SpaceShipOne: A giant leap for high-tech vets?

update MOJAVE, Calif.--A venture backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen got a jump Wednesday on rivals eyeing a \$10 million prize for the first privately funded junkets into space and back.


Amazon, Microsoft Sue Spammers

Amazon and Microsoft have filed lawsuits against companies that used their names to commit fraud on the Internet. One suit accuses Gold Disk Canada of  quot;spoofing, quot; or sending e-mails that appear


Asteroid Comes Closest to Earth Since 12th Century, NASA Says

Toutatis, a mountain-sized asteroid, came the closest to the Earth since at least the 12th century, allowing scientists to gather data about its trajectory and features, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration said.


Consortium Forms to Set Network Centric Communications Standards

The Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium (NCOIC) formally introduced itself this week at a Tuesday (Sept. 28) press conference in Washington, DC The new group, consisting initially of 28 companies


3 Indian Female Weightlifters Banned for Life After Positive <b>...</b>

The Indian Olympic Association has banned three female weightlifters and their coach for life after the athletes tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.


Group F: Wenger:  #39;Reyes is our Rooney #39;

On Tuesday night everyone was talking about one Wayne Rooney, after the young prodigy inscribed a magnificent hat-trick on his Manchester Utd and Champions League debut.


Roddick betters Parmar

AMERICAN Andy Roddick wasted little time in trouncing Britain #39;s Arvind Parmar 6-1 6-4 to advance into the second round of the Thailand Open today.


44 N.Koreans Break Into Canada #39;s Beijing Embassy

A group of 44 North Korean asylum seekers used makeshift ladders to scale the fence and leap into the Canadian embassy in Beijing on Wednesday, officials said.


Intel No. 1 for helping workers with commutes (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - The federal government releases a list Wednesday lauding Fortune 500 firms that make a major effort to ease commutes for their employees, which helps ease traffic congestion and air pollution. Intel is No. 1 on the list of 69 companies to be designated as Best Workplaces for Commuters by the EPA.


China exports 73.4 mln cellphones in first seven months, doubling earnings (AFP)

AFP - China more than doubled its export earnings from cellphones, shipping 73.4 million handsets overseas in the first seven months of the year, state media reported.


Jarvis slumps as debt deadline nears

Shares in Jarvis have plunged by more than 20 per cent after the support services contractor warned that it may yet fall victim to its 230 million debt burden.


Support Linux Standard Base (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - LSB 2.0 represents the best chance to prevent Linux fragmentation.


Top Count Is Withdrawn in Tyco Retrial (AP)

AP - Prosecutors have decided to abandon the charge of enterprise corruption, the top count against former Tyco International Ltd. executives L. Dennis Kozlowski and Mark H. Swartz, when the two are retried in January.


Federal Scientists Search for Lost H-Bomb (AP)

AP - Spurred by what appear to be unusual radiation readings offshore, the U.S. government is sending a team of 20 scientists to try to find a hydrogen bomb lost off the Georgia coast in 1958.


FDA Eases Rules on Drug Manufacturing (Reuters)

Reuters - Drug makers will not need regulatory\approval for every change in their manufacturing processes\under new guidelines designed to prevent supply disruptions,\U.S. health officials said on Wednesday.


Merger Creates World #39;s Third-Largest Firm

Piper Rudnick and the British law firm DLA have agreed to combine in the largest merger of law firms to date. The combined firm, which is to be known as DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, will have


Economic Growth Better Than Thought

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy grew faster in the  second quarter than previously thought as business inventories  rose at the strongest rate in four years, the government said  on Wednesday, a sign the soft patch was not as soft as feared.


Blue Chips Slip as Oil Stocks Weigh

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips slid back into the red  on Wednesday as oil company shares fell on a report showing an  unexpected rise in U.S. oil inventories last week, which drove  oil prices lower.


Computer Associates to Cut 800 Jobs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Software maker Computer Associates  CA.N on Wednesday said it would cut 800 jobs, or 5 percent of  its work force, to cut costs amid weaker demand and falling  prices for software and services.


Martha Stewart Going to W.Va. Jail-Source

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Homemaking icon Martha Stewart will  serve her five-month jail sentence for lying about a suspicious  stock sale at a minimum security prison in West Virginia, a  source close to the case said on Wednesday.


Orbitz: Travelzoo's Line in the Sand

A smart investor pays \$1.25 billion for Orbitz. So what's Travelzoo worth?


Private Spacecraft Roars to Space and Back

<I>SpaceShipOne,</I> the first privately built, manned vehicle to reach space, roared to space and back again this morning from a launch site in California's Mojave desert.


Penguin Tags Are a Drag -- Can Rubber Improve Them?

Hoping to monitor penguins unobtrusively, scientists are testing a tag made of silicone rubber. Stainless steel tags used currently can impede the birds' ability to hunt.


Birding Column: Sweet Song of the Winter Sparrows

Birding columnist Mathew Tekulsky considers the joys of sparrows wintering in his California backyard.


Nokia extends outsourcing deal with HP

The deal is valued at about \$100 million, but the handset maker will be billed based on actual service consumption.


IBM #39;s Blue Gene Wins Fastest Supercomputer Honors

IBM (Quote, Chart) secured the top spot in the rankings for world #39;s fastest supercomputer as Blue Gene/L ran at a sustained speed of 36.


Tense Moments During Trailblazing Private Space Flight

MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA - In a mission that could herald a new era of space tourism, a privately built, three-person rocket ship flew to space and back today in a mission that frightened those who watched from the ground and on a live webcast.


IronPort Appliance Uses E-Mail Analysis To Fight Viruses

New version of IronPort product draws on data from E-mail-monitoring network to quarantine viruses within minutes. By Thomas Claburn.


Reform to Rules for Putnam

Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), who led much of Congress #39; oversight of federal information technology during the past two years, has left the House Government Reform Committee and joined the Rules Committee.


Mets to revamp front office again

NEW YORK - The New York Mets are revamping their front office for the second straight offseason, hiring Omar Minaya from the Montreal Expos to become the head of baseball operations.


Circuit City picks up AT T Net phone plan

The retailer will sell CallVantage in many of its outlets and through its Web site.


Apple software to help garage bands jam

"Jam Packs" expand features and portability for musicians mixing music on their Macs.


HD-DVD Standard Earns Approval

Rewriteable version of the next-gen DVD format moves closer to mass production.


HSBC Group Chairman to Retire

LONDON - David Eldon will retire next year as chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. and the Hang Seng Bank, HSBC Group, one of the world #39;s largest banking and financial service organizations, said Monday.


Telecom Italia Poised for TIM Buyout

Telecom Italia plans to use cash for a bigger-than-expected chunk of a 20 billion-euro (\$26.69 billion) buyout of its mobile unit TIM, a source close to the deal said on Monday.


Biometric gear to be deployed in hospitals and GPs' surgeries

Early sighting of ID scheme budget-laundering


Magna subsidiary Decoma to close Toronto-area plant, post US\$36M <b>...</b>

CONCORD, Ont. (CP) - Decoma International, a subsidiary of auto parts giant Magna International, is shutting down its anodizing plant just north of Toronto and posting \$36 million US in special charges for that move and restructuring in Europe.


News: Warspammer pleads guilty under anti-spam law

A Los Angeles man who spewed porn advertisements from his car likely faces up to six months in jail.\


News: Ha, ha you're infected

A new version of the infamous Bagle worm series is spreading widely across the net.


.Mac Increases Email  amp; iDisk Storage

.Mac, the popular suite of Internet software and services, now offers both new members and its more than half million existing members 250MB of combined online storage for .Mac mailboxes and iDisk folders, perfect for sharing photos, movies and documents with family, friends and coworkers. Sign up now for a free 60-day trial. Sep 29


MP3 Creator Warns Tech Impasse Dooming Downloads (Reuters)

Reuters - Rival technologies that baffle consumers\will run more companies out of business in the nascent music\download market than will head-to-head competition, one of the\lead creators of MP3 playback technology warned on Wednesday.


France Cautious About Purported Iraq Hostage Talks (Reuters)

Reuters - France was torn between hope and doubt\about its two hostages in Iraq on Wednesday after a purported\French negotiator announced their imminent release but\officials insisted they knew nothing about his efforts.


Britain's Labour Party struggles to shift conference focus from Iraq (AFP)

AFP - Britain's ruling Labour Party struggled to shift the pre-election focus to domestic politics, as Prime Minister Tony Blair faced renewed pressure over the fate of a British hostage in Iraq.


Lawyer for teen killed by police says door still open for criminal charges (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The door is still open for criminal charges against a Toronto police constable who shot a teenager to death, despite an investigation clearing him, a lawyer for Jeffrey Reodica's family said Wednesday.


MP3 Creator Warns Tech Impasse Dooming Downloads

BERLIN (Reuters) - Rival technologies that baffle consumers  will run more companies out of business in the nascent music  download market than will head-to-head competition, one of the  lead creators of MP3 playback technology warned on Wednesday.


Rockets Kill 2 Israeli Boys; Raids Kill 6 Palestinians

SDEROT, Israel (Reuters) - Palestinian militants eluding an  army crackdown killed two Israeli children in a rocket attack  from Gaza on Wednesday and troops killed six Palestinians in  raids in the coastal strip and the West Bank.


Tussle at the Top

Not so long ago many Western CEOs couldn #39;t even say what the renminbi was, much less whether it should appreciate. Today China #39;s currency, also known as the yuan, is all the buzz.


44 N.Koreans Break Into Canada's Beijing Embassy

BEIJING (Reuters) - A group of 44 North Korean asylum  seekers used makeshift ladders to scale the fence and leap into  the Canadian embassy in Beijing on Wednesday, officials said.


EU chiefs to discuss asylum camps

European Justice and Home Affairs ministers are to start talks on whether asylum seekers could be processed outside the EU.


World growth highest since 1973

The world's economy should grow at its fastest rate in 30 years in 2004, despite rising oil prices, the IMF says.


Stewart to Serve Time in West Virginia

NEW YORK - Martha Stewart, convicted of lying about a stock sale, has been ordered to serve her sentence at the federal prison in Alderson, W.Va.    Stewart had asked to serve her five-month sentence in Danbury, Conn., close to her 90-year-old mother and her home in Westport, or as a second choice in Coleman, Fla...


Stocks Are Mixed on Latest GDP Reading

NEW YORK - Stocks were narrowly mixed Wednesday as investors digested a jump in the second-quarter gross domestic product, while keeping a close eye on falling oil prices.    Investors saw the Commerce Department report, which said the nation's GDP grew 3.3 percent from April to June, as fairly good news, with a few caveats...


Two Sentenced to Death for USS Cole Attack

SAN'A, Yemen - A Yemeni judge sentenced two men to death and four others to prison terms ranging from five to 10 years Wednesday, the first convictions and sentences for the 2000 suicide bombing of the USS Cole, an attack blamed on Osama bin Laden's terror network.    Saudi-born Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who is in U.S...


Large Asteroid Safely Zooms By Earth

Jet Propulsion Lab -- A mountain-sized asteroid made its closest approach to Earth at 6:35 a.m. Pacific Time (9:35 a.m...


Rocket Attack Kills Israeli Child

An Israeli child was killed by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militants on Wednesday, an Israeli rescue service said.


Foodland shares placed on trading halt

SYDNEY: Shares in Australian grocery food chain Foodland Associated Ltd were placed in a trading halt on Monday after a takeover offer from Metcash Trading Ltd.


Briefly: Circuit City picks up AT T Net phone plan

roundup Plus: Tech firms rally against copyright bill...Apple .Mac customers suffer e-mail glitches...Alvarion expands wireless broadband in China.


Crude Oil Price Hits \$50 Mark

The Minister of Energy, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, has said government policy on the subsidy of ex-pump prices of petroleum products would remain unchanged even though crude oil price has topped the psychological milestone of \$50 per barrel last Tuesday for the


World Bank says RP suffers from poor image among foreign investors

The countrys rich natural resources and skilled workforce, coupled with improved business climate, could turn the Philippines into an investment haven in Asia, but, so far, the trouble-plagued country has failed to communicate these qualities


Economic Growth Better Than Thought

The US economy grew faster in the second quarter than previously thought as business inventories rose at the strongest rate in four years, the government said on


New charges for HealthSouth ex-CEO

Scrushy faces fewer counts for role in accounting scandal after grand jury consolidates old charges. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal grand jury Wednesday consolidated charges against HealthSouth Corp.


Jamdat shares up 45 percent in first day of trade

Shares of wireless game maker Jamdat Mobile Inc. (JMDT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) rose as much as 45 percent on Wednesday in their first trading day, boosted by investors betting


India Added To Windows XP Starter Edition Roster

Designed as a result of Microsofts ongoing collaborations with international governments, Windows XP Starter Edition Pilot Program is part of Microsofts comprehensive commitment to enable individuals, communities and countries to gain access to the


Security Watch Letter: Inside the JPEG Virus

The end of summer lull for viruses and worms continues. We #39;re still seeing new versions of RBots, and a new Bagle, but nothing with teeth.


Apple software to help garage bands jam

Digital musicians will have a few new riffs for their virtual production boards, at least those using the latest Apple software. Apple Computer on Wednesday announced new versions of its pro and midrange digital


HD-DVD Standard Earns Approval

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


Philadelphia Goes Wireless

Since April, baseball fans attending San Francisco Giants home games at SBC Park have enjoyed wireless internet access if they bring a portable computer with them.


Soccer: Rooney is dazzling in his United debut

For about \$20, you can tour the Theater of Dreams and inhale the history of Manchester United in its Old Trafford Stadium. For \$10 more, you could join the waiting list for a seat on match days - and witness the new arrival Wayne Rooney.


FACTBOX-Luigi Del Neri factbox

- After a modest playing career in Serie A and B with Spal, Foggia, Novara and Udinese, Del Neri takes up his first coaching job in August 1990 with Teramo in Serie C2, Italy #39;s fourth division.


Chiefs suddenly struggling in red zone

To the expanding litany of woes that has plagued the winless Kansas City Chiefs through the first three weeks of the 2004 campaign, a spate of unexpected problems that extends far beyond


Norwegian pilots land plane after axe attack by passenger

OSLO (AFP) - A seemingly unstable passenger attacked two pilots aboard a Norwegian passenger plane with an axe but the aircraft was later able to land, amid concerns over lax security on the country #39;s local flights and at regional airports.


Israel stays silent as  #39;spy #39; pair leave NZ

Israel is maintaining its silence over an alleged spy scandal as it prepares to receive two men deported from New Zealand for passport fraud.


Palestinian Rocket Kills 2 in Israeli Town

A Palestinian rocket hit an Israeli town near the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, killing two people, according to Israeli media. Soon after, witnesses said an Israeli helicopter launched a strike near a Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza.


Rodman to Play in Mexico on NBA Comeback Trail

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Retired basketball great  Dennis Rodman is to play two games with a Mexican league side  next month as part of his slow-burn campaign to return to the  NBA.


Oil Falls Below \$49 on Nigeria Cease-Fire

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices slid from record highs above  \$50 a barrel on Wednesday as the U.S. government reported a  surprise increase in crude stocks and rebels in Nigeria's  oil-rich delta region agreed a temporary cease-fire.


Conoco Invests in Russia Oil Major LUKOIL

MOSCOW (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips won a \$2 billion stake in  Russia's LUKOIL and said it aimed to raise that to 20 percent  in a sweeping alliance that allows the two oil majors to tap  vast reserves in northern Russia and Iraq.


Martha Stewart Going to W.Va. Prison

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Homemaking icon Martha Stewart will  serve her five-month jail sentence for lying about a suspicious  stock sale at a minimum security prison in West Virginia she  said on Wednesday.


IBM Claims Fastest Computer

The company's Blue Gene/L System beats out Japan's Earth Simulator.  Also: Microsoft releases Hindi Windows XP in India   hellip;.The Sims 2 sells more than a million copies   hellip;. and more.


First Google ratings show search engine revved up

Five Wall Street firms that helped take Google Inc public started investment coverage of the internet search engine on Tuesday, giving it their highest stock ratings and predicting substantial gains.


Microsoft Releases Low-Cost Windows XP for India

a pilot program targeting first-time and beginning computer users -- comes on the heels of a similar customized version for Russia.


Porn JPEG Virus will Hijack your PC #39;s

Hackers are using porn images posted on Usenet newsgroups to take advantage of the flaw in Microsoft programs regarding JPEGs. An overflow occurs in the GDI JPEG decoder from malicious code in the JPEG.


Toutatis Safely Passes the Earth

Summary - (Sep 29, 2004) As predicted, Asteroid Toutatis made its closest approach to the Earth today, passing a mere 1.5 million km (930,000 miles) away from our planet - 4 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon.


Microsoft open-sources Web authoring application

SEPTEMBER 29, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Continuing its flirtation with open-source, Microsoft Corp. on Monday posted the code of a little-known collaboration application to open-source development site SourceForge.


Giants #39; rookie faces biggest game of career

Unbeaten and coming off his second career complete game, rookie Noah Lowry will try to continue his brilliant pitching when the playoff-hopeful San Francisco Giants wrap up a three-game series with the San Diego Padres.


Rock credentials fail to cool protest anger

Even Peter Garrett, former rock star and one-time darling of Greens and the Left, could not escape the fury of demonstrators as he arrived for the official launch of Labor #39;s election campaign in Brisbane yesterday.


Sudan #39;s southern rebel leader warns govt against delay in final <b>...</b>

The leader of Sudan #39;s southern rebels on Wednesday warned that delaying a final accord to end the 21-year-old southern rebellion could lead to the disintegration of the country.


Greek airliner resumes flight

A Greek airliner diverted to Ireland by a bomb threat resumed its flight to New York after a search did not find anything suspicious onboard.


Three small bombs explode in Turkey, no injuries

Two small bombs exploded in front of branches of the British HSBC Bank in Turkey on Tuesday and a third blast hit a Turkish-American Association in the capital Ankara, Anatolian news agency reported.


CL Preview: Bayern - Ajax

Match of the week in the Champions #39; League features two clubs that have won eight Champions #39; Cups between them, the powerhouses of Germany and the Netherlands, Bayern Munich versus Ajax Amsterdam.


Saudi Edict Bans Mobile Phone Cameras (AP)

AP - Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority has barred the use of mobile phones with built-in cameras, blaming them for "spreading obscenity."


SpaceShipOne Completes First of Two X Prize Flights (Update1)

SpaceShipOne, financed by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen and built by aviation pioneer Burt Rutan, rocketed 62 miles over the California desert, completing the first half of


Cut-down Windows XP released in India

Microsoft has developed a cut-down version of Windows XP with a Hindi interface for the Indian market. The Indian version, which will be available early next year, will also feature help and training in Hindi.


Intel unveils latest mobile chip

Intel today launched its latest mobile Pentium chip designed for use in high-end desktop replacement laptops. The Pentium 4M 548 runs at 3.33GHz with 1MB Level 2 cache, and is built around Intel #39;s latest 90nanometre technology.


Tennis: Roddick Reaches Second Round of Thailand Open

Second seed Andy Roddick of the United States has easily reached the second round of the Thailand Open tennis tournament in Bangkok with a straight-set win over Arvind Parmar of Britain, 6-1, 6-4.


Rider Sainct killed in Egypt crash

PARIS, France -- French motorcycle rider Richard Sainct, who won the Paris-Dakar rally three times, has been killed in a crash in the Pharaohs Rally in Egypt.


North Texas star running back Patrick Cobbs out for season

DENTON, Texas North Texas has shut down star running back Patrick Cobbs for the season. Mean Green coach Darrell Dickey says Cobbs will take a redshirt this season and return to the team as a fifth-year senior next season.


Italy debates the cost of freeing hostages

Euphoria still lingers in the air after the triumphant homecoming of two Italian aid workers held hostage in Iraq. But concern intensified


Tense Moments During Trailblazing Private Space Flight (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com -  quot;My heart stopped \  here on the ground. quot;\  -- Erik Lindbergh


Expedition Turns Up Life on Pseudo-Mars (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - An international team of scientists has found life on a Norwegian island.  No surprises there, but the successful field test of a collection of life-detection instruments may be a stepping stone for future endeavors to sniff out life on Mars.


Electronic Back-Seat Driver System to Be Tested

Australian scientists have invented an electronic driver's  assistant system, similar to the back-seat driver who forever  points out road signs and warns against speeding.


ConocoPhillips wins LUKoil stake in historic auction

MOSCOW : US oil major ConocoPhillips bought a 7.6-percent government stake in Russia #39;s second-largest producer LUKoil for nearly two billion dollars in the nation #39;s largest post-Soviet privatization deal.


HUD Secretary Comments on Fannie Mae

WASHINGTON - It #39;s up to the board of Fannie Mae to decide whether top managers should be removed in the wake of the mortgage giant #39;s accounting crisis, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson said Wednesday.


Martha Stewart to serve time in West Virginia

Martha Stewart is heading for  quot;Camp Cupcake. quot; She will serve her five-month prison term at a West Virginia facility, not one in Connecticut or Florida, as she had hoped.


Alcan spinoff Novelis will have \$2.8 billion US in debt

MONTREAL (CP) - Alcan Inc. #39;s rolled-products division will be saddled with a debt of \$2.8 billion US as it becomes a separate company under the name Novelis, says a preliminary prospectus.


SpaceShipOne completes first flight in X Prize pursuit

Several St. Louis business people were on hand Wednesday to witness SpaceShipOne #39;s first attempt in its effort to win the \$10 million Ansari X Prize.


New York Mets call news conference for Thursday; expected to hire <b>...</b>

The New York Mets plan to make a major announcement Thursday amid reports they are planning to hire Omar Minaya from the Montreal Expos as head of baseball operations.


Soccer: Del Neri appointed Roma coach

ROME : Luigi Del Neri has been appointed coach of AS Roma, the troubled Serie A club confirmed. Del Neri arrived here Wednesday morning and went immediately to the home of Roma president Franco Sensi to iron out last minute details of the contract.


Rogers wins time trial at road cycling worlds

Australia #39;s Michael Rogers won the elite-division time trial Wednesday at the road cycling World Championships, defending the title he was awarded earlier this month after 2003 winner David Millar of Britain was stripped of his gold medal for doping.


Nigeria Militia Leader Says Deal Reached

ABUJA, Nigeria Sept. 29, 2004 - The leader of militia fighters threatening to widen a battle for control of Nigeria #39;s oil-rich south said Wednesday he agreed to a tentative deal with President Olusegun Obasanjo


UN Wants African Monitors in Darfur Camps

African monitors should deploy in camps to help protect the almost 1.5 million people displaced by the conflict in Darfur and should also monitor police to help build


IBM claims supercomputer speed record

The Blue Gene/L system performed just over 36,000 billion calculations a second during tests at IBM #39;s Rochester office in Minnesota, the company announced on 29 September.


Kmart finalizes sale of 50 stores to Sears

Kmart Holding Corp. has finalized the sale of 50 of its stores to Sears, Roebuck and Co. for \$575 million, the retailer said Wednesday.


U.N. Wants African Monitors in Darfur Camps

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - African monitors should deploy in  camps to help protect the almost 1.5 million people displaced  by the conflict in Darfur and should also monitor police to  help build trust with the local community, the United Nations  said on Wednesday.


Craft reaches edge of space

A MANNED private rocketship burst through the Earth #39;s atmosphere into space today after a hair-raising ascent, putting it half-way towards winning a \$US10 million (\$13.


Low-Cost Versions of Windows XP Unveiled

Microsoft Corp. is removing features and cutting prices in India for a special version of its Windows XP operating system to tap the large market potential in a country where only about 1 percent of the 1 billion people own computers.


Kenya prison conditions slammed

Kenya's Human Rights Commission criticises conditions at Meru jail where seven prisoners have died.


'Men fled' from bridge death spot

Murder trial witnesses say they heard screams and saw men running from where a British backpacker was found dead.


Oil Below \$50 on Nigerian Cease-Fire

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices slid from record highs above  \$50 a barrel Wednesday as the U.S. government reported a  surprise increase in crude stocks and rebels in Nigeria's  oil-rich delta region agreed to a preliminary cease-fire.


Computer Associates to Cut 800 Jobs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Software maker Computer Associates  CA.Non Wednesday said it would cut 800 jobs, or 5 percent of  its work force, in one of its biggest cost cutting efforts amid  weaker demand and falling prices for software and services.


IBM reclaims world supercomputing title

The United States today reclaimed the lead in global supercomputing more than two years after Japans Earth Simulator shook the computing world by claiming the top spot.


Sears closes on Kmart stores

Sears Roebuck and Co. has closed the acquisition of ownership or leasehold interest in 50 stores from Kmart Holding Corp., including one location on Oahu, the Chicago retailer said Wednesday.


SpaceShipOne Rolls During Flight To Space

SpaceShipOne, on a quest to win \$10 million, spun unexpectedly as it rocketed toward space Wednesday, but apparently went into space for the second time.


Earth #39;s  #39;hum #39; springs from stormy seas

An enigmatic humming sound made by the Earth may be caused by the planets stormy seas, suggests a new analysis. Japanese seismologists first described the Earths humming signal in 1998.


Apple introduces two new Garageband Jam Packs

Apple has introduced two new Jam Packs for its popular GarageBand consumer music creation software today. These two new packs offer new instruments and loops for different genres.


Golf: Shoulder injury casts doubts over Woods

KILKENNY, Ireland : Tiger Woods is doubtful for this week #39;s World Golf Championships event in Ireland after injuring a shoulder in a fall.


Safin sights Houston with Thai win

Former world No 1 Marat Safin stormed into the second round of the Thailand Open on Wednesday with a confident 6-2, 6-3 win over Israel #39;s Noam Okun.


Rogers wins world TT title

Reigning world time trial champion Michael Rogers of Australia successfully defended his crown here at the world road race championships Wednesday.


Hope in journalists #39; release

THE French government remained tight-lipped today about the fate of two French journalists abducted over a month ago in Iraq as the release of up to 10 hostages there raised fresh hopes that they could be freed.


Gilberto out with back injury

Arsenal #39;s Brazilian midfielder Gilberto will be sidelined for at least a month with a back injury according to a club report.  quot;Gilberto is out.


Chechen pair held over journalist #39;s murder

MOSCOW: Police have arrested two Chechen suspects in connection with the murder of journalist Paul Klebnikov, the editor of Forbes magazine #39;s Russian edition, who was shot in an apparent contract killing in July.


Conoco Phillips buys 7.6 in Lukoil for \$2 bn

Front-runner Conoco Phillips today won the auction for 7.6 per cent of Russian oil and gas group Lukoil, bidding some \$2 billion, in a deal that also takes the US group into a joint venture to exploit the Timan-Pechora area of Russia.


Travelzoo Shares Rally After Offering Rumor Fades

The bears are growling again inside Travelzoo.com Inc. (TZOO.O: Quote, Profile, Research). Shares of the Internet travel site soared on Wednesday after plunging more than 20 percent a day earlier.


Private Space Ship Lands Safely, Nears Prize

SpaceShipOne landed safely on Wednesday in the California desert after a wild corkscrew-like ascent into space, and is now a step closer to a


Microsoft, Amazon Take Phishers to Court

Microsoft and Amazon.com have joined forces against perpetrators of phishing scams, filing a lawsuit against a Canadian company that they say ran a spamming campaign using Microsoft #39;s Hotmail services and forging Amazon #39;s name.


Rodman could have a place here, after all

There are exactly 18.7 reasons why Dennis Rodman thinks he can play in the NBA again. The Worm is much older now, less energetic and physically not what he used to be.


Delta Cuts to Run

Desperate times call for desperate measures. In Delta #39;s (NYSE: DAL) case, that #39;s now, according to CEO Gerald Grinstein. In a memo to employees yesterday, Grinstein announced


Sears buys two local Kmart stores

Two closed Kmart stores in the Tampa Bay area are among 50 nationwide acquired by Sears, Roebuck and Co. in a \$576-million deal announced Wednesday.


US Economy: Growth Slowed Less Than Expected in 2nd Quarter

The US economy slowed less than previously estimated in the second quarter as exports and inventories grew, revised numbers from the government show.


Private rocketship goes to space and back

: MOJAVE, United States (AFP - A private manned rocketship blasted through the Earth #39;s atmosphere into space after a hair-raising corkscrew ascent on a flight aimed at capturing a 10-million-dollar prize.


Microsoft Reveals More Intellectual Property

Microsoft today released its third open-source offering called the FlexiWiki project on SourceForge.net. FlexWiki is a collaborative web-based authoring environment implemented on the Microsoft .


Special to ESPN.com

Who better to talk about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry than Tom Gordon, who calls his days in Boston among his happiest in the game.


Campbell starts for Gunners in Norway

Sol Campbell started his second game in the space of five days when he lined up in the Arsenal defence for tonights Champions League encounter with Rosenborg in Norway.


Darfur is All About Talk And No Action

LISTENING to the saber-rattling emanating from western countries that are angry about the humanitarian crisis in the western Sudan region of Darfur, one would conclude that strong international action is about to be carried out on behalf of the more than


Kmart wraps sale of 50 stores to Sears (AFP)

AFP - Kmart Holding Corporation, parent company of the discount retail chain, said it had finalized the sale of 50 stores to Sears, Roebuck and Co for 575.9 million dollars in cash.


Update 2: IMF Predicts Strongest Growth in 3 Decades

The world economy this year should post its best growth in three decades even though oil prices are up sharply and economic activity in the United States probably will be slower than previously thought.


The more the Red Sox and Cubs talk about it, the worse it gets

I #39;m pleased to report that you #39;ve heeded my anguished cry for thoughtful commentary and staved off my insidious plan to write a treatise on Keynesian economics.


Workers at four hotels in San Francisco go on strike

Unionized workers at four San Francisco hotels went on strike Wednesday morning. A union leader called the walkout  quot;a wake-up call quot; for hotels to stimulate stalled talks.


Japan expected to remain quiet on yuan

TOKYOWhen the United States demands at this week #39;s Group of Seven meeting that China loosen its grip on the yuan, Japan is expected to say little and try to avoid being drawn into the debate between the country #39;s two biggest trading partners.


Space Flight Bumpy, But Successful

(CBS/AP) The first private manned rocket to reach space soared toward the edge of the atmosphere again in an unexpectedly bumpy ride Wednesday in the first half of a bid to earn a \$10 million prize.


Lynch set for return to Tampa

It #39;s not quite Raymond Bourque returning to Boston in a Colorado Avalanche sweater, but it #39;s close. Put it this way: if John Lynch gets another Super Bowl


Low-Cost Versions of Windows XP Unveiled (AP)

AP - Microsoft Corp. is removing features and cutting prices in India for a special version of its Windows XP operating system to tap the large market potential in a country where only about 1 percent of the 1 billion people own computers.


VoIP, Inc. Seeking To Partner with Cable Firms (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Voice-over-Internet provider VoIP, Inc. says it is in talks with some 70 smaller cable companies to provide them with wholesale Internet or VoIP-based phone service plans.


Munich To Make Linux Migration Official (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - A year after announcing it would migrate its Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows-run computers to Linux, the German city of Munich is expected to make the migration official. The city's council has scheduled a vote, which is anticipated to kick off the next phase of the Linux move.


Salesforce.com expands call center support (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - NEW YORK - Hosted CRM (customer relationship management) evangelist Salesforce.com Inc. began a new branding campaign this week to draw attention to its customer-service support functionality, launching a new Web site at Supportforce.com and announcing a batch of partnerships with top call center infrastructure vendors.


Strong Quake Rattles Tiny California Town (Reuters)

Reuters - A strong earthquake and over 200\aftershocks struck central California on Tuesday, rattling a\large chunk of the state along the San Andreas Fault, but\causing little significant damage.


Branson Dumps Cyberspace on Road to Outer Space (Reuters)

Reuters - Richard Branson is abandoning cyberspace\as he heads for outer space.


Bush and Kerry Gear Up for First Debate (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush and\Democratic rival Sen. John Kerry on Wednesday wrapped up\practice sessions for their first debate with each side\claiming the other faced the tougher challenge.


Rival Uses Bin Laden Ad to Attack Murray (AP)

AP - Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has "a different view of Osama bin Laden," her campaign rival charged Wednesday in an attack ad that uses a picture of the al-Qaida leader and the senator's words to challenge her credentials in the war on terror.


SpaceShipOne Successfully Soars Into Space Again

By JOHN ANTCZAK     MOJAVE, Calif. (AP) -- The first private manned rocket recovered from a wild corkscrew roll on its ascent to soar to space and back Wednesday in a bid to earn a \$10 million prize...


Powell to Visit Brazil, Talk With Leaders

Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit Brazil Oct. 6-8 for talks with officials on Latin American issues and other topics.


Parade of Hurricanes Erode Florida Beaches

By BILL KACZOR     PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- Many of Florida's beaches have taken on a different look after this year's parade of hurricanes finished shifting, eroding or completely relocating tons of sand...


Cendant Makes Its Move on Diller

By nabbing Orbitz in a pricey deal, Henry Silverman #39;s outfit will now go head-to-head against InterActiveCorp in online travel.


Briefly: Microsoft boosts reporting tools

roundup Plus: Circuit City picks up AT #38;T Net phone plan...Tech firms rally against copyright bill...Apple .Mac customers suffer e-mail glitches.


Patriots Say They're Focused on Bills (AP)

AP - Don't mention the streak within the confines of Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots take a string of 17 straight victories into Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. A win at Ralph Wilson Stadium would make them the sixth NFL team to win 18 straight, including playoff games.


Air Force, Navy to Play in Iraq War Shadow (AP)

AP - Hype from the media, fans, players and coaches can make a college football game seem like a life-or-death situation. Not at the service academies.


Microsoft boosts reporting tools

Microsoft issues free tools to create business reports its Exchange and customer relationship management applications.


Trend Micro Gives Away Mobile Antivirus App

Experts say viruses don't pose a serious risk to handheld devices--yet.


SpaceShipOne completes first flight in \$10M prize pursuit

SpaceShipOne, the Paul Allen-backed venture that #39;s attempting to take paying passengers into suborbital space for the first time, has completed the first leg of its effort to win a \$10 million prize.


Clijsters Makes Winning Return to Tour (AP)

AP - Former top-ranked player Kim Clijsters made a winning return to the tour Wednesday, shaking off five months of rustiness to beat Iveta Benesova 7-6 (3), 6-2 and moving into the quarterfinals of the Gaz de France Stars tournament.


Culpepper highlights NFC Players of the Week

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Ken Lucas and New Orleans Saints kicker John Carney were named NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for


Dalmiya gets Pawar run out on last ball

KOLKATA: Weeks of suspense, a final day packed with drama, and in the best potboiler tradition, it all boiled down to the last few moments.


Del Neri replaces Voeller

Rome - AS Roma hired Luigi Del Neri as coach on Wednesday to replace Rudi Voeller, who resigned last Sunday. The 54-year-old Italian coach and Roma officials agreed on a two-year contract, but terms were not immediately disclosed.


CSKA beat PSG 2-0 in Moscow

CSKA Moscow beat Paris St Germain 2-0 in a scrappy Champions League encounter on Wednesday to move temporarily to the top of Group H. Sergei Semak put the Russians ahead with a


Nigeria rebel leader cites deal

A rebel leader who had threatened to attack multinational oil interests in Nigeria says he and President Olusegun Obasanjo have agreed that rebel and government troops will stop firing on each other immediately.


Clijsters Wins on Comeback

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian Kim Clijsters made a  successful return from a long absence Wednesday, overcoming  dogged Czech Iveta Benesova 7-6, 6-2 in the second round of the  Belgian Open.


Linksys, Verizon team on Net telephony

Verizon will use Linksys phone adapters for its VoIP service, as the market for placing calls over the Net picks up momentum.


Microsoft focuses on camera connections

Software giant announces new tools for plugging digital cameras into PCs.


Digital photo album bypasses PCs

SanDisk's media player can be connected directly to a TV set to display still images and video clips taken by digital cameras.


Salesforce.com expands call center support

NEW YORK - Hosted CRM (customer relationship management) evangelist Salesforce.com Inc. began a new branding campaign this week to draw attention to its customer-service support functionality, launching a new Web site at Supportforce.com and announcing a batch of partnerships with top call center infrastructure vendors.


Lycos Pulls Antispam Screensaver

Application that claimed to "spam the spammers" caused much controversy.


Saudi Arabia Bans Mobile Phone Cameras

By ABDULLAH SHIHRI    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority has barred the use of mobile phones with built-in cameras, blaming them for "spreading obscenity."    The edict, which follows a failed ban on the sale and import of the wildly popular devices, is the most sweeping attempt by any nation to prevent the voyeurism invited by the new technology.    Camera-equipped phones have caught on fast in parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East - particularly in oil-rich Gulf countries - prompting complaints about privacy in places where people undress, "theft" of reading materials at book stores and newsstands, and corporate espionage by employees...


Video Cameras at Movies May Be Criminalized

By TED BRIDIS    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Using video cameras to record films in movie theaters would become a federal crime punishable by up to six years in prison under a bill passed Tuesday by the House.    The legislation, called the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act, also would make it easier for the Justice Department to prosecute Internet users who illegally distribute large amounts of music and other copyrighted works...


Oil Ends Below \$50 on Nigerian Ceasefire

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices slid from record highs  above \$50 a barrel Wednesday as the U.S. government reported a  surprise increase in crude stocks and rebels in Nigeria's  oil-rich delta region agreed to a preliminary cease-fire with  the government.


ConocoPhillips Buys \$2 Billion Stake in Lukoil

The purchase, which ConocoPhillips, the American energy conern, made at an auction today for the Russian government's stake in Lukoil, sets the stage for projects in Iraq.


Google News Biased? Can Algorithms Take Sides?\\Danny Sullivan posted a thread at SEW forums named News Search  #038; Biases, where he points to an article written at OJR.org named Balancing Act: How News Portals Serve Up Political Stories. This blew my mind.\\The article discusses how Google News seems to be ...


Wal-Mart to take biggest hit from S amp;P index shift

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Wal-Mart Stores will experience the most negative impact from a plan for Standard  amp; Poor #39;s to shift the composition of key index benchmarks over a phased, year-long transition, analysts said Wednesday.


Amazon, Microsoft Suit Caps Busy Two Weeks

Microsoft and Amazon.com are teaming up to sue a Canadian-based company that they say ran a phishing scheme.  quot;They are going to crush this guy legally, quot; Panda Software CTO Patrick Hinojosa Hinojosa gleefully observes.


Study: As much as 50 of Viagra sold online is fake

(National) Sept. 29, 2004 - A British study shows as much as half of the Viagra sold on the Internet is not the real thing. Some of the pills have totally different ingredients.


Q9 Networks Inc. to open Brampton, Ont., data centre after \$13M <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Q9 Networks Inc., a provider of outsourced Internet services, says it will open a high-security data centre in Brampton, Ont.


Nothing like Tito at the Garden

The gestures are simple enough, but they speak volumes. A single fist, followed by an extended index finger to signify  quot;number one, and a smile that seems out of place in such a violent sport.


Forget the streak, Patriots say they #39;re focused on Buffalo

The New England Patriots take a string of 17 straight victories into Sunday #39;s game against the Buffalo Bills. A win at Ralph Wilson Stadium would make them the sixth NFL team to win 18 straight, including playoff games.


Paralympians warmly welcomed home

Britain #39;s Paralympians returned home to a warm welcome after arriving at Gatwick airport on Wednesday. Team GB finished second in the table, behind China, with 94 medals - 35 of which were gold.


IBM reclaims top supercomputer crown for U.S. (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - For the first time since 2002, Japan #39;s Earth Simulator is not the most powerful supercomputer on the planet.


Belo to Cut 250 Jobs, Completes Circulation Probe

Belo Corp. said on Wednesday it would cut more than 3 percent of its work force, mostly at its Dallas Morning News, which is grappling with a recent scandal into inflated circulation data provided to advertisers.


Martha Stewart assigned to West Virginia prison

Martha Stewart will do her time farther from home than she had hoped, at a remote West Virginia prison where inmates sleep in bunk beds and rise at 6 am to do menial labor for pennies an hour.


UPDATE 1-Wal-Mart sets \$10 billion share repurchase plan

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s top retailer, on Wednesday said its board of directors authorized a \$10 billion stock repurchase plan, replacing a \$7 billion share buyback program.


HP Gets Extended Nokia IT Pact

Hewlett-Packard Co., a maker of computers and office equipment that also provides information technology services, said on Wednesday that it will provide the world #39;s largest cell phone maker, Nokia Corp.


IBM spices up corporate search

com September 29, 2004, 12:45 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.


US has no objection to NKorea delaying nuclear talks until after <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON : The United States said it had no objection to North Korea wanting to resume six-party talks on ending the Korean nuclear crisis after the November 2 US presidential elections.


Argentina School Shooting Victims Buried

Hundreds of mourners marched in a southern Argentina funeral cortege Wednesday for two of the three students gunned down by their teenage classmate in the nation #39;s worst school shooting on record.


Ubuntu, a promising new Linux distribution

The past month has introduced an interesting new distribution that is based on the Gnome and Debian projects.  nbsp;Ubuntu Linux is the end-user-oriented distribution funded by Mark Shuttleworth's company Canonical.  nbsp;


ConocoPhillips Buys Lukoil Stake for \$1.99 Billion (Update12)

ConocoPhillips will buy 7.6 percent of OAO Lukoil from Russia for \$1.99 billion and may raise that stake, expanding its access to the world #39;s largest oil- and gas- producing country as energy prices surge.


Martha Stewart to Serve Time in West Virginia

artha Stewart #39;s prison stay for lying about a stock sale will take her to West Virginia, farther from home for the holidays, she said today, than she had hoped.


Rochester Business Journal

Eastman Kodak Co. and Lexar Media Inc. have expanded digital media card offerings with new Kodak picture cards. Lexar will distribute and market Kodak xD-Picture Cards through both companies global retail


JPEG Attack Watch Continues

Windows #39; JPEG vulnerability could be exploited by using Internet Explorer, a security firm claimed Wednesday, making the threat a potentially  quot;devastating quot; one.


Winter storms source of Earth #39;s hum: geologists

LONDON - The Earth #39;s silent hum is created by interactions between the atmosphere, ocean and sea floor, researchers say. Planet Earth produces a deep, low frequency rumble far below the limit of human hearing.


Consortium Works on Network Interoperability

A new international group of defense contractors and systems integrators plans to accelerate increased interoperability in network systems that serve the military, first responders and, eventually, commercial users.


Dope-tainted lifters banned for life by IOA

THE INDIAN Olympic Association on Wednesday slapped life bans on tainted weightlifters Pratima Kumari and Sanamacha Chanu who were caught cheating at the Athens Olympics.


Montreal Expos Fans Set to Bid Adieu to Team

Fans of the Montreal Expos prepared to bid adieu on Wednesday, as Canada #39;s first big league baseball team appeared set to move to Washington.


Western Illinois football players charged in burglary, suspended

Two Western Illinois football players were suspended from the team Wednesday after being charged in a weekend burglary. Defensive back William Penn and defensive lineman Michael Black were each charged with


Group Enters Canadian Embassy in Beijing (AP)

AP - Forty-three men, women and children using ladders clambered over a spiked fence around the Canadian Embassy on Wednesday in what appeared to be the biggest recent bid for asylum by North Koreans. One other man was stopped by police.


RCMP officer was a rookie when abused woman was shot by her husband (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - BURNABY, B.C. (CP) - The RCMP officer who investigated a spousal abuse complaint from a woman who was later gunned down by her husband was a rookie with only six months on the job, a coroner's inquest heard Wednesday.


House Votes to End Handgun Ban in D.C. (AP)

AP - The House voted Wednesday to end a 28-year ban on handgun ownership in the nation's capital, brushing aside pleas from city officials concerned about a surge in violence and more heavily armed criminals.


IBM spices up corporate search

Masala, an add-on to IBM's DB2 database, queries far-flung info sources on company networks.


IBM claims fastest supercomputer title--for now

New Silicon Graphics machine has a chance at giving Big Blue a run for the title.


Study:  #39;Phishing #39; scams net \$500 million

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.


Lee Hits Grand Slam, White Sox Beat Tigers (AP)

AP - Carlos Lee hit a grand slam and a two-run homer and Freddy Garcia pitched seven scoreless innings to lead the Chicago White Sox past the Detroit Tigers 11-2 Wednesday.


One Flight Down, One To Go for SpaceShipOne

Pilot Mike Melvill flew SpaceShipOne to the designated altitude, but on the return to Earth the craft rolled more than 30 times, causing concern on the ground.


Bills' Losman May Practice in Two Weeks (AP)

AP - Rookie quarterback J.P. Losman threw his first practice passes for the Buffalo Bills since breaking his left leg last month, and anticipates being cleared for contact within three weeks.


Clijsters comes back from long layoff to make winning return

Former top-ranked player Kim Clijsters made a winning return to the tour Wednesday, shaking off five months of rustiness to beat Iveta Benesova 7-6 (3), 6-2 and moving into the quarterfinals of the Gaz de France Stars tournament.


Dakar legend Sainct killed in Egypt.

It has been regretfully announced that three-times Rally Dakar winner Richard Sainct was killed today (Wednesday) while competing in Rally Egypt.


Sudan bows to pressure, allows AU to monitor police in Darfur <b>...</b>

KHARTOUM (AFP) - Sudan bowed to mounting pressure over the crisis in Darfur and agreed to allow African Union forces to monitor the activities of its police in camps for displaced persons in the region.


WIU Football Players Charged in Burglary (AP)

AP - Two Western Illinois football players were suspended from the team Wednesday after being charged in a weekend burglary.


Study: 'Phishing' scams net \$500 million

Scams that use spoofed Web sites of banks and other trusted bodies pulled in a majority of U.S. surfers, a survey has found.


Treasuries Fall as Investors Take Profits (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Treasury debt prices fell for a\second straight session on Wednesday as buyers' resistance to\higher prices spawned a wave of profit-taking.


Oil Ends Below \$50 on Nigerian Cease-Fire

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices slid from record highs  above \$50 a barrel Wednesday as the U.S. government reported a  surprise increase in crude stocks and rebels in Nigeria's  oil-rich delta region agreed to a preliminary cease-fire with  the government.


Treasuries Fall as Investors Take Profits

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury debt prices fell for a  second straight session on Wednesday as buyers' resistance to  higher prices spawned a wave of profit-taking.


U.S. Stocks End Higher

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks advanced on Wednesday as  Internet and semiconductor companies led technology shares  higher and crude oil retreated from record high prices.


Dallas Morning News to Lose Jobs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Belo Corp. BLC.N said on Wednesday  it would cut more than 3 percent of its work force, mostly at  its Dallas Morning News, which is grappling with a recent  scandal into inflated circulation data provided to advertisers.


Oil Ends Below \$50 on Nigerian Ceasefire

Oil prices slid from record highs above \$50 a barrel Wednesday as the U.S. government reported a surprise increase in crude stocks and rebels in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region agreed to a preliminary cease-fire with the government.


McCormick Keeps It Spicy

The spice and seasoning manufacturer beats third-quarter earnings and reaffirms guidance.


IMF Optimistic on World Economic Growth

The International Monetary Fund says the world economy is growing at the fastest past in three decades, but in its semi-annual report the international lender says growth is likely to slow in 2005.


Hotel franchisor acquires Orbitz

In a deal combining two travel industry powerhouses, hotel franchisor and real estate service company Cendant Corp. agreed to acquire Internet travel agency Orbitz Inc.


Economy stronger in second quarter than previous estimate

The economy grew at a faster pace this spring than previously thought, but was at its weakest level in more than a year, providing ammunition to both candidates in the final weeks of the presidential race.


American Greetings reinstates dividend

Greeting card maker American Greetings Corp. has reinstated its quarterly dividend after three years, as the company swings to profitability.


Apple intros Logic Pro 7, Logic Express 7, Jam Packs

Apple on Wednesday announced Logic Pro 7 and Logic Express 7, the newest major releases of the company #39;s pro music creation and audio production software.


Baseball returns to Washington; Expos relocated to DC

Baseball is returning to the nation #39;s capital for the first time in 33 years, in the form of the Montreal Expos. Expos president Tony Tavares said Major League Baseball told him Wednesday his team was moving


Aussie Michael Rogers wins time trial at road cycling worlds

BARDOLINO, Italy (CP) - Michael Rogers of Australia won the elite-division time trail Wednesday at the world road cycling championships, repeating his delayed victory from last year.


Culpepper Named NFC Offensive Player Of The Week

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. It #39;s the second time this season Culpepper has won that honor, and the fifth time in his career.


Kidnappers treat  quot;well with a lot of respect quot; during captivity

ROME, Sept 29 (AFP):One of two Italian women released after three weeks captivity in Iraq said she was ready to go back to the war-wracked country to continue her aid work, and told of being given sweets by her kidnappers as a farewell gift.


Analyst boosts retailer #39;s rating to  #39;buy #39;

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Bank of America Monday upgraded Wal-Mart, citing valuation and its belief that higher energy costs have no negative surprise factor for the retailing behemoth.


IBM Settles Pension Suit, to Take Charge

International Business Machines Corp. has settled portions of an ongoing lawsuit related to pensions, and will take a charge of \$320 million in the current quarter, the technology company said on Wednesday.


Researchers Using DNA to Help Stop Elephant Poaching

Despite a 1989 ban on the slaughter of elephants for their tusks, the illegal ivory trade is as brisk as ever. In an effort to step up efforts to protect elephants, researchers have been using genetic technology


Salesforce.com Unveils Site Aimed At Providing On-Demand Call <b>...</b>

Salesforce.com Inc. took the next step in its evolution Wednesday, introducing a new site, Supportforce.com, that #39;s designed to provide on-demand call-center and customer-service software along


Woods seeks Ryder Cup changes

Tiger Woods says he would like more of a say in future US Ryder Cup team decisions. Woods, who struggled along with the rest of the American side in the biennial event earlier this month, says he #39;d like to


Massu cruises; Verdasco, Nadal fall in Palermo

Palermo, Italy (Sports Network) - Top-seeded and defending champion Nicolas Massu of Chile advanced, but third-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco and sixth- seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal were not as fortunate Wednesday at the clay-court Palermo


Correction: FDA-Drug-Imports Story (AP)

AP - In a Sept. 28 story about the interception of drugs purportedly sent from Canada, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the medications had been ordered by Americans from the Web site www.CanadaRx.com. The drugs were ordered through www.CanadaRx.net.


IBM Settles Pension Suit, to Take Charge (Reuters)

Reuters - International Business Machines Corp.\has settled portions of an ongoing lawsuit related to pensions,\and will take a charge of  #36;320 million in the current quarter,\the technology company said on Wednesday.


Dolly's Creator Applies for Human Cloning License (Reuters)

Reuters - Scientists who created Dolly the sheep,\the world's first cloned mammal, applied for a license on\Tuesday to clone human embryos to obtain stem cells for\research into Motor Neurone Disease.


AIG Says Unit Faces U.S. Criminal Probe

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc.  AIG.N, the world's largest insurer by market value, on  Wednesday said the U.S. Department of Justice opened a criminal  probe into one of its units over possible securities law  violations.


Yen Rises Smartly as Oil Prices Fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The yen rose smartly on Wednesday as  oil prices fell on diminished supply worries, while sterling  slumped after a British central banker indicated the bank's  rate tightening cycle may be nearing an end.


G-7 likely won #39;t press China on yuan

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Finance ministers from the world #39;s seven richest nations aren #39;t likely to pressure China on foreign-exchange policy when they meet with Chinese finance officials for the first time as a group in Washington at the end of the week, a


Bonds #39; 700th homerun ball tentatively kept from auction block

The man who ended up with Barry Bonds #39; 700th homerun hit promised a state judge here Wednesday that he would not sell the ball, valued in the  quot;six figures, quot; before a judge decides who is the real owner.


Users: Data validity, security issues can arise during BI rollouts

Although business intelligence software can yield major benefits for companies, a variety of challenges can arise during implementations, said users at the Business Intelligence Perspectives conference.


Salesforce.com expands call center support

The most significant product advancement is Salesforce.com's newly released Telephony API tool kit, which allows its sales automation software to integrate with products from partners.


Compuware boosts application development wares

Compuware announced plans yesterday to release two new products: one to purge new applications of security vulnerabilities, and a second to test applications against common errors.


Cendant buying Orbitz.com in \$1.25B deal

Travel and hospitality company Cendant Corp. today announced plans to acquire online travel vendor Orbitz.com for approximately \$1.25 billion.


Update: CA cutting 5 of workforce

Computer Associates International said today that it plans to cut 800 positions worldwide, or 5 of its workforce, in the hope of shaving \$70 million annually off its operating costs.


Agere to cut 500 jobs amid slowing sales

Citing sluggish sales, communications chip maker Agere Systems today said it will cut 500 jobs and sell or close a plant in Florida that employs 600 people.


Freescale announces dual-core PowerPC processor

Manufactured with a 90-nanometer process, Freescale's MPC8641D processor has two PowerPC e600 processor cores that run at clock speeds faster than 1.5 GHz and are connected by a high-speed interface.


IBM reclaims supercomputer crown for U.S.

IBM has assembled a 16,000-processor version of its BlueGene/L supercomputer, which on Sept. 16 edged out the Earth Simulator, built by IBM rival NEC, as the most powerful supercomputer on the planet.


.Mac bumps up storage capacity, improves mail

Apple Computer Inc. has improved the services offered to subscribers of .Mac, including an increase in the amount of online data storage to 250MB.


Speakers debate RFID benefits, challenges

BALTIMORE - While speakers at the EPCglobal Inc. U.S. conference Wednesday talked up the benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID), analysts watching RFID adoptions said many U.S. companies are still waiting to see a clear reason to adopt the technology.


Higher oil prices prompt downward revision to  #39;05 outlook

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- The global economic outlook that looked strong in April is starting to fray around the edges, according to an International Monetary Fund report released on Wednesday.


Blue Gene/L teraflops into supercomputing #39;s top spot

IBM #39;s ascension to the top of the world #39;s supercomputing ranks marks the emergence of a platform that would make its way into a wide variety of customer environments, executives said Wednesday.


Cendant To Buy Orbitz For \$1.25 Billion

SEPTEMBER 29, 2004 -- Cendant Corp. and Orbitz today reached a definitive agreement for Cendant to buy all the shares of Orbitz for \$27.


Update 3: Ex-CEO Scrushy Faces New Perjury Charge

Federal prosecutors added perjury and obstruction of justice charges to the criminal case against fired HealthSouth Corp. chief executive Richard Scrushy on Wednesday under a new indictment in the rehabilitation giant #39;s accounting scandal.


IMF calls on China to drop yuan currency peg

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund yesterday called on China to drop the yuan currency #39;s tight peg to the dollar to help keep domestic inflation under control and bring more balance to the global economy.


IBM Agrees to Settle Part of Illinois Pension Lawsuit (Update1)

International Business Machines Corp., the world #39;s largest seller of computers and related services, said it agreed to settle part of a lawsuit that claimed the company #39;s pension plan discriminated against older workers.


Microsoft To Unveil Low-priced XP Starter

NEW DELHI: Microsoft will be launching substantially low-priced Windows XP Starter Edition in the Indian market early next year.


IBM Unmasks Masala for Speedy Search

Sifting through millions of documents to locate a valuable few is tedious enough, but what happens when those files are scattered across different repositories?


Inter crush Anderlecht 3-1 to lead group by three points

Inter Milan beat Anderlecht 3-1 away to open a three-point lead in Champions League Group G on Wednesday. Obafemi Martins put Inter ahead in the ninth minute when he turned in a low left cross from fellow striker Adriano.


Norway: Pilots attacked with an ax

pee writes  quot;A passenger on a commuter plane in northern Norway attacked both pilots and at least one passenger with an axe as the aircraft was coming in to land.


Computer Assoc. Cuts 800 Jobs Worldwide (AP)

AP - Computer Associates International Inc. announced a restructuring plan Wednesday that would reduce its work force by 800 people worldwide, saving the business software maker  #36;70 million annually once the plan is fully implemented.


Analysts, Apple on Logic, GarageBand (MacCentral)

MacCentral - The focus of Apple Computer Inc. executives was on music Wednesday as the Cupertino, Calif.-based company released new versions of its professional music creation software Logic, Logic Express and new Jam Packs for its consumer level application GarageBand. Research analysts feel that Apple's overall product strategy of offering multiple products from consumer to pro is sound.


Lethargic Gunners fail to tie up loose Strands (AFP)

AFP - Arsenal's capacity for shooting themselves in the foot in Europe surfaced again as the English champions laboured to a 1-1 draw with Rosenborg.


Russian Foreign Minister Meets With Castro (AP)

AP - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with President Fidel Castro and other Cuban leaders Wednesday as the countries worked on re-creating more modest versions of political and economic alliances that unraveled after the Soviet Union's collapse.


Bittersweet day in Montreal as Expos officially play final home game (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - It's finally official. The Montreal Expos are moving on.


RNC Creates Web Sites to Criticize Kerry (AP)

AP - Republicans have one message for followers of many faiths: Sen. John Kerry is wrong.


Congress Delays Votes on OT, Drug Issues (AP)

AP - Congress' Republican leaders are postponing politically thorny votes on overtime, imported prescription drugs and other issues until after the November elections.


Blair Says Britain Would Respond to Hostage Takers

BRIGHTON, England/DUBAI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Tony  Blair said on Wednesday Britain would respond to the captors of  hostage Kenneth Bigley in Iraq if they made contact with his  government.


Wounded Pilots Land Norway Plane After Axe Attack

OSLO (Reuters) - An Algerian-born man attacked two pilots  and a passenger with an axe on a domestic Norwegian flight  Wednesday in an unexplained assault that police said could be  linked to his asylum status.


Former Sun, BEA execs forge grid venture

Former executives from companies such as Sun Microsystems, BEA Systems, and Oracle this week are formally launching a venture called Cassatt, which is endeavoring to automate IT operations, leverage commodity hardware and software, and govern network compute cycles in a grid-like manner.


Cendant Buying Orbitz for \$27.50 a Share

Cendant (CD:NYSE) sewed up a \$1.25 billion acquisition of online travel giant Orbitz (ORBZ:Nasdaq), igniting another surge in shares of the airline-owned travel site.


IBM Agrees to Settle Part of Federal Pension Lawsuit (Update2)

International Business Machines Corp., the world #39;s largest computer maker, said it will settle part of a federal lawsuit that claimed the company #39;s pension plan discriminated against 130,000 older workers.


Union workers walk at 4 hotels

Union workers went out on strike Wednesday morning at four San Francisco hotels, their contract bargaining having stalled over differences about wages, pensions and the term of a contract.


Colombian leader seeks more international support

Colombia, locked in a 40-year war fueled by the drug trade, has made gains in restoring order and economic growth but needs more international help to secure


BlueGene: IBM claims crown

IBM CORP. announced Wednesday that it has created the most powerful computer ever, besting a Japanese machine that has held the world record for computing power for three years.


Toxic Algae Bloom Seen Off Washington State Coast

An unusually large toxic bloom of algae, which could poison humans and taint shellfish, has been detected in the ocean off the northwest coast of Washington state, oceanographers said on Wednesday.


Baseball is back in DC

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington #39;s wait is over for the return of a Major League Baseball team, as it was announced on Wednesday that the Montreal Expos will be relocated to the nation #39;s capital in 2005.


Inter crushes Anderlecht, leads group by three points

Inter Milan beat Anderlecht 3-1 away to open a three-point lead in Champions League Group G on Wednesday. Obafemi Martins put Inter ahead in the ninth minute when he turned in a low left cross from fellow striker Adriano.


White Sox 11, Tigers 2

When Magglio Ordonez joined Frank Thomas on the disabled list in July, the Chicago White Sox fell apart. They won just eight times during a 28-game stretch and plummeted out of first place.


Victims of Argentine school shooting mourned

Hundreds of mourners marched in a funeral procession Wednesday for two teenage victims of Argentina #39;s worst school shooting on record, a day after a fellow student #39;s classroom rampage.


Suspected Spies Heading To Israel

The Prime Minister has confirmed the two Israelis convicted and sentenced earlier this year for passport fraud, have been deported.


Outlook on future flagging

NEW YORK - Continued job worries resulted in an unexpected decline in consumer confidence in September, the second consecutive monthly dip, a New York-based private research group said Tuesday.


Cendant to buy Orbitz for \$1.25 billion

Travel and real estate heavyweight Cendant said Wednesday it will buy travel Web site Orbitz for about \$1.25 billion, making it the No.


Synnex Beats 2Q Estimates; Net Income Up 50 Percent

Synnex beat Wall Street estimates and reported a 50 percent increase in net income for the third quarter ended Aug. 31, and a 29-percent increase in sales.


Good news:  #39;Phishing #39; scams net only \$500 million

The online cons known as  quot;phishing quot; have cost US consumers \$500 million, according to a study released Wednesday. In addition, the study found that three-quarters of wired Americans have noticed an increase


Oil prices fall on rising US inventories, easing Nigeria fears

Red-hot oil prices cooled, easing below 50 dollars a barrel in New York after news of stronger-than-expected US inventories and oil in the United States and diminishing fears of unrest in Nigeria.


DHL Sees Loss As FedEx, UPS Dominate

Shares of United Parcel Service Inc. moved higher in trading Wednesday, while DHL Express appears not to be garnering the US market share it originally expected.


SalesLogix and Salesforce.com Expand Their Customer Service <b>...</b>

Two leading midmarket CRM vendors released expansions of their platforms this week, branching further into the service side of CRM.


AC Milan #39;s denies brave Celtic

AC Milan scored twice in the last two minutes to beat Celtic in a dramatic Champions League clash which edged the Italians closer to the knockout stages.


CLIJSTERS ADVANCES IN HASSELT

Former world number one Kim Clijsters showed little rust in her first match in more than than four months. On her home soil, the second-seeded Clijsters made a successful comeback from a wrist injury with


Pitcairn men linked with  #39;a culture of sex abuse #39; are named

His name is Steve Christian, and he is the mayor of Pitcairn Island and a descendant of Fletcher Christian, the Bounty #39;s first mate.


FACTBOX-Profiles of key figures in new Irish cabinet

Ireland #39;s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern has shuffled his cabinet to re-energise his party after a poor showing in local and European elections earlier this year.


IBM Partial Settlement in Pension Suit (AP)

AP - IBM Corp. and plaintiffs challenging the legality of its pension plan agreed to a deal Wednesday that settles most claims and caps the company's potential liability at  #36;1.7 billion. The company previously had estimated a settlement could cost as much as  #36;6.5 billion.


Toxic Algae Bloom Grows Off Wash. Coast (AP)

AP - A toxic algae bloom off the coast of Washington state has grown to about 30 miles wide, the largest and most potentially lethal algae yet found by scientists in the region.


Electronic Back-Seat Driver System to Be Tested (Reuters)

Reuters - Drivers may soon have no excuse for\ignoring road signs.


SSH Proxies and Timeouts

\\The other day I blogged about setting up SSH proxies .  \\It turns out this is only 90 correct. You need to specify a timeout for the\'nc' command or they will block forever on your proxy machine and then you'll\run out of processes.\\The new command is \\"nc -w 60 h p "\


U.S. Treasury Debt Prices Fall (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Treasury debt prices fell for a\second straight session on Wednesday as buyers' resistance to\higher prices spawned a wave of profit-taking.


'Soft patch' not so soft, as US economic growth is revised higher (AFP)

AFP - The US economy's  quot;soft patch quot; was not as weak as initial estimates, according to government data showing a 3.3 percent pace of expansion in the second quarter.


U.S. Treasury Debt Prices Fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury debt prices fell for a  second straight session on Wednesday as buyers' resistance to  higher prices spawned a wave of profit-taking.


IBM Settles Pension Claims

NEW YORK (Reuters) - IBM on Wednesday said it has settled  portions of an ongoing lawsuit related to its pension plan and  said the potential liability for the other claims that remain  on appeal is capped at \$1.4 billion.


AIG Says Unit Faces U.S. Criminal Probe

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has opened  a criminal probe into whether American International Group Inc.  AIG.N, the world's largest insurer by market value, helped a  major banking client move bad loans off its books, AIG said on  Wednesday.


Techs rally on Internet deal

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Technology markets rallied Wednesday. They were boosted by soaring Internet stocks on news that Cendant plans to buy Orbitz and by investors looking for general bargains in the recently battered sector.


Synnex 3Q Profit Rises 50 Percent

Synnex Corp., a provider of technology supply chain services, on Wednesday said its third-quarter profit jumped 50 percent, helped by higher revenue and a settlement gain from the acquisition of its British subsidiary.


US Air, Delta target executives for new cuts

Washington, Sep 30. (PTI): Embattled American airliners US Airways and Delta Airline have announced that they are targeting executives for new cuts.


IBM regains speed lead

The latest machine for helping the Energy Department model nuclear explosions has become the world #39;s most powerful computer. An IBM Corp.


Dell Aims To Drive Down Cost Of High-Performance Computing

Vendor offers server, switch, and host-channel adapter bundle with increased I/O bandwidth, processing capability, and memory. By Larry Greenemeier.


India cracks down on dopers

India imposed a life ban on three women weightlifters for doping on Thursday, including a pair thrown out of the Athens Olympics.  quot;We are taking very serious steps to root out doping from this country.


Palestinian Rocket Kills Two Children

A Palestinian rocket slammed into a street in this southern Israeli town Wednesday, killing two preschool children playing in a yard as Israelis ushered in the fall harvest festival of Sukkot.


Speakers debate RFID benefits, challenges

Several speakers at this week's EPCglobal conference talked about how RFID tagging can help companies track products, cut down on theft and reduce supply chain costs. But analysts said U.S. companies are moving cautiously on the technology.


IBM gives a kick to CICS

To modernize its venerable line of mainframe-based CICS middleware, IBM last week introduced an updated version of its CICS Transaction Server that enables IT to extend the product to work better with SOAs (service-oriented architectures) through Web services. With the release of CICS Transaction Server for z/OS Version 3.1, administrators can now integrate their traditional workloads to fully participate in an SOA.


Dad ID's Kidnapped Daughter in Colombia (AP)

AP - Daniela Vanegas, a bright-eyed girl with thick, dark tresses, was kidnapped almost a year ago as she boarded her school bus in Bogota.


Four injured in rocket attack on German base in Afghanistan (AFP)

AFP - A rocket attack on a German-run peacekeeping team in northeastern Afghanistan has left four people injured, one seriously, a spokesman for the multinational security force in the country said.


Dr. Phil Interviews President, First Lady (AP)

AP - President Bush says it's "awfully difficult" for parents to urge their children not to drink and drive if they do it themselves.


Edge Dynamics launches new breed of enterprise app

Enterprise software takes an evolutionary step forward as Edge Dynamics and Tibco Software develop software that combines elements of both ERP and BI applications.


Booming China raises workers' hopes - and discontent

Low pay and poor conditions drove employees at two shoe plants in the Pearl River Delta to riot.


Football: Rosenborg hold Arsenal

Arsenal are held to a draw in Norway, despite Freddie Ljungberg's sixth-minute opener.


Blair pledges over Bigley captors

Tony Blair says the government would respond "immediately" if Ken Bigley's captors make contact.


Baseball Returns to Washington as Expos Move From Montreal

Major League Baseball will return to the nation's capital for the first time in more than three decades next season.


Kerry Sees Debate as Chance to Shed 'Flip-Flop' Label

Senator John Kerry conceded today that the Bush campaign had been "particularly successful" in portraying him as wobbly.


Staph Strain Infects More Healthy People

TRENTON, N.J. - Flesh-eating bacteria cases, fatal pneumonia and life-threatening heart infections suddenly are popping up around the country, striking healthy people and stunning their doctors...


White House: Guard Never Disciplined Bush

WASHINGTON - President Bush never was disciplined while serving in the Texas Air National Guard, never failed a physical and never asked his father or family friends for help to get him into the guard during the Vietnam War, the White House said Wednesday.    The White House answers came in response to a dozen questions submitted by The Associated Press in light of new records detailing Bush's Guard service and allegations that have surfaced this election season...


Saudi Edict Bans Mobile Phone Cameras

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority has issued an edict barring the use of cell phones with built-in cameras, blaming them for "spreading obscenity" - a final resort after a ban on their sale and import to the kingdom failed to dent their popularity.    Camera cell phones have caught on fast throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East, particularly in oil-rich Persian Gulf countries, prompting concerns about privacy in places where people undress, "theft" of reading materials at book stores and newsstands, and corporate espionage by employees...


Bush Seeks Aid for Fla. Hurricane Victims

LAKE WALES, Fla. - President Bush, touring hurricane-battered Florida on his way to Thursday night's presidential debate, pressed Congress on Wednesday to approve his latest request for emergency federal aid for storm victims, this time for more than \$7 billion...


Stocks Edge Up on GDP Reading, Oil Prices

NEW YORK - Stocks moved higher Wednesday as investors digested a jump in the second-quarter gross domestic product while keeping a close eye on falling oil prices. The tech-dominated Nasdaq composite index posted especially robust gains...


CBS Works Past Troubles for Premiere Week

NEW YORK - During a week that CBS was fined \$550,000 for Janet Jackson's Super Bowl flash and its news division had to apologize for shoddy reporting, at least the prime-time ratings gave its executives something to smile about.    CBS handily won the ratings race during the first official week of the new television season, and stuck archrival NBC where it hurts the most: on Thursday night and among young viewers...


Two Sentenced to Death for USS Cole Attack

SAN'A, Yemen - A U.S.-held Saudi suspected of being an associate of Osama bin Laden and a Yemeni militant were sentenced to death by firing squad Wednesday for the bombing of the USS Cole four years ago, the first convictions in the al-Qaida terror attack that killed 17 American sailors.    The judge ordered four other Yemenis jailed for five to 10 years...


IMF Says Russia Must Save Energy Windfall

WASHINGTON -- The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday raised its outlook for Russia #39;s economy but warned Moscow to resist spending the extra oil revenues it has received as a result of record energy prices.


LUKoil-Conoco Deal Opens Way to Iraq

In the country #39;s biggest-ever privatization auction, ConocoPhillips on Wednesday paid nearly \$2 billion for a 7.59 percent stake in LUKoil, sealing a strategic alliance between the oil majors and revitalizing energy ties between Russia and the United


Clearing Out Fannie #39;s  #39;Phantoms #39;

Score one for the lion tamer. The federal regulator that oversees home-mortgage giant Fannie Mae finally persuaded that government-sponsored enterprise to agree to clean up its questionable accounting practices.


IBM Settles Pension Claims

IBM on Wednesday said it has settled portions of an ongoing lawsuit related to its pension plan and said the potential liability for the other claims that remain on appeal is capped at \$1.


Stocks End Up, Boosted by Techs, Oil

US stocks ended higher on Wednesday as Internet and semiconductor stocks led advances in technology shares and crude oil retreated from record high prices.


Chip-Maker Posts Profitable Quarter

Higher prices and increased production gave Micron Technology Inc. its second straight profitable quarter, but its fourth-quarter results still fell short of Wall Street estimates.


Private spaceship leaves Earth #39;s atmosphere

MOJAVE, Calif. - He was told to abort the bumpy flight, but the pilot of a spiraling space rocket stayed at it, and successfully flew into space and back.


DC #39;s Ballgame

The leaves are just turning in the nation #39;s capital but with a hint of spring, perhaps because Washington is getting a slice of Americana back: a baseball team of its very own.


Wayne Rooney enters Man U folklore with hat trick in debut

Yet none made the breathtaking impact in his Man U debut as 18-year-old Wayne Rooney did Tuesday night. Support your favorite team with official Champions League gear from the FOX Soccer Shop!


AC Milan defeats Celtic 3-1 on late goals in Champions League

Andriy Shevchenko celebrated his 28th birthday by scoring one goal and setting up Filippo Inzaghi #39;s game winner with a minute remaining to help AC Milan beat Celtic 3-1 for its second win in as many matches.


Ichiro leads an assault on baseball #39;s records

He #39;s poised to rack up most hits in a season. Other marks look vulnerable, too. By Erik Spanberg  Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor.


Name of Washington Team to Be Decided (AP)

AP - The wait for a baseball team is over. The debate over the name begins.


Champions League Soccer: Chelsea Defeats Porto

LONDON (Reuters) - Porto suffered the agony of being by  outwitted by their former coach on Wednesday as the Champions  League holders slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Jose Mourinho's  Chelsea.


Cox Wins 2,000 Games as Braves Beat Mets

Bobby Cox became just the ninth manager in to win 2,000 games when the Atlanta Braves scored four runs in the seventh inning and beat the Mets on Wednesday.


Circuit City Posts Weak Sales; Shares Off

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Circuit City Stores Inc. CC.N, the  No. 2 U.S. electronics chain, on Monday reported a surprise 4.3  percent drop in quarterly sales at stores open at least a year,  signaling a further widening gap with top rival Best Buy Co.  Inc. BBY.N.


Talbots Cuts Earnings View on Slow Sales (AP)

AP - Talbots Inc., the women's clothing retailer, cut its third-quarter earnings forecast Wednesday, citing low September sales.


Computer Associates to Cut 800 Jobs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Computer Associates will cut 800 jobs,  the software maker said on Wednesday, reducing its work force 5  percent in its biggest cost-cutting effort since 2001 amid  slack demand and falling prices for software and services.


Micron Technology Posts Profit

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Micron Technology Inc. MU.N,  the No. 3 computer memory chip maker, on Wednesday reported a  quarterly profit on stronger pricing, reversing a year-earlier  loss.


#39;); //-- gt; Eye On Stocks

Research in Motion (nadsaq: RIMM - news - people ) will announce second-quarter results. The maker of Blackberry handheld devices is expected to report quarterly earnings of 43 cents per share on revenue of


#39;Soft patch #39; not so soft, as US economic growth is revised higher

The US economy #39;s  quot;soft patch quot; was not as weak as initial estimates, according to government data showing a 3.3 percent pace of expansion in the second quarter.


Private space plane rockets towards \$17m prize

MOJAVE (California) - SpaceShipOne, a privately built three-seat rocket plane, punched into space yesterday, moving a step closer to a US\$10 million (S\$17 million) civilian space prize.


Web founder says cooperation needed to create the Semantic Web #39; #39;

The inventor of the World Wide Web told a technology conference on Wednesday that making the Web more useful hinges on a familiar challenge: Getting the players behind


Name of Washington team to be decided

The wait for a baseball team is over. The debate over the name begins. With the Montreal Expos headed to the nation #39;s capital, ideas for a suitable nickname for a baseball team at the seat


Chelsea beats defending champion Porto

Jose Mourinho #39;s Chelsea outplayed the team he led to Champions League glory, FC Porto, 3-1 on Wednesday, leaving his former club with a huge task to stay in the competition.


Chelsea overpower champions Porto

LONDON, England -- Jose Mourinho #39;s new club Chelsea defeated his old side Porto 3-1 to leave the European champions with an uphill battle to qualify from Group H of the Champions League.


Nigerian talks may aid oil price

There are some signs of progress in resolving the Nigerian conflict that is riling global oil markets. The leader of militia fighters threatening to widen a battle for control of Nigeria #39;s oil-rich south has


China blasts Taiwan PM #39;s threat of missile strike

BEIJING - China yesterday slammed Taiwanese Premier Yu Shyi-kun for threatening to fire missiles at Shanghai in the event of an attack by the mainland.


AIG Target of Justice Department Probe

Insurance giant American International Group Inc. on Wednesday said its financial products unit is being investigated by the Department of Justice over possible violations of securities laws.


Martha heading to West Virginia jail

Martha Stewart released a statement today saying she is headed to a federal prison Alderson, W.Va., to serve her five-month sentence.


Iger: Pixar deal nearing end at Disney

Walt Disney Co. president Bob Iger said Wednesday that a renewal of the studio #39;s deal with Pixar is unlikely, adding the partnership has approached the end of its natural life span.


US rocket team halfway to winning \$10-million prize

MOJAVE, CALIF. - A privately built and operated spacecraft roared out of the atmosphere on Wednesday with a historic flight that brings the team one step closer to winning a \$10-million US prize.


Amazon and Microsoft team up to fight spammers

Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc., both influential companies, have joined hands in order to take legal action and persue spammers who are targetting these companies and their customers.


Gartner: Piracy driving Linux PC shipments

Although Linux may be shipping on a growing number of PCs sold in the emerging markets of Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, about 80 of PCs shipped with the open source operating system this year will eventually run pirated versions of Windows


Micron Technology Posts Profit

Micron Technology Inc. (MU.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 3 computer memory chip maker, on Wednesday reported a quarterly profit on stronger pricing, reversing a year-earlier loss.


House Toughens Penalties on P2Ps

The US House of Representatives approved legislation Tuesday night that could put some peer-to-peer (define) file swappers in jail for up to five years.


Agere Adjusts for Soft Demand

Facing soft demand from major customers, semiconductor and software specialist Agere Systems said it will lay off 500 people and close three facilities to cut costs.


Mourinho #39;s Chelsea Beats Porto in Champions League (Update1)

Chelsea beat Porto 3-1 in European soccer #39;s Champions League, giving coach Jose Mourinho a victory over the team he led to the title last season.


Fitness test for wounded Tiger

Tiger Woods, who is due out at lunchtime in today #39;s first round of the WGC American Express Championship at Mount Juliet, says that his morning warm-up will determine whether he is fit enough to defend his title.


French driver killed in motorcycle rally racing in Egypt #39;s desert

French driver Richard Sainct died in a crash Wednesday during the fourth stage of the International Cross Country Rally, Pharaohs Rally in Egypt.


Dodgers #39; Bradley Ejected for Throwing Bottle

Milton Bradley became the latest Major League Baseball player to go after the people who pay to see him perform. In the same month that Texas pitcher Frank Francisco was


Italy denies paying ransom for hostages

ROME - Italy insisted on Wednesday it did not pay a million-dollar ransom to win the release of two aid workers, as the country rejoiced in the homecoming of the women who said they were ready to return to Iraq to continue their work there.


Latham  #39;very proud #39; of wife

OPPOSITION Leader Mark Latham today praised his wife Janine Lacy for taking centre stage at Labor #39;s official campaign launch. Ms Lacy took the extraordinary step of introducing her husband at the ALP launch


Oil prices retreat as US supplies rise

Oil prices fell sharply Wednesday after a government report that US inventories of crude rose 3.4 million barrels last week, surprising many traders and analysts who had expected to see supplies shrink because of lingering production problems in the wake


Cendant buys Ortiz for \$1.25B

Cendant Corp., the world #39;s largest hotel franchiser and owner of the Avis car-rental company, said Wednesday it agreed to purchase Orbitz, a popular Internet travel agency, for \$1.


US publisher cuts jobs after scandal

Seeking to restore the confidence of investors and advertisers after discovering exaggerated circulation figures at The Dallas Morning News, Belo Corp.


Bumpy ride for a private rocket ship

MOJAVE, California A test pilot returned successfully to Earth on Wednesday after a foray into space that was marked by a white-knuckle ascent in which his rocket ship rolled at least 16 times in about 16 seconds and he had to fight to regain control.


Scientists rumble Earth #39;s hum

Scientists have solved the mystery of a global hum which has plagued them since it was discovered in 1998. The constant drone at low frequencies, well below the range of human hearing, shows up in seismic


RFID gets a reality check

BALTIMORE--Radio frequency identification may be a hot topic among tech types these days, but proponents of the technology gathered here this week are keeping their exuberance in check.


News Bits: New Pentium 4 M, New Sharp 64-bit Notebook, OQO Relase <b>...</b>

A new version of the Pentium 4 aimed at the  #39;desktop replacement #39; market was introduced by Intel this week. The new chip is called the  quot;Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor 548 quot; supports Hyper Threading Technology and runs at 3.33GHz.


Roundup: Roma appoints Del Neri as coach

Del Neri replaces Rudi Vller, who resigned Sunday after less than a month in charge of the Serie A club. He will become the third coach at Roma since Fabio Capello quit the club to take over at Juventus in May.


India slaps life ban on three weightlifters caught for doping

NEW DELHI: Indian sports officials on Wednesday handed life bans to three women weightlifters who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, officials said.


Italians shrug off claims that \$1m was handed over to free women <b>...</b>

Beaming smiles at the millions who prayed for their freedom, Simona Torretta and Simona Pari returned to a relieved Rome last night.


Rocket kills 2 Israelis, prompting clash in Gaza

JERUSALEM A Palestinian rocket killed two Israeli children and Israeli forces killed four Palestinians during a day of bloodshed Wednesday along the northern edges of the Gaza Strip.


Britain #39;s Blair Faces Poll Amidst Iraq Hostage Crisis

The anguish of a British hostage in Iraq hangs over Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday as he faces the twin test of a local election and a debate by his Labour Party about the divisive war.


New Zealand deports suspected spies

New Zealand has deported two Israelis who admitted trying to fraudulently obtain passports, the BBC reported Wednesday. In July, Uriel Kelman and Eli Cara got six-month sentences for the crime.


Israel considering  #39;all options #39; to curb Iran

A military strike is among Israel #39;s options to prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Wednesday in the latest threat by the Jewish state against its arch-foe.


System of pet passports to apply fully from Friday

BRUSSELS New EU-wide legislation introducing a pet passport will be fully applicable from Friday, allowing pets and their owners to travel legally within the European Union, the European Commission said Wednesday.


Private rocket reaches space for second time

Climbing to space like a winged corkscrew, SpaceShipOne successfully completed the first leg of its attempt for a \$10-million prize Wednesday in a flight marked by an unexpected series of rolls.


Rockets Kill 2 Israeli Children, 9 Palestinians Die

SDEROT, Israel (Reuters) - Palestinian militants eluding an  army crackdown killed two Israeli children in a rocket attack  from Gaza on Wednesday and troops killed nine Palestinians in  raids in the coastal strip and the West Bank.


Austrian Bishop Quits After Sex Scandal -- Newspaper

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian bishop Kurt Krenn has resigned,  apparently at the Pope's request, after a sex and child  pornography scandal in his diocese rocked the Roman Catholic  church in the Alpine nation.


Sex abuse trials open on Pitcairn

The tiny UK Pacific colony of Pitcairn puts seven men on trial for sex abuse in a case splitting local opinion.


US stocks: Stocks up, boosted by techs and cheaper oil

US stocks ended higher on Wednesday as internet and semiconductor stocks led advances in technology shares and crude oil retreated from record high prices.


AIG target of Justice probe

NEW YORK -- American International Group Inc., one of the world #39;s largest insurance companies, is the target of a probe by the Department of Justice into possible securities violations.


Profit warnings take shine off GWR/Capital merger

Capital Radio and GWR saw 45m wiped off their combined stock market values yesterday as investors digested details of their proposed merger alongside trading updates published simultaneously by both companies.


Mountain-sized Asteroid Zips Past Earth Wednesday

The giant potato-shaped asteroid 4179 Toutatis zoomed past earth just after 8:30 am Wednesday afternoon in the closest approach of any known asteroid of comparable size this century.


MS launches XP lite for Indian market

NEW DELHI: Microsoft has announced its simplified and low-priced version of Windows XP for India and has tied up with leading PC vendors including HCL, HP, Wipro and Acer to bring PCs at significantly lower prices.


Apple to expand European iTunes next month

Speaking at the annual Popkomm conference in Berlin, Germany, Apple vice-president of applications Eddie Cue told music executives that the company will expand the online iTunes Music Store


What #39;s in the Box? Radio Tags Know That, and More

BM plans to announce today that it will invest \$250 million over the next five years and employ 1,000 people in a new business unit to support products and services related to sensor networks.


Australian Rogers shines in Milan

Milan - Australian Michael Rogers successfully defended his cycling world time trial title in Bardolino on Wednesday. Rogers, 24, completed the 46.


Blind Japanese runner wins Paralympic marathon

Japanese blind runner Yuichi Takahashi won the Paralympic marathon Sunday, unsure of his victory until well after he finished his race along the ancient course.


Violence racks Palestinian territories

Israeli helicopters have launched fresh missile strikes on the Gaza Strip, killing two Palestinians and wounding four others. Witnesses said an Israeli helicopter fired a missile into the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza killing the two.


Typhoon Meari Passing Through Japan #39;s Northern Tohoku Area

Typhoon Meari, the eighth tropical cyclone to reach Japan this year, is passing through the northern Tohoku area at 60 kilometers (37 miles) an hour toward the Pacific Ocean with a maximum wind of 83 kilometers an hour.


Canada considers fate of suspected NKorean refugees in China <b>...</b>

Canada is facing a diplomatic headache after a group of suspected North Koreans broke into the Canadian Embassy in the Chinese capital, Beijing, on Wednesday.


European iTMS Expansion Coming In October

An Apple exec has told Reuters that the company will be expanding its European iTunes Music Store in October. Vice president Eddie Cue told the news service