NOVAK AND CANAS SET UP SHOWDOWN

Second seed Jiri Novak and number three Guillermo Canas will meet in the Heineken Open semi-finals in Shanghai after both posted straight-sets victories on Friday.


Roman Catholic Church furious over Spain #39;s gay marriage plan

Spain #39;s cabinet proposed legislation Friday that would allow same-sex couples to marry and gays to adopt children, pressing ahead with its liberal agenda despite vociferous opposition from the influential Roman Catholic Church.


Mount St. Helens Eruption Imminent, Experts Say

Washington State's Mount St. Helens volcano is primed to erupt any day now, scientists say. They predict the blast will be weaker than the 1980 explosion that killed 57 people.


Photographer Fights African Poaching With Grisly Pictures

Photographer and conservationist Karl Ammann discusses why he takes often shocking photos of African apes and other rare animals killed for meat. <i>With photo galleries.</i>


Sharon Tells Party Rebels He #39;s Not Afraid of Early Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sent a stern warning to rebels in his Likud Party today, saying he would not hesitate to call early elections if they prevented him from bringing the moderate Labour Party into the government.


Russia, Turkey sign documents on cooperation development

ANKARA, December 6 (Itar-Tass) - President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer have signed a joint declaration on deepening friendship and comprehensive partnership between Russia and Turkey.


Outsourcing picks up in Malaysia

More Malaysian companies are tapping third parties to take care of IT. It could be a \$350 million market in five years.


SpaceShipOne to launch again Monday

Paul Allen and Burt Rutan's aircraft will try to repeat its 100km altitude feat to seal its victory for the \$10 million prize.


Netflix Connects with TiVo (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) and TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO) have agreed to collaborate on delivering movies via the Internet, developing technology and working with Hollywood studios to secure content for digital distribution.


Linux Community Steamed over Windows Piracy Report (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - A Gartner Group report on PC hardware sales in emerging global markets has stirred up controversy in both the open-source and proprietary software worlds. Eighty percent of personal computers sold in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe that ship with the Linux operating system eventually will be running a pirated copy of Windows, predicts Gartner.


Mount St. Helens Releases Plume of Steam (AP)

AP - Mount St. Helens began belching a huge column of white steam Friday after days of rumblings and earthquakes that suggested the volcano that erupted with cataclysmic force in 1980 was about to blow its top again.


Report: U.S. cybersecurity chief resigns

WASHINGTON - The head of cybersecurity efforts at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reportedly resigned this week, leaving his job after giving a one-day notice.


SIA: Chip growth slowed in August

Industry analysts have served notice that the double-digit growth of the PC industry is slowing, which has already had an effect on the growth rates of the chip industry, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.


Strong African Force Sought in Darfur (AP)

AP - U.N. mission officials in Sudan said Friday they hope an expanded African force will be on the ground in Darfur by the end of October, after Sudan's foreign minister agreed to allow in 3,500 outside troops.


House Panel Moves to Limit Floor Access (AP)

AP - A Cabinet member's role in pressing lawmakers to back the Medicare prescription drug law last year prompted the House ethics committee to recommend changing a 200-year-old rule allowing the president's top appointees access to the House floor.


Israel launches air raid on Gaza

An Israeli helicopter fires missiles into Gaza City as the army steps up operations against Palestinian militants.


Fashion photographer Avedon dies

US photographer Richard  Avedon, renowned for his  portraits of the rich and famous, dies aged 81.


Richard Avedon, Dean of Photographers, Is Dead at 81

Richard Avedon's fashion and portrait photographs helped define America's image of style, beauty and culture for the last half-century.


Powell Regrets Iraq Weapons Claim for War

ATLANTA - Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday he regrets the Bush administration claimed that Iraq had stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in its argument for war, but he believes the world is better off without Saddam Hussein.    Following a speech to the Atlanta Press Club, Powell defended the bulk of his presentation to the United Nations in February 2003 in which he made the case for war in Iraq...


U.S. Cybersecurity Chief Abruptly Resigns

WASHINGTON - The government's cybersecurity chief has abruptly resigned from the Homeland Security Department amid a concerted campaign by the technology industry and some lawmakers to persuade the Bush administration to give him more authority and money for protection programs.    Amit Yoran, a former software executive from Symantec Corp., made his resignation effective Thursday as director of the National Cyber Security Division, giving a single's day notice of his intention to leave...


Remains Found in Search for Hacking Body

SALT LAKE CITY - Police found what appeared to be human remains Friday at a landfill where investigators have been searching for the body of Lori Hacking, the Utah woman allegedly murdered by her husband.   "Odds are, if it's human, it's Lori," said Detective Phil Eslinger...


UPDATE 1-Fannie Mae whistle-blower won #39;t testify

A former Fannie Mae (FNM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) employee who gave US regulators information about alleged accounting irregularities will not testify as planned before a congressional hearing next week, the committee


Memphis Re-Signs Gasol to Multi-Year Deal (Reuters)

Reuters - The Memphis Grizzlies\signed All-Star forward Pau Gasol to a multi-year contract on\Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced.


Guantanamo Brit  #39;tortured #39;

London - A British detainee at Guantanamo Bay claims to have been tortured by the United States, Sky news reports. Moazzam Begg says he also witnessed the deaths of two fellow detainees  quot;at the hands of US military personnel quot;.


Els Shoots a 64 to Move Two Clear at Mount Juliet

THOMASTOWN, Ireland (Reuters) - World number three Ernie  Els overcame difficult weather conditions to fire a sparkling  eight-under-par 64 and move two shots clear after two rounds of  the WGC-American Express Championship Friday.


Memphis Re-Signs Gasol to Multi-Year Deal

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies  signed All-Star forward Pau Gasol to a multi-year contract on  Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced.


Saks to Close 11 Stores,  700 Jobs Cut (Reuters)

Reuters - Retailer Saks Inc.  on Friday\said it will close eight of its luxury Saks Fifth Avenue stores\and three of its lower-price Off 5th stores, resulting in a\loss of 700 jobs at those stores.


Factory, Construction Data Show Growth

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. factory growth stayed strong in  September according to reports on Friday, while construction  spending in the prior month hit a record high for a seventh  month in a row, showing the economy's expansion remains solid.


Saks to Close 11 Stores,  700 Jobs Cut

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Retailer Saks Inc. SKS.N on Friday  said it will close eight of its luxury Saks Fifth Avenue stores  and three of its lower-price Off 5th stores, resulting in a  loss of 700 jobs at those stores.


GM's U.S. Sales Surge

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. GM.N on Friday  said its U.S. sales soared a surprising 20.5 percent in  September, but the U.S. automaker also cut production and  raised incentives as it grapples with high inventories of  unsold vehicles.


Druyun draws stiffer sentence for role in Boeing tanker scandal

Darleen Druyun, the Air Force negotiator who used the 767 tanker program to help land a job at Boeing, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison today after admitting that she had intentionally


Mercedes-Benz Posts Slight Sales Increase

Mercedes-Benz USA, a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG, posted a slight increase in September sales Friday, in a month with one more selling day that the year before.


Univ. of Michigan September sentiment falls to 94.2

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Consumer sentiment eroded in late September, according to media reports Friday of proprietary research from the University of Michigan.


Three Cosmic Explosions Could Precede Supernovae

A trio of powerful explosions emanating from three different regions in space could mean astronomers might see stars blowing up within days, scientists said on Friday.


Roberts highlights CFL monthly honorees

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Charles Roberts was named the Canadian Football League #39;s Offensive Player of the Month for September.


Blair has surgery to fix heartbeat, resting at home

British Prime Minister Tony Blair underwent a successful operation today to correct an irregular heartbeat and was recovering at home, a hospital official said.


Iraq Attack Kills Dozens of Children

The wails echoed off the tile surfaces of the emergency room at Yarmouk Hospital. Amid the blood and stretchers, Majeed Aboud turned his tear


Toyota US Sales Surge in September

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. on Friday said strong demand for Toyota cars and record sales of Lexus sport-utility vehicles drove a 10.


Alliance Gaming Misses the Jackpot

Things have gone from bad to worse at Alliance Gaming (NYSE: AGI), the nation #39;s number-two slot manufacturer. A weak first-quarter outlook incited the wrath of investors


China calls on World Bank to help small cotton producers hit by <b>...</b>

GENEVA : China called on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help small textile and clothing exporting countries that are threatened by the end of import quotas at the end of the year.


RIAA hunts down more file-trading scum

The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) knows how to kick of the back-to-school season with a splash, sending out another load of lawsuits to collegians everywhere.


Hitachi, NEC Form Switch Venture

By eWEEK Staff. Hitachi Ltd. and NEC Corp. said Thursday that the two companies have established a joint venture specializing in the production of routers and switches.


Owen hoping for Depor lift to ensure England place

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says striker Michael Owen must prove in training next week that he deserves to face Wales in a World Cup qualifier - or risk losing his place.


Cincinnati Reds Team Report - October 1

(Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds will start a season-ending three-game series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at Great American Ball Park.


British Guantanamo Detainee Alleges Torture, Murder by US Military <b>...</b>

A British man detained by the US military as an enemy combatant in the war on terror says he was tortured while held in Afghanistan and claims he saw fellow detainees killed by American soldiers there.


Els pulls ahead in Ireland

Kilkenny, Ireland (Sports Network) - Ernie Els fired an eight-under 64 on Friday to take the lead midway through the World Golf Championships - American Express Championship.


G-7 finance ministers meet in Washington; China agrees to work on <b>...</b>

The US administration, facing huge and politically sensitive trade deficits, secured China #39;s pledge Friday to work harder to move its currency toward a flexible exchange rate, which would make US goods more competitive abroad.


Saks to close Carmel store, ten others

The Saks Fifth Avenue store in the Carmel Plaza in Carmel is being closed as the upscale fashion retailer adjusts its portfolio. It #39;s one of eight Saks stores and three Off 5th stores being shut down by Saks


Call of the wild next summer for Dolce and Gabbana, Ferre (AFP)

AFP - Dolce and Gabbana and Gianfranco Ferre both heard the call of the wild for next summer, filling their ready-to-wear collections shown here on Friday with real and fake animal skins from big cats to crocodile, python and kangaroo.


Solanski hits tour victory

Vikram Solanki beat the rain clouds to register his second one-day international century as England won the third one-day international to wrap up a series victory.


US cybersecurity chief resigns

The top cybersecurity official in the United States has resigned, a little over a year after joining the Department of Homeland Security, the agency said Friday.


Red Hat wants some of Netscape Enterprise Solutions

Red Hat has expanded its Open Source portfolio through an agreement to acquire specific assets of Netscape Security Solutions, namely the Netscape Directory Server and the Netscape Certificate Management System, both part of the Netscape Enterprise Suite.


Greek archaeologists find 2,500-year-old pomegranates preserved in <b>...</b>

ATHENS, Greece - A scientific dig has uncovered four pomegranates believed to be 2,500 years old preserved inside a woven basket nestled in a bronze vessel, a Greek archaeologist said Friday.


IBM Upgrades Web-Transaction Performance Tool

IBM on Friday introduced an upgrade of its performance-monitoring software for web-based transactions, expanding its view of transaction flows by adding support for more infrastructure components.


South African could take over No. 2 spot

THOMASTOWN, Ireland -- World No. 3 Ernie Els fired a sparkling second-round 8-under-par 64 Friday to move two shots clear in the WGC-American Express Championship.


Racing: Norway #39;s Solberg takes overnight lead in Rally of Italy

OLBIA, Italy : Norway #39;s reigning world champion Petter Solberg, driving a Subaru Impreza, took the overnight lead in the Rally of Italy, the 13th round of the 16-race world championship, here in Sardinia.


Royal Bank clerks asked to display rainbow stickers to support gays, bisexuals (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Thousands of Royal Bank clerks are being asked to display rainbow stickers at their desks and cubicles to promote a safe work environment for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.


Democratic Camp See Winds of Change Boosting Kerry (Reuters)

Reuters - Democrat John Kerry's campaign was\declared a no-gloat zone on Friday after the White House\challenger's debate against President Bush but aides said winds\of change had begun to blow through the race.


Zawahri Urges Muslims to Hit U.S. Allies' Interests

DUBAI (Reuters) - An audio tape attributed to Al Qaeda's  deputy leader urged Muslims Friday to organize resistance  against "crusader America" and its allies throughout the world.


Heart Op Over, UK's Blair Now Risks Succession War

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair  underwent successful heart surgery on Friday and returned home  looking relaxed following a surprise vow to serve a record  third term and deny rivals power for five more years.


NASA Tracks Three Space Bursts, Says Stellar Explosions Imminent

Three powerful bursts of energy from different regions of space could presage spectacular explosions of huge stars, astronomers just announced.


IBM Enhances Transaction Monitoring Tool

IBM will launch Friday a new version of its Tivoli transaction-performance monitoring product that greatly expands the range of application transactions it can track.


Big Easy comes through on a tough day in Ireland

Playing some of his best golf in the worst conditions, Els breezed through a wacky day of weather at the American Express Championship by starting with four straight birdies and finishing with an 8-under 64, giving him a two-shot lead and hope that he


Al-Zawahri calls for resisting  #39;crusaders #39;

DOHA (Aljazeera) -- An audio tape from Ayman al-Zawahri has called for organized resistance against what the senior al-Qaeda leader describes as invading crusaders in the Muslim world.


Syria Has No Plan to Pull Troops from Lebanon -- UN

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Syria has failed to meet a U.N.  Security Council demand that it pull its troops out of Lebanon  and has given no timetable for when it would do so, U.N.  Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Friday.


Syria 'refusing to leave Lebanon'

The UN chief says Syria has not complied with a Security Council resolution by withdrawing troops from its neighbour, Lebanon.


Data: Columbus Might Be Buried in Spain (AP)

AP - Researchers studying DNA from 500-year-old bone slivers said Friday that preliminary data suggests Christopher Columbus might be buried in Spain, rather than in a rival tomb in the Dominican Republic  #151; but for now they cannot be sure.


Kansas company sells wholesale dial-up Internet business

Sprint Corp., which is based in Kansas and also conducts business in the Wichita area, has sold its wholesale dial-up Internet access business to Level 3 Communications Inc.


Werder could be next on Bayern warpath

Bremen, Germany (Sports Network) - Bayern Munich finished in an unfamiliar position last season: second place. Werder Bremen knocked the defending champions off its pedestal during the 2003/04 campaign.


Dementieva, Clijsters in Stars Semis (AP)

AP - Former No. 1 Kim Clijsters beat seventh-seeded Magdalena Maleeva 6-3, 6-4 Friday to reach the semifinals at the Gaz de France Stars, her first tournament after missing five months with a left wrist injury.


NJ Spurns Venezuela's Plan for a Bald Eagle Refuge (Reuters)

Reuters - New Jersey has spurned an offer by\Venezuela's national oil company to donate an island in the\Delaware River as a bald eagle preserve, but the eagles which\nest there will still be protected from planned development.


Developing countries seek greater voice in IMF, World Bank leadership (AFP)

AFP - Developing countries chastized the IMF and the World Bank for what they said had been a failure to give them greater decision-making power in the two institutions and urged that the next World Bank president be chosen regardless of nationality.


PeopleSoft Ousts CEO Amid Oracle Battle

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - PeopleSoft Corp.  PSFT.O fired its chief executive Craig Conway on Friday just  hours before U.S. antitrust regulators said they would drop  their case against Oracle Corp.'s ORCL.O \$7.7 billion hostile  bid for its software rival.


G7 Finance Chiefs Mull Oil

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Worried soaring oil prices could  hurt the best global prospects in years, finance chiefs from  wealthy nations met on Friday to try to work out what lay  behind the surge and how to buffer the economic expansion.


Ex-Air Force Buyer Gets 9-Months Prison

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force's former No.  2 weapons buyer was sentenced to nine months in prison on  Friday after telling the court she had given Boeing Co. a  rival's secret data and inflated weapons deals to ingratiate  herself with the company, her future employer.


Fannie Mae Whistle-Blower Won't Testify

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Fannie Mae FNM.N employee  who gave U.S. officials information about what he saw as  accounting irregularities will not testify as planned before a  congressional hearing next week, a House committee said on  Friday.


China Agrees to Work on Exchange Rate

The Bush administration, facing huge and politically sensitive trade deficits, secured China's pledge Friday to work harder to move its currency toward a flexible exchange rate, which would make U.S goods more competitive abroad.


Oil Ends Above \$50 on Nigeria Fears

Oil prices ended above the \$50-a-barrel mark on Friday amid concern over possible conflict\in Nigeria's oil-producing delta region, where a two-day truce between rebel militia and government forces is holding.


Fannie Mae Whistle-Blower Won't Testify

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Fannie Mae employee whogave U.S. regulators information about alleged accountingirregularities will not testify as planned before acongressional hearing next week, the committee said Friday.


Oil Closes Over \$50 as Market Eyes Nigeria

Oil prices pierced the \$50-a-barrel mark again today amid concern over possible conflict in Nigeria's oil-producing delta region.


Updated Tungsten, Treo set for release

PalmOne's product revamp includes a Tungsten handheld that won't let data die and a Treo packed with higher-end features.


CA to name CEO in 30 to 45 days

Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) expects to fill its chief executive officer (CEO) vacancy within the next 30 to 45 days, the company said Friday.


Microsoft gives NT4 users support boost

Microsoft has improved its support for Windows NT 4.0 Server and has outlined how it will end support for e-mail system Exchange Server 5.5.


Peoplesoft Partners Shocked, Thrilled

Company founder and former CEO Dave Duffield is now back aboard full time, replacing the ousted former CEO Craig Conway. Solution providers, while shocked at Conway #39;s unexpected departure, were largely thrilled that Duffield is back full throttle.


Dueling views in EU case

The Los Angeles Times published an especially vivid account (free reg. required) of yesterday #39;s proceedings at the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg, on the first day of the hearing in which Microsoft


Saks to close LI store

Saks Inc. announced plans to shut seven Saks Fifth Avenue stores, including one in Garden City, LI, and three Off 5th discount stores.


GM up 20 percent; Ford disappoints again; Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler <b>...</b>

General Motors Corp., aided by a late-month clearance sale on 2004 models, said Friday its new vehicle business rose a surprising 20 percent in September, which appeared to help push up overall industry results despite bad weather


Carpenter blow for Cards

Pitcher Chris Carpenter, a 15-game winner for St Louis this season, will miss the opening round when they their play-offs campaign next week.


The Innovation Economy -- This Way To The Future (BusinessWeek Online)

BusinessWeek Online - Seventy-five years is a mere blink of history's eye. Yet since 1929, when BusinessWeek was first published, the world has been transformed by profound innovation and technological wizardry. Three-quarters of a century ago, there were no safe and effective antibiotics, no jet travel, no commercial television, and no computers. Many died of routine infections. A five-day ocean voyage was the main way to get from America to Europe, and "wireless" meant the wood-paneled Radiola in the parlor. Since then our mastery of the physical and biological world has strengthened remarkably. ...


French girl shaves head in scarf protest

A Muslim schoolgirl has bowed to France #39;s ban on Islamic headscarves in state schools by returning to class and removing her veil to reveal a head shaved bald in protest.


EU Order Against Microsoft Questioned (AP)

AP - The European judge deciding whether to suspend the European Union's landmark antitrust ruling against Microsoft Corp. pushed the EU to justify its sweeping order  #151; questioning Friday whether the move would rein in the U.S. software giant or raise costs for others.


Sun Thumper server plans leaked to <cite>The Reg</cite>

Exclusive Opteron is go go go


Stocks Rise; Nasdaq, S P at 3-Month Highs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose sharply on Friday in heavy  trading as software company PeopleSoft Inc. and chip-related  stocks boosted the Nasdaq and Standard   Poor's 500 indexes to  their highest closes in about three months.


Oil Ends Above \$50 on Nigeria Fears

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices ended above \$50 a barrel on  Friday amid concern over possible fighting in Nigeria's  oil-producing delta region, where a two-day truce between rebel  militia and government forces was holding.


US OKs Emergency Oil Loan to 4th Refinery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Energy Department said on Friday  it has approved another emergency oil loan to a refining  company to make up for crude supplies disrupted by Hurricane  Ivan.


Raid in Kashmir leaves six dead

Five Indian police and one fighter were killed in the region #39;s biggest separatist raid since Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited India last month, police said.


Crude settles above \$50 for first time

The price of oil settled above \$50 a barrel for the first time Friday amid concerns over tight supplies globally and hurricane-related production problems in the Gulf of Mexico.


New Stanford center probes nanoscale material

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded \$7.5 million over five years to establish the Center for Probing the Nanoscale (CPN) at Stanford University.


Black to Sue Hollinger Committee for C\$1.1 Bln

Fallen press baron Conrad Black will sue Hollinger International Inc. #39;s special committee and others for C\$1.1 billion (\$870 million) over a report that accused him of looting the company of millions of dollars.


Agreement reached on Guillen suspension

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - On the day that Jose Guillen and the Anaheim Angels were to appear in front of an arbitrator, the two sides reached an undisclosed financial settlement Friday.


Al-Qaeda tape urges attacks on US allies

An audio tape purportedly released by Osama bin Laden #39;s deputy urges young Muslims to get organised and go after the United States and its allies, according to comments aired by al-Jazeera TV.


Annan: Lebanon, Syria did not comply with 1559

BEIRUT: Lebanon and Syria have failed to comply with the demands of last month #39;s UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for respecting Lebanon #39;s sovereignty and political freedom, UN


CA to name CEO in 30 to 45 days

Computer Associates has been without a permanent CEO since Sanjay Kumar stepped down in April. Kumar was indicted last month on charges related to accounting scandal at CA and has pleaded innocent to the charges.


PeopleSoft's Craig Conway had hits, losses

From a changed attitude at PeopleSoft Inc. to the company's acquisition of J.D. Edwards   Co. last year, Craig Conway clearly made a difference during his five years as CEO.


Q A: Red Hat's CEO on his company's latest acquisition

After his company announced plans to acquire security and authentication tools from Netscape Security Solutions, Red Hat Inc. CEO and chairman Matthew Szulik spoke to Computerworld about the company's plans.


Justice Department won't appeal Oracle/PeopleSoft decision

The Justice Department has decided to drop its legal efforts to block Oracle from moving ahead with its 15-month-old hostile takeover bid for rival PeopleSoft.


CIO Survey: IT spending cools slightly in September

Some 250 CIOs surveyed last month by CIO magazine said they expect their IT budgets to grow by 7.4 during the next year, down slightly from the 8.9 spending increase respondents predicted in August.


Intel plans faster bus for Pentium 4 Extreme Edition

Increasing front-side bus speed from 800 to 1,066 MHz addresses crucial bottleneck in system performance.


Hitachi, NEC launch networking equipment joint venture

First products from Alaxala Networks include a high-end gigabit router, a high-end multilevel switch and a mid-range multilevel switch.


Brief: HP acquires Synstar for \$293M

In a move designed to help it better compete in Europe, Hewlett-Packard said it has acquired Synstar PLC, a U.K.-based technology services firm, for \$293 million.


Sun ships Java upgrade, focuses on ease of use

Sun this week unleashed its Java 2 Platform Standard Edition 5.0, code-named Tiger, an upgrade that includes more than 100 new features.


PeopleSoft opens way for Oracle bid by firing chief

Peoplesoft, the software company under siege from a hostile \$7.7bn (4.3bn) bid by its larger rival Oracle, yesterday sacked its chief executive, Craig Conway, increasing


Factory, Construction Data Show Growth

US factory growth stayed strong in September, according to reports on Friday, while construction spending hit a record high in August for a seventh month in a row, showing the economy #39;s expansion remains solid.


Penn granted \$11.6M

The University of Pennsylvania has landed a five-year, \$11.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish a center that will study the intersection of biological and physical systems at the molecular level.


UPDATE 1-GM finance unit GMAC files \$3 billion debt shelf

General Motors Acceptance Corp., the finance arm of General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , may periodically sell up to \$3 billion in adjustable-rate demand notes, according to a regulatory filing on Friday.


Kerry Gets Post-Debate Bounce in Election Futures

Online futures traders raised their bets on Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry on Friday after the first debate with President Bush, although the overall odds still favored the incumbent.


Homeland Security Cybersecurity Chief Abruptly Resigns

Yoran helped form US-CERT, the government #39;s cybersecurity information clearing house, but was reportedly frustrated with his post #39;s limited authority and budgets.


Farting Herring, Suicides Garner Ig Nobels

Oct. 1, 2004 - A research team that showed herring communicate by farting and the authors of a study on the effect of country music on suicide were among the winners of the 2004 Ig Nobel prize.


Apple launches iMac G5 Troubleshooting Assistant

As the new iMac G5 makes its way to customers, Apple has added an iMac G5 Troubleshooting Assistant to its online support area. The system starts with broad issues, such as  quot;When I press


#39;Take it or leave it #39; letter doesn #39;t sit well with Ecclestone

LONDON -- Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone rejected an offer to save the British Grand Prix, leaving the country without F1 racing for the first time in 54 years.


Klitschko desperate for win

Wladimir Klitschko has admitted his fight against DaVarryl Williamson could decide whether he has a boxing future. Klitschko is hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday after his second-round loss to


McNair #39;s condition improved  #39;significantly #39;

Steve McNair stretched and ran Friday, but he didn #39;t throw any passes. He #39;s looking healthy enough that Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher won #39;t rule him out against San Diego.


Cricket crisis: Reform or face the music

Indian cricket and crisis seem to be made for each other. Such are the ways of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the sport continues to lurch from one crisis to another.


Australia named in al-Qaeda tape

A TAPED message thought to be from al-Qaeda #39;s second in command has urged young Muslims to target Australian interests. The terror network #39;s deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, is believed to be behind the recording, broadcast on Al-Jazeera television.


Beirut car bombing wounds ex-Cabinet minister, kills driver and <b>...</b>

A lawmaker who defied Syria and voted against extending President Emile Lahoud #39;s term survived an assassination attempt Friday when a parked, explosives-rigged vehicle blew up in Beirut.


Head of wildlife trade body warns of dense rules

The head of the world body regulating trade in endangered animals has warned the system was too complicated and was making it difficult to police the multi-billion dollar wildlife industry.


Putin favors veto right for India as permanent UNSC member

In an apparent damage control exercise, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said he favored veto rights for India as new permanent member of the UN Security Council.


PeopleSoft sacks CEO Craig Conway

Just two weeks after staging a defiant user conference in San Francisco , Craig Conway was ousted as CEO of PeopleSoft. Industry observers are divided on the cause: some say it was performance-related, while


WTO takes up textiles quota issue

Following todays seven-hour talks on the elimination of textiles quotas, the World Trade Organization Council on Trade in Goods will reportedly reconvene later this month for formal talks on the impact of quota elimination on Jan.


Nucleus Software buys 25.1 in GMAC

Nucleus Software Exports Ltd today announced the purchase by the company and its nominees of 10,040,000 equity shares of Chennai-based GMAC Financial Services India Ltd, the Indian automotive finance operation of General Motors Acceptance Corporation.


US, EU to stick to textile quota phase-out deadline #39;

THE US and the EU are not backing the move by some least developed countries (LDCs) to stall the abolition of apparels #39; export quota regime slated for January 1, next year.


Saks to Close 11 Stores, 700 Jobs Cut

Retailer Saks Inc. (SKS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday said it will close eight of its luxury Saks Fifth Avenue stores and three of its lower-price Off 5th stores, resulting in a loss of 700 jobs at those stores.


Enron CFO Raymond M. Bowen resigns

HOUSTON -- Enron Corp. #39;s chief financial officer since a month after the energy company went bankrupt in December 2001 resigned effective Friday.


Gates stumps in Silicon Valley

BERKELEY, Calif.--Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates kicked off a whirlwind day in the Bay Area on Friday, talking to college students about a range of topics, from open-source software to malaria to the next Xbox.


Kerry Gets Post-Debate Bounce in Election Futures (Reuters)

Reuters - Online futures traders raised their\bets on Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry on\Friday after the first debate with President Bush, although the\overall odds still favored the incumbent.


Britain removed from the start line

BERNIE ECCLESTONE sounded the death knell for the British Grand Prix when he turned down a last-minute offer to save the nation #39;s biggest motor race.


Revitalised Els on birdie blitz

A revitalised Ernie Els went on a birdie blitz overnight to snatch the second round lead of the World Golf Championships (WGC) in Ireland.


Gasol gets six more years to play for West, Brown

Pau Gasol has been in the NBA for three seasons. That #39;s been long enough for the 7-foot Spaniard to realize he wants to keep working with Jerry West and Hubie Brown.


Boxing News -- 24 hours/day - Reload often!

It is time for redemption in the eyes of heavyweights Wladimir Klitschko and DaVarryl Williamson when they collide this Saturday October 2nd in the new outdoor Amphitheatre at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Couples makes early move with 67, fast start for Els

Former US Masters champion Fred Couples made the first significant move in the WGC-American Express Championship second round on Friday, surging up the leaderboard with a five-under-par 67.


I-Team: Jamal Lewis, Prosecutors Working On Plea Deal

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Prosecutors are working on a plea deal with Baltimore Ravens star running back Jamal Lewis, the WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team has learned.


Bin Laden top lieutenant calls for attacks on US, UK

DUBAI - Ayman al-Zawahri, the second in command of al-Qaeda and a close aide to Osama bin Laden, has purportedly called for attacks on US and British interests everywhere, according to a new audiotape.


Suicide bomber kills 30 in Pak

ISLAMABAD, OCTOBER 1: A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Shiite mosque packed with worshippers during Friday prayers killing at least 30 people and injuring 70 others in Sialkot, Pakistan.


Sudan accepts expanding mandate of international force

Facing demands for quick action from the United States and UN human rights experts, Sudan #39;s foreign minister pledged to allow


Bill Gates: U.S. Need Not Fear Overseas Tech (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States has nothing\to fear from rapidly growing technology markets in China and\India, Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of\Microsoft Corp.  said on Friday.


Blair admitted to Hammersmith Hospital for heart operation :

World News  gt; London, Oct 1 : British Prime Minister Tony Blair was today admitted to the Hammersmith Hospital in west London for corrective treatment of an irregular heartbeat.


Bill Gates: U.S. Need Not Fear Overseas Tech

BERKELEY, Calif. (Reuters) - The United States has nothing  to fear from rapidly growing technology markets in China and  India, Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of  Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O said on Friday.


Oil Ends Above \$50 on Nigeria Fears

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices ended above \$50 a barrel on  Friday amid concern over possible fighting between rebels and  the military in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region.


Factory, Construction Data Show Growth

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. factory growth stayed strong in  September, according to reports on Friday, while construction  spending hit a record high in August for a seventh month in a  row, showing the economy's expansion remains solid.


GM Leads Stronger U.S. Vehicle Sales

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. GM.N on Friday  said its U.S. sales soared 20.5 percent in September as  month-end incentives from the world's largest automaker lured  consumers back to dealerships after three months of weaker  results.


Crude oil futures at \$50 a barrel

The price of crude oil ends above \$50 a barrel for the first time in 21 years of trade on New York's Nymex exchange.


Amid Battle With Oracle, PeopleSoft Fires Its Chief

In a surprise move, PeopleSoft today fired its president and chief executive officer, Craig Conway, citing a "loss of confidence."


APM gets smart with ProactiveNet's latest

Intelligent software is the Holy Grail of application development -- especially in the APM (application performance management) arena, where system administrators are perpetually on the lookout for more efficient ways to sift through mountains of metrics and alert data.


What, price lettuce?

What has IT got to do with the price of lettuce in China? I'll give you a hint.


Gates stumps in Silicon Valley

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates chats with Berkeley students about everything from open source to malaria to the next Xbox.


H-1B visa limit for 2005 already reached

The annual cap of 65,000 new H-1B visas for the fiscal year just started has been met, CNET News.com has learned.


New Fronts Form Against Online-Music Trading

The Recording Industry Association of America has filed a new round of lawsuits against 762 people it believes have been illegally posting and downloading music on such networks as Kazaa and eDonkey.


Network Appliance, EMC refine security strategies

Network appliance will announce this week additional capabilities and partnerships for its NetApp NetCache line of Internet security appliances. Meanwhile, EMC will unveil a major upgrade to its ILM (information life cycle management) product line with a focus on adding application-aware components.


HP completes acquisition of UK consultant Synstar

Hewlett-Packard Co. on Friday announced that it has completed its\$293 million acquisition of UK-based IT services company Synstar PLC.


RIAA files 762 new file-trading lawsuits

WASHINGTON - The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed 762 new lawsuits against alleged file-traders using P-to-P (peer-to-peer) services, with the total number of lawsuits filed since September 2003 now reaching more than 5,500.


Gates pitches computer science, biology studies

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - "You can't go wrong in computer science," Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates told University of California, Berkeley students on Friday. Some students, however, were unhappy with the way Gates responded to questions about increasing competition for jobs from China and India.
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SBC Case Study: Crate   Barrel
What sold them on improving their network? A system that could cut management costs from the get-go. Find out more.


Judge ponders effectiveness of MS remedies

LUXEMBOURG - The judge deciding whether Microsoft Corp. must comply with the European Commission's remedies for the company's antitrust violations questioned Friday whether the steps ordered by the Commission will effectively curb Microsoft's power.


Newswire: First-half Online Ad Spending Soars (AdWeek.com)

AdWeek.com - Internet ad revenue rose nearly 40 percent to  #36;4.6 billion in the first half of 2004 compared to the year-ago period, according to a report released last week. In the second quarter, online ad revenue was  #36;2.37 billion, up almost 43 percent from  #36;1.66 billion during the same period last year and up 6 percent from  #36;2.23 billion in the first quarter. The figures are from the Internet Revenue Report, sponsored by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and conducted independently by the New Media Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers. ...


UN Council Approves 5,900 More Troops for Congo (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.N. Security Council voted\unanimously on Friday to send another 5,900 peacekeepers to the\Congo, less than half of what U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan\had requested.


U.N. War Court Transfers First Case to Serbia (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.N. war crimes prosecutor sent\the first case to the Serbian judiciary Friday in a move that\could warm ties between the Hague-based court and Belgrade.


Kissinger Criticized Subordinates (AP)

AP - Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger suggested punishing subordinates who criticized military dictatorships in Chile and Argentina in the 1970s, declassified documents show.


RCMP should get better training to deal with domestic abuse, says coroner (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - BURNABY, B.C. (CP) - New RCMP recruits should get more training about spousal abuse and more supervision when handling such complaints, a coroner has suggested.


UN Rights Officials Talks of War Crimes in Darfur (Reuters)

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.


UN Council Approves 5,900 More Troops for Congo

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council voted  unanimously on Friday to send another 5,900 peacekeepers to the  Congo, less than half of what U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan  had requested.


APP aims to complete restructuring by end January

Asia Pulp  amp; Paper, the largest corporate defaulter in emerging markets history, said on Monday it aimed to have a restructuring in place by the end of January for a majority of the


US pushes to take Iraq rebel town

More than 100 people die as US and Iraqi forces launch a major attack to regain control of the town of Samarra.


Mount St. Helens Releasing Steam After Days of Quakes

After a week of gentle rumblings, Mount St. Helens broke open today with a small eruption shortly after noon Pacific time, tossing up a plume of ash and smoke.


Els Takes 2-Shot Lead at American Express

THOMASTOWN, Ireland - His post-majors funk behind him, Ernie Els was back in his element Friday. Playing some of his best golf in the worst conditions, Els breezed through a wacky day of weather at the American Express Championship by starting with four straight birdies and finishing with an 8-under 64, giving him a two-shot lead and hope that he still has a lot to play for this year...


Stocks Up Sharply on Strong Economic Data

NEW YORK - Newly optimistic investors sent stocks sharply higher Friday, propelling the Dow Jones industrials 112 points higher, as new economic data showed strength in manufacturing and the departure of PeopleSoft Inc.'s chief executive raised hopes for a merger in the tech sector. The major indexes closed the week with respectable gains...


Major Gold Business Takeover

12/6/04- There #39;s a big deal in the gold-mining business. Goldcorp is buying its Canadian gold-mining competitor Wheaton River Minerals for about 2 billion dollars in stock.


DoJ Won #39;t Appeal Oracle #39;s Takeover Plans

Oracle (Quote, Chart) advanced its plans to acquire PeopleSoft Friday after the US Department of Justice said it would not appeal a ruling on an antitrust case that tried to block the merger.


Oil prices close above 50 dollars for the first time

NEW YORK For the first time, oil has settled the day priced at more than 50 dollars a barrel. In New York, crude for November delivery rose 48 cents and closed at a record 50 dollars, 12 cents a barrel.


Microsoft Pressures EU Court on Price

A European judge must sort through competing ideas on the balance between intellectual property and fairness to decide whether antitrust penalties against Microsoft (Quote, Chart) should be suspended.


XM Shares Fall on Production Snag

XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said Friday it is on track to have more than 3.1 million subscribers by the end of the year, but shares fell on a reported four-week production snag.


Attendance Down Again for Atlanta Braves (AP)

AP - They offered ticket packages that were more family friendly. They cut prices at the concession stands for some games. Heck, they even had a "Disco Night."


US Cyberchief Resigns After a Year on the Job

The United States #39; top computer-security official has resigned after a little more than a year on the job, the US Department of Homeland Security said on Friday.


Microsoft FAT patent shot down

Microsoft has lost the FAT, and it #39;s not part of a slimming down regimen. In a stinging defeat, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has declared Microsoft #39;s File Allocation Table (FAT) file


Owens England place under threat

MADRID, Oct. 1. - Michael Owen will join the England squad next week with doubts over his place in the national team for the first time under Mr Sven-Goran Eriksson.


US Captain Reyna Left Out of World Cup Squad

US captain Claudio Reyna, who has been suffering with a thigh injury, was missing from Bruce Arena #39;s 23-man squad named Friday for this month #39;s World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and Panama.


McNair Improving, But Still Questionable (Reuters)

Reuters - Tennessee Titans quarterback\Steve McNair stretched and ran Friday, but did not throw any\passes and is still listed as questionable with a bruised\sternum for Sunday's game against San Diego.


Suicide bomber leaves 16 dead after striking Pakistani Shia mosque <b>...</b>

A suicide bomber detonated a huge device yesterday that ripped through a Shia mosque in Pakistan at prayer time, killing at least 16 and injuring dozens.


Angels, Guillen Reach Financial Settlement (AP)

AP - Outfielder Jose Guillen and the Anaheim Angels have reached a financial settlement to resolve the grievance filed after the team recently suspended him without pay for the rest of the season.


Ga. Tech Set for First ACC Game With Miami (AP)

AP - When quizzed this week about the prospect of facing Miami every season, Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey asked: "As opposed to what, the Steelers?"


Volandri Upsets Massu in Palermo (AP)

AP - Defending champion Nicolas Massu was upset by Filippo Volandri 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 Friday in the quarterfinals of the Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia.


Cray signs two supercomputing customers

A Pittsburgh research center will buy a Red Storm system and an Indian physics institute is getting an XD1.


Levi Leads Constellation Classic by One (AP)

AP - Wayne Levi tied a tournament record with an 8-under 64 and held a one-shot lead over Rodger Davis after the first round of the Constellation Energy Classic on Friday.


Update 2: Oil Prices Rise Above \$43 Before Meeting

The price of crude oil climbed in European trading Monday, edging back over \$43 per barrel on fears that the producer cartel OPEC may cut production to stem a recent price drop.


Agreement Reached on Guillen Suspension

OAKLAND, Calif. (Sports Network) - On the day that Jose  Guillen and the Anaheim Angels were to appear in front of an  arbitrator, the two sides reached an undisclosed financial  settlement Friday.


U.S. Captain Reyna Left Out of World Cup Squad

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, who has  been suffering with a thigh injury, was missing from Bruce  Arena's 23-man squad named Friday for this month's World Cup  qualifiers against El Salvador and Panama.


Accuser Told Bryant 'No'

The woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape told investigators the NBA star ignored her entreaties to stop and said there was no doubt he heard her "because every time I said 'No' he tightened his hold around me," according to documents released Friday.


Wilson, Green and Cousin Fined \$20,000 by NFL

The NFL fines three New York Giants defenders a total of \$20,000 for illegal hits during last weekend's game with the Cleveland Browns.


McNair Improving

Steve McNair stretches and runs Friday, but he didn't throw any passes, and he's looking healthy enough that Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher won't rule him out against San Diego.


Treasuries Unravel, Economy Resilient

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasury prices slid for a fourth  straight session on Friday, partly as investors unwound bets  the U.S. economy would weaken enough to prompt a slowdown in  Federal Reserve rate hikes.


Former Air Force Official Sentenced in Boeing Case

A former top Air Force official was sentenced to nine months in prison for favoring Boeing on military contracts worth billions of dollars.


G7 Countries: Oil Prices Threat to Economy (AP)

AP - Declaring that high oil prices are a threat to the global economy, the world's industrialized countries urged producers Friday to provide price relief by boosting supplies.


WTO starts third major review of implementation of ATC

The World Trade Organization (WTO) starts on Friday a major review of the implementation of the Agreement of Textiles and Clothing (ATC) in the third stage of theintegration process.


Northwest #39;s Anderson resigns as CEO, takes job at UnitedHealth

New Northwest Airlines Corp. chief executive Doug Steenland promised Friday that the airline #39;s strategy would remain constant when he succeeds Richard Anderson, who is leaving to work for UnitedHealth Group.


International Space Station Status Report: SS04-033

The International Space Station (ISS) crew made steady progress with maintenance work this week. Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Station Science Officer Mike Fincke restored the primary oxygen


Scientists say much of Genesis #39; material survived Utah crash

(National-NBC) Oct. 1, 2004 - Scientists in Utah are finishing the job of salvaging material from the remains of the Genesis Space Capsule.


F1: Ecclestone drops British GP

LONDON - The British Grand Prix was yesterday dropped from next year #39;s calendar after the owners of the Silverstone circuit failed to meet the asking price of Formula One rights #39; owner Bernie Ecclestone.


Els duels with Troon nemesis Hamilton

Perhaps it was the name at the top of the leaderboard which inspired Ernie Els. Todd Hamilton was the first round leader but Els cruised past the Open champion with an eight


Vieira, Lauren in bus bust-up

LONDON - For a team that calls team spirit their greatest strength, the brawl between Patrick Vieira and Bisan Lauren will come as great concern to manager Arsene Wenger.


Sports Round-up

Italy #39;s Jarno Trulli will race for Toyota in Japan and Brazil, the last two races of the Formula One season, after leaving Renault.


THAILAND OPEN: Titans to clash

Todays semi-finals of the Thailand Open will feature two dream matches: Andy Roddick versus Marat Safin and the long-time awaited clash between Roger Federer and Paradorn Srichaphan.


Levi grabs early lead in Maryland

Hunt Valley, MD (Sports Network) - Wayne Levi matched the course record of eight-under-par 64 on Friday to take a one stroke lead after the opening round of the Constellation Energy Classic.


Al-Qaida No. 2 urges attacks on US allies, including Japan

CAIRO - An audio tape purportedly released by al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden #39;s closes aide calls for attacks on the interests of the United States and Britain as well as their allies such as Japan in the war on terror, Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite


Most Arab Governments are Putting Their Stock in George Bush for a <b>...</b>

Most Arab governments have decided to put their stock in George W. Bush for another term, concluding prematurely that the American presidential elections have been decided in favor of the Republican candidate.


Iraqi children bear brunt of bombings

Some of the children cry, refusing to speak but shivering in shock at the day #39;s horror. Others lie lifeless in the morgue of Baghdad #39;s Yarmouk hospital.


Howard out to fight child porn

SYDNEY - Prime Minister John Howard promised yesterday to bring in new legislation if it was needed to fight child pornography, following more than 200 arrests in a countrywide crackdown on Internet pornography.


Countries to discuss rules on wildlife trade

BANGKOK - The future of dozens of endangered species, from the great white shark to elephants and medicinal trees, will be decided at an international conference on wildlife trade that kicks off here today.


Vioxx pulled from market

The maker of the popular arthritis drug Vioxx is removing it from markets worldwide after a new study found that long-term users face increased risks for heart attack and stroke.


G24 demand for greater IMF clout

Developing countries have criticised the IMF and World Bank for failing to give more decision-making power to smaller nations. Ministers from the Group of 24 (G24) developing countries made their statement


Monster Truck Month

General Motors doesn #39;t believe \$50 barrels of oil are having any effect on sales of big trucks and SUVs, and it has new sales numbers to back it up: GM #39;s light truck sales were up 33 in September, to record levels of 287,000.


US Cybersecurity Chief Resigns

The director of cyber security for the Homeland Security Department, Amit Yoran, has resigned his post. The issue of whether cybersecurity was receiving sufficient attention at DHS created


DOE hacked 199 times last year

Weaknesses in the Energy Departments cybersecurity allowed hackers to successfully penetrate its systems 199 times last year in intrusions that affected 3,531 systems, the departments inspector general said.


Levi shoots 64 to lead Champions Tour event

HUNT VALLEY, Md. - Wayne Levi tied a tournament record with an 8-under 64 and held a one-shot lead over Rodger Davis after the first round of the Constellation Energy Classic on Friday.


Mamool a fresh horse

I am taking time out from trying to take the jockeys #39; championship off Kieren Fallon for a weekend in Paris but don #39;t worry - there is a lot of business to be done there.


Light Jig tries to earn possible Breeders #39; Cup trip

It #39;s time for racing #39;s fall season, so count on Bobby Frankel saddling a few strong contenders. The Hall of Fame trainer will try to win the \$500,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for the fourth time with Light Jig, a 4-year-old bred in Britain.


Druyun gets nine-month prison sentence

A former top Air Force acquisition executive today was sentenced to nine months in prison for conspiring to help Boeing Co. win a multibillion-dollar Pentagon contract.


Angry Putin rejects public Beslan inquiry

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, refused on Monday to order a public inquiry into last week #39;s siege and massacre at a middle school in the southern town of Beslan


Sun Jumpstarts Java Platform

Sun Microsystems #39; latest edition of its Java platform offers improved performance and scalability, better system monitoring and management, and an updated look and feel for the desktop client


Boxing: Hatton retained his World Boxing Union light-welterweight <b>...</b>

Last night at the MEN Arena, Manchester it took Ricky Hatton less than two minutes to finally recover from a dull and frustrating year.


Vioxx Alternatives: Different, Less Serious, Side Effects

(New York-WABC, October 1, 2004) - Two million Americans were taking Vioxx. Now that it #39;s been recalled, what are those patients supposed to do?


National League Game Summary - Atlanta at Chicago

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Mike Hampton pitched six solid innings and added a two-run homer to lead Atlanta to a 5-4 win over Chicago in the opener of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.


Security problems keeping food from hungry Haiti flood victims

As desperately hungry flood victims wander the streets of Gonaives searching for help, tons of food aid is piling up in a warehouse guarded by UN peacekeepers.


Golkar politician elected Indonesia #39;s House speaker

JAKARTA - Backed by the Nationhood Coalition of political parties, a senior politician of Indonesia #39;s largest Golkar Party was elected speaker of the House of Representatives early Saturday.


RIAA Sues Another 762 Over File Sharing

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) today filed 762 new lawsuits against alleged file traders using peer-to-peer (P-to-P) file sharing services.


German Supreme Court rules in favor of 'generic domain grabbing'

First-come, first-served system 'not unethical'


G7: Oil Prices a Risk to Economic Growth (Reuters)

Reuters - High oil prices pose a risk to the\global economy, but the economic outlook for 2005 is still\favorable, the Group of Seven nations said in a statement\following their meeting on Friday.


A Daily Look at U.S. Iraq Military Deaths (AP)

AP - As of Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, 1,055 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 801 died as a result of hostile action and 254 died of non-hostile causes. The figures include three military civilians.


Energised Kerry lashes Bush, fires up campaign after debate (AFP)

AFP - Democratic challenger John Kerry roared back to the campaign trail, piling more scorn on President George W. Bush's Iraq policy, as he shot for a comeback in the race for the White House.


Scalia Jokes About Orgies in Mass. Speech (AP)

AP - Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's recent speeches have ventured into some surprising territory, with the staunchly conservative father of nine joking about sexual orgies.


Thai Minister Says His Boss Wants Him to Run U.N. (Reuters)

Reuters - Thailand's foreign minister said on\Thursday he is campaigning to become U.N. secretary-general out\of a lifelong interest in foreign affairs, and because his\prime minister told him to.


Conway or the highway

CNET News.com's Charles Cooper says the board is only telling half the story behind the surprise firing of PeopleSoft's CEO.


Briefly: Legal expert joins open-source screening firm

roundup Plus: Cray signs two supercomputing customers...MSN Messenger beta leaks onto Web...Level 3 to buy Sprint's dial-up business...Cisco CEO's salary shoots up from \$1...SanDisk ups capacity on flash memory cards.


Gates: PCs fall short

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates chats with Berkeley students about everything from open source to malaria to the next Xbox.


Oil Ends Above \$50 on Nigeria Fears

Oil prices ended above \$50 a barrel on Friday amid concern over possible fighting between rebels and the military in Nigeria #39;s oil-rich delta region.


World Finance Leaders Favor Debt Relief

Description: The world #39;s economic leaders indicate support for the idea of forgiving the debt of the world #39;s poorest countries.


Red Sox Finish Second a Record Seven Times (AP)

AP - Say this much about the Boston Red Sox: They're consistent. The Red Sox, who have gone since 1918 without winning the World Series, have added a record-breaking streak to the mix. Boston is the first team in baseball history to finish in second place for seven straight years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.


Woman Sues Packers' Davenport (AP)

AP - A woman sued Green Bay Packers fullback Najeh Davenport, saying he invaded her privacy by breaking into her dorm room and defecating in her closet.


Two months of doing nothing

MADRID - It has taken just two months for Michael Owen to question whether his move to Real Madrid has been a big mistake. The England striker has started just one match after trading Anfield for the Bernabeu


Nelson looks to  quot;sting quot; field in Constellation Energy Classic

Even a bee sting couldn #39;t spoil Larry Nelson #39;s success at the Constellation Energy Classic. Nelson returns to the site of his famous bee sting Friday when the


Front Row Joe takes pole at Talladega

Talladega, AL (Sports Network) - Veteran Joe Nemechek circled the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway in 50.202 seconds (190.749 mph) to win the pole for Sunday #39;s EA Sports 500 Nextel Cup event.


RIAA Sues Another 762 Over File-Sharing

Total number of suits filed by the music industry since 2003 exceeds 5500.


Saks to close North East Mall location

is closing eight Saks Fifth Avenue stores, including a store at North East Mall in Hurst, and three Off 5th stores, the company said today.


UPDATE 1-President of Delta #39;s Song carrier retires

John Selvaggio, the president of Delta Air Lines Inc. #39;s (DAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) low-cost carrier, Song, has retired, effective immediately, for personal reasons, a Delta spokeswoman said on Friday.


Creator wins Ig Nobel for karaoke #39;s  #39;new way to tolerate #39;

NEW YORK (Kyodo) Karaoke inventor Daisuke Inoue was awarded the humorous Ig Nobel peace prize in a Thursday ceremony at Harvard University for  quot;providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other.


New Matsushita memory card doubles as smart card

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. on Friday unveiled a new SD Memory Card that doubles as a smart card, allowing consumers to use the product as a wallet or a train ticket, as well as to store music and pictures.


Els shows class in game of catch-up

Ernie Els, who was feeling as low as he has ever felt when playing up the mountain at Crans Sur Sierre a month ago, is back on track following a 64 through the worst of the weather


Gordon #39;s goal: Get lead, avoid  #39;big one #39;

Jeff Gordon has a chance to tie the late Dale Earnhardt #39;s record of three victories at restrictor-plate racetracks in one season.


Microsoft prepares for the worst in Europe case

LUXEMBOURG Facing the prospect of its most serious legal setback ever, Microsoft is quietly making plans to radically alter the way it does business in Europe, including sharing confidential software code with competitors and selling Windows without its


Former Boeing official sentenced in Air Force contract conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. A former Air Force official apologized today as she was sentenced to nine months in prison for helping the Chicago-based Boeing Company obtain an inflated price on a 23-(B)billion-dollar contract.


Spotlight: Aer Lingus chief #39;s survival guide

DUBLIN Willie Walsh, the chief executive of Aer Lingus, holds interviews and meetings in a former chairman #39;s unused office since his own is too messy for visitors, he says.


G7 Wants More Oil Output

The world #39;s top finance officials on Friday asked oil-producing nations to step up production and agreed it was crucial to work out exactly why prices


Conrad Black plans \$1.1B libel suit over Hollinger board committee <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Embattled press baron Conrad Black is preparing yet another lawsuit - this one seeking \$1.1 billion for defamation - in his ongoing legal battle against the new management of the company he founded, Hollinger International Inc.


IBM #39;s Supercomputer New Speed Champion

measured against the industry-standard LINPACK benchmark -- was able to turn in a sustained a performance of 36.01 teraflops. That edges it ahead of the three-year-old top mark


Viral movies possible with RealPlayer flaw

com October 1, 2004, 4:25 PM PT. Most IT Managers won #39;t question the importance of security, but this priority has been sliding between the third and fourth most important focus for companies.


Camera phone technology brings quick arrest of robbery suspect

NASHVILLE, Tenn. A camera phone -- and its quick-thinking owner -- are being credited with solving a robbery. The victim is a limo driver who was washing his car in Nashville, Tennessee, today.


Ferencvaros denies UEFA charges over Millwall violence

Hungarian side Ferencvaros has denied its fans threw missiles at Millwall supporters and officials during Thursday #39;s UEFA Cup tie, after being charged over the incident by European football #39;s governing body.


Paradorn powers through to Federer test

Thai tennis ace Paradorn Srichaphan lined up a high-profile career-first clash with formidable Roger Federer as he hammered home a 6-2, 7-5 defeat of Dutchman Dennis van Scheppingen at the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Friday.


Series to begin in Atlanta on Tuesday or Wednesday

The Atlanta Braves now know that they #39;ll be hosting the first two games of their National League Division Series next week. But they #39;ll have to wait until later this weekend to find out who their opponent will be.


Kanaan can clinch IRL title in California race

Tony Kanaan can clinch the IRL IndyCar championship this weekend with a fourth-place finish or better in the Toyota Indy 400 at California Speedway.


Urlacher not expected to play Sunday

Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Bears standout linebacker Brian Urlacher has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday #39;s game against Philadelphia.


Guantnamo detainee says in letter that he was tortured

LONDON A British detainee being held at the Guantnamo Naval Base in Cuba claimed in a declassified letter released on Friday that he had been the victim of  quot;vindictive torture and death threats quot; since January 2002.


US manufacturing activity picks up, construction surges to record <b>...</b>

US manufacturing activity remained strong in September and construction spending surged to a record high in August, according to a pair of reports issued Friday that provided an optimistic look at the sturdiness of the economy.


Vioxx Recall Prompts Patients To Look For Alternatives

A day after a popular arthritis drug is pulled from pharmacy shelves, patients and doctors are trying to decide what to do next. Vioxx is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat osteoarthritis, acute adult pain and menstrual pain.


Cybersecurity chief resigns amid frustration

Yoran was a software executive with Symantec Corporation when he was tapped a year ago to become director of the National Cyber Security Division in the Department of Homeland Security.


Handing out A -- for advantage

It #39;s a no-brainer, a Red Sox pitcher suggested when he was asked which team he would rather face in the postseason.  quot;Are you kidding?


Cybersecurity chief calls it quits after a year

The government #39;s cybersecurity chief resigned this week after serving a year with the Homeland Security Department. Amit Yoran, the first director of the National Cyber Security Division, said


Karaoke #39;s Creator Wins Ig Nobel Prize

Description: Daisuke Inoue, the inventor of karaoke, was awarded the 2004 Ig Nobel Peace Prize last night,  quot;for inventing karaoke, thereby providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other.


Navy secretary assures torture allegations by Guantanamo detainee <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (AFP) - US Navy Secretary Gordon England said Friday that an allegation of torture by a detainee at a military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will be investigated.


Hostages - convoy under attack

Damascus - A French lawmaker involved in negotiations to free two French journalists held hostage in Iraq said on Friday that a convoy bringing the two to Syria came under US fire, scuttling their release.


Conference on Endangered Species Opens in Bangkok

The great white shark, African rhinos and the American bald eagle are among the animals and fauna that will take center stage at an international conference on regulating trade in endangered species that opens Saturday.


MLB: Atlanta 5, Chicago Cubs 4

Mike Hampton worked six innings and hit a two-run homer Friday as Atlanta handed the Chicago Cubs a devastating loss, 5-4. The Cubs came into the game trailing San Francisco and


Giambi expected to make postseason roster; Brown to start Saturday

It would be a  quot;longshot quot; that Giambi would be left off, manager Joe Torre said before Friday night #39;s game against Toronto.


Netflix, TiVo Partner To Offer Online Films

Netflix Inc. and TiVo Inc. are teaming up to work with Hollywood studios to develop technology for the delivery of video programming over the Internet.


Ford Down, Nissan Up in September Sales

Ford Motor Co. (FN) posted its fourth consecutive month of weaker US sales with a 7 percent drop in September results on Friday, and the automaker doubled its incentives on some models to kick-start sales this month.


Two Words from Bill Gates: Computer Science

It wasn #39;t  quot;Plastics quot; as Dustin Hoffman was advised in the movie The Graduate, but computers that Bill Gates told a college audience would be the ticket to a good career in the near future.


Robbery suspect caught on camera phone in Nashville

Police had a mugshot of a robbery suspect before he was arrested. Thanks to a camera phone, they even had a picture of his getaway vehicle.


Trinidad returns for another bonanza

There is no title on the line for the meeting of the former world champions Felix  quot;Tito quot; Trinidad and Ricardo Mayorga at New York #39;s Madison Square Garden tonight, but there seems to be genuine enmity between the fighters and a near sell-out crowd is


Expos will keep ballpark revenue; council foe questions new <b>...</b>

The group that buys the Montreal Expos will get to keep all concession, advertising and parking money generated from baseball games in the 41,000-seat ballpark that Washington plans to build, along with revenue from the sale of naming rights.


Youngsters Find and Return Lost Yankees Playoff Tickets

Talk about temptation: \$20,000 worth of box seat tickets for Yankees playoff games, just lying there on the street. Nine youngsters who came across the tickets turned them in.


Cubs Lose Again at Wrigley

Pitcher Mike Hampton homered off Kerry Wood and the Atlanta Braves sent the collapsing Chicago Cubs to the verge of wild-card elimination.


Report: Bryant Accuser Told N.B.A. Star 'No'

The woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape told investigators the N.B.A. star ignored her entreaties to stop, according to documents released Friday.


Group of Seven Wants More Oil Output

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The world's top finance officials on  Friday asked oil-producing nations to step up output and agreed  it was crucial to work out exactly why prices have soared to  levels that threaten global growth.


Oil: Oil ends above \$50 on Nigeria fears

Oil prices ended above \$50 a barrel amid concern over possible fighting between rebles and the military in Nigeria #39;s oil-rich delta region.


Dollar moves slightly after manufacturing data

NEW YORK : The dollar moved slightly against major currencies after key US ISM data on manufacturing was in line with expectations, as the market remained cautious on the prospects for the US economy.


Hollinger Inc. note holders OK refinancing

Hollinger Inc., one of the key companies in Conrad Black #39;s troubled business empire, has received approval to issue another \$15 million (US) in notes to raise cash for its day-to-day operations.


Gates At Berkeley: Thoughts On Research, Overseas Innovation <b>...</b>

In the spirit of being at the university, the Microsoft chairman also talked about when open-source licenses make sense. By Aaron Ricadela.


Els survives rain as Woods braves pain

Ernie Els, unaccustomed as he is to public failure, has rededicated himself to winning, and, in pursuit of that, leads the American Express World Golf Championship at Mount Juliet after the first 36 holes.


MLB Deal Favorable To Orioles #39; Angelos

Bud Selig announces that the troubled Montreal Expos will move to Washington, returning baseball to the nation #39;s capital for the 2005 season.


Notes: Sturtze plays new role

Tanyon Sturtze has filled several roles for the Yankees this season, from a long-relief mop-up man to a spot starter. But Sturtze added setup man to his resume on Wednesday


A #39;s catch Angels; Ichiro still hit away from tying Sisler

Ichiro Suzuki went home quietly, still waiting for the big hit he #39;s been chasing. Bobby Crosby sent the Athletics into a decisive weekend series against Anaheim with the biggest hit of Oakland #39;s season.


British prime minister undergoes successful operation

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is recovering at Downing Street, after undergoing hospital treatment for a recurring heart complaint.


EU Approves Refugee Camp Pilot Schemes

After debating proposals put forward by Germany #39;s Otto Schily, the European Commission has agreed to set up pilot schemes in five North African countries to cope with the influx of refugees heading to Europe.


G7 Countries: Oil Prices Threat to Economy

WASHINGTON - Declaring that high oil prices are a threat to the global economy, the world's industrialized countries urged producers Friday to provide price relief by boosting supplies.    The Group of Seven countries - the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada - also resolved to agree on providing battered Iraq with relief from its massive debt burden while also working on a deal to increase debt relief for the world's poorest countries...


PeopleSoft sacks chief executive

PeopleSoft fired its chief executive, Craig Conway, yesterday in an unexpected twist to the firm #39;s attempt to fend off its larger rival Oracle.


Home Photo-Stamp Experiment Canceled (AP)

AP - The U.S. Postal Service has canceled a brief experiment that allowed ordinary people to make postage stamps using images of their dogs, babies and even, it turned out, outlaws such as the Unabomber.


Antepo To Release OPN \$.5 On Monday

Antepo will release Version 4.5 of its Open Presence Network (OPN) enterprise IM system on Monday. The new version features the capability to integrate messaging systems that use the XMPP system pioneered


Man U manager hints at dropping hat-trick star to the bench

MANCHESTER, England - Wayne Rooney #39;s three-goal debut for Manchester United in the Champions League doesn #39;t guarantee the 18-year-old striker will start Sunday #39;s Premier League game against Middlesbrough, manager Alex Ferguson said Friday.


Reyna to miss qualifiers

US captain Claudio Reyna will miss the Americans #39; World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and Panama because of injuries. Reyna hurt his left quadriceps Sept.


At 3-0, Mora #39;s Falcons Get Tested Sunday

The seven new head coaches hired around the league this past offseason included a Hall of Famer (Joe Gibbs), a two-time AFC championship game participant (Tom Coughlin) and a two-time NFC title-game entrant (Dennis Green).


Three are tied at Farm Bureau

It took most of Thursday to identify the first-round leaders in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic, but Harrison Frazar, Glen Day and John Senden finally separated themselves


Network Appliance, EMC refine security strategies (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Network appliance will announce this week additional capabilities and partnerships for its NetApp NetCache line of Internet security appliances. Meanwhile, EMC will unveil a major upgrade to its ILM (information life cycle management) product line with a focus on adding application-aware components.


As Prelude To Internet Calling, SBC Beefs Up Message Options (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - SBC Communications on Monday plans to roll out a new messaging service that would let consumers check their wireless voice mail on a computer or access e-mail via a touch-tone landline phone.


At least 25 die in suicide attack on Pakistani mosque

A SUICIDE bomber blew himself up in a mosque packed with worshippers in Pakistan, killing at least 25 people and wounding more than 50.


New twists boost Oracle in Silicon Valley battle for PeopleSoft (AFP)

AFP - The Silicon Valley dogfight between Oracle and PeopleSoft took a new turn as PeopleSoft dumped the chief executive leading its takeover defense, and US regulators dropped their antitrust case.


Shuttle's Spring 2005 Launch Date Delayed (AP)

AP - NASA's spaceflight leadership council decided Friday to delay the spring 2005 launch date for the first shuttle scheduled to return to space since last year's Columbia tragedy, citing hurricane damage and more work needed to meet a panel's recommendations.


Right Whales May Not Be Going Extinct (AP)

AP - North Pacific right whales may not be going extinct after all. Scientists have found twice as many right whales in the Bering Sea as previously spotted, giving them hope the rare and endangered whales can be saved.


Great White Shark Sets Record at Aquarium (AP)

AP - Thrilling visitors and scientists alike, the only great white shark currently on display anywhere in the world marked its 17th day in captivity Friday, setting a record for longevity in an aquarium tank.


Mount St. Helens a Volcanic 'Ring of Fire' (AP)

AP - Three or four times every minute, Mount St. Helens shivered. Sometimes the majestic peak even shuddered, the trembling beneath reaching a crescendo, a magnitude of 3.3.


Mount St. Helens Erupts After 18 Years (AP)

AP - Mount St. Helens, the volcano that blew its top with cataclysmic force in 1980, erupted for the first time in 18 years Friday, belching a huge column of white steam and ash after days of rumblings under the mountain.


Tourists Flock to See Mount St. Helens (AP)

AP - Pam Morret and her husband, Lynn, missed the big eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. They sure were not going to miss this one.


Conway could get \$20 million golden parachute

Ousted PeopleSoft CEO will get a severance package of between \$10 million and \$20 million.


Volcano research goes high-tech

GPS, radar systems and digital cameras help scientists, but Mount St. Helens isn't a hotbed of the latest technology.


Intel programming tools reach new 64-bit chips

They let developers create software that supports 64-bit x86 chips--important in making the new generation of chips useful.


Device has keen sense for mini-motions

Sandia's motion detector could help predict if earthquakes are coming or if airplane parts are about to rip loose.


Viral movies possible with RealPlayer flaw

A software slipup in RealNetworks' music player means that Windows, Mac and Linux computers could be compromised by a movie.


TiVo and NetFlix: Picture-Perfect Duo?

With TiVo (TIVO ) and NetFlix (NFLX ) finally announcing a long-rumored partnership to launch a video-on-demand service sometime next year, investors smiled on the deal that will keep the two popular, but under-fire, innovators ahead of competitors.


Gates undaunted by Linux

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates, during an appearance here Friday at the Computer History Museum, expressed no fear of Linux usurping Windows in the software industry.


Human rights group blasts new US border controls

ROME - The United States' new biometric system of border controls violates civil rights without delivering security, the head of the London-based civil liberties watchdog Privacy International warned Friday. The system involves a "wholesale and aggressive violation" of privacy but was also likely to generate errors and eventually collapse under its own weight, Privacy International Director Simon Davies said.


Two Words from Bill Gates: Computer Science

Microsoft founder also tells college students outsourcing jobs is not a 'zero-sum game.'


Gates undaunted by Linux (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- #160; Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates, during an appearance here Friday at the Computer History Museum, expressed no fear of Linux usurping Windows in the software industry.


Group of Seven Wants More Oil Output (Reuters)

Reuters - The world's top finance officials on\Friday asked oil-producing nations to step up output and agreed\it was crucial to work out exactly why prices have soared to\levels that threaten global growth.


Israeli Army Prepares for Showdown in Gaza (AP)

AP - Israeli aircraft struck more targets in the Gaza Strip on Friday as the army massed an armored force in apparent preparation for a major military operation against militants in Jebaliya, the Palestinians' biggest refugee camp.


The religious revival in the US

On a cold December night in Denver, a storm was brewing. The sky was clear, the stars visible to most even through the haze of the downtown lamp lights. But on the sidewalks, on the TV, and on the static of talk radio you knew a battle was about to be waged.


Nine-year-old Afghan boy in critical condition after heart valve surgery (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - A nine-year-old boy from Afghanistan who came to Canada to have life-saving surgery was in critical condition after undergoing heart valve surgery Friday.


ER Patients Won't Have to Give U.S. Status (AP)

AP - The Bush administration is backing off plans to require hospitals to ask emergency room patients their immigration status, after hospitals and advocates for immigrants protested.


UK Hostage's Brother Says Police Raided Dutch Home

LONDON (Reuters) - The brother of a British hostage in Iraq  said Saturday intelligence officers had raided his Dutch home,  copied data from his computer and forced him to make a  five-page statement about his activities.


Turkey's EU bid 'may take decade'

Two EU reports on Turkey's membership bid suggest negotiations could take at least 10 years.


Springsteen Kicks Off 'Vote for Change'

PHILADELPHIA - Two of the biggest forces in rock music over the last 20 years were plugging in the amplifiers Friday to kick off a high-volume effort to oust President Bush on Nov. 2...


New Zealand #39;s Bollard Opposes Using Australian Bank Regulator

New Zealand Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard doesn #39;t favor a single regulator to supervise banks in Australia and New Zealand, saying that may lead to conflict between the interests of both nations.


Fiery Act Leaves Michigan Club Cold (AP)

AP - For a few moments last weekend, they were the hottest act in town. But Treephort wore out its welcome at a downtown club when the lead guitarist set his thong on fire, then removed it and scurried around the stage naked.


Packers Lose Flanagan for the Season (AP)

AP - Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl center Mike Flanagan will undergo surgery on his left knee and miss the rest of the season.


Stojakovic Still Wants Out of Sacramento (AP)

AP - Peja Stojakovic still wants the Sacramento Kings to trade him. Until then, he seems perfectly happy to be back.


Bonds' 700th Homer Ball Can Be Sold (AP)

AP - A judge on Friday declared Steve Williams  #151; the man who ended up with Barry Bonds' 700th home run ball  #151; the lawful owner, freeing him to sell it immediately.


Vieira plays down bus fracas with Lauren

ARSENAL captain Patrick Vieira admitted yesterday that there was a  quot;disagreement quot; between him and team-mate Lauren in midweek, but insisted the team spirit at Highbury is  quot;fantastic quot;.


Murray ready for McEnroe

SCOTLANDS Murray brothers face an exciting weekend north and south of the Border, with Jamie due to contest the doubles final of the LTA Futures event at Craiglockhart, and Andrew fulfilling a boyhood ambition at Wembley where he will come face to face


Eriksson Backs Rio, Warns Owen

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has declared his intention of recalling Rio Ferdinand to his squad for the two imminent World Cup qualifiers - but issued a warning to Michael Owen.


The Jets #39; Extra Attention to Tackling Is Paying Off

Jets linebacker Eric Barton was sweating profusely as he trudged off the practice field Friday. Do not confuse a bye week with an off week for the Jets, who get back


Los Angeles Dodgers Team Report - October 1

(Sports Network) - Los Angeles will try to win the NL West title tonight, while hampering San Francisco #39;s playoff chances, as the Dodgers and Giants open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.


I #39;m just fine says Blair after surgery

Tony Blair was back in Downing Street last night after successful treatment for a heart condition, showing that he did not want to be regarded as a lame duck Prime Minister.


Oil slips, but still trades above \$49

Light crude dips but remains less than a dollar shy of an all-time high reached earlier this week. LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices remained just below record highs on Friday amid concern over possible conflict


Shares unlikely to sustain giddy pace

The sharemarket kicked off the December quarter at a new high yesterday, but experts are warning that it will have trouble maintaining the momentum of the past three months.


Microsoft Chairman praises tech boom in China, India

BERKELEY, Calif. Bill Gates weighed in on the subject of job outsourcing during a speech at UC Berkeley today -- a big topic with the audience of engineering students whose futures now seem as uncertain as Silicon Valley #39;s economy.


Packers lose Flanagan for the season

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl center Mike Flanagan will undergo surgery on his left knee and miss the rest of the season.


Hornish aims for patience, speed

FONTANA, Calif. - Sam Hornish Jr. aims to be patient and go fast - not necessarily a contradiction. The Indy Race League driver credited patience for last years victory at California Speedway, when he


Frazar, Pate atop leaderboard in Mississippi

Madison, MS (Sports Network) - Harrison Frazar posted a five-under 67 Friday to maintain a share of the lead through two rounds of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic at Annandale Golf Club.


Spain Unveils Controversial Gay Marriage Law

A controversial law that would give gay and lesbian couples the same right to marry, divorce and adopt children as heterosexuals was approved by Spain #39;s Socialist government Friday.


Musharraf: 100 Al-Qaida Members Killed in Clashes

Pakistan #39;s President Pervez Musharraf says about 100 al-Qaida members have been killed in military operations near the Afghan border.


#39;We Are Telling Patients Not to Panic #39;

When Dr. Eric Matteson arrived at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., on Thursday morning, there was already a pile of messages for him and the phones were ringing off the hook.


Packers lose Flanagan for season

Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - The Green Bay Packers will be without the services of Pro Bowl center Mike Flanagan for the remainder of the season, as he will undergo left knee surgery.


Blair eyes full 3rd term

LONDON: British Prime Minister Tony Blair was recovering Friday from surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat, a day after revealing that he intends to serve a full third term if re-elected.


Meal tickets go as Silverstone is removed from the menu

The shockwaves generated by Bernie Ecclestone #39;s decision to scrap the British grand prix rippled out yesterday to touch every corner of the country #39;s motorsport industry, threatening Britain #39;s position as the global centre of international motor racing.


Srichaphan sets up Federer semi

Thailand #39;s Paradorn Srichaphan on Friday lined up a semifinal clash with world number one Roger Federer as he handed out a 6-2, 7-5 defeat to Dutchman Dennis van Scheppingen at the Thailand Open.


Snow: Oil Prices a Risk to Global Growth

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow on  Friday said higher oil prices were a risk to global growth, but  would not be likely to cause a recession.


Change of Direction at PeopleSoft

PeopleSoft's firing of its president and chief executive increased the likelihood that the company would be taken over by the Oracle Corporation.


A. Melhuse, C

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- After 159 games, the Anaheim Angels and the Oakland Athletics are down to a best-of-three series at Network Associates Coliseum for the American League West Division title.


Calif. Law Seen as First Salvo in Spyware Fight (Reuters)

Reuters - California's pioneering law aimed\at cracking down on spyware -- signed this week to curb the\software that hides on computers and secretly follows users\around the Web -- is only a partial step toward protecting\consumers, critics said on Friday.


Mayor's Lesbian Partner Barred from Race in Brazil

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A Brazilian court on Friday  barred the lesbian partner of the outgoing mayor of an Amazon  town from trying to succeed her, citing a ban on political  office passing between family members.


Football: Ferencvaros charged

Uefa charges Hungarian side Ferencvaros for missile throwing and racism during the Uefa Cup tie with Millwall.


Aided by Iraqis, U.S. Seizes Part of Rebel Town

U.S. and Iraqi forces claimed to have killed more than 100 guerrillas in one of the largest military operations since the war began.


Bush and Kerry Follow Debate With Sharp Jabs

President Bush attacked John Kerry on Iraq on Friday, taking a more aggressive approach than he had in the previous night's debate.


U.S., Iraq Forces Sweep Through Samarra

SAMARRA, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces battled their way into the heart of this Sunni stronghold Friday and moved house to house in search of militants in what appeared to be the first major offensive to regain control of areas lost to insurgents before the January elections...


Ichiro Ties Sisler's Season Hits Record (AP)

AP - Ichiro Suzuki tied the 84-year-old major league record for hits in a season with No. 257 when he chopped a leadoff single to left field Friday night.


Blue Jays Thump Resting Yankees 7-0 (AP)

AP - David Bush pitched a two-hitter for the first complete game of his major league career, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Orlando Hernandez and the New York Yankees 7-0 Friday night.


Larkin Homers As Reds Beat Pirates 5-1 (AP)

AP - Barry Larkin homered in his final at-bat on a noteworthy night  #151; perhaps one of his last in a Cincinnati Reds uniform  #151; and got a curtain call that capped a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.


US Struggles to Develop Auto Safety Analysis System

US regulators have yet to complete an advanced system for fully analyzing crash data to identify defects four years after the deadly Firestone tire debacle prompted an overhaul of federal auto safety oversight, a government watchdog


Expos Defeat Mets 4-2 (AP)

AP - Terrmel Sledge hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning and the Montreal Expos opened the team's final series before the franchise moves to Washington with a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.


D-Rays Beat Tigers 4-1 to Avoid Cellar (AP)

AP - For the first time in their history, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays won't finish last.


Fresh violence erupts in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Violence erupted again today in Port-au-Prince and the decapitated bodies of two police officers were found, the day after they were killed in a clash with protesters demanding the return of ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide


Bryant Ignored Woman's Plea, Papers Show

The woman who accused the basketball star Kobe Bryant of rape told investigators he ignored her entreaties to stop and said there was no doubt he heard her.


Location Reigns Supreme With Future PCs

Soon you'll have the ability to pinpoint a car's or a person's location to within less than three inches using handheld devices.


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow on  Friday said higher oil prices were a risk to global growth, but  were unlikely to trigger a recession.


Oil Closes Above \$50

Oil prices closed above \$50 a barrel for the first time Friday as concerns linger about damage to oil production in the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Ivan.


Pinochet Faces Tax Charges in Chile

Chile's Internal Tax Service filed a criminal complaint against former ruler Augusto Pinochet after an investigation of his accounts at Riggs Bank in Washington. Riggs was not a subject of the complaint.


Stocks Begin Quarter With Solid Gains

NEW YORK, Oct. 1 -- Stocks kicked off the fourth quarter with a solid rally on Friday as investors bet the market would shake off continued uncertainty about the election, the war in Iraq and high energy prices to stage its traditional fourth-quarter surge.


Crude oil exceeds \$US50 a barrel

Crude oil futures settled above \$50 for the first time ever on Friday, fueled by concerns about supply in Nigeria and the continuing slow pace of production recovery in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf of Mexico, traders said.


Stocks: US economic data send stocks higher

NEW YORK Stocks moved sharply higher Friday after US economic data showed strength in manufacturing and construction and shrugged off a softening in consumer sentiment.


American League Game Summary - New York at Toronto

Matsui had made 1,251 consecutive starts with the Yomiuri Giants in his native Japan and has played in all 322 games with the Yankees over the last two seasons...Bush #39;s previous long outing was an eight-inning stint against Oakland on July 20, in which he


Top Official: U.S. Wants Cuba 'Liberation' (AP)

AP - President Bush will be committed during his second term to the "liberation of Cuba" by extending moral and political support to the Cuban people, a top State Department official said Friday.


Oil Closes Above \$50

Oil prices closed above \$50 a barrel for the first time yesterday as concerns linger about damage to oil production in the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Ivan.


Ex-Manager At Fannie to Skip Hearing

The former Fannie Mae employee who assisted federal regulators in an investigation of the company #39;s accounting will not testify at a congressional hearing next week.


Black Plans to Sue Hollinger for Libel

Conrad M. Black, the former head of Hollinger International, said yesterday that he planned to file a libel lawsuit against members of a company committee who accused him of taking more than \$380 million in improper payments.


Dave Bush slices through weak Yankees lineup in 7-0 Blue Jays win

TORONTO (CP) - Dave Bush capped his promising rookie season with a complete-game, two-hitter while Vernon Wells hit a two-run homer to lead the Toronto Blue Jays past the New York Yankees 7-0 Friday night.


From a Virtual Shadow, Messages of Terror (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - SAN FRANCISCO -- He calls himself Abu Maysara al Iraqi, or father of Maysara the Iraqi, and he's a master at being everywhere and nowhere in the virtual world, constantly switching his online accounts and taking advantage of new technologies to issue his communiqu #233;s to the world.


From a Virtual Shadow, Messages of Terror

The Internet has emerged as a prime tool for Islamic radicals, who use its anonymity to coordinate secret operations and get their message to the public without fear of detection.


Microsoft Judge Skeptical

LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 1 -- A European judge today cast a skeptical eye on whether Microsoft Corp. should be forced to create two versions of its Windows operating system, one with its program for playing digital music and videos and one without.


Stock Sale Plan Boosts SI International Shares

Shares of SI International Inc. jumped nearly 16 percent Friday on news the Reston, Va., company plans to sell 3.2 million of its shares together with affiliates of equity firm Frontenac.


PeopleSoft boss fired

NEW YORK: PeopleSoft yesterday sacked Chief Executive and president Craig Conway, citing a loss of confidence, and the software company #39;s shares jumped on expectations that the move could pave the way for a deal with hostile bidder Oracle.


Microsoft Judge Skeptical

A European judge today cast a skeptical eye on whether Microsoft Corp. should be forced to create two versions of its Windows operating system, one with its program for


US industrial output still rising

But the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said the pace of production had risen more slowly than in August. The news will help soothe fears that the US economic recovery may be running out of steam.


Its not for the money: Bernie

Bernie Ecclestone once said money did not make him happy. So it must have been a particularly miserable moment when the man who has been the dominant force behind Formula One motor racing for 30 years learned he was the third-richest person in Britain.


Expos move still faces obstacles

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Although it #39;s been officially announced the Montreal Expos will call Washington, DC home next season, there still are some big road blocks in the way that could derail the franchise #39;s move south.


World #39;s top two players reach semifinals

The world #39;s top two players -- Roger Federer and Andy Roddick -- reached the semifinals Friday at the Thailand Open. Federer and Roddick were joined in the semis by the other


Fleeing the Ennui of Retirement for the Thrill of the Fight

elix Trinidad Jr. #39;s scintillating career seemed to end two years ago with a fourth-round technical knockout of Hacine Cherifi.


Boeing just behind 2004 projections

By staff and wire reports. The Boeing Co. remains slightly behind its projections for 2004 airplane deliveries, according to third-quarter figures released on Friday, setting Boeing up to possibly trail bitter


Ichiro Singles to Break Hits Record

The Seattle Mariners #39; Ichiro Suzuki broke a long-standing Major League record with his 258th hit of the season, a third-inning single against the Texas Rangers on Friday.


Wenger plays down reported bust-up on Arsenal team bus

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Friday dismissed the reported bust-up between his two major players as just  quot;a storm in a tea cup quot;.


Eriksson issues warning to Owen

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson warned striker Michael Owen on Friday that he would lose his starting place in next Saturday #39;s World Cup qualifier against Wales without being able to prove his form in training next week.


Houston Astros Hold on Wild Card Lead with 4-2 Win

The Houston Astros used a Jeff Bagwell home run and a gutsy pitching effort by its bullpen to beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 Friday and hold on to its lead in the National League wild card race.


UN launches appeal for \$59 million in emergency aid to Haiti <b>...</b>

UNITED NATIONS (CP) - Haiti and Grenada need \$59 million US in humanitarian aid immediately to cope with the destruction wrought by hurricanes last month, the top UN relief official said Friday.


Software maker #39;s chief out

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Business software maker PeopleSoft Inc. unexpectedly fired CEO Craig Conway, dumping the feisty leader who engineered the company #39;s dogged resistance to Oracle Corp.


Chunghwa Telecom union threatens strike amid privatization concerns (AFP)

AFP - The workers' union at Taiwan's state-run Chunghwa Telecom, the island's leading telecom operator, threatened to stage an unprecedented strike, demanding the government guarantee their rights while it pushes for the firm's privatization.