Candidate for Democratic Party Arrested in China

ONG KONG, Aug. 17  An already heated election campaign for the legislature here took an unexpected turn today with an announcement by the Democratic Party that one of its candidates had been arrested in mainland China on charges of ...


Borders Profits Up, Outlook Raised

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Borders Group Inc. BGP.N, the No. 2  U.S. bookseller, on Tuesday said quarterly earnings rose,  beating estimates by the company and Wall Street, as a looming  presidential election whetted appetites for political books and  led to higher-than-expected sales.


Australia Salvages Late Draw with U.S. Women in Soccer

ATHENS (Reuters) - Australia's "Matildas" salvaged a 1-1  draw against the United States at the Athens Olympics on  Tuesday to join the Americans in the last eight of the women's  soccer tournament.


Manning Gets Chance to Start

Giants Coach Tom Coughlin announced that rookie quarterback Eli Manning will start ahead of two-time M.V.P. Kurt Warner in Thursday's preseason game against Carolina.


Ruling Likely Ends Bloom's College Football Career

The N.C.A.A. has denied Jeremy Bloom's request to play football at Colorado while accepting endorsements to support his skiing career.


IMF gives Jamaica thumbs up

The International Monetary Fund has praised the Jamaican government for stabilizing the country's economy.


Outspoken Winslow Makes Impression at Camp (AP)

AP - Hot-tempered and outspoken, Kellen Winslow Jr. isn't toning it down just because he's a rookie.


US NBA stars pushed to the brink before edging Greece (AFP)

AFP - Sick, injured and reeling from a humiliating loss, the United States basketball team struggled past Greece 77-71 in an Olympic preliminary-round game that signaled more difficulties to come.


Israel Kills 5 in Attempt to Assassinate Hamas Man

GAZA (Reuters) - A senior Hamas leader survived an Israeli  assassination attempt on Wednesday but at least five other  Palestinians were killed in the night-time explosion that tore  through his Gaza home.


Carl Reiner: Comedy as a Life #39;s Work

Description: Actor Carl Reiner found his life #39;s calling in the third grade, making his classmates laugh by walking on his hands. The actor, comedian and director joins NPR #39;s Neal Conan and takes calls.


Google Stock Sale Delayed as SEC Doesn #39;t Act on IPO (Update1)

Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc. #39;s plan to sell shares today in an initial public offering was delayed because the US Securities and Exchange Commission didn #39;t act on the company #39;s request to approve its stock registration.


US withholds some Halliburton payments for Iraq services

Halliburton said Tuesday that the US Army had decided not to grant it additional time to substantiate its costs for feeding and housing American troops in Iraq and Kuwait, a decision that could cost the company 15 percent of its payment.


Mounties initiate Nortel investigation

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have launched a criminal investigation into the financial accounting practices of network gear maker Nortel Networks just days before the company is set to release some of its restated financial results.


Phelps #39;s dreams meet not-so-bad realities

ATHENS Imagine, just for the length of a breezy, sun-kissed summer evening in Athens, that you had not heard a word about Michael Phelps before these Olympics began. That you knew nothing about his childhood in Baltimore; the failed Olympic dreams of his ...


Federer eliminated by the 74th-ranked Berdych

ATHENS Top-seeded Roger Federer was eliminated in the second round of the Olympic tennis tournament Tuesday, losing to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.


Georgian Leader Seeks Ossetia Conference

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili appealed to world leaders Tuesday to convene an international conference on the conflict in breakaway South Ossetia, where daily exchanges of gunfire threaten to spark a war.


Australia #39;s Labor Leader Latham Hospitalized With Pancreatitis

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The leader of Australia #39;s main opposition Labor Party, Mark Latham, has been hospitalized with pancreatitis, according to a statement released by his party.


Google market debut delayed

Google's estimated \$3bn flotation has been delayed by at least a day as the firm awaits regulatory approval.


Financial Firms Hasten Their Move to Outsourcing

A myriad of financial institutions including banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, investment firms and credit-card companies are sending work to overseas locations.


Berlin Zoo Separates Baby Rhino from Clumsy Mother (Reuters)

Reuters - Vets at a Berlin zoo have been forced to\separate a baby rhino from his mother for fear she may\accidentally trample him to death, zoo officials said on\Tuesday.


Novell bundles JBoss app server

Novell Inc. earlier this month bundled the open-source, J2EE-compliant JBoss Application Server with its SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9, giving application developers a built-in deployment option.


Stricken Washington Guard to Return (AP)

AP - Twenty months after her teammates helped save her life when her heart stopped, Kayla Burt said Tuesday she plans to again play basketball for Washington in the 2004-05 season.


Borders Profits Up, Outlook Raised

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Borders Group Inc. (BGP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 2 US bookseller, on Tuesday said quarterly earnings rose, beating estimates by the company and Wall Street, as a looming presidential election ...


Update 1: Louisiana-Pacific Names Frost CEO

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. named executive vice president Richard W. Frost the lumber company #39;s next chief executive, company officials announced Tuesday.


Wall Street closes higher, but record oil prices cap day #39;s gains

NEW YORK : Wall Street shares closed higher on Tuesday, but record oil prices capped the day #39;s gains amid concerns over a multi-billion-dollar tax bill facing Russian oil giant Yukos.


Confidence drops in Germany

Investor confidence in Germany, Europe #39;s biggest economy, dropped in August to the lowest level in more than a year, according to data released on Tuesday, amid concern that record oil prices would crimp global growth and impede a recovery in consumer ...


IBM to buy Danish firms

International Business Machines said Tuesday it would buy two Danish competitors to add consulting services for shipping and logistics companies.


XP security update delayed

MICROSOFT has delayed automated distribution of a major security upgrade to its Windows XP Professional operating system, citing a desire to give companies more time to test it.


Greeks leave hospital to face music

Kostas Kederis and Ekaterini Thanou, the Greek sprinters who, it is alleged, deliberately evaded four drugs tests, left hospital yesterday with Kederis having been treated for scratches and Thanou with no visible injuries.


White Sox manager sent to hospital

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, set to start a two-game suspension Tuesday night, went to a hospital before the game against Detroit because of pain in his back and side.


Hollywood awaits Termite from Texas and Iraqi fly

What an inspirational story: former world title contender becomes used car salesman in Texas, becomes rattlesnake killer, becomes pest exterminator in Baghdad, becomes boxing coach of Iraq and self-proclaimed  quot;saviour quot; of that troubled nation. It is ...


Flash flood in Cornwall leaves villagers missing

BOSCASTLE, England Rescue workers searched this coastal village in north Cornwall on Tuesday for missing persons after a flash flood sent a wall of water tearing through the picturesque tourist spot the day before.


Calif. Assembly Backs E-Mail Monitoring Disclosure (Reuters)

Reuters - California's Assembly on Tuesday\voted to require the state's employers to inform their workers\in writing if e-mail and other Internet activity is monitored\at work.


Health Highlights: Aug. 17, 2004

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:    -----     Arizona Leads Nation in West Nile Cases      Thousands of abandoned swimming pools, along with irrigation canals and other prime breeding sites for mosquitoes in Phoenix, have made Arizona the state hardest hit by West Nile virus this year.      Arizona has accounted for at least 290 of more than 500 reported cases of West Nile virus in the United States so far in 2004...


Illinois Plans Online Network to Import Cheaper Drugs

By DON BABWIN    CHICAGO (AP) -- Ignoring a federal ban on prescription drug imports, Illinois' governor announced Tuesday that the state would have an online clearinghouse running within a month to help residents purchase drugs from Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.    The state won't import the drugs itself, but plans to contract with a Canadian company to connect state residents with foreign pharmacies that have been approved by state health inspectors...


Free-Speech Protection Sought for Internet Casino Ads

By Alan Sayre    NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The operator of a gambling news site on the Internet has asked a federal judge to declare that advertisements in U.S. media for foreign online casinos and sports betting outlets are protected by free-speech rights...


President OKs More Colombia Assistance (AP)

AP - President Bush said Tuesday the U.S. government will continue to assist Colombia in interdicting aircraft suspected of drug trafficking.


N.Y. Welcomes Protesters With Discounts (AP)

AP - Discounted hotels and Broadway show tickets for convention protesters?


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

AP - As of Tuesday, Aug. 17, 943 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 703 died as a result of hostile action and 240 died of non-hostile causes.


India and Pakistan notch up first hockey wins (Reuters)

Reuters - Former hockey powerhouses Pakistan and India notched up their first wins of the Athens Olympics on Tuesday, charming crowds with their trademark running games.


US CREDIT-Halliburton jostled by Army audit back-and-forth

NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - In an otherwise listless credit market, Halliburton has created some drama with its ongoing saga with the Army over its accounting for \$1.8 billion of work in Iraq and Kuwait.


After the Bell-Applied Materials, Network Appliances rise

NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Shares of data storage equipment maker Network Appliance Inc. (NTAP.O: Quote, Profile, Research) rose after the bell on Tuesday after the company posted a quarterly profit that rose 73 percent on strong sales in Asia and ...


(Recasts first paragraph, adds transaction details, CEO interview, stock price and byline)

NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Mills Corp. (MLS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , adeveloper of theme shopping and entertainment malls, on Tuesday said it would pay a General Motors unit about \$1.033 billion to buy a 50 percent managing stake ...


Argentina rejects IMF intervention

In the face of sharp disagreements between Argentina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on August 8 the Argentine government decided to temporarily suspend negotiations with ...


Phelps gets that golden feeling again

ATHENS, Greece  Take Mark Spitz off his back, and this Phelps kid is pretty fast.  quot;It is, quot; Michael Phelps conceded,  quot;a little bit easier to get up on the (starting) block. quot; ...


Olympics: Phelps in Gold Rush, Doping Scandals Rumble On

ATHENS (Reuters) - US teenager Michael Phelps powered his way to two more golds in the Olympic swimming pool on Tuesday, setting a new Games record in the 200 meters butterfly and leading a 4 x 200 freestyle cliffhanger.


Faulds folds as Al Maktoum triumphs

The family name alone, Al Maktoum, offered more than a scintilla of suspicion that we could expect something special. Never mind that victory normally materialises in the form of blue-blooded bloodstock rather from the barrel of ...


Stricken Washington guard announces return to court

Twenty months after her teammates helped save her life when her heart stopped, Kayla Burt said Tuesday she plans to again play basketball for Washington in the 2004-05 season.


UN claims lack of military observers in Darfur region

KHARTOUM, Aug 18, 2004 (Financial Times) -- The number of military observers deployed in the Darfur region of Sudan is not sufficient to monitor whether the Sudanese government fulfils its pledges to the United Nations, a senior UN ...


Germany #39;s Chancellor Schroder and his wife adopt Russian girl

Germany #39;s Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and his wife Doris have adopted a three-year-old Russian girl who has been living with them for over a fortnight, Germany #39;s mass circulation Bild newspaper revealed yesterday.


PM  #39;a trustworthy invidual #39;

PRIME Minister John Howard was a trustworthy individual and most Australians knew it, Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson said.


Consumer Prices Drop as Industry Output Is Up

Consumer prices dropped in July for the first time in eight months as a sharp run up in gasoline costs reversed, the government said.


Hiking With Dogs Has Health Benefits

People who love to hike find taking along a four-legged companion can have physical benefits for both ends of the leash. Studies show people are more successful at losing weight when they do it with a friend. What better friend than a dog to provide company and keep a person on track.


Netscape browser update released

SAN FRANCISCO - After being written off by industry observers last year, America Online Inc.'s browser unit showed signs of life Tuesday as it released an update to its Netscape Web browser.


Simms Impressive in Bucs' Preseason Debut (AP)

AP - Jon Gruden can understand why Tampa Bay fans are talking about Chris Simms.


Vatican Gives Schedule of Pope's Next Trip (AP)

AP - Two days after a grueling papal pilgrimage which left some wondering if Pope John Paul II could still travel, the Vatican on Tuesday announced details of the ailing pontiff's next trip.


New Computer Is Created Just for Teenagers

This isn't your typical, humdrum, slate-colored computer. Not only is the PC known as the hip-e almost all white, but its screen and keyboard are framed in fuzzy pink fur. Or a leopard skin design. Or a graffiti-themed pattern.


Violence Tackled at Internet Gaming Parlors

By ALEX VEIGA     LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Six days a week, teens crowd the Blue Screen Gaming cybercafe to hunt each other down with assault rifles inside virtual computer worlds. In these video game halls, nobody gets hurt...


Google Stock Sale Delayed as SEC Doesn #39;t Act on IPO (Update1)

Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc. #39;s plan to sell shares today in a \$3.47 billion initial public offering was delayed because the US Securities and Exchange Commission didn #39;t act on the company #39;s request to approve its stock registration.


Costco employee claims retailer discriminates against women

SAN FRANCISCO - An assistant manager at a Costco store filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing the retailer of not promoting her because she #39;s a woman.


Netscape browser update released

SAN FRANCISCO - After being written off by industry observers last year, America Online Inc. #39;s browser unit showed signs of life Tuesday as it released an update to its Netscape Web browser.


Study: Spammers, Virus Writers Getting Chummy

A new MessageLabs report says more than 86 of the E-mail it sampled in June was spam--and nearly one in 10 contained a virus.


Faster Wireless Networking Protocol Proposed

The WWiSE proposal builds on the existing and globally adopted 20MHz channel format of the tens of millions of Wi-Fi devices already in use. Its proposal is a second, competing standard that seeks to speed up wireless networks with ...


Powell calls Russian FM over Georgian conflict

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Colin Powell has called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the conflict in Georgia #39;s breakaway region of South Ossetia, State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said on Tuesday.


Sudan deploys additional 2,000 policemen in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Aug. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The Sudanese government said on Tuesday that it has deployed another 2,000 policemen in Darfur to secure the situation in the area under an agreement with the United Nations.


HP Execs: Supply Chain, Order Processing Hurt U.S. Q3 Results (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - A week after shaking up its enterprise hardware business following a poor showing last quarter, Hewlett-Packard put its best face forward before more than 7,000 customers and partners at the HP World conference in Chicago.


Vindigo sold to Japanese content company

Japan's For-Side.com pays \$36.5 million for provider of maps, news and other material for mobile devices.


Britain Charges Eight Terrorist Suspects

LONDON - British police charged eight terrorist suspects Tuesday with conspiring to commit murder and use radioactive materials, toxic gases, chemicals or explosives to cause "fear or injury" in a case involving an alleged top al-Qaida operative at the center of a U.S. terror alert this month...


Google Offering Is Delayed

Google's long-awaited initial stock sale, which appeared imminent today, has been delayed while the company awaits final approval of its paperwork by the S.E.C.


Benefits Seen in Earth Observation Data (AP)

AP - Scientists are planning to take the pulse of the planet  #151; and more  #151; in an effort to improve weather forecasts, predict energy needs months in advance, anticipate disease outbreaks and even tell fishermen where the catch will be abundant.


Maryland Dig May Reach Back 16,000 Years (AP)

AP - Robert D. Wall is too careful a scientist to say he's on the verge of a sensational discovery. But the soybean field where the Towson University anthropologist has been digging for more than a decade is yielding hints that someone camped there, on the banks of the Potomac River, as early as 14,000 B.C.


Expedition to Peru Finds Five New Sites (AP)

AP - An American-led expedition discovered five new districts in what its leader described as an ancient jungle metropolis on the slopes of the Peruvian Andes.


SEC Leaves Google Waiting on IPO Go Ahead

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US regulators on Tuesday did not give Google Inc. the green light it needs to price its initial public offering, extending the wait for the Web search giant #39;s eagerly anticipated market ...


SEC Is Seen Banning Mutual Fund Practice

The Securities and Exchange Commission is poised to curb fund companies from steering stock trades to brokerage firms that agree to sell their funds.


New Vodafone contract puts Beckham in picture

Despite his disappointing performance in Portugal during the World Cup, England captain and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has at least one loyal supporter in the shape of Vodafone.


Israeli Attack in Gaza Kills Five Palestinians, Haaretz Says

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Israeli soldiers were behind an explosion at a house used by Hamas gunmen in Gaza City that killed five Palestinians, the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz said, citing an unidentified Israel Defense Forces official.


Briefly: Maxtor ships multimedia-friendly drive

roundup Plus: Gateway says, hold on to your hard drive...Kinko's debuts Web-based print options...Majoras takes charge of FTC.


Maxtor ships multimedia-friendly drive

The new DiamondMax 10 drives are designed to help people run multiple applications, such as games and music, without overwhelming their PC system.


Gadget price declines slow for summer

Consumer electronics prices still drop, mostly, but not so much.


Yahoo Unveils Budget Domains Deal

Domain hosting and parking services drop in price, rise in capacity to lure small businesses.


Netscape Updates Browser

Mozilla-based Netscape 7.2 improves printing and integrates instant messaging.


Crude Oil Trades Near Record on US Economic Growth Report

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil futures in New York traded near a record \$46.95 a barrel as strengthening US economic figures boosted concern that production capacity may not be adequate to meet global demand.


Tokyo Stocks Mixed; Dollar Down Vs. Yen (AP)

AP - Tokyo stocks were mixed early Wednesday as concerns about high oil prices vied for buying prompted by Wall Street's strength. The dollar was trading lower against the Japanese yen.


Netscape Updates Browser (PC World)

PC World - Mozilla-based Netscape 7.2 improves printing and integrates instant messaging.


Security Firms Bulk Up (PC World)

PC World - CA buys antispyware vendor PestPatrol while McAfee snaps up Foundstone.


Moore Takes Stroke Honors at U.S. Amateur (AP)

AP - Ryan Moore took medalist honors in stroke-qualifying play at the U.S. Amateur on Tuesday, shooting and even-par 70 for a two-round total of 139.


Real music takes bite out of Apple

A price war in the online music market began yesterday when RealNetworks began an aggressive campaign to challenge industry leader Apple.


New to science, island bird that never flies nest

A new species of flightless bird has been discovered on Calayan, a remote island in the Philippines, by an Anglo Filipino expedition.


Another Product Delay at Intel

Intel originally announced it had developed chip technology for high-definition big-screen televisions at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in January. It originally expected that it would ship the TV chip by the end of the year, but ...


Game execs predict mergers, price cuts

LOS ANGELES - Video game executives believe consolidation will be crucial to their future, but they also want further cuts to hardware prices to boost short-term growth, according to a report set for release this week.


It #39;s a big injustice, protests Greek sprinter

The Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris left hospital yesterday protesting his innocence ahead of today #39;s International Olympic Committee disciplinary hearing that looks certain to land him with a ban.


US NBA stars edge Greece

Sick, injured and reeling from a humiliating loss, the United States basketball team struggled past Greece 77-71 in an Olympic preliminary-round game that signalled more difficulties to come.


Iraqi delegation flies to Najaf for peace talks

An eight-member team of Iraqi political and religious leaders flew to Najaf to talk with Sadr on Tuesday.(Xinhua/AFP) ...


UK charges 8 in terror plot linked to US alert

LONDON: Britain has charged eight terrorism suspects and said one had plans which could be used in terror attacks on US financial targets in New York, New Jersey and Washington.


China says hopes N.Korea nuclear talks to continue

BEIJING, Aug 18 (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday it hoped all six parties taking part in talks on the North Korea nuclear crisis would keep calm, remain flexible and continue negotiations despite inevitable difficulties.


British soldier killed in Basra

A British soldier was believed to have been killed and another seriously injured last night after clashes with Shia fighters in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.


Dominicans send juiced message

Dominican New Yorkers had a message yesterday for the newly elected president of their homeland: Let there be light.


SEC seeks to update stock sale rules

BEIJING, Aug.18 (Xinhuanet) -- The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may revise its rules on initial stock offerings to modernize 1930s-era guidelines, agency commissioners and staff said.


AMP #39;s H1 profit beats expectation

Insurer and fund manager AMP Ltd. , on Wednesday posted a better-than-expected first-half profit on higher investment returns and improved margins, and targeted a stronger performance for the remainder of the year.


Yahoo Unveils Budget Domains Deal

Domain hosting and parking services drop in price, rise in capacity to lure small businesses. Trying to attract more small business customers, Yahoo has introduced a new domain name registration service and significantly increased the storage space and ...


Fall Season Looks Solid for Retailers, But Holidays Could Be Another Story

Against a background of lackluster retail sales in June and July, analysts and merchants still predict a decent, possibly strong, fall selling season for clothes, accessories and home furnishings.


Mutual Funds Opt to Liquidate

Some of the nations more than 8,000 mutual funds are shutting their doors, as their manag- ers confront a lackluster stock market, great- er regulatory scrutiny and higher costs.


Charley Shows Progress, Pitfalls in Forecasting (Reuters)

Reuters - A few decades ago, the earliest warning\Floridians would have had of a hurricane would have been black\clouds on the horizon. Now people are complaining after\Hurricane Charley hit shore at a point just 60 miles off from\the track projected by meteorologists.


Bears' Tucker Out With Dislocated Elbow (AP)

AP - Chicago Bears left guard Rex Tucker will miss eight to 10 weeks of the regular season because of a dislocated left elbow.


Researchers Try to Breed Rare Sea Ducks (AP)

AP - Researchers at the Alaska Sealife Center are poking into the private lives of Steller's eiders  #151; a rare sea duck that is disappearing from its nesting grounds in Alaska.


Google #39;s IPO delayed

Google Inc. #39;s initial public offering has been delayed while the company awaits final approval of its paperwork by the Securities and Exchange Commission.


AMP Turns to 1st-Half Profit After It Cut Debt, Costs (Update4)

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- AMP Ltd., Australia #39;s largest life insurer, posted its first half of profit in four after Chief Executive Andrew Mohl reduced debt, cut costs and sold more equity investment products. The stock fell as much as 3.7 percent.


Cassini Spacecraft Discovers 2 More Moons Around Saturn

The planet with the second largest number of moons now has two more. The US Cassini spacecraft discovered them around Saturn, bringing the giant ringed planet #39;s known total to 33.


US no-show: Teamwork

When the NBA began sending its players to the Olympics in 1992, one of the league #39;s goals was to spread basketball around the globe. Clearly, the idea worked.


Athletes Return to Olympia, Home of Games, After 1,611 Years

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Olympia, home of the Olympics for more than 12 centuries, will host competition for the first time in 1,611 years when the shot put competition of the Athens Games is contested at Greece #39;s most sacred sporting site.


Are England fans are changing their Toon?

IN a desperate attempt to spark some public interest in an England team that appears to be quickly losing its appeal, Sven-Gran Eriksson announced his starting line-up for the friendly against Ukraine at St James #39; Park a day earlier than expected.


China halfway to complete medals goal

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- China is already halfway to its stated goal of 20 gold medals at the Athens Olympics after going into the fourth day of the 16-day competition, CRIENGLISH.com said Wednesday.


BEIJING, Aug 18 (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday it hoped all six parties taking part in talks on the North Korea nuclear crisis keep calm, remain flexible and continue negotiations despite inevitable difficulties.


Senate probe needed: Faulkner

A SENATE inquiry was needed into claims that the Prime Minister misled the Australian public over the children overboard affair, Labor Senate Leader John Faulkner said.


Athletics' Homers Crush Orioles 11-0 (AP)

AP - Tim Hudson pitched a five-hitter to earn his first victory since June 11, and Scott Hatteberg's second grand slam of the season highlighted a four-homer attack that carried the Oakland Athletics past the Baltimore Orioles 11-0 Tuesday night.


Dodging Another Upset, U.S. Holds Off Greece

Nobody heard the American players exhale when the buzzer sounded to end a 77-71 victory, because 12,000 delirious fans saluted Greece, the home team that had come close.


Humes Sits One Out

With a showdown against preseason No. 1 USC on the horizon, tailback Cedric Humes rested his sore ankle and sat out Tuesday's scrimmage.


Sox's Guillen Hospitalized

Chicago White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen entered a Chicago hospital on Tuesday with symptoms that suggest kidney stones.


Effort by Bush on Education Hits Obstacles

Since President Bush signed No Child Left Behind, the law has imposed undeniable changes on public education, but it has also faced a backlash.


Cleric in Najaf Refuses to Meet Iraqi Mediators

The delegation hoped to convince Moktada al- Sadr to disarm his militia, to leave the shrine and to join the political process.


Who's Behind the Gold Medalist's Mask? Gosh, an American!

Mariel Zagunis crushed Tan Xue of China, 15-9, in the final of the women's saber Tuesday, earning the first American gold in a recognized fencing event.


Windows XP SP2 update delayed

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Microsoft Corp. has delayed automatic update of Windows XP Service Pack 2 to American company users until Aug. 25.


Cassini found two little Saturn moons

BEIJING, Aug.18(Xinhuanet) -- NASA #39;s Cassini spacecraft has spied two new moons around the satellite-rich Saturn.


It can #39;t fly and sounds like a trumpet, but new bird delights ornithologists

The mystery bird was certainly distinctive: dark brown, red bill, red legs, call like a trumpet, pretty hopeless at flying. You couldn #39;t miss it if you knew it was there.


Accused pair to tell their side of story

This morning as Britain awakes, Kostas Kenteris and his training partner, Katerina Thanou, will be asked three questions by the disciplinary commission of the International Olympic Committee. These will determine whether they deliberately ...


Edwards #39; appeal against two-year ban fails

Torri Edwards, the American sprinter, was shown no mercy here last night when the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld her two-year doping ban.


Terror charges

London, Aug. 17 (Reuters): Britain charged eight men today with conspiracy to murder and other terrorism charges, some of them relating to plans of US buildings that could have been used to organise attacks.


Senior Hamas leader wounded

An explosion tore through the home of a senior Hamas leader in Gaza yesterday, killing at least five people and wounding him and about a dozen other Palestinians, medics said.


US Hopes Influence Can Quell Russian - Georgian Tensions

WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (AFP) - The United States is eyeing tensions between Georgia and separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia while hoping US influence with Georgia #39;s new president can halt broader armed conflict in the Caucasus.


Seven dead in Baghdad blast

Interior Ministry officials had earlier said the blast on Tuesday was caused by a car bomb. At least five cars were ...


Japan Stocks Turn Lower on Oil Worries

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average turned lower by  late morning on Wednesday as concern over surging oil prices  and their possible impact on the global economy hit exporters  such as Toyota Motor Corp.


Paes-Bhupathi overcome Federer-Allegro (Reuters)

Reuters - World number one Roger Federer's top target for the year -- an Olympic tennis gold medal -- was taken away from him in a "terrible day" on Tuesday.


Najaf Fighting Continues Amid Peace Push

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi delegates delivered a peace proposal to aides of Muqtada al-Sadr in Najaf on Tuesday, but the militant cleric refused to meet with them as explosions, gunfire and a U.S. bombing run persisted in the holy city...


Cabrera Leads Red Sox Past Blue Jays 5-4

BOSTON - Orlando Cabrera hit a run-scoring double off the Green Monster in the ninth inning on reliever Justin Speier's second pitch of the game, giving the Boston Red Sox a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.    Pinch-hitter Dave Roberts drew a leadoff walk in the ninth and was forced out at second base on Johnny Damon's grounder off Kevin Frederick (0-2)...


Google flotation still dogged by last minute complications

Google #39;s public share offering is expected to go ahead as early as today following a request for final regulatory approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission.


Alcoa to shutter Ohio automotive components plant

PITTSBURGH Alcoa said today it will take a seven (m) million dollar charge to close an automotive components plant in Ohio due to overcapacity.


The latest on SP2

The long-awaited Service Pack 2 for the Windows XP Home Edition is expected to start rolling out to PC users Wednesday via Microsoft #39;s Automatic Update service. The company says it is also planning to make the update available for order on a CD, for ...


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS, Greece -- It began with Allen Iverson -- The Answer, the captain, the leader of Team USA -- forgetting about the fractured bone in his right thumb and courageously hitting the floor against Greece in full regalia.


Ancient Site a Throwback for Select Few Athletes

THENS, Aug. 17 - Earlier this week, John Godina, a shot-putter from the United States, walked into the ancient stadium at Olympia, about 200 miles southwest of Athens, and the history he had studied in college came to life.


Flash floods force huge rescue bid

LONDON: Rescue workers combed an English coastal village in north Cornwall yesterday for people missing after a flash flood caused by torrential rain hit Britain #39;s southwestern Atlantic coast.


Parliamentarians Not To Compromise Governance For Personal Gains: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : Aug 18 (PID) - President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday urged the Parliamentarians not to compromise governance for personal gains and work selflessly to serve the people and earn a rightful place for the country in the comity of ...


Google Offering Waits For SEC Approval

Google Inc.'s initial public offering of stock remained on hold Tuesday after the Securities and Exchange Commission delayed final approval of the company's prospectus. The  delay did not appear to involve any major new issues, and the company continued to maintain  that its IPO is on track. -The Washington Post


Dot-Coms Anxious to Get Back in IPO Game

The successful bidders for Google shares won't be the only ones watching eagerly to see how much the IPO excites the stock market. Dozens of dot-com companies are hoping that Google's initial public offering marks a reawakening of all things Internet. -The Washington Post


Antiwar Protesters Told  Shop Till You Drop, Too

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided that if antiwar protesters are to descend on his city by the hundreds of thousands for the Republican Convention, he may as well turn them into shoppers.
-The Washington Post


Fairfax Tempts Foreign Firms to Branch Out

Fairfax County is hoping to counter the exodus of U.S. jobs to other countries by persuading overseas companies to open branches in Fairfax, where they can hire Americans.


Manning Gets Early Go-Ahead to Start

Eli Manning, the No. 1 pick in this year's N.F.L. draft, will make his first professional start on Thursday when the Giants take on the Carolina Panthers.


Sheffield Should Be Able to Play On

The Yankees' Gary Sheffield has a pulled muscle and bursitis in his troublesome left shoulder, but can continue to play.


Hudson Handcuffs O's

Jermaine Dye began the fireworks in the sixth with a two-run home run and Tim Hudson baffled the Orioles as Oakland rolled, 11-0, Tuesday.


Cust Slogs Through Season

With less than three weeks left in the Class AAA Ottawa Lynx's season, Jack Cust is counting down the days until his two-year stay with the Baltimore Orioles organization ends.


Caps' Witt Wins Arbitration

Washington Capitals defenseman Brendan Witt was awarded \$2.2 million for the 2004-05 season in his arbitration hearing on Tuesday.


Bailey Tries WR

Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey practiced with the offense at wide reciever during the Denver Broncos' practice on Tuesday.


Dot-Coms Get Back in IPO Game (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - The successful bidders for Google shares won't be the only ones watching eagerly to see how much the IPO excites the stock market. Dozens of dot-com companies are hoping that Google's initial public offering marks a reawakening of all things Internet.


Production Grew, Prices Fell in July

The nation's factories cranked out more products in July, miners dug more minerals and builders broke ground on more homes, the government said yesterday in three reports that showed some rebound in economic activity last month.


Mills Buys Into Lakeforest Mall

Mills Corp., the Arlington-based retail developer, said yesterday it plans to buy half of Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg and eight other malls around the country in a billion-dollar deal that gives it a new portfolio of shopping centers to redevelop in the years ahead.


Airlines Agree to Cuts at O'Hare

Airlines operating at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport have agreed to cut flights  to reduce delays that ripple across the country, sources familiar with the talks said yesterday.


U.S. Brokers Halt to Afghan Infighting (AP)

AP - The U.S. ambassador helped broker a cease-fire Tuesday to halt the latest bloody infighting in Afghanistan, persuading a warlord to pull away from a provincial capital as U.S. warplanes circled overhead.


GOP Rep. Cubin Wins Wyoming Primary (AP)

AP - U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin fended off four Republican challengers in Tuesday's primary election, securing a shot at a sixth term in this fall's general election.


Crude rises on Iraq troubles

SEPTEMBER oil prices rose yesterday on US economic data showing that inflationary pressure was held in check in July. However, continued disruption in Iraqi supplies and strong world fuel demand and ongoing trouble at Russian oil giant Yukos underpinned ...


Bankruptcy fears as Yukos #39; half-year loss hits \$2.65bn

YUKOS has reported a net loss of US\$2.65 billion (1.45bn) for the first half of 2004, a period of record oil prices, prompting speculation that the Russian oil firm is on the verge of declaring bankruptcy.


Halliburton hit

THE US army will withhold payment on 15 per cent of future invoices from Halliburton, the logistics support group which is feeding and housing its troops in Iraq and Kuwait.


Wall Street takes heart from positive economic reports

A NEW record high for oil took some of the shine off Wall Street trade yesterday. An upbeat picture of inflation and good housing data boosted the mood early on and strong earnings from several retailers, led by Home Depot, also helped to keep the major ...


E-Mail Viruses Getting Smarter, Report Says

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Computer viruses spread by e-mail are growing more sophisticated as virus writers and  quot;spammers quot; are thought to be joining forces in an effort to make smarter bugs, a computer security group said on Tuesday.


Games Business Needs Mergers, Price Cuts-Report

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Video game executives believe consolidation will be crucial to their future, but they also want further cuts to hardware prices to boost short-term growth, according to a report set for release this week.


Event of the Day -- Men #39;s and women #39;s shot put

Why you should watch: Given the longstanding American hegemony in the shot put, it #39;s plausible that the three-man US delegation could sweep the competition. But the most compelling reason to watch is the unparalleled setting.


Fellow Jets Are Getting to Know No. 89

EMPSTEAD, NY, Aug. 17 - It has become a recurring part of the practice-field banter at Jets training camp. Jerricho Cotchery, the rookie wide receiver, hauls in another bomb on a post route or makes another touchdown catch, and ...


LOOKING BACK 8-Day Battle for Najaf: From Attack to Stalemate

AJAF, Iraq, Aug. 16 - Just five days after they arrived here to take over from Army units that had encircled Najaf since an earlier confrontation in the spring, new Marine commanders decided to smash guerrillas loyal to the rebel Shiite ...


Soldier dies as British troops clash with Sadr #39;s Basra army

A BRITISH soldier was killed and at least one other injured during a fierce firefight with militia fighters in the southern Iraqi city of Basra yesterday.


Outgoing Ambassador Of Qatar Meets Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : Aug 18 (PID) - The outgoing Ambassador of Qatar, Mr. Abdullah Falah A. Al-Dosari paid a courtesy called on the President General Pervez Musharraf here on Tuesday.


Raiders' Gallery Misses Camp With Injury (AP)

AP - Left tackle Robert Gallery, the second player taken in the NFL draft, didn't practice Tuesday morning with the Oakland Raiders because of an elbow injury, leaving his status uncertain for Saturday's preseason game against Dallas.


Rockies Pitcher Frets Health, Not Baseball (AP)

AP - The blood clots that went from Aaron Cook's shoulder to his lungs might threaten his career.


Still No Movement in N.H.L. labor Talks

The N.H.L. and the players association moved no closer to a collective bargaining agreement during a five-hour meeting Tuesday.


What Next for Venezuela?

President Hugo Chavez is riding high after his overwhelming victory in a recall vote this week, but analysts say his triumph may have limited impact on the deep economic and political problems threatening this major oil-producing country.


Google Offering Waits for Approval

Google Inc. #39;s initial public offering of stock remained on hold yesterday after the Securities and Exchange Commission delayed final approval of the company #39;s prospectus.


AMP Returns to Profit After Spinoff

Australian financial services group AMP Ltd. on Wednesday reported a return to profit in the first half of the year after cutting loose its loss-making British insurance operations.


Japan Stocks Fall on Oil Worries

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo #39;s Nikkei average fell 0.59 percent by midday on Wednesday, erasing initial gains, as exporters like Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. declined on concern over the possible impact on the global economy of surging oil prices.


TGn Sync Coalition Outlines Proposal for 802.11n

TGn Sync, a coalition of more than a dozen vendors, will submit a joint proposal to the IEEE 802.11 Task Group N (TGn) for the next generation 802.11n standard.


Hamstring latest setback for Kupets

There are favorites and there are expectations, but to compete in the Olympics is to hazard the risk of being outfought, outscored, out-happied.


Veteran hurler Beck released by Padres

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - The San Diego Padres requested unconditional release waivers for righthanded reliever Rod Beck on Tuesday, ending the 36- year-old #39;s run in Southern California.


Sheffield Should Be Able to Play On

INNEAPOLIS, Aug. 17 - The Yankees #39; Gary Sheffield has a pulled muscle and bursitis in his troublesome left shoulder, but can continue to play, according to a diagnosis provided on Tuesday by Dr. Frank Jobe, the noted orthopedic surgeon who ...


NFL ROUNDUP Eagles #39; Kalu Will Be Out for the Year

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end ND Kalu will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at yesterday #39;s practice.


AL Capsules

Orlando Cabrera hit a run-scoring double off the Green Monster in the ninth inning on reliever Justin Speier #39;s second pitch of the game, giving the Boston Red Sox a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.


China Battles to Keep N.Korea Nuclear Talks Alive

BEIJING (Reuters) - China battled on Wednesday to keep alive six-way talks on dismantling North Korea #39;s nuclear programs, saying it hoped all parties would stay calm and flexible and resume negotiations despite inevitable problems.


McKenry doesn #39;t back Scrafton: PM

Prime Minister John Howard said a former public servant had not backed the claims by former adviser Mike Scrafton about the children overboard affair.


Twins Collect Rare Victory Over Yankees (AP)

AP - Brad Radke pitched seven solid innings, Corey Koskie drove in three runs and the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Yankees in the regular season for the first time since 2001 with an 8-2 victory Tuesday night.


China tries to shut down phone sex lines in anti-porn campaign (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - SHANGHAI, China (AP) - China has ordered severe punishment for phone sex operators as part of a sweeping crackdown on electronic pornography, Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.


Dollar Stuck After CPI Fails to Inspire

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar idled on Wednesday after the  latest round of U.S. inflation data failed to substantially  alter the outlook for gradual increases in interest rates.


Yukos, Iraq push oil higher

NEW YORK -- Oil prices have moved to fresh record highs of almost \$47 a barrel on concerns about potential supply disruptions in Russia and Iraq.


US Stocks Gain for a Third Day, Led by Home Depot, Retailers

Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- US stocks rose for a third straight day after an unexpected drop in consumer prices encouraged investors that the Federal Reserve may be able to slow the pace of interest rate increases. Benchmark indexes pared gains as oil prices ...


Australia #39;s Pacific Hydro FY04 Net A\$40.7M, Up 39

CANBERRA (Dow Jones)--Renewable energy generator Pacific Hydro Ltd. (PHY.AU) reported Wednesday a 39 jump in net profit, including a one-time tax benefit, to A\$40.7 million in the fiscal year ended June 30, up from A\$29.3 million in the previous year.


Warehouse offers cut-price coffins

A US discount warehouse chain known for piling  #39;em high, and selling  #39;em cheap, is offering cut-price coffins along with the buckets of sauce and tubs of ice-cream under a new pilot program.


RealNetworks Launches Music Download Price War

RealNetworks is sending a real message to Apple, their largest competitor in the online music market. On Tuesday, RealNetworks announced that it was launching the biggest music sale in history, offering single music downloads for just 49 cents, and most ...


WinXP SP2 Home Edition To Be Available On Automatic Update Aug 18

Microsoft #39;s channel partners are getting set to put out fires when Windows XP Service Pack 2 becomes available to consumers over the Windows Update service on Wednesday.


Sutton #39;s Ryder Cup selections are solid

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Hal Sutton will get second-guessed, which is the main by-product of the captain of Ryder Cup teams having two at-large selections and one month before the 35th version of the matches are played at Oakland Hills Country ...


Owners, players talk, but nothing resolved

Five hours of talks Tuesday brought owners and players no closer to resolving labor disagreements that will lead to a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement ends Sept. 15.


Padres release former all-stat Rod Beck, recall Freddy Guzman

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The San Diego Padres released reliever Rod Beck on Tuesday and recalled centre fielder Freddy Guzman from triple-A Portland.


Mariners Race Past Royals 16-3 (AP)

AP - Ichiro Suzuki went 4-for-4 and drove in a career-high five runs, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 16-3 rout of the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.


Twins Collect Rare Victory Over Yankees

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Brad Radke pitched seven solid innings, Corey Koskie drove in three runs and the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Yankees in the regular season for the first time since 2001 with an 8-2 victory Tuesday night.


Colombian Government Won't Halt Offensive (AP)

AP - Colombia's government on Tuesday shrugged off warnings from Marxist rebels that a massive offensive is endangering the lives of dozens of hostages, including three Americans.


China Appeals to N. Korea for Nuke Talks (AP)

AP - China appealed to North Korea on Tuesday to join working meetings before a new round of six-party talks on dismantling its nuclear program, despite the North's declaration that it saw no point in attending.


Haiti court acquits rebel leader

A court acquits ex-paramilitary leader Jodel Chamblain of murder in a trial criticised by human rights activists.


Intel backtracks on offering chips for projection TVs now

In another product postpone-ment, semiconductor giant Intel Corp said it won #39;t be offering a chip for projection TVs by the end of this year as it had announced earlier this year.


China tries to shut down phone sex lines in anti-porn campaign

SHANGHAI, China (AP) - China has ordered severe punishment for phone sex operators as part of a sweeping crackdown on electronic pornography, Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.


Produce less beef and save water

The Stockholm International Water Institute in Sweden claims it takes 15 cubic metres of water, or 15,000 litres, to produce one kilogram of grain-fed beef.


US Men Squander Lead, But Hold Off Thorpe to Win

ATHENS, Aug. 17 -- Rarely has a huge lead disappeared so quickly. Largely unheralded US swimmer Klete Keller jumped in the pool for the final leg of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay a second-and-a-half ahead of Australian legend Ian Thorpe.


Teixeira cycles his way to history

ARLINGTON -- Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira made history Tuesday at Ameriquest Field in Arlington against Cleveland when he became the second player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.


LaCassie, Price qualify for US Amateur Match Play

Two of the three Australians who made the field for this week #39;s US Amateur Championship at the famed Winged Foot Golf Club in New York, have made it into the top sixty four who will fight out the Match Play phase of the Championship.


Jordanian hostage freed in Iraq

A Jordanian who disappeared in Iraq two weeks ago and was believed to have been kidnapped has been freed and is in the custody of Iraqi police, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali al-Ayed told reporters yesterday.


Fall Season Looks Solid for Retailers, but Holidays Could Be Another Story

Against a background of lackluster retail sales in June and July, analysts and merchants still predict a decent, possibly strong, fall selling season for clothes, accessories and home furnishings.


So Google Is Almost Public. Now Comes the Hard Part.

Google, whose initial stock offering was delayed by the S.E.C., must prove that its success is not an accident.


After Circulation Scandal, a Move to Build Trust

Belo Corporation has set aside \$23 million to compensate advertisers for exaggerated circulation figures at The Dallas Morning News.


Nevada officials back e-vote systems for primary, general election

Nevada election officials are confident that an electronic voting system being used in the Sept. 7 primary and the November election will work as expected, despite a problem that occurred during a demonstration of the technology in California.


Motorola rolls out database management software

Motorola is using the Application Data Management suite from OuterBay Technology to manage data growth in its Oracle e-business applications.


Warriors, Mavs Close on Five-Player Trade (AP)

AP - The Warriors and Mavericks are close to completing a five-player trade that would bring forwards Eduardo Najera and Christian Laettner to Golden State and send centers Erick Dampier, Evan Eschmeyer and guard Dan Dickau to Dallas, an NBA source aware of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.


Must-See TV Lacks Must-Have Buzz

Empty seats in Athens offer a bizarre television backdrop for the Olympics - one that cannot be avoided by NBC.


Manning Gets Early Go-Ahead to Start

Eli Manning, the No. 1 pick in this year's N.F.L. draft, will make his first professional start on Thursday when the Giants take on Carolina.


Vazquez and Yankees Buckle Early

Because Javier Vazquez fizzled while Brad Radke flourished, the Yankees sustained their first regular-season defeat by the Minnesota Twins since 2001.


Still No Movement in N.H.L. Labor Talks

The N.H.L. and the players association moved no closer to a collective bargaining agreement during a five-hour meeting.


China Hints U.S. Must Return Guantanamo Separatists (Reuters)

Reuters - Beijing has hinted that if the United\States releases any Guantanamo Bay detainees from its restive\Muslim far west Xinjiang region, they should be handed over to\Beijing and not sent to a third country.


China Hints U.S. Must Return Guantanamo Separatists

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing has hinted that if the United  States releases any Guantanamo Bay detainees from its restive  Muslim far west Xinjiang region, they should be handed over to  Beijing and not sent to a third country.


Architectural Benefactor J. Irwin Miller Dies

J. Irwin Miller, 95, the industrialist and philanthropist who guided Cummins Engine Co. to international prominence and helped shape his home town of Columbus, Ind., into an architectural gem, died Aug. 16 at his home in Columbus. No cause of death was ...


Delta May Offer Its Pilots Equity Stake to Get Cuts

Delta Air Lines, in an effort to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection, is considering giving its pilots an equity stake in exchange for pay and benefit cuts, a Delta pilot spokeswoman said yesterday.


The Ballad of Shaikh Ahmed

THE guy exudes an aura of sure-fire confidence - the confidence that is based on his burning desire to excel. Shaikh Ahmed Mohammed Hasher Al Maktoum expects to be successful - and he invariably is.


Eriksson urges more rest for top players

SLALEY, England, Aug 17 (Reuters) - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has thrown down to gauntlet to the international soccer authorities to preserve the health of the world  quot;superstar quot; footballers for major tournaments.


US, Jamaica wait to tip hands

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Twenty-four hours before the US National Team takes on the Jamaicans in their first CONCACAF World Cup qualifying semifinal round match, and the Americans were nowhere to be found.


An irregular regular loss

MINNEAPOLIS -- Considering how much the Yankees have dominated the Twins during the regular season in recent years, it was easy to assume Javier Vazquez picked the right time to return from a nasty two-week bout with conjunctivitis.


Santos holds Cubs to one run for win

Santos allowed just one run in 6 1-3 innings to win for the first time since beating Chicago on July 16, and the Brewers defeated the Cubs 3-1 Tuesday night.


Swimmers, gymnasts lift NBC #39;s early ratings

Boosted by strong results from US gymnasts and swimmers, NBC #39;s ratings for the Athens Olympics #39; first four days have topped the disappointing viewership levels of the 2000 Sydney Games.


Peace team urges Sadr to call off uprising: Militia positions pounded

NAJAF, Aug 17: An Iraqi peace delegation urged Shia leader Moqtada Sadr on Tuesday to call off his uprising in Najaf, and on the battlefront US troops pounded militia positions near the country #39;s holiest sites.


China appeals to North Korea to go ahead with nuclear talks

BEIJING (AP)  China appealed to North Korea on Tuesday to join working meetings before a new round of six-party talks on dismantling its nuclear program, despite the North #39;s declaration that it saw no point in attending.


Maoist Rebels Block Land Routes to Nepali Capital

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Maoist rebels, fighting to topple  Nepal's constitutional monarchy, cut off all land routes to the  Himalayan kingdom's capital on Wednesday, disrupting food and  supplies to the city of 1.5 million people.


Michael Jackson in legal setback

Michael Jackson's lawyers fail in their attempt to have evidence seized in a raid on his ranch thrown out.


Cox Forms Committee to Consider Buyout

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cox Communications Inc., the No. 4  U.S. cable television provider, said late on Tuesday  it formed  a committee of independent directors to consider a \$7.9 billion  offer from its controlling family to take the company private.


Mavs Acquire Dampier

The Associated Press reports that the Warriors and Mavericks are close to completing a deal that would bring Eduardo Najera and Christian Laettner to Golden State and send Erick Dampier, Evan Eschmeyer and Dan Dickau to Dallas.


Teixeira Bats for Cycle

Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira hit for the cycle and drove in a career-high seven runs in a 16-4 rout of the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.


Analysis: Venezuela off oil market #39;s front burner

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Oil futures reached a record high Tuesday as the market fretted over simmering potential pitfalls other than last weekend #39;s vote in Venezuela that kept controversial strongman Hugo Chavez in the presidency.


Production, housing rise while consumer prices decline

Washington - The nation #39;s factories cranked out more products in July, miners dug more minerals and builders broke ground on more homes, the government said Tuesday in three reports that showed some rebound in economic activity last ...


Charley may cost insurers \$14bn

Chicago - Insured losses from Hurricane Charley could be between \$10 billion (R66 billion) and \$14 billion, according to industry estimates released as insurers received thousands of claims from Florida.


BJ #39;s will fight banks #39; \$16M claim

BJ #39;s Wholesale Club Inc. is gearing up for legal battles with credit-card-issuing banks, which are demanding \$16 million to offset fraudulent credit card charges and other costs related to a security breach apparently involving BJ #39;s ...


Winning is Greek to US: Outlasts h

ATHENS - Larry Brown found out some things about his team last night. Among them was that Allen Iverson apparently shoots better with a fractured right thumb than he does with two healthy paws.


A Throwback to Olympia

ATHENS -- Today, Olympians will be in the ancient stadium at Olympia for the shot put competition. Been there, but haven #39;t done that.


Agassi overcomes Goldstein in Washington opener

NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Number-one seed Andre Agassi survived a surprisingly tough first set test before he eventually coasted to a 6-4 6-2 win over Paul Goldstein at the Washington Classic on Tuesday.


A gold medal in the ratings

Olympic laurels. NBC swept the Nielsen ratings medals, with its first three nights of coverage in Athens taking the top three prime-time spots last week (Aug. 9-15) in viewers and advertiser-coveted young adults. The surge ...


Warriors, Mavs close on five-player trade

The Warriors and Mavericks are close to completing a five-player trade that would bring forwards Eduardo Najera and Christian Laettner to Golden State and send centers Erick Dampier, Evan Eschmeyer and guard Dan Dickau to Dallas, an NBA source aware of ...


Result knot all bad for US: Wins group after tie with Aussies

ATHENS - Playing without suspended forward Abby Wambach, the US women #39;s soccer team battled to a mutually beneficial 1-1 draw with Australia last night at Kaftanzoglio Stadium in Thessaloniki. The result was not unexpected, as the ...


When it comes to Israel...

At first glance it was just another prosaic headline.  quot; #39;Militants #39; prevent resumption of work in the seaports, quot; Haaretz said.


NL Wrap: Walker Grand Slam Helps Cards Beat Reds Again

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Larry Walker hit a grand slam home run  to key a six-run eighth inning as the Cardinals stayed hot with  a 7-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in St Louis on Tuesday.


Cave Linked to John the Baptist Found in Israel (Reuters)

Reuters - A British archeologist has dug up\evidence linking John the Baptist to a cave used for bathing\rituals in hills near Jerusalem in what he said could be one of\the biggest recent finds for Christian history.


Chasing the SUV vote

SPORT UTILITY vehicles roared into stump speeches this month, flattening all common sense. At a speech last week introducing President Bush, Virginia #39;s Governor George Allen juiced the crowd by ...


SI.com

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds continue to find new ways to lose to the St. Louis Cardinals.


Eight terror suspects charged in UK

British police have charged eight terrorist suspects with conspiring to commit murder and use radioactive materials, toxic gases, chemicals or explosives to cause  quot;fear or injury quot; in a case involving an alleged top al-Qaeda operative at the centre of a US ...


Five Palestinians dead in Israeli attempt to kill Hamas activist

Israel #39;s air force launched an attack on a Gaza City building early Wednesday, killing at least five people, according to witnesses and officials on both sides. Seven people were also wounded, four critically.


Army, in Shift, Will Pay Halliburton

The Army reversed a decision to withhold payment on 15 percent of future payments to the Halliburton Company on its contracts in Iraq and Kuwait.


The Guy From Green Day Says He Has Your Mother on the Cellphone

Ringtones have proved to be such a lucrative side business for cellular phone companies that record labels in the United States have decided they want a piece of that revenue.


ING to Withdraw \$5 Bln from Janus Funds

NEW YORK (Reuters) - ING U.S. Financial Services said late  on Tuesday it will withdraw about \$5 billion from Janus Capital  Group Inc. funds by year-end.


Gas Price Drop Lowers CPI

Moderate news on the inflation front and a Labor Department report showing that consumer prices actually fell in July gave comfort to investors who are worried about potential price hikes.


Costco Is Accused of Sex Bias

n employee at the Costco Wholesale Corporation filed a national class-action lawsuit against the company yesterday, accusing it of discriminating against women in promotions to store manager.


US Wants a Trustee Named to Oversee United #39;s Pensions

ASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (AP) - A legal overseer will be appointed to represent participants in United Airlines #39; pension plans now that the company has halted contributions, the Labor Department said on Tuesday.


RealNetworks drops music-download price

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- With competition heating up in the online music business, the American digital media group, RealNetworks Inc. yesterday declared war on Apple Computer and its popular iTunes in ternet music store by lowering prices for ...


Cash for emails - script kiddies use spam to make their fortunes

Money the prime motivator as viruses and spam converge  63.5 of all email during the first six months of 2004 was spam  Over 1.5 million phishing emails intercepted  Spyware makes its first appearance in the spam attack arsenal Sydney. 17th ...


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Larry Walker hit a grand slam home run to key a six-run eighth inning as the Cardinals stayed hot with a 7-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in St Louis on Tuesday.


Web page to help with installation of WIndows anti-hacker security patch

Information Technology Systems and Services (ITSS) has created a Web page that will walk Microsoft Windows XP users on campus through a major update being released worldwide this month to make the operating system less vulnerable to computer hackers and ...


Oil Prices Hold Firm Near  #36;47 (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices held steady near  #36;47 on\Wednesday, a day after striking another record peak as U.S.\inflation stayed in check despite scorching energy costs and\ahead of weekly data expected to show a drop in crude stocks.


Talking with ... Vijay Singh, PGA Tour

Vijay Singh, 41, shot a final-round 76 but still won the PGA Championship on Sunday at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis.


America pays big price for small mistakes

She was shaking her hips, twirling her hands, letting that high-wattage smile shine and turning the arena into her own little disco.


Teixeira hits for the cycle

ARLINGTON, Texas  Mark Teixeira became the second player in Rangers history  and first in more than 19 years  to hit for the cycle, leading Texas to a 16-4 rout of the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.


SI.com

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Ichiro Suzuki and the Seattle Mariners made their first appearance at Kauffman Stadium this season, much to the dismay of the Kansas City Royals .


British Soldier Killed in Iraq

A British soldier has been killed and another injured after clashes with militia forces in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, said the British Army.


UN asks Myanmar to engage opposition parties, release Suu Kyi

United Nations, Aug 18 - The United Nations has told the ruling military Junta in Myanmar that its process for transition to democracy and national reconciliation will lack  quot;credibility quot; unless it engages the opposition political parties and releases ...


China Sighs in Relief as Yao Scores High

BEIJING (Reuters) - China breathed a measured sigh of  relief after the skills of its basketball giant Yao Ming  dwarfed New Zealand to sweep his team nearer to their goal of  reaching the Athens Olympics semi-finals.


Giants Edge Expos

J.T. Snow singled in the winning run in the ninth to lead the Giants to their sixth straight victory, 5-4, over the Expos on Tuesday night.


Wednesday's preview

Day five of the Games will see 21 golds on offer with Kate Howey and Pippa Funnell aiming for medals.


UK terror suspects due in court

Eight men charged with conspiracy to murder and plotting to use toxic materials or explosives are due in court.


NEW YORK (Reuters) - ING US Financial Services said late on Tuesday it will withdraw about \$5 billion from Janus Capital Group Inc. funds by year-end.


Applied shares flat on lower outlook

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Applied Materials beat Wall Street #39;s third-quarter financial estimates late Tuesday, but shares of the chip equipment company stalled after the company #39;s earnings targets for the fourth quarter came in lower than expected.


Investment firm Leucadia holds about 5 pct of MCI

WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Investment company Leucadia National Corp. (LUK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday it had bought a 4.96 percent stake in MCI Inc. (MCIP.O: Quote, Profile, Research) for about \$245.9 million.


Nortel hints it won #39;t tell all

Nortel Networks Corp., which plans to shed some light tomorrow morning on its financial performance for the first half of the year, hinted yesterday that those long-awaited results could be short on details.


New bird species found in Philippines

The bird, dubbed the  quot;Calayan Rail quot;, is the size of a small crow and has dark brown plumage and bright orange-red legs and beak, said Carl Oliveros, who helped lead the expedition that found it.


Plan for global observation would aid in forecasting of disasters

WASHINGTON - What if scientists could forecast Texas floods a full year in advance? Or predict when and how air pollution from Asia or Mexico will settle over Los Angeles or Houston? Or pinpoint the location of the next West Nile virus ...


Americans rebound to eke out win over Greece

ATHENS, GREECE - The crowd danced and sang and chanted  quot;Hellas, Hellas, Hellas quot; and a taunting refrain of  quot;Puerto Rico quot; loud enough to stir the ancients or heal Lamar Odom #39;s pained and poisoned stomach.


Devers and Moore Called Up by USA

Gail Devers and LaShaunte #39;a Moore will replace Torri Edwards, the USA #39;s suspended world champion, in the Olympic 100 and 200 metres races in Athens.


Mariners 16, Royals 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If Ichiro Suzuki keeps hitting at his second-half pace, Seattle Mariners manager Bob Melvin believes there may be a new addition for the dictionary.


Damon #39;s play top choice

In the first inning last night at Fenway Park, Red Sox stats, schedule leadoff hitter Johnny Damon stats, news jump-started his team #39;s offense by hitting a home run to right field.


US women settle for tie

The United States women #39;s soccer team needed only a tie yesterday and that #39;s all it got -- settling for a draw against a team it always had beaten.


MLB: Texas 16, Cleveland 4

Arlington, TX, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Mark Teixeira had seven RBI Tuesday to help Scott Erickson earn his first win in over two years as Texas Rangers pounded the Cleveland Indians, 16-4.


Miscues Cost U.S. Women Gymnastics Gold (AP)

AP - They're the kind of errors only judges see, little things that seem so inconsequential. But those mistakes added up, and they cost the U.S. gymnastics team a gold medal. The Americans settled for silver Tuesday night, done in as much by their own sloppiness as Romania's sheer superiority.


Iraqis aim to decide new assembly

The Baghdad conference on Iraq's future goes into an unscheduled fourth day as a peace bid fails in  Najaf.


Inflation #39;s Summer Vacation?

At first glance, July #39;s muted price data seems to undercut inflation fighters #39; rate-hike strategy. But the softness isn #39;t likely to stay ...


Season far from running course

With the PGA Tour #39;s major championships concluded for 2004, we look for other story lines to sustain the golf season. The back nine: ...


Federer #39;s Olympics end unexpectedly early with two losses

Roger Federer gathered his racket bag and trudged off the court, ignoring fans #39; autograph requests as he headed straight for the exit.


Iraqis aim to decide new assembly

The national conference on Iraq #39;s future is going into an unscheduled fourth day as delegates hammer out the shape of the first post-war parliament.


More hospital tests for Latham

OPPOSITION Leader Mark Latham is undergoing further tests at Sydney #39;s St Vincent #39;s Hospital after being diagnosed with pancreatitis.


Saved from the saw, ancient Japanese forests now threatened by tourism (AFP)

AFP - A generation ago, a battle was successfully waged on this rugged island to preserve what was left of its primeval forests, home to giant trees millennia old. Now tourism spawned by this natural heritage is threatening its survival.


Asian Shares Mixed as Oil Steady Near \$47

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - High oil prices kept Asian stock  markets in check on Wednesday as investors fretted over the  impact of energy costs on corporate earnings, but an upbeat  outlook from Applied Materials lifted some tech issues.


'Afghanistan needs security help'

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says Afghanistan needs help with security to ensure its presidential elections are successful.


Worker alleges sex bias

An assistant manager at Costco Wholesale accused the company of discriminating against female workers by failing to promote as many as 650 women to high-paying management jobs.


AMP profits beat forecasts

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Insurer and fund manager AMP has reported a better-than-expected profit for the first half on higher investment returns and improved margins after casting off its British operations.


BHP Billiton doubles H2 net profit SYDNEY, (Reuters) - Aug 18, 2004

The world #39;s biggest mining group, BHP Billiton Ltd./Plc. said on Wednesday its second-half net profit more than doubled on strong demand for industrial raw materials, and forecast sustained high prices for commodities.


Clinton #39;s story boosts Borders

The Ann Arbor-based bookseller reported Tuesday an 88.9-percent boost in profits for the second quarter and said sales grew more than expected, driven by strong sales of Clinton #39;s book  quot;My Life. quot; ...


New species of flightless bird #39;s days may be numbered

TWITCHERS should book their plane tickets as soon as possible. Wildlife experts yesterday claimed to have discovered a new species of bird in the Philippines. But they immediately warned that the flightless Calayan rail could be driven to extinction by ...


AOL releases Netscape 7.2

quot;Corporate execs are more comfortable with a known brand name. Even though Mozilla (and FF, Camino, K-Meleon, etc.) are based on the same code, they are not  quot;Netscape quot;. When execs are made aware of the faults and deficiencies of IE, they may think  quot;I wish ...


palmOne announces SD wi-fi card for Tungsten T3 and Zire 72

palmOne, Inc. is at last bringing a SD wi-fi solution for a couple of its handheld models. To date, palmOne #39;s Wi-Fi option was the Tungsten C, which comes with built-in wireless, incorporates a keyboard and a 320 x 320 transflective TFT display. palmOne ...


Olympics: Greek Sprinters Finally Get Chance to Put Case

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece #39;s top two sprinters should finally get to put their case on Wednesday in a drugs investigation that has shamed and angered the Olympic host nation.


Two-Year Suspension of American Sprinter Is Affirmed

The sprinter Torri Edwards of the United States was knocked out of the Olympics for good yesterday when an arbitration panel upheld her two-year drug suspension, saying she should have known tablets provided by her doctor contained ...


Shot put: Birthplace of Games becomes field of play again

Back when he was a shot putter at Dartmouth, he showed up for practice one day just as a freshman girl learning a new rotation let loose with an errant toss that caught Nelson right in the forehead.


Reds #39; bullpen struggles after lefty #39;s strong start

The result, however, was all too familiar as the Reds fell to the Cardinals, 7-2, in the middle tilt of a three-game series at Busch Stadium on Tuesday evening.


Rumsfeld says US forces  quot;unlikely quot; to storm holy places in Najaf

WASHINGTON : The United States pulled its punch in Iraq as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced US forces arrayed in Najaf against Shiite militants of firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr were  quot;unlikely quot; to storm the town #39;s holy places to deal the militia ...


Asian Shares Mixed as Oil Steady Near  #36;47 (Reuters)

Reuters - High oil prices kept Asian stock\markets in check on Wednesday as investors fretted over the\impact of energy costs on corporate earnings, but an upbeat\outlook from Applied Materials lifted some tech issues.


Tokyo Edge: More Video Options

Hard-drive video recorders support HDTV, while Blu-ray and HD-DVD wait in the wings. Plus: pricey headphones and cheap megapixels.


Google faces bumpy IPO road, analysts say

NEW YORK -- Google Inc. faces serious headwinds as it prepares to launch its long-anticipated initial public offering despite a lacklustre equity market and questions about the company #39;s business plan.


US inflation falls for first time in 2004

US inflation fell by 0.1 per cent in July -- the first decline since late last year -- on a drop in gasoline prices, the US Department of Labour said yesterday in a report that suggests underlying price pressures in the world #39;s biggest ...


Merrill survey of fund managers finds them more pessimistic, risk averse

Global fund managers have become increasingly risk averse and significantly more pessimistic about corporate profits and the US stock market, according to the latest monthly Merrill Lynch  amp; Co. Inc. survey.


Staples posts 39 jump in second-quarter profit

FRAMINGHAM, MASS. -- Riding strong sales across its office products portfolio, Staples Inc. yesterday reported a 39-per-cent jump in second-quarter profit that topped Wall Street forecasts.


Nortel probe one of Canada #39;s biggest

In what will be one of Canada #39;s largest white-collar crime investigations, the RCMP will assign as many as two dozen officers and forensic accountants to the criminal investigation of Nortel Networks Corp., a source familiar ...


Microsoft lifts the lid on SP2

SOFTWARE FIRM Microsoft has revealed how many fixes and updates are under the bonnet of its megapatch Windows XP Service Pack 2.


Hackers join dark side

SECURITY EXPERTS MessageLabs say that there is evidence that virus writers are working hand in hand with spammers.


Lumber rises on Florida #39;s need to rebuild

VANCOUVER -- An already buoyant lumber market is getting a psychological boost from the combined impact of hurricane Charley and reports of surprisingly strong US housing construction activity.


Back in the swim: Peirsol, Coughlin give Americans much needed splash

ATHENS - As the final leg of the men #39;s 4 x 200 freestyle relay began last night at the Olympic pool, the United States held a lead of at least 1 1/2 body lengths - which, considering the final 200 meters was being swum by 6-foot-6 Klete ...


Two Georgians Killed in Breakaway Region

TBILISI (Reuters) - At least two Georgian soldiers were killed and five wounded in artillery fire with separatists in the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgian officials said on Wednesday.


Murdoch to face trial on Falconio murder

Bradley John Murdoch was ordered to stand trial over the alleged murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio beside a remote Northern Territory highway three years ago.


Banned Sprinter Chambers Trys Football (AP)

AP - Dwain Chambers will be studying pass patterns and playbooks instead of competing against the world's top sprinters in the Olympics this weekend.


Uzbekistan Military Boost May Spark Unrest (AP)

AP - Washington's plans to beef up its military base in Uzbekistan as part of a troop realignment abroad could whip up tensions between the impoverished ex-Soviet republic's secular government and radical Islamic groups, analysts and opposition politicians say.


Tokyo Edge: More Video Options (PC World)

PC World - Hard-drive video recorders support HDTV, while Blu-ray and HD-DVD wait in the wings. Plus: pricey headphones and cheap megapixels.


U.S. Troops Training for Iraq in Israel -Paper (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. troops from Iraq are being\trained by the Israeli army in urban and guerrilla warfare\tactics at a military base in Israel, a local newspaper said on\Wednesday.


Warring Afghan Factions Say Cease-fire Holding (Reuters)

Reuters - A renegade Afghan militia commander and a\spokesman for the governor of the western province of Herat\said on Wednesday their forces were honoring a cease-fire\brokered a day earlier by the U.S. envoy to Afghanistan.


U.S. Troops Training for Iraq in Israel -Paper

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. troops from Iraq are being  trained by the Israeli army in urban and guerrilla warfare  tactics at a military base in Israel, a local newspaper said on  Wednesday.


British Terror Suspects to Appear in Court

LONDON (Reuters) - Eight British terror suspects charged  with conspiracy to commit murder in a plot linked to security  alerts at financial targets in New York, New Jersey and  Washington make their first appearance in court on Wednesday.


Virtual 3D heart to treat babies

Virtual reality techniques are helping Danish doctors diagnose heart defects in newborn babies.


Coxless four into final

Britain's rowers cruise into Saturday's final of the men's coxless four at the Olympics.


Three Georgian soldiers killed in breakaway region clashes (AFP)

AFP - Three Georgian soldiers have been killed and five wounded in clashes in Georgia's separatist region of South Ossetia, Rustavi 2 television reported, quoting an unnamed official with the Georgian interior ministry.


Oil prices edge lower in Asian trading, still near record highs (AFP)

AFP - Oil prices were slightly lower in Asian trading on easing concerns over supply disruptions but were still hovering near record highs, dealers said.


Iraq's Najaf Tense After Cleric Snubs Peace Envoys

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Fears of heavier fighting in Najaf  grew on Wednesday after an Iraqi peace delegation failed to  defuse a confrontation between U.S. troops and militiamen holed  up in a revered shrine in the city.


Between Faith and Medicine, How Clear a Line?

How will South Africa accredit "traditional healers" as legally recognized physicians?


Cheaper gas lowers price index

Falling gasoline prices in July helped push consumer prices lower for the first time in eight months, indicating that the recent surge in inflation is subsiding.


Why Hugo Chavez Won a Landslide Victory

When the rule of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was reaffirmed in a landslide 58-42 percent victory on Sunday, the opposition who put the recall vote on the ballot was stunned. They obviously don #39;t spend much time in the nation #39;s poor neighborhoods.


Costco faces sex discrimination suit

An assistant manager at one of Costco #39;s Colorado warehouses filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the Issaquah-based company yesterday, alleging that it overlooks women for promotion.


BHP Billiton 2nd-Half Net Doubles on Commodity Prices (Update2)

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- BHP Billiton, the world #39;s biggest miner, more than doubled second-half profit as Chinese demand boosted commodity prices. The company is considering returning as much as \$2 billion to investors, including share buybacks.


Info on car safety off-limits to public

The federal agency that oversees auto safety has decided -- based largely on arguments from automakers and their Washington, DC, lobbyists -- that reams of data relating to unsafe automobiles or defective parts will not be available ...


Music fans sound off

RealNetworks Inc. urged digital-music lovers yesterday to stand up for their freedom of choice. They responded by exercising their freedom of speech -- much to the company #39;s chagrin.


China to crack down on telephone sex

BEIJING (Reuters) - China #39;s communist leaders, in a fresh move to eradicate pornography, have targeted the telephone sex industry, ordering severe punishment for anyone offering the service, the official People #39;s Daily says.


More Video Options

The Olympic Games in Athens are pushing many people to finally buy that plasma or LCD television that they #39;ve been dreaming about. Also, the time difference between Japan and Greece is helping sales of video recorders, particularly those that use hard ...


Notebook: Sprinter Edwards #39; drug suspension upheld

ATHENS  US sprinter Torri Edwards was knocked out of the Olympics for good yesterday when an arbitration panel upheld her two-year drug suspension.


Finish tarnished by silver

ATHENS, Greece -- It was death by a thousand cuts. If you can describe taking silver instead of gold as  quot;death. quot; ...


Roddick escapes, but not Federer

ATHENS, Greece  Andy Roddick #39;s biggest obstacle to winning the gold medal was Roger Federer, the world #39;s No. 1 player and winner of two of the past three Grand Slam tournaments. So Tuesday, when Federer uncharacteristically lost the magic ...


Torri finally out of Olympic Games

ATHENS - US sprinter Torri Edwards was knocked out of the Olym- pics for good yesterday when an arbitration panel upheld her two-year drug suspension, rejecting arguments she took banned stimulants by accident.


Finley pays dividends in victory

Their supposed new pitching staff ace is on the disabled list and their late-inning bullpen situation has the potential to be a mess, but those problems were easy to ignore Tuesday night, thanks in part to Steve Finley.


Agassi Opens With A Win In Washington

No. 1 seed Andre Agassi overcame a sluggish start to the first set to eventually beat compatriot Paul Goldstein in straight sets at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington.


British charge 8 tied to terror conspiracy

LONDON -- The British police yesterday charged eight men with conspiracy to murder and violations of the Terrorism Act after finding that two of them possessed surveillance information on the financial centers in Washington, New York ...


Falconio suspect to stand trial

An Australian court has ordered lorry driver Bradley John Murdoch to stand trial over the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, who has been missing for three years.


Hundreds of Fleet layoffs expected

Bank of America Corp. plans to lay off hundreds of tellers and other branch employees at Fleet banks today, asking them to leave the building immediately as part of the process, according to documents obtained by the Globe and Fleet branch managers told of the decision.


Swipe hype: Debit the small stuff

Dana Conneally walked into Starbucks at Faneuil Hall one recent morning in desperate need of a coffee fix. The employee at a local law firm handed his debit card to the Starbucks worker, who swiped it, then handed it back -- no signature or personal identification number required.


MetLife seen near sale of Hub invest unit

MetLife Inc. is in late-stage negotiations to sell one of Boston's oldest investment firms, State Street Research  amp; Management Co., to another New York financial giant, BlackRock Inc., according to two executives briefed on the talks.


Lawsuits challenge unequal fund fees

Fidelity Investments charges two-tenths of 1 percent to manage a \$484 million stock portfolio for the Massachusetts state pension fund. It charges investors in its flagship Magellan fund seven-tenths -- more than three times as much.


Nortel accounting faces probe

Canadian officials are opening a criminal investigation into accounting at Nortel Networks Corp. Shares in the telecom equipment maker edged lower yesterday.


LoJack buys Canadian tracking company

LoJack Corp., which makes devices for recovering stolen cars, agreed to buy Boomerang Tracking Inc. for about \$48 million to expand into Canada. LoJack will pay about \$4.32 a share in cash or a combination of cash and stock for the Montreal maker of stolen vehicle recovery equipment, LoJack said. Westwood-based LoJack also gets Boomerang's cash balance of \$12 million. ...


Brazilians attack money laundering

Brazilian police arrested more than 60 people yesterday in a massive operation to crack down on money laundering, targeting currency changers who illegally transfer money abroad.


Europe 'must adapt on climate'

Europe must find ways of adapting to a climate that may change drastically by mid-century, the European Environment Agency says.


Welcome change for Cabrera

Let's say Boston is the sun of the baseball universe, where hope and criticism burn bright, where a city revolves around the game.


He gets some credit for this victory

As hard as Pedro Martinez went in his previous outing, when he morphed into vintage Pedro and hurled nine shutout innings, the real toll came this week.


Giants make it six in row

J.T. Snow singled in the winning run with one out in the ninth to lead the San Francisco Giants to their sixth straight victory, 5-4, over the visiting Montreal Expos last night.


NL notables

Larry Walker was 3 for 4 and is 10 for 27 (.370) with 11 RBIs since joining the Cardinals.


Youkilis, McCarty go on DL

A season of extraordinary medical adversity posed yet another series of challenges yesterday for the Red Sox as Kevin Youkilis and David McCarty joined the likes of Trot Nixon , Mark Bellhorn , Pokey Reese , and Ellis Burks on the disabled list.


Texas rides cycle

Mark Teixeira became the second player in Rangers history -- and first in more than 19 years -- to hit for the cycle, leading host Texas to a 16-4 rout of the Cleveland Indians last night.


Stops and starts in the fast lane

Michael Jennings was a track star at Florida State who also wanted to play football but wasn't confident enough to forgo a track scholarship and try the sport as a walk-on for  quot;a team that good. quot;


Old college try from Moreland

Earthwind Moreland signed with the Patriots Aug. 5, but University of Massachusetts football fans may have heard of him before that. He was a starting cornerback for the Georgia Southern squad that entered the 1998 Division 1-AA national championship game undefeated and then lost to the Minutemen, 55-43.


LBs are built from ground up

For Bill Belichick, it isn't a preference. In his mind, turning NCAA defensive ends into NFL linebackers is practically a necessity.


Knee injury benches Eagles' Kalu for season

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end N.D. Kalu will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during yesterday's practice.


Jumbo dough for Joe

Joe Thornton didn't make the score he was looking for yesterday, but the Bruins captain will earn \$6.75 million, the most of any player in the club's history, if the National Hockey League has a full 2004-05 season.


Philo is in the know

Normally, there are few sure things in golf, but here's something we can be certain of: The lads in today's final pairing at the 84th New England PGA Championship at Brae Burn Country Club will not require introductions.


Northern N.E. reaches peak

With some late heroics, Northern New England knocked off undefeated North Shore, 3-2, in the championship game of the Hockey Night in Boston Summer Showcase at Merrimack College last night.


China tells US not to send wrong signal to Uighur 'terrorists' (AFP)

AFP - China has appealed to the United States not to send the "wrong signal" after Washington said a handful of detained Uighurs being held at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay would not be returned to China.


Pope Visit Leaves Lourdes with Hefty Deficit

PARIS (Reuters) - Pope John Paul's visit to Lourdes last  weekend left the Roman Catholic shrine with a 1.2 million euro  (\$1.47 million) deficit because pilgrims keen to get good seats  at his mass rushed past collection boxes.


Haiti ex-rebel head cleared of murder

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- A jury yesterday acquitted a leader of a paramilitary group accused of killing thousands, after a 14-hour murder trial that angered human rights groups and provoked criticism of the new US-backed government.


Witness says suspect was close to hijackers

HAMBURG -- A Moroccan being retried on charges he aided the Sept. 11 plotters was part of lead hijacker Mohamed Atta's inner circle and knew of the group's arguments for turning to violence, a witness testified yesterday.


Venezuela's Chavez faces political gulfs

CARACAS -- Fresh from victory and emboldened by a decisive mandate, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has the opportunity to extend an olive branch to a seething opposition and a suspicious US administration, but the rifts may have grown too deep to be mended.


German leader adopts Russian child

MOSCOW -- Thousands of Russian children are adopted by foreigners every year -- but few go to such high-profile homes as the leader of Germany.


Burundi, Rwanda threaten Congo invasion

BUJUMBURA, Burundi -- Burundi and Rwanda threatened yesterday to send soldiers into neighboring Congo to hunt down Hutu extremists responsible for slaughtering more than 160 Congolese Tutsi refugees at a UN camp in Burundi -- deployments that could reignite a regional conflict in this part of Africa.


No SEC Decision on Google IPO Paperwork (AP)

AP - Google Inc.'s plans to move ahead with its initial public stock offering ran into a roadblock when the Securities and Exchange Commission didn't approve the Internet search giant's regulatory paperwork as requested.


Pakistan Publishes 'Most-Wanted Terrorists' List (Reuters)

Reuters - Pakistan published pictures of six\"most-wanted terrorists" on Wednesday and offered rewards for\information leading to the arrest of two al Qaeda-linked\militants wanted over assassination attempts on the president.


MacGowan to play at jazz landmark

Legendary singer Shane MacGowan is to play a mini-residency at London's famous Ronnie Scott's jazz club.


Insurers escape Hurricane Charley

It #39;s hard to see the silver lining to the clouds over Florida at the moment. Soaking debris and destroyed homes, bereaved families and a rearranged landscape are the testament to Hurricane Charley #39;s power.


Sex-bias suit filed against Costco

A Costco Wholesale assistant manager sued the warehouse-club chain yesterday in federal court, alleging the company #39;s promotion policies keep women from seeking out the top two positions at its stores.


Funds turn negative on global profits

LONDON (Reuters) - Fund managers #39; views on corporate profitability worldwide have turned sharply negative over the past month for the first time in three years, a Merrill Lynch survey of fund managers shows.


Australia #39;s Lend Lease Returns to Profit

Property group Lend Lease Corp. on Wednesday announced a return to full-year profit and forecast earnings-per-share growth of more than 15 percent in the current year.


HP denies Itanium change cost it sales

HP BOSS Ann Livermore said that the move to Itanium was not responsible for HP #39;s sales slump. Livermore, who managed to avoid an axe wielding Carly Fiorina this week as sales in the bits of the company she manages plummeted, said that killing the Alpha ...


Digital signatures  #39;could be forged #39;

Encryption circles are buzzing with news that mathematical functions embedded in common security applications have previously unknown weaknesses.


With this effort, they #39;re silver belles

ATHENS -- How many gilded fairy tales do you want? There was the Magnificent 7 in Atlanta in 1996 and the Fantastic 5 in Anaheim last summer. Was anyone really counting on dethroning the Romanians at an ...


Canadian arrested for  #39;interrupting the Games #39; after diving into pool

ATHENS (CP) - Olympic organizers increased security inside all sports venues Tuesday after a Canadian spectator climbed out of the stands and jumped off one of the boards into the pool.


Say slams teammates #39; relay effort

ATHENS -- The meltdown continues in the pool for Canada #39;s swimmers. Only this time, it #39;s talk and not just times that are creating heat. Rick Say, who has posted Canada #39;s best individual showing in the pool with a sixth-place finish in the highly ...


White Sox #39;s Guillen hospitalized with what may be kidney stones

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was hospitalized last night and might have kidney stones. Guillen, serving the first game of a two-game suspension, left the ballpark about three hours before the game against Detroit and went to a Chicago hospital ...


Last laugh

Oh, those wacky Red Sox. Nothing like a little levity to take the edge off a playoff race. That #39;s why Terry Francona #39;s merry pranksters last night let Manny Ramirez lead the charge out of the dugout in the ...


Agassi downs crowd favourite

TOP seed Andre Agassi cruised into the next round of the ATP Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington with a 6-4 6-2 win over fellow American Paul Goldstein.


Sadr refuses to meet with peace delegation

NAJAF, Iraq -- Radical Shi #39;ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr refused yesterday to meet with a delegation of Iraqi political figures that had rushed here from Baghdad with a last-ditch offer for peace, ...


Five Palestinians killed Israeli attack that targeted Hamas activist in Gaza City

JERUSALEM Israel set off a mysterious explosion in an olive grove near the house of a senior Hamas activist Wednesday, killing five Palestinians and wounding seven. The strike came just before Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faced a key party test linked to ...


Warring Afghan Factions Say Cease-fire Holding

HERAT (Reuters) - A renegade Afghan militia commander and a spokesman for the governor of the western province of Herat said on Wednesday their forces were honoring a cease-fire brokered a day earlier by the US envoy to Afghanistan.


5 die as Hamas chief survives Israeli strike

GAZA CITYA senior Hamas leader survived an Israeli assassination attempt early today but at least five other Palestinians were killed in the explosion that tore through his Gaza home.


Farewell to American friends

President Bush #39;s plan to begin pulling most of the US troops out of Europe nearly fifteen years after the fall of the Berlin Wall has many Germans worried.


Nepalese Rebel Blockade Cuts Roads to Kathmandu, Reuters Says

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Road traffic to Nepal #39;s capital, Kathmandu, stopped as communist rebels began a blockade of the city to demand the release of insurgents, Reuters reported.


Squaddie Is Killed In Gun Battle

A BRITISH soldier was killed and another seriously injured in clashes with Iraqi rebel gunmen in Basra yesterday.


Politician #39;s arrest stirs suspicions in Hong Kong

BEIJING - The arrest of a Hong Kong pro-democracy candidate in mainland China on charges of soliciting a prostitute touched off a media furor in the former British colony yesterday and fueled suspicion that Beijing was trying to influence ...


Greek Sprinters Withdraw from Games

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Olympic 200 meters champion Costas  Kenteris, the focus of an Olympic doping scandal, withdrew from  the Athens Games on Wednesday "out of a sense of  responsibility."


Dollar Mired Near Lows After Weak Data

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar hovered near multi-week lows  on Wednesday as investors questioned whether the U.S. central  bank would raise interest rates next month in the light of  another round of weak U.S. data.


Google Cuts IPO Price Range

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc., the Web search engine, on  Wednesday slashed the price range on its eagerly awaited  initial public offering to between \$85 and \$95 per share from  \$108 to \$135 per share.


Update 1: Philippine Shares Close Lower

Philippine shares finished lower Wednesday on selling triggered by a clutch of negative financial news and the steep fall of blue-chip Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. #39;s American depositary receipts, traders said.


ING withdrawing from Janus

Financial services firm ING has been identified as the company that plans to yank \$5 billion from the hands of Janus Capital Group.


Oakville plant #39;s fate is still up in the air

Ford is celebrating its 100th anniversary in Canada today amid uncertainty over the future of the automaker #39;s Oakville assembly plant.


Benefits Seen in Earth Observation Data

WASHINGTON Aug. 17, 2004  Scientists are planning to take the pulse of the planet and more in an effort to improve weather forecasts, predict energy needs months in advance, anticipate disease outbreaks and even tell fishermen where the catch will be ...


Greek sprinter Kenteris quits Games

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Olympic 200 metres champion Costas Kenteris and his fellow Greek Olympic silver medallist Katerina Thanou say they are withdrawing from the Athens Games.


UAE joins Olympics gold medal winners

UAE joins Olympics gold medal winners ABU DHABI, 18 Aug. 04 (WAM) -- A UAE paper said today that Sheikh Ahmed bin Hashar Al Maktoum #39;s winning of the gold medal in double trap shooting had taken the UAE to the pinnacle of sporting glory at the Olympics.


Federer crashes out of Olympics

World number one Roger Federer of Switzerland crashed out of the Olympic tennis tournament on Tuesday when he lost to unseeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.


2 steps back in Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas -- All of a sudden, the Indians #39; prolific offense has been reduced to shambles. And, remember phenom left-hander Cliff Lee, who won 10 games before the All-Star break? He #39;s seemingly forgotten how to pitch.


Southern Cal faces sex assault probe

A member or members of the USC football team is being investigated for alleged sexual assault, the Los Angeles police department said last night.


Mechanic must stand trial for British backpacker #39;s murder

A mechanic was ordered today to stand trial for the alleged murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian Outback three years ago.


Google Cuts IPO Price Range (Reuters)

Reuters - Google Inc., the Web search engine, on\Wednesday slashed the price range on its eagerly awaited\initial public offering to between  #36;85 and  #36;95 per share from\ #36;108 to  #36;135 per share.