind victories, a major league record, to achieve what the Yankees did Thursday, win a seventh consecutive A.L. East title.


Olympians Put On Show

There were no judges, and there was no pressure. Best of all, there was no Olympic-sized controversy at MCI Center on Thursday as the stars of the U.S. gymnastics team tumbled, twirled and gyrated.


Williams Lifts Yankees

Bernie Williams hits a two-run homer in the ninth inning and the Yankees clinch their seventh straight AL East title, beating the playoff-bound Twins, 6-4, Thursday night.


*  #39;Super aspirin #39; is taken off market over heart fears

Shares in Merck, the US pharmaceuticals giant, plunged by almost 27 per cent yesterday after the company withdrew Vioxx, its \$2.5bn (1.


Wall Street: Dow index down for day, quarter after Merck news

Wall Street stock indexes closed out a dismal third quarter mixed Thursday after Merck  amp; Co. stated it would remove its best-selling Vioxx arthritis drug from the market.


IBM Pays Out in Cash-Balance Case

IBM will pay out \$320 million to settle part of a class-action lawsuit relating to its pension plan. The settlement does not, however, address the critical issue of whether the companys controversial cash


TiVo, Netflix team to deliver Internet video-on-demand

TiVo and Netflix said Thursday that they plan to challenge cable operators and video retailers by launching a video-on-demand service in 2005 that will deliver movies to consumers via the Internet.


NZ Watchdog:Changes To Prime #39;s Bid For Powerco Difficult

WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--Prime Infrastructure Group (PIF.AU) could still change the terms of its controversial takeover bid for Powerco Ltd.


Boeing-Airbus talks fall apart

Europe and the United States could be headed for a trans-Atlantic trade war over the issue of government aid to Airbus and The Boeing Co.


Frisky koalas to get hormone implants

quot;It is the same type of contraceptive that is used by human females around the world, quot; said project manager Ian Walker.  quot;But the tricky part.


com September 30, 2004, 9:00 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.


Williams hits two-run homer as the Yankees beat Minnesota 6-4 to <b>...</b>

Bernie Williams sent a drive soaring to left-centre field, raised his right arm in triumph and circled the bases. Pretty soon, he was home - and so were the New York Yankees.


Praise running rampant for Oklahoma freshman

To hear him, you #39;d think the guy was some wide-eyed, talk-radio type prattling on about the latest kid to slip a couple of tackles.


Georgia #39;s Ware raring to run

Just in time for No. 3 Georgia #39;s biggest game of the season thus far comes the return of one of the Bulldogs #39; biggest offensive weapons.


Nigeria welcomes talks on oil thefts

The government of the southern Nigerian Rivers State yesterday welcomed peace talks between the Abuja authorities and the leader of a separatist movement fighting for the control of the country #39;s oil wealth.


IBM to Expand Data Centers Across World (Reuters)

Reuters - IBM is expanding and adding new\technology to 11 of its data centers in North America, Europe\and Asia to meet growing demand and rolled out new services to\customers, the world's largest computer company said late on\Thursday.


IBM to Expand Data Centers Across World

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - IBM is expanding and adding new  technology to 11 of its data centers in North America, Europe  and Asia to meet growing demand and rolled out new services to  customers, the world's largest computer company said late on  Thursday.


VoIP Price War Declared

gardel writes  quot;Voxilla reports that a VoIP price war was declared today. An announcement that AT amp;T would drop its prices for its CallVantage Service from \$34.


SanDisk announces wrath of Memory Card products

SanDisk has announced a number of memory card specific products at Photokina, in Cologne today. For the serious professional photographer, the company announced an 8Gb Compact Flash card costing \$1000, a 4Gb Memory Stick Pro and 2Gb SD Card.


UConn, Pitt go their different ways

The question seemed fair enough:  quot;Can you discuss the differences between coaching in a major-league city like Pittsburgh and a college town like Storrs, Conn.


Former Steeler killed in crash

Former Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk died yesterday morning in a fiery collision with a tractor-trailer near Herkimer, NY, after leading police on


Toyota to double US supply of Priuses to 100,000

NEW YORK - Toyota Motor Corp said Thursday it will double the supply of its Prius hybrid cars to the US market to 100,000 vehicles a year in 2005.


Opinion: Local councils may be stuck with junk after Powerco <b>...</b>

Like a lot of cock-ups, the Takeover Panel #39;s decision on Prime Infrastructure #39;s takeover bid of networks company Powerco started with a small miscalculation.


COL FB: Connecticut 29, Pittsburgh 17

Dan Orlovsky threw for 237 yards and Cornell Brockington ran for 187 yards and a score Thursday night to give Connecticut a 29-17 win over Pittsburgh.


Russia to ratify Kyoto treaty

Politicians, industry leaders and environment groups across the world welcomed the news last night that Russia had rejuvenated international efforts to combat climate change by ratifying the Kyoto protocol.


Indonesia confirms two women hostages taken in Iraq

JAKARTA : Two Indonesian women working for a British company in Iraq were among 10 people kidnapped by an Islamic militant group, officials in Jakarta confirmed on Friday.


Powell, China Foreign Minister Affirm North Korea Talks Effort

US Secretary of State Colin Powell and his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing said they still supported a multinational effort to convince North Korea leader Kim Jong Il to end his nuclear


Oil Prices Waver, Eye on Nigeria Supply

Oil #39;s rally wavered on Thursday, but worries over the security of Nigerian supply supported prices despite an easier US crude inventory picture and news that Russia #39;s YUKOS would resume full supply to China.


AMERICAN LEAGUE

With a doubleheader sweep of the Minnesota Twins, the New York Yankees moved to the verge of clinching their seventh straight AL East title.


Boxing Comebacks a Mixed Bag; 82 of Media Say Trinidad-Mayorga <b>...</b>

Whether its money, the roar of the crowd or just to improve ones place in history, there are more boxers who later regret the decision to return to the ring rather than those who stay home.


Tony Blair To Undergo Surgery

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he would undergo a routine operation Friday to correct an irregular heartbeat. Blair announced the plans for the medical procedure Thursday night, just hours after


Typhoon kills 2 in Japan

TOKYO - At least two people are dead, eight are missing after Typhoon Meari pounded southern Japan with heavy rain and strong winds.


Bird flu claims its 30th human victim in Asia

Vietnam confirmed a new bird flu death to bring Asia #39;s human toll to 30 yesterday, while Thailand rued its flawed efforts to control the epidemic after reporting its first likely case of the virus jumping from one person to another.


Bayer Unit Plea-Bargains in Price Fixing

The Bayer Corporation, a subsidiary of the Bayer Group of Germany, has agreed to plead guilty and pay a \$33 million criminal fine for taking part in a conspiracy


Pitt Notebook: Harris chooses FG over touchdown try before half

Pitt coach Walt Harris preferred to  quot;play the percentages quot; late in the first half last night and, as a result, the Panthers came away with a field


Russia backs Kyoto treaty

MOSCOW - The Russian government has approved the bill On the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.


Johnson retires from CACI

L. Kenneth Johnson, president of US operations at CACI International Inc., has announced his retirement from the company. In a statement, Johnson said he is leaving effective Nov. 1 to spend more time with his family and to pursue other interests.


Wenger looking for that spirit of Christmas past

Arsene Wenger will summon the spirit of Christmas past as he prepares Arsenal for the most critical week of their season. The specific Christmas he has in mind was just seven


China, U.S. Seek to Protect Cancer-Fighting Tree (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States and China want to\expand trade regulations to protect Asian yew trees, a plant\that provides the compound for one of the world's top-selling\chemotherapy drugs but is threatened by poaching.


Blair to undergo operation to fix irregular heartbeat (AFP)

AFP - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he would enter the hospital for an operation to correct an irregular heartbeat that was first diagnosed a year ago and has recurred in the last two months.


Caribbean States Hit by Hurricanes Ask Aid (AP)

AP - Caribbean leaders described the devastation that recent hurricanes had wrought on their countries in speeches to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, and asked for more help to clean up.


Gurkhas say more should get British citizenship (Reuters)

Reuters - Gurkha fighters from Nepal, who have been recruited by Britain for nearly 200 years, hailed on Friday a decision to allow some of them to become British citizens but called for the right to be extended to many more.


Indonesia Confirms Two Women Taken Hostage in Iraq

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia has confirmed the kidnapping  of two Indonesian women in Iraq and advised any other nationals  in the country to leave immediately, a Foreign Ministry  official said on Friday.


Microsoft defence enters day two

Microsoft's attempt to get EU antitrust penalties against it suspended turns to the question of its media player.


Nation/world briefs

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


State lets Bay Bridge retrofit bid expire

California #39;s top transportation official said today that the state will reject a current bid for rebuilding the eastern span of the Bay Bridge expire and take new bids.


Giants Tie Astros for Wild Card With Win (AP)

AP - Jerome Williams pitched seven strong innings in his first start in two months and the San Francisco Giants jumped back into a tie for the wild-card lead by beating the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Thursday night.


SpaceShipOne #39;s Heady Flight Path

The Burt Rutan/Paul Allen private spacecraft is on the brink of nabbing the \$10 million X Prize. But that #39;s just the start. The \$10 million X Prize is almost in the bank.


Red Hat snaps up Netscape security

LINUX distributor Red Hat has announced it would purchase Netscape #39;s enterprise security products from AOL. Products to be purchased by Red Hat include the Netscape Directory Server and Netscape Certificate management system.


IN BRIEF

Orbimage of Dulles, a satellite imaging company, was awarded a four-year contract for about \$500 million by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.


CACI US Operations President to Retire

CACI International Inc. on Thursday said US domestic operations president L. Kenneth Johnson will retire from the company effective Nov. 1, and backed its previous earnings guidance, saying it is on course to meet operating goals.


Desktop Linux a vehicle for pirating Windows

PCs running Linux are growing in popularity in part because they can be loaded with a pirated copy of Windows, according to a study from analyst Gartner.


Ichiro one hit away; Mariners fall

If the Major League single-season hit record falls, it will happen at Safeco Field. That became a reality Thursday afternoon at Network Associates Coliseum, where Mariners


Yankees Clinch 7th Straight AL East Title

NEW YORK Sept. 30, 2004 - Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees clinched their seventh straight AL East title, beating the Minnesota Twins 6-4 Thursday night for their 100th victory of the season.


Sharon, cabinet agree to major offensive in Gaza

JERUSALEM/GAZA - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his security cabinet agreed late Thursday to a major offensive military offensive against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.


Takenaka Says Tankan Confirms Japan #39;s Steady Economic Recovery

The Bank of Japan #39;s quarterly survey of business confidence confirmed that the world #39;s second-largest economy is recovering at a steady pace, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Heizo Takenaka said.


White Sox Drop Slumping Royals 9-2 (AP)

AP - Mark Buehrle trotted out to the mound in the ninth inning, eager to wrap up his fourth complete game  #151; a fitting last start of the season for Chicago's most consistent pitcher.


College Player, 39, Does 'Late Show' (AP)

AP - Sounds like David Letterman is as big a "Pops" fan as most everyone else.


Clearly, there #39;s still a lot to be said about BCS

We had some good times this season. Remember that time I sat in the press box in Norman and watched your freshman running back dazzle?


Giants Topple Padres

Jerome Williams pitches seven strong innings in his first start in two months and San Francisco jumps back into a tie for the wild-card lead by beating San Diego, 4-1.


Music Industry Files More Piracy Lawsuits

The recording industry launched a new round of lawsuits against illegal downloading Thursday (Sept. 30), the same day negotiations intensified between copyright


Russian cabinet approves Kyoto Protocol

The Russian cabinet on Thursday approved the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, a step that may bring the global warming treaty into force after parliament endorsement.


Henry fears blame if Gunners fail

Thierry Henry believes he will be blamed if Arsenal fail to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League. Henry will captain the side in place of the suspended Patrick Vieira as the Gunners seek the


UNDATE 1-Indian officials in B #39;desh to assess cricket threat

An Indian security team heads for Bangladesh on Monday to assess the situation after a threat to the national cricket squad by an Islamic militant group.


Oil slides from record highs

Oil prices slid from record highs above \$US50 a barrel Wednesday as the US government reported a surprise increase in crude stocks and rebels in Nigeria #39;s oil-rich delta region agreed to a preliminary cease-fire.


Rockies beat Los Angeles 4-1 to slow Dodgers #39; drive for playoff <b>...</b>

The Colorado Rockies found a way to protect a lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. But there was still music playing in the losers #39; clubhouse afterward.


Giants take share of Wild Card lead

com. When Giants pitcher Jerome Williams gave up a leadoff double to Ramon Vazquez to start Thursday night #39;s game, a San Diego broadcaster commented,  quot;Jerome doesn #39;t look that overpowering and doesn #39;t look comfortable on the mound.