Update 5: Schwab Sells Division to UBS for \$265M

Backpedaling from a recent expansion, Charles Schwab Corp. is selling an institutional investment and research division to Swiss banking giant UBS AG for \$265 million, another step in the struggling stock brokerage #39;s push to regain its Main Street appeal.


Hudson #39;s Bay Has Second-Quarter Loss as Sales Fizzle (Update3)

Hudson #39;s Bay Co., Canada #39;s biggest department store chain, said it had its first second-quarter net loss in seven years as unseasonably cool weather damped demand for summer clothing.


Nafta Backs Canada on Challenge of US Lumber Duties (Update2)

The US may have to drop 27 percent duties on \$4.6 billion of Canadian lumber shipments after a trade tribunal ruled that the US lumber industry isn #39;t being harmed by imports from Canada.


New planets in a class of their own: astronomers

WASHINGTON - Astronomers in the US say they #39;ve discovered a new class of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. The two  quot;exoplanets quot; are small compared to earlier finds.


The supercomputer that fits into a screen just two inches thin

They used to fill entire floors of buildings and were so costly only governments or large companies could afford them. Yesterday, Apple Computer showed just how far technology


Allchin on Longhorn: We #39;ve Had to Make Some Hard Trade-offs

Jim Allchin, Microsoft group vice president for platforms, discussed Microsoft #39;s recent decisions on Windows  quot;Longhorn quot; development in a recorded message for Microsoft #39;s Channel 9 that was


Samsung Buys Into Digital Wallet Chips

Samsung has ordered a chunk of Near Field Communication chips from Philips. Like DoCoMo #39;s FeliCa, these chips are primarily expected to be used in mobile banking applications, but can be used for tickets, electronic locks and more.


Skype takes VoIP software to the Mac

Skype launched a version of its Internet telephony package for Mac owners on Tuesday, as it battles a growing number of competitors offering VoIP products.


Veritas to Buy E-Mail Company KVault

Veritas Software Corp. (VRTS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest independent US storage software provider, said on Tuesday it will buy e-mail backup company KVault Software Ltd.


AMD Shows Off Dual-Core Microprocessor

It said it has demonstrated a working version of the technology based on its Opteron chip. By Darrell Dunn. The shift to dual-core microprocessors continues to accelerate.


Fred L. Whipple, pioneer in comet research, dead at 97

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. A native of Red Oak, Iowa, who was a pioneer in astronomy who proposed the  quot;dirty snowball quot; theory for the substance of comets, has died.


US IT Spending to Grow 7 Next Year

Consistent with the cyclical nature of IT spending, where periods of digestion and refinement follow periods of heavy technology investment, Forrester Research Inc.


Copernic Desktop Search Takes Aim at Microsoft

Privately held Copernic Technologies on Tuesday released free desktop search software ahead of expected offerings from Microsoft Corp.


Thanks, Linux

Is Linus Torvalds secretly working for Microsoft? That sounds crazy until you consider that lately, the free operating system he created, Linux, has been helping Microsoft close deals.


Opera Browser To Be Available For Windows Mobile

Norwegian browser vendor Opera Software said Tuesday it has developed a version of its browser for devices using the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform.


FCC Appeals Cable Broadband Decision

The Supreme Court is expected to review a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that ruled cable modem services should be regulated as a telecommunications service.


Aruba brings Wi-Fi down from the ceiling

AUGUST 31, 2004 (TECHWORLD.COM) - Aruba Wireless Networks Inc. yesterday unveiled a change of direction in its Wi-Fi systems. Instead of installing a limited number of wireless access points (AP) in the ceiling


Miniscule atomic clock demonstrated in US

Washington, Sept. 1. (UNI): Scientists at the US Commerce Department #39;s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are demonstrating the design of a new miniscule atomic clock that could be used


Report Says IRS Software Program Isn #39;t Doing The Job

The program, designed to let the agency detect and analyze cases of unauthorized access to taxpayer data, hasn #39;t worked correctly since the IRS took delivery in 2002.


VeriSign Renews ICANN Fight in Cali

Getting no traction at the federal level, VeriSign (Quote, Chart) lawyers took their case against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to the state.


Safin Suffers While Henin-Hardenne Survives

A 15-year-old newcomer had defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne on the run at the US Open Tuesday and an experienced campaigner put paid to former winner Marat Safin.


China to delay work on some Olympic venues

BEIJING - Days after the euphoria of its record gold medal haul in Athens, China announced a sobering plan to delay construction of some venues for the 2008 Olympics and confirmed plans to cut down the extravagant features of two main stadiums here.


Ex-priest #39;s  #39;stunt days over #39;

The defrocked Irish priest who sabotaged the Olympic Marathon has vowed that his illegal stunt days are over. Cornelius Horan, 57, was given a one-year suspended sentence by a Greek court after attacking the


Sweden Opens Hockey World Cup with Win Over Germany

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin shone in Sweden #39;s opening 5-2 win over Germany at the World Cup of Hockey Tuesday, scoring once and providing two assists in a match with contrasting team tactics.


Raiders #39; Woodson ends holdout

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Veteran cornerback Charles Woodson re-signed Tuesday with the Oakland Raiders, ending his lengthy holdout. Woodson, 27, inked a one-year contract reportedly worth \$8.


knows what it takes

When Michigan quarterback Matt Gutierrez talks about the formula that his alma mater, De La Salle High School, has used to win a startling 151 games in a row, he talks meat and potatoes.


Report: Former captain might keep playing

Former Carolina Hurricanes captain Ron Francis has turned down the team #39;s offer of a front-office job, according to a (Raleigh, NC) News  amp; Observer report Tuesday.


Israel Hunts for Militants After Twin Bus Bombings

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the army to hunt down Palestinian militants after 16 people were killed in back-to-back suicide bombings by the militant Islamic Hamas group.


Tribunal to Consider Defense Lawyer for Milosevic

Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic wraps up the opening statement of his war crimes trial defense on Wednesday after launching a counterblast to charges of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans in the 1990s.


Dogs of war? These men in shackles have been whipped into <b>...</b>

Their wrists and feet shackled, the accused half-crawled, half-fell out of the high four-wheel-drives that had delivered them to a garish conference centre-turned courtroom in Equatorial Guinea #39;s capital.


Putin casts jet crashes as terrorist bombings

MOSCOW President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that a claim by an Islamic extremist group to have downed two passenger airliners a week ago, if confirmed, would prove that the conflict spilling out of Chechnya was being fueled by international terrorist


Taiwan cancels drill in goodwill gesture

TAIPEI - Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has called off a major military exercise slated for Sept 9 in a goodwill gesture after China cancelled its drills, Taiwanese officials said yesterday.


Iran Arrests Dozens on Suspicion of Spying on its Nukes

Iran says it has arrested dozens of alleged spies, including several it accuses of sending nuclear secrets abroad to Iran #39;s enemies.


US Seeks Quick UN Vote Warning Syria on Lebanon

Washington on Tuesday swept aside objections from Beirut and called for a Security Council vote within days on a draft resolution to put pressure on Syria to respect Lebanese sovereignty.


Foreign Office team to visit North Korea

Britain is to send a minister for the first time to the reclusive communist state of North Korea to press for action over the issue of nuclear weaponry and to improve its human rights record.


Chilean judge to question Pinochet

SANTIAGO - A judge is to question former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet early next week about political killings during his iron-fisted rule, court sources said Tuesday.


Manchester United Confirm Rooney Signing

Manchester United is delighted to announce that it has finalised an agreement with Everton Football Club for the transfer of Wayne Rooney.


Serena Williams unleashes leather-clad gladiators on court!

LONDON: Soon the formal white skirts and tops which are a trademark for tennis, will give way to hep leather jackets, pleated gladiator-style minis and sexy knee-high boots, thanks to a new fashion range launched by tennis star Serena Williams.


Seattle swaps veteran catcher to Twins

SEATTLE -- Catcher Pat Borders, a 22-year major league veteran who #39;s spent four seasons with the Seattle Mariners organization, was traded to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.


Astronomers Spot Smallest Planets Yet

Aug. 31, 2004 - American astronomers say they have discovered the two smallest planets yet orbiting nearby stars, trumping a small planet discovery by European scientists five days ago and capping the latest


Apple #39;s New iMac Is All Display

Apple Computer (Quote, Chart) took the wraps off its new iMac family with a design that puts the entire computer into the flat-panel display.


Veritas Software Buys Email Backup Firm

Veritas Software Corp. , the leading storage software provider, said on Tuesday it agreed to acquire email backup company KVault Software Ltd.


AMD Shows Off Dual Core Processor

AMD took the wraps off its first ever x86 64-bit dual-core processor during demonstrations held at the company #39;s Austin facilities Tuesday.


Panasonic and Toshiba Look to Establishing a Joint Venture to Make <b>...</b>

Toshiba Corporation ( quot;Toshiba quot;) and  lt; ahref= quot;http://matsushita.co.jp quot; target= quot;_new quot; gt;Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.


New front: Recording of digital broadcasts

Technologies that let people record satellite and Internet radio broadcasts digitally are opening a new front in the recording industry #39;s war on music piracy.


Bryant watches selection of jurors

EAGLE (Colorado): Basketball star Kobe Bryant dodged photographers Tuesday and slipped through a back entrance into the court for the third day of jury selection for his rape trial.


Syria-Dictated Move Prompts Political Uproar in Lebanon

Lebanon #39;s hothouse politics have been thrown into turmoil by Syria #39;s insistence - at a suddenly summoned special cabinet meeting over the weekend - that the president


UBS to buy Schwab #39;s trading unit

UBS said Tuesday that it would buy Charles Schwab #39;s market making, research and institutional trading unit for \$265 million in cash.


Transco to sell 4 gas networks for \$10.4 bn

National Grid Transco (NGT), the UK gas and electricity distributor, announced today a sale price of 5.8 billion (\$10.4 billion) in cash and 130 million in liabilities for four of its local gas distribution networks.


Reporter #39;s Notebook: Apple Expo Eyes iMac G5

PARISWhile one of the world #39;s great metropolitan centers, Paris may be known more for its bright lights than for technology introductions.


Licensing  #39;appeasement #39; triggered Longhorn change

Microsoft wants to release its Longhorn client operating system in 2006 in order to  quot;appease quot; the customers that have bought into its Software Assurance licensing package, according to analyst Gartner.


TechBrief: Japan pact on TV displays

Hitachi, Matsushita Electric Industrial and Toshiba have struck a deal to jointly make displays for flat-screen televisions, starting as early as July 2006, the Japanese companies said Tuesday.


SP2 Said To Cause Problems In 10 Percent of Windows XP PCs

Upgrading to Service Pack 2 (SP2) will cause problems with about one out of every 10 PC running Windows XP, according to research published Tuesday by a Canadian asset-monitoring service provider.


Sanyo to jointly develop HD-DVD with Toshiba, NEC

OSAKA, Aug 31, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- Sanyo Electric Co. will jointly develop a next-generation DVD format, called HD-DVD, with Toshiba Corp.


Legendary status eludes Schu

Michael Schumacher #39;s performances this season have shown the world why, even at the most difficult tracks in the world, he remains peerless in Formula One.


Borders dealt to Twins for outfielder Garbe

The Mariners traded catcher Pat Borders to the Minnesota Twins today, in exchange for BJ Garbe, a minor league outfielder from Moses Lake.


Kyle Eckel Nominated For The Doak Walker Award

DALLAS, TEXAS - The SMU Athletic Forum announced today the names of the candidates for the 2004 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation #39;s top college running back.


Francis spurns offer to join Hurricanes #39; front office

RALEIGH, NC - Ron Francis apparently won #39;t join the front office of the Carolina Hurricanes, the team he led to the Stanley Cup finals two years ago.


Two bus blasts in southern Israel kill 16

At least 16 Israelis were killed Tuesday and almost 100 injured when two Palestinians aboard buses blew themselves up within seconds of each other.


Female Bomber Kills 9 in Moscow, Officials Say

A female bomber detonated an explosion outside a subway station in Moscow this evening, killing herself and at least 9 others and wounding 37, officials said.


WTO: Nations Can Retaliate Against US

Description: The World Trade Organization tells US trading partners they can retaliate against the United States over the so-called Byrd Amendment.


Japan megabank turns deaf ear

IN many markets, investor response to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group #39;s 1-for-1 merger offer to UFJ Holdings would have been predictable and nearly instantaneous.


Eye On Stocks For Wednesday, Sept. 1

A much-watched Alzheimer #39;s medicine Forest Laboratories (nyse: FRX - news - people ) was developing with Germany #39;s Merz failed to show a statistically significant benefit in a clinical trial.


United Airlines plans to recall nearly 375 flight attendants

United Airlines, the world #39;s second-largest airline, is recalling nearly 375 flight attendants to increase that work force about 2 percent as it boosts international flights and keeps its aircraft flying for more hours.


Update 3: Oil Prices Drop \$1 Despite Iraq Sabotage

Oil futures dropped by nearly \$1 per barrel Monday despite pipeline sabotage in Iraq that has delayed exports from a southern port - reinforcing the view among traders that prices had risen too fast earlier this summer.


China temporarily suspends IPOs

China said Tuesday it will temporarily suspend initial public offerings until it comes up with new rules on share offer pricing. The China Securities Regulatory Commission


Report Shows CEO Pay Soars at Companies That Outsource Overseas

CEOs at companies that outsource the most US jobs are rewarded with bigger paychecks, according to a new report,  quot;Executive Excess 2004: Campaign Contributions, Outsourcing, Unexpensed Stock


FCC Asks Supreme Court To Rule on Broadband

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal that could determine whether cable broadband providers can be forced to open their networks to other Internet providers.


SANYO to Adopt HD DVD Standard to Develop Next Generation DVDs

TOKYO --(Business Wire)-- Aug. 31, 2004 -- SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) has decided to adopt the HD DVD standard promoted in the DVD forum, an international association that brings together some 220 consumer


McGill A Doak Walker Award Candidate

DALLAS, TEXAS - University of North Carolina sophomore tailback Ronnie McGill is on the preseason list of candidates for the Doak Walker Award, announced today by the SMU Athletic Forum.


Video May Show Deaths of Nepalese Hostages

Description: Video is posted on a website that could show the execution in Iraq of 12 hostages from Nepal. The hostages came to Iraq to work as cooks and cleaners for a Jordanian firm.


HDTV 'Starter' Kit for PC Comes with Some Kinks (Reuters)

Reuters - High-definition television can\show the sweat beading on an athlete's brow, but the cost of\all the necessary electronic equipment can get a shopper's own\pulse racing.


Video Game Sales Seen Pausing After Record 2003 (Reuters)

Reuters - Video game sales soared to a record\ #36;18.2 billion last year, but the days of strong growth are on\pause as players await a new generation of consoles in 2005 and\2006, a new study showed on Wednesday.


Argentina Rebuffs IMF Managing Director (Reuters)

Reuters - In a tense meeting\marred by violent street protests, Argentine President Nestor\Kirchner on Tuesday told the head of the IMF to "not even\dream" of Argentina setting aside more money to pay its\defaulted debt.


WTO OKs Trade Sanctions Against U.S. (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Union and its  allies got\the go-ahead on Tuesday to impose some  #36;150 million in\sanctions on U.S. goods in a dispute that could stir trade\tensions ahead of the U.S. elections.


At least 10 killed, more than 50 hurt in explosions near Moscow subway station (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - MOSCOW (AP) - A woman strapped with explosives blew herself up outside a busy Moscow subway station Tuesday night, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 50 - the second terrorist attack to hit Russia in a week.


Rights group says libel suit deepens assault on Thailand's media (AFP)

AFP - US-based Human Rights Watch warned that a libel suit against critics of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra filed by a corporation he founded, along with increasing government pressure on the media was threatening to stifle press freedom in Thailand.


Trail Blazers Agree to Terms With Miles (AP)

AP - The Portland Trail Blazers agreed to terms with restricted free agent Darius Miles on Tuesday.


New Front: Recording of Digital Broadcasts (AP)

AP - Technologies that let people record satellite and Internet radio broadcasts digitally are opening a new front in the recording industry's war on music piracy.


Wayne Rooney Joins Manchester United (AP)

AP - Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United on Tuesday despite a last minute holdup caused by his broken foot.


Apple Expo: Apple intros iMac G5 (MacCentral)

MacCentral - Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, took\a cue from his boss, CEO Steve Jobs, as he unveiled one more thing at the\end of his keynote to kick off this week's Apple Expo in Paris: an iMac G5 that includes the entire\system inside a 17- or 20-inch LCD screen. Continuing the all-in-one theme\that started with the original CRT iMac, the G5 edition features a new\industrial design that does away with the hemispherical base of the previous\generation all together. Schiller said that the new iMacs will be available\in mid-September.


Sweden Skates Past Germany 5-2 in Worlds (AP)

AP - Mats Sundin had a goal and two assists to lead Sweden past Germany 5-2 Tuesday in the World Cup of Hockey opener for both teams.


Citadel Postpones Opener Over Hurricane (AP)

AP - The Citadel has postponed its home opener against nearby Charleston Southern because of the potential that Hurricane Frances could be off the coast of South Carolina this weekend.


Philips, Samsung Partner on NFC Technology (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Korea-based Samsung is preparing to develop mobile devices that\use Philips (NYSE: PHG) NFC chips, as the two electronics giants join forces to push a\nascent touch-based wireless technology called "near field communication"\(NFC).


Novell Revamps Business Units (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) is launching an internal reorganization to emphasize its Linux expertise, according to news accounts. By combining its Nterprise and Linux operations into one overall Platform and Application Service group, Novell will be able to better concentrate on the enterprise Linux market.


Consumers Anxious About Lack of Hiring

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence sank in  August while Chicago-area business activity slowed, according  to reports on Tuesday that added to worries the economy's patch  of sluggish growth may last beyond the summer.


Woods' Play May Influence New TV Golf Deal (AP)

AP - The PGA Tour has always had an impeccable sense of timing when it comes to negotiating television contracts.


Burst Attorney Deposes Microsoft Chairman (AP)

AP - An attorney for a software company suing Microsoft Corp. for alleged anticompetitive behavior deposed Bill Gates last week and plans to ask a judge to make the testimony public.


Kerry Will Buy  #36;45M TV Time in 20 States (AP)

AP - Previewing its fall strategy, John Kerry's presidential campaign will buy  #36;45 million worth of commercial time in 20 states through Election Day, including spots on cable television and advertising geared toward minorities.


Analyst: CRM, Supply-Chain Software To Lead Spending (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Over the next several years, an increasingly larger share of I.T. budgets will go toward externally facing applications, according to Yankee Group.


WTO OKs Trade Sanctions Against U.S.

GENEVA (Reuters) - The European Union and its  allies got  the go-ahead on Tuesday to impose some \$150 million in  sanctions on U.S. goods in a dispute that could stir trade  tensions ahead of the U.S. elections.


iMac G5 Debuts as World's Thinnest Desktop (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - With a belief that less is more, Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has taken the wraps off its iMac G5, featuring a new design that integrates the entire computer into the flat-panel display.


Davenport Marches Into Second Round

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American favorite Lindsay Davenport  chalked up her 18th successive victory Tuesday when she beat  Lubomira Kurhajcova 6-4, 6-0 to cruise through to the second  round of the U.S. Open.


Argentina Rebuffs IMF Managing Director

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - In a tense meeting  marred by violent street protests, Argentine President Nestor  Kirchner on Tuesday told the head of the IMF to "not even  dream" of Argentina setting aside more money to pay its  defaulted debt.


Kerry Faults Bush for WTO Sanctions Threat

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Tuesday accused the Bush administration of failing to protect American jobs from unfair foreign competition after the World


Company chiefs who outsource jobs earn more, study finds

WASHINGTON Chief executives of US companies that outsourced the greatest number of jobs reaped bigger pay and benefits last year than those from other companies, according to a study of executive compensation released Tuesday.


Sanofi #39;s first-half profit rises 21

PARIS Sanofi-Synthlabo, which this month completed its \$63 billion purchase of a rival drug manufacturer, Aventis, reported Tuesday a 21 percent jump in first-half profit on higher demand for the blood thinner Plavix and the cancer treatment Eloxatin.


Raiders Finally Sign Woodson

ALAMEDA, California (Sports Network) - Oakland cornerback  Charles Woodson finally ended a lengthy holdout Tuesday and  signed the Raiders' one-year tender. The deal is reportedly  worth \$8.782 million for the upcoming season.


Dollar Ends Lower, Focus Turns to ISM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar finished lower versus major  currencies on Tuesday after weaker-than-expected U.S. consumer  confidence and regional manufacturing reports opened the door  to some profit-taking.


Credit Suisse to Integrate Units

ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse will integrate investment  bank Credit Suisse First Boston with its private bank and aims  to float its Winterthur insurance arm, the bank said on  Tuesday, setting itself tough earnings goals.


Sweden Opens Hockey World Cup with Win Over Germany

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats  Sundin shone in Sweden's opening 5-2 win over Germany at the  World Cup of Hockey Tuesday, scoring once and providing two  assists in a match with contrasting team tactics.


Veritas Software to buy KVault e-mail archiver

NEW YORK Veritas Software, the largest independent US storage software provider, will buy the e-mail backup company KVault Software for \$225 million in cash, Veritas said Tuesday.


Sanyo to Produce HD-DVD Players

Sanyo Electric, an established maker of optical drives and components, will produce both components and players for the blue-laser-based HD-DVD format, the company says.


Korzhanenko Still Refusing to Return Gold Medal

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Olympic shot put champion Irina  Korzhanenko, stripped of her gold medal after a drugs test,  said Tuesday she was determined to keep her medal because she  is innocent.


Tennis: Justine Henin-Hardenne Advances to 2nd Round of US Open

Defending champion and top-seed Justine Henin-Hardenne fought off a surprising challenge Tuesday before moving into the second round of the US Open tennis tournament in New York.


Juventus signs two stars at deadline

Torino, Italy (Sports Network) - Juventus served notice of its intentions Tuesday, acquiring Italian national team captain Fabio Cannavaro and talented Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.


Baseball: Cubs and Red Sox, in lock step, stagger toward their <b>...</b>

They are not sad sacks, in point of fact, the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs, or are they, inevitably? In a loony, heartbreaking coincidence, they each collapsed just short of the World Series a year


Albertsons Profit Falls

NEW YORK (Reuters) -  Albertsons Inc. ABS.N, the  second-largest U.S. grocer, on Tuesday reported a substantial  drop in second-quarter profit due to costly promotions aimed at  reviving sales following a Southern California labor strike.


Highest Labor Day Pump Prices Expected

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A record number of Americans planning  one last summer road trip this weekend will shell out the  highest Labor Day gasoline prices ever seen, and there's little  relief in sight, experts said on Tuesday.


Final Atlas 2 Rocket Again Delayed by Weather (Reuters)

Reuters - Thunderstorms kept the\final flight of the Atlas 2 rocket, built by Lockheed Martin\Corp., on its Florida launch pad on Monday, the fourth time in\as many days the rocket has missed its liftoff.


Putin Sees Al-Qaida in Twin Air Crashes

President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that investigators were looking for a link between al-Qaida and Chechen rebels widely believed to have downed two planes last week.


UK Seeks Global Support for Stem Cell Research (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain's leading scientific institution\said Monday it is urging countries to back a campaign to stop a\possible ban on stem cell research as part of a global treaty\banning human cloning.


Mismatch Turns Competitive as Henin-Hardenne Faces Rookie

What appeared to be a mismatch took a turn for the competitive in the second set before Henin-Hardenne regrouped to win, 6-1, 6-4.


Two Neptune-Mass Planets Found, Earth-Size Worlds Next (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Planet hunters have found two worlds roughly the mass of Neptune, each orbiting a star within 30 light-years of our solar system. The planets are likely gaseous or mixtures of ice and rock, but they might be barren rock worlds like Mercury.


Getting a Grip on Antimatter (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Research into what separates matter from antimatter is accelerating in particle physics experiments around the world.  Scientists are hoping the difference will help explain why you, me and all the things around us are made of matter instead of its opposite.


Snyder Takes Stake in Six Flags

Pressure from Microsoft chairman and shareholder Bill Gates over a sagging financial outlook and news that Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has bought nearly 9 percent of Six Flags, Inc. drove the amusement park company's shares up more than 25 percent Tuesday.


IRA High on Agenda as Northern Irish Talks Open

BELFAST (Reuters) - A decade after the Irish Republican  Army's (IRA) first cease-fire came into force, negotiations  open in Northern Ireland on Wednesday aimed at reaching a deal  to stand down the guerrilla group.


U.S. Seeks Quick UN Vote Warning Syria on Lebanon

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Washington on Tuesday swept  aside objections from Beirut and called for a Security Council  vote within days on a draft resolution to put pressure on Syria  to respect Lebanese sovereignty.


Court Hears Case of Brain Damaged Woman (AP)

AP - The Florida Supreme Court questioned lawyers Tuesday about the extent of the power handed to Gov. Jeb Bush under a law that let him order the reinsertion of a brain-damaged woman's feeding tube.


Tribunal to Consider Defense Lawyer for Milosevic

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Former Yugoslav President Slobodan  Milosevic wraps up the opening statement of his war crimes  trial defense on Wednesday after launching a counterblast to  charges of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans in the 1990s.


Outside camp walls, life still treacherous for Darfur refugees

Despite government claims, insecurity remains in western Sudan.


Kidnappings backfire on Iraq militants

The kidnapping of French journalists has sparked anger across a broad spectrum of the Muslim world.


Beersheba bombers skirt the wall

In Israel's worst terrorist attack in six months, two buses were hit by suicide bombers Tuesday.


Slavery is not dead, just less recognizable.

Today, 27 million people are enslaved, more than at the height of the transatlantic slave trade.


Astronomers see two new planets

US astronomers find the smallest worlds detected circling other stars and say it is a breakthrough in the search for life in space.


Business Week taps new editor

Business Week has reached outside its own ranks and into those of The Wall Street Journal to name a new editor in chief. The 75-year-old financial magazine said yesterday that Stephen J. Adler


Tennis: Henman battles through

Tim Henman overcomes a back injury to beat Ivo Karlovic at the US Open.


Lazard plans to go public by 2005

When Michel David-Weill, chairman of Lazard LLC, chose Bruce Wasserstein to run his mergers advisory firm in November 2001, he said his new employee was  quot;a fiercely independent and original adviser.


UK no longer top asylum nation

The UK has been replaced by France as the top destination for asylum seekers in the industrialised world, says the UN.


A cure for shortage?

It #39;s too late for this year #39;s flu season, but a Canadian drug company yesterday said it has agreed to provide influenza vaccines to Henry Schein Inc.


Panel Says Conrad Black Ran a 'Corporate Kleptocracy'

Conrad Black and other controlling shareholders of Hollinger used \$400 million for personal perks, a new report says.


Policeman accuses Gujarat BJP

Gujarat  politicians prevented police from carrying out their duties during riots in 2002, a senior policeman says.


Judge Rules \$60 Million Can't Be Withheld From Ex-Freddie Mac Chief

The ruling was a setback for regulators seeking to strip the compensation of a former Freddie Mac chief executive for his alleged role in the company's accounting scandal.


Albertson's Labors Over Results

The leading supermarket chain is still feeling the impact of its labor dispute.


A Mirage or a Great Speculation?

United Rentals' stock sinks sharply as the SEC investigates the company.


Credit Tete-a-Tete

Two credit junkies talk about couples and credit, the real FICO, and conspiracies.


(Hot) Dog of the Day

A new distribution deal in Russia makes Ipix look better, unless you look closely.


Can Tommy Cut It?

Tommy Hilfiger is the latest exec to get a reality show. Will it help company sales?


Protesters Heed Calls for Widespread Civil Disobedience

Some anti-war demonstrators prepared to symbolically "die" as near as possible to the site of the Republican National Convention.


Twin Bus Bombings in Israel Kill at Least 15 and Wound Dozens

The Palestinian militant group Hamas reportedly took responsibility for the near-simultaneous blasts.


Vice chairman quits Wal-Mart

Thomas Coughlin, who joined Wal-Mart Stores as head of security and rose to vice chairman, will give up the post early next year after 25 years of service that helped the company become the world #39;s biggest retailer.


Actress Theron Hurt on Germany Film Set

LOS ANGELES - Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron was injured while shooting her new Paramount film, "Aeon Flux," in Germany, but her representatives aren't saying how badly she was hurt.    Theron suffered the unspecified injury while doing her own stunts in a wire-hanging action sequence, the movie's publicist, Jeanmarie Carrasco, told The Associated Press Tuesday...


Safin Makes Early Exit at U.S. Open

NEW YORK - Just like at Wimbledon two months ago, Marat Safin exited at the earliest stage of the U.S. Open on Tuesday, bowing meekly to Thomas Enqvist 7-6 (5), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3...


12 Nepalese Hostages Said Slain in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A gruesome video posted on a Web site purported to show militants beheading a Nepalese worker and shooting 11 others in the first mass slaying of foreign hostages during the Iraqi insurgency.    If confirmed, it would raise the number of foreign workers known to have been slain by extremists to at least 22 in a terror campaign aimed at forcing foreign troops and contract workers out of the country....


Bush Recants, Says Terror War Will Be Won

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - President Bush said repeatedly on Tuesday that the United States will win its war against terrorism, trying to contain political damage from the doubt he expressed a day earlier...


Astronomers Spot Smallest Planets Yet

American astronomers say they have discovered the two smallest planets yet orbiting nearby stars, trumping a small planet discovery by European scientists five days ago and capping the latest round in a frenzied hunt for other worlds like Earth.    All three of these smaller planets belong to a new class of "exoplanets" - those that orbit stars other than our sun, the scientists said in a briefing Tuesday...


Media Brass Bullish on  #39;05

Entertainment industry executives got to strut their stuff Monday as two big traditional winter investor conferences kicked off here with a star-studded lineup.


Stocks Up Despite Consumer Confidence News

NEW YORK - A late-session buying spurt gave stocks a moderate lift Tuesday as investors managed to overcome their disappointment over troubling readings on consumer confidence and manufacturing. But with volume extremely light, analysts said it was difficult to place any real significance on the upturn...


Soledad O'Brien Gives Birth to Twin Boys

NEW YORK - Soledad O'Brien's American mornings will be getting a lot more bleary-eyed. The CNN anchor, co-host of "American Morning" with Bill Hemmer, gave birth to twin boys Monday...


Microsoft Takes On ITunes

Microsoft plans to launch an online music store. Also: Copernic Technologies releases free desktop search software   hellip;. Hitachi, Matsushita Electric Industrial and Toshiba team up to make displays for flat-screen TVs   hellip;. and more.


Guinness recognises jet record

The Guinness Book of Records officially recognises the speed record set by Nasa's X-43A hypersonic aircraft.


HDTV 'Starter' Kit for PC Comes with Some Kinks

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - High-definition television can  show the sweat beading on an athlete's brow, but the cost of  all the necessary electronic equipment can get a shopper's own  pulse racing.


Video Game Sales Seen Pausing After Record 2003

LONDON (Reuters) - Video game sales soared to a record  \$18.2 billion last year, but the days of strong growth are on  pause as players await a new generation of consoles in 2005 and  2006, a new study showed on Wednesday.


Small planets seen by astronomers

US astronomers find the smallest worlds detected circling other stars and say it is a breakthrough in the search for life in space.


Great Portugal Quake May Have a Sequel, Study Says

Scientists studying the Great Lisbon Quake, which killed 60,000 people 250 years ago, say that the forces that caused it are slowly building up for another violent temblor near Portugal.


Jury: WTC attack was two events

Attaching victory to a string of defeats, a jury yesterday agreed with World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein #39;s claim that the planes that struck the Twin Towers represented two separate, insurable events.


Climber Who Cut Off Hand Looks Back

Aron Ralston, the climber who spent five days pinned beneath a boulder in a Utah canyon last year, reflects on his lifesaving self-amputation.


How Blood Pressure Pill Prevents Heart Attacks

By EMMA ROSS    MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- Scientists have unraveled one of the mysteries of precisely how a popular type of blood pressure pill protects against heart attacks, showing it not only lowers blood pressure but also directly improves the health of the artery walls.    Doctors had suspected that blood pressure reduction alone could not explain the whole benefit of the pills, called angiotensin converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitors, because studies have shown they prevented heart attacks and deaths even in patients with normal blood pressure or those whose high blood pressure did not budge...


For CEOs, offshoring pays

U.S. companies that send the most jobs overseas handsomely reward their CEOs, a new study says.


Briefly: LinkedIn links a million

roundup Plus: AOL gives exclusive sneak peek for fall TV...Copernic debuts desktop search tool...Charter signs 3 phone deals.


Sun drafts open-source blog developer

The principal author of Roller Weblogger will gather support for the online journals inside and outside Sun.


Sun readies Java app servers

Company is testing Java System Application Server 8--and hoping that it'll boost the company's share of the Java server software market.


Microsoft pens e-commerce deal

The software giant will make its Plus Digital Media Edition available for download through 200 online retailers.


Smiths pays 476m for Medex

AEROSPACE and defence group Smiths is dipping into its 1.4bn acquisition war chest to buy medical equipment firm Medex for 476m.


Update 1: China Aviation Execs Surrender Passports

China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corp. on Tuesday said four key company officials have surrendered their passports to prosecutors amid a probe into a massive trading loss by the Beijing-backed jet fuel trader.


Skype takes VoIP software to the Mac

The Net phone-calling provider is testing a version of its software and service for Apple fans.


Blu-ray group gets behind Microsoft tech

The VC-1 codec is made an integral part of a Blu-ray spec, giving Microsoft a foot in the rival camps battling over the successor to DVDs.


Commentary: Apple's missed opportunity

Forrester Research says the new iMac's minimalist design means that Apple Computer misses tricks that Windows Media Center PCs can do.


IBM, LG winding down joint venture

Sources say the two companies will likely dissolve their 8-year-old subsidiary sometime this year.


iMac G5 in pictures

The new iMac, as seen in these photos taken at the San Francisco Apple Store, places the computer's innards behind a 17-inch or 20-inch flat-panel monitor.


Oil prices hover above US\$43 in Asia but market calm after Saudi <b>...</b>

SINGAPORE : Oil prices pushed past 43 dollars in Asian trading but the market was quite calm as the focus shifted to OPEC following a bloody attack on the US consulate in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.


New iMac tries to play it cool

Hot G5 chip requires some serious effort to avoid overheating in all-in-one desktop design.


Japanese makers forge \$1 billion LCD alliance

Hitachi, Toshiba and Matsushita will pour \$1 billion into manufacturing large LCDs for flat-screen TVs.


Editors' Picks: What do you think of the iMac's newest design?

From the introduction of the first Macintosh computer through to the release of the iPod, Apple Computer has earned a reputation for cutting-edge industrial design. Does the newest iMac live up to that reputation?


Computerworld names new editor in chief

Don Tennant, who served most recently as the publication's news editor, was previously chief editor at Computerworld Hong Kong.


Nortel CEO Bill Owens sees 'exciting future'

Nortel CEO Bill Owens says the future is "pretty exciting' for his company, despite past financial reporting problems and a looming vendor consolidation that could create aggressive competitors.


Report casts doubt on IRS hacking-detection system

An Internal Revenue Service system designed to protect the agency's modernized systems from hacking isn't working properly, according to a report by the Treasury inspector general for tax administration.


Police question report of India code theft

Police probing the alleged theft of source code at Jolly Technologies' development center in Mumbai are questioning aspects of the security incursion and said the company's president hasn't cooperated with their investigation.


Microsoft offers sneak peak of SQL Server 2005

Microsoft has announced the availability of Beta 2 of its SQL Server 2005 database, which will include support for AMD's 64-bit Opteron CPU and Intel's 64-bit Itanium chip.


Opera to launch browser for Windows Mobile

Move signals a shift in strategy for company that competes against Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser.


Copernic desktop search takes aim at Microsoft

The privately held company today released free desktop search software in a move some see as a test of the product's market viability in what is becoming a crowded field.


Veritas buys KVault Software in \$225M deal

Storage and backup application vendor Veritas Software Corp. said today that it is acquiring e-mail archiving vendor KVault Software Ltd. in a deal expected to wrap up next month.


Aruba brings Wi-Fi down from the ceiling

Instead of installing a handful of wireless access points in an office ceiling, Aruba Wireless Networks' new Wi-Fi Grid system will offer a larger number of tiny "grid points" in floor-level network outlets as part of the main network infrastructure.


IBM, Sun join with Microsoft on Web services event specification

IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Computer Associates have jumped aboard in support of the WS-Eventing specification for subscribing to Web services-based events, joining original developers Microsoft, BEA Systems, and Tibco Software.


Spammers using sender authentication too, study says

New technology for identifying the sender of e-mail messages has not been widely adopted despite backing from software giant Microsoft Corp. and may not be effective at stopping unsolicited commercial e-mail, otherwise known as spam, according to a survey by e-mail security company CipherTrust Inc.


Police question details of India code theft report

BANGALORE, INDIA -- Police officials investigating the alleged theft of source code at Jolly Technologies' Mumbai development center are questioning aspects of the security incursion reported by the company.


AMD Shows First Dual-Core Processor

Company remains on track to ship desktop and server chips in 2005.


Apple Unwraps New IMac G5s

Stylish desktops conceal the processor, hard drive, and optical drive behind the display.


Dell Delivers Help to Small Businesses

PC maker will offer 24-hour help desk services, on-site visits, and more.


Flight attendants union calls for new United Airlines #39; management

CHICAGO The union representing United Airlines #39; flight attendants is calling for new management at the Elk Grove Village-based company.


Royal Mail fails to meet every target on postal deliveries

Beleaguered Royal Mail chiefs came under fire yesterday for cutting too many jobs after fresh figures showed they had missed all their delivery targets between April and June.


FDA Approves New Stent System to Help Prevent Stroke

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a stent for use in opening blocked arteries in the neck. The new stent is intended to prevent stroke by treating blockages in the carotid artery, the main blood vessel leading to the brain.


SCO to cap legal expenses

The SCO Group, committed to an expensive legal attack against Linux, said Tuesday it has removed some financial uncertainty from its future by working out an agreement to cap payments to its law firm.


Blue Jackets re-sign C Moran

A seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 1998, Moran played in three games with the Blue Jackets last season, recording his first career points with a goal and an assist on January 27 against New Jersey.


Blog Search Blabble.com Takes New Approach\\A new start-up joining the ranks of weblog tools, Blabble is aimed at the corporate market. According to an Internet Retailer article, the service will be fee-based when it officially launches in October. A beta is currently available free online. The article reads like Blabble ...


Recall Toolbar: Searches your visited websites

Recall Toolbar: Searches your Visited Websites\\I have seen and tried a lot of toolbars for Internet Explorer. Most of them have nothing new to offer on the basic functionality front. Only the value added services made them different from the other toolbars in the market. Viewpoint Toolbar was a good ...


Is Google blocking third party GMail notifiers?\\Slashdot has already reported it. And now users on some forums have started complaining about it. Google is apparently blocking access to its GMail service by third party applications like GMail notifiers and clients. Some of these free applications let user access GMail accounts ...


Apple Expo 2004 Paris

It was standing room only at Le Palais des Congr #232;s in Paris as Phil Schiller kicked off Apple Expo 2004 with a rousing keynote introducing the iMac G5. Read a report and view a photo gallery. Aug 31


Charles Woodson Ends Holdout With Raiders (AP)

AP - Charles Woodson's monthlong holdout didn't yield the "boat load of money" he said he was looking for, so it was time to show up at Oakland Raiders' training camp.


Goal For Qualcomm: Repeat Performance (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - When it comes to making CDMA chips for cell phones, Qualcomm is king. But as a new generation of phones hits the market, the company may struggle to keep its reign.


You Control: iTunes puts control in OS X menu bar (MacCentral)

MacCentral - You Software Inc. announced on Tuesday the availability of You Control: iTunes, a free\download that places iTunes controls in the Mac OS X menu bar. Without\leaving the current application, you can pause, play, rewind or skip songs,\as well as control iTunes' volume and even browse your entire music library\by album, artist or genre. Each time a new song plays, You Control: iTunes\also pops up a window that displays the artist and song name and the album\artwork, if it's in the library. System requirements call for Mac OS X\v10.2.6 and 10MB free hard drive space. ...


Psychotic Mice May Aid Study of Disease - Report (Reuters)

Reuters - Psychotic mice that flee their\littermates may offer insights into diseases such as\schizophrenia, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.


Muslim cleric Hamza de-arrested

Muslim cleric Abu Hamza, held last week on suspicion of being involved in\terror offences, has been de-arrested, Scotland Yard says.


Fresh effort to break NI impasse

A fresh round of talks is due to begin in NI in an effort to unblock the political impasse and restore devolution.


Corporate kleptocracy that mirrors Maxwell #39;s world

From its opening paragraphs, through scores of scornful sub-headings and on to its bitter conclusion, the Breeden report is a breathtaking assault on Lord Black #39;s activities.


Telemarketer allegedly made more than 300,000 illegal calls

Federal prosecutors are charging a Las Vegas company with making more than 300,000 telemarketing calls to consumers on the national do-not-call list.


Scientists discover two new extra-solar planets

Astronomers scouring nearby stars have found two planets that mirror Neptune in size, making them by far the smallest found outside the solar system.


Trial of coup  #39;plotters #39; suspended

A court trying alleged coup plotters in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea suspended proceedings yesterday, saying it wanted more information on the alleged roles of Sir Mark Thatcher, son of the British former prime minister, and other international financiers.


SCO to cap legal expenses

Lawyers to get bigger share of any settlement in Linux suits in exchange for billing less up front.


A booster shot for Brand India

Recognising the key role of the services sector in the economy, the foreign trade policy has unveiled the Served from India scheme to accelerate growth in service exports.


Attendants want  #39;reckless #39; UAL managers out

Another United Airlines union is seeking to oust senior management at the troubled airline, saying its strategies are reckless and incompetent.


Fred Whipple

Fred Whipple, the American astronomer who died on Monday aged 97, revolutionised the study of comets when, in 1950, he proposed that they were small bodies of rock, dust and ice, and not  quot;sand banks quot; held together by gravity, as had been believed.


Iran says it has arrested nuclear spies

Iran #39;s Intelligence Minister Ali Yunessi said Tuesday  quot;several people quot; have been arrested for spying on the country #39;s nuclear programme, the official news agency IRNA reported.


Gaddafi to Compensate Libyan Jews for Lost Homes

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, easing  his country's way back into the international fold, on Tuesday  became the first Arab leader to promise compensation for Jews  who were forced from their homes due to religious tension.


Suicide Bomber Kills 10 at Moscow Subway

MOSCOW - A woman strapped with explosives blew herself up outside a busy Moscow subway station Tuesday night, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 50 in the second terrorist attack to hit Russia in a week, officials said.    Seven days earlier, almost to the hour, two Russian jetliners crashed within minutes of each other in what officials determined were terrorist bombings...


U.S. Seeks to Throw Out Terror Convictions

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department has asked a judge to throw out the convictions of a suspected terror cell in Detroit because of prosecutorial misconduct, reversing course in a case the Bush administration once hailed as a major victory in the war on terrorism, legal sources said Tuesday.    The department told U.S...


'Star Trek' Actor Doohan Receives Star

LOS ANGELES - "Star Trek" actor James Doohan - famed for his portrayal of "Beam Me Up" Scotty, the intrepid engineer who kept the starship Enterprise warping across galaxies - grinned and waved to fans Tuesday as he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.    It was expected to be the last public appearance of the 84-year-old performer, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and also suffers from Parkinson's disease, diabetes and lung fibrosis...


WTO okays sanctions against US

GENEVA - The European Union (EU) and its allies got the go-ahead from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) yesterday to slap potentially heavy sanctions on US goods in response to the latter #39;s illegal anti-dumping rules.


Hollinger Panel Says Black Looted Company

Conrad Black, the former CEO of Hollinger International Inc., looted the newspaper publisher of hundreds of millions of dollars to indulge his appetite for


Regulator suspends China IPOs

SHANGHAI: China #39;s securities regulator suspended approval of initial public offerings pending rule changes that will allow the market to set the price of new shares, bringing the country #39;s stock exchanges more into line with international standards.


Carotid stent gets FDA approval

A new era in stroke prevention gained momentum Tuesday with government approval of a new treatment that clears blocked arteries supplying the brain without major surgery.


Report Predicts Near Doubling of IP PBX Sales

Worldwide spending on enterprise IP PBXes should grow by 45 percent over the next year, according to an upbeat report released Monday by Boston-based Infonetics Research.


Serena in denim puts the boot into tradition

Serena Williams strode on to court for her first match at the US Open in an outfit that would have sent shockwaves through the All England Club.


Henman fights on after five-set slog

His back was obviously sore, the windy conditions were not easy and his opponent was awkward in the extreme, but Tim Henman survived to fight another day.


Sweden #39;s four-goal avalanche buries Germany

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Ticker) -- Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin made sure Sweden did not have a relapse. Sundin scored a goal and set up two others and Tomas Holmstrom of the Detroit Red Wings added


Porto adds quick-tempered, quick-footed Fabiano to roster

European champion Porto has signed Brazil striker Luis Fabiano from Sao Paulo, the Portuguese club said on its Web site on Tuesday.


16 killed in bus blasts as Hamas reignites conflict

A lull in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was shattered yesterday when two suicide bombers blew themselves up on buses in the southern Israeli town of Beersheva.


Laser mouse conquers new surfaces

Logitech's new mouse is as comfortable on opaque glass as it is four-wheeling over rough desk surfaces.


Astronomers Spot Smallest Planets Yet

The roll call of planets beyond the solar system swelled significantly with the announcement of a trio of newly discovered worlds much smaller than any previously discovered around other stars.


Is it a rock star? No, just Apple #39;s third generation iMac computer

All that was missing was the dry ice. The shiny white plastic and anodized aluminium box rose slowly on a pedestal from a stage as if from the bowels of the earth to ecstatic whooping and applause at 10.


Samsung Taps Philips For NFC Technology

Looking to turn its mobile phones into an electronic wallet, Samsung has inked a deal to use Philips Electronics #39; Near Field Communication (NFC) contactless chip solutions in future devices.


First day of Open ends with a retirement announcement <b>...</b>

NEW YORK -- Todd Martin retired from professional tennis on Monday night at the US Open after falling to the 31st-seed, Fabrice Santoro 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.


Russia Says No to UN Sanctions Against Sudan

Russia has ruled out UN Security Council sanctions against Sudan for its failure to control Arab militias in the Darfur region. The senior UN envoy to Sudan will brief the Council Thursday on his just-completed


Safin Makes Early Exit at U.S. Open (AP)

AP - Just like at Wimbledon two months ago, Marat Safin exited at the earliest stage of the U.S. Open on Tuesday, bowing meekly to Thomas Enqvist 7-6 (5), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.


Deion Sanders Returns to NFL With Ravens (AP)

AP - After three seasons away from the NFL, Deion Sanders signed with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday.


Arizona Gets RB Hambrick and DE Zellner from Raiders (Reuters)

Reuters - The Arizona Cardinals\Tuesday acquired running back Troy Hambrick and defensive end\Peppi Zellner from the Oakland Raiders for an undisclosed 2005\draft pick.


Ankiel May Be With Cardinals in Postseason (AP)

AP - Rick Ankiel's return to the major leagues might not be just a September cameo.


Suicide Bomber Kills 10 at Moscow Subway (AP)

AP - A woman strapped with explosives blew herself up outside a busy Moscow subway station Tuesday night, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 50 in the second terrorist attack to hit Russia in a week, officials said.


First Lady to Hail Bush on His Leadership (AP)

AP - Republican National Convention co-stars Laura Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger commended President Bush to the country Tuesday for four more years in office, praising him for unflinching leadership in a time of national testing. "I am so proud of the way George has led our country with strength and conviction" in the war on terror, the first lady planned to say.


Astronomers Spot Smallest Planets Yet (AP)

AP - American astronomers say they have discovered the two smallest planets yet orbiting nearby stars, trumping a small planet discovery by European scientists five days ago and capping the latest round in a frenzied hunt for other worlds like Earth.


Warren the do-it-yourself type

Defensive end Ty Warren , who played behind veteran Bobby Hamilton as a rookie last year and had 33 tackles, has eclipsed that total with 48 stops this season in 12 starts. Throw in a pass deflection, a couple of forced fumbles, and 4 1/2 sacks, and it's been a promising turnaround for the 13th overall pick in ...


Shareholders the losers, report charges

When Hollinger International bosses Conrad Black and David Radler were selling the company #39;s Canadian newspapers - including the National Post -our years ago, they put more effort into lining their own pockets than getting a good price for the papers


US Loses Trade Cases and Faces Penalties

The World Trade Organization on Tuesday authorized the European Union and seven other leading American trading partners to impose more than \$150 million


UBS Buying Schwab Unit

Swiss banking giant UBS AG announced yesterday that it would buy the capital markets division of discount brokerage Charles Schwab Corp.


Alitalia axe hangs over 7,000 staff as bankruptcy looms

Alitalia may have to slash up to 7,000 jobs, it emerged yesterday, as executives scrambled to rescue Italy #39;s national carrier from possible bankruptcy later this month.


6 injured, 48 detained in Argentine clash

At least six Argentine protesters were injured and 48 people, including 18 women, were detained in the clash with police over the visit of the International Monetary Fund


Drop in Consumer Confidence Unexpectedly Steep in August

onsumers #39; renewed worries about job prospects led to a bigger-than-expected drop in confidence in August and provided more evidence of the fragility of the economic expansion.


US Airways, Machinists Hit Impasse

Cost-cutting talks between US Airways and its machinist union broke off yesterday after the airline said the union #39;s proposed money-saving ideas were not enough to help the carrier avoid bankruptcy.


FTC seeks fine against do-not-call list violator

WASHINGTON -- The US Federal Trade Commission is seeking the first fines for breaches of a rule banning calls to people whose numbers are on a  quot;do-not-call quot; registry, saying a Las Vegas telemarketer made more than 300,000 unwelcome pitches.


Hold bank accountable

There was a refreshing glimpse of bipartisanship this week, and it was not the sight of a Democrat from Georgia preparing to address the Republican National Convention in Manhattan.


US Clears Stent Sales by Guidant

uidant received approval yesterday from the Food and Drug Administration to sell stents that are inserted into the main neck artery to reduce the risk of strokes, making the company the


Apple #39;s New iMac: Skin-Deep Beauty

After weeks of intense speculation about the new iMac, Apple (AAPL ) finally pulled back the curtain on the latest iteration of its consumer desktop mainstay at the Apple Expo in Paris.


US finds Earthlike planets at other stars

US astronomers announced Tuesday their discovery of two small planets orbiting distant stars, setting off a dispute with European astronomers over who found the new, unusually small class of planets first.


EBay ups Internet Auction stake

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- EBay said late Tuesday it has agreed to buy 3 million shares of Korea #39;s Internet Auction for \$325 million in cash.


Visteon to grow in China with two new parts plants

Visteon Corp. said Tuesday it is expanding in China with two new plants that will support the explosive automotive market in Asia and position the Dearborn company as a leading supplier of climate controls in the region.


Fred L. Whipple, 97, Dies; Comet Research Pioneer

Astronomer Fred L. Whipple, 97, who died of an undisclosed ailment Aug. 30 at a hospital near Boston, was a leading sky watcher of the last century.


Cloning experiment condemned

A cloning scientist yesterday rejected accusations that his work was exploitative, unsafe and socially unacceptable. Panayiotis Zavos, of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Lexington, Kentucky, claims


Divorce rate surges as friends are reunited

Internet sites such as Friends Reunited are unwittingly fuelling a surge in marital break-up as bored husbands and wives contact old flames, relationship counsellors warned yesterday as official figures showed divorce has reached a seven-year high.


Launch team salutes Cape #39;s pad 36A after final liftoff

It was the starting point for dozens of commercial communications satellites, military spacecraft and pioneering space probes, including the first man-made object to journey outside our solar system.


US tech execs optimistic about spending

NEWYORK: US technology executives are increasingly optimistic about the business climate, although plans for increased technology spending remain modest, according to a study.


Tree Farmers Are Objecting To New Rules On Forestland Changes <b>...</b>

Tree farmer Kent Hinson says he is out on a limb when it comes to his pro-environment view.  quot;Most foresters in general look at the environmentalists as an adversary, as a group


United Reveal Rooney Deal Payments

Manchester United this morning revealed how the contingent payments to Everton for Wayne Rooney will be structured in a statement to the Stock Exchange.


Serena fashions a statement with eye-catching outfit

Theres no doubt about it. Serena Williams #39; outfit Monday night when she won her first-round match in the US Open was an eye-catching number.


Beijing undergoing biggest changes in 800 years for Olympic Games

BEIJING : Beijing is in the midst of a dizzying architectural transformation aimed at creating a modern, high-tech metropolis by 2008 when the Chinese capital will have its moment in the Olympic spotlight.


Everton target McCarthy

EVERTON are in talks with European champions FC Porto to sign South African striker Benny McCarthy, it was reported today. McCarthy was the Portuguese league #39;s top scorer last season with 20 goals but is not


AMERICAN LEAGUE: 22-0 defeat by Indians is Yankees #39; worst ever

NEW YORK -- With Thursday night #39;s epic defeat, the Yankees #39; hold on first place in the American League East became increasingly tenuous.


Inamoto signs for West Brom

LONDON - Japan international midfielder Junichi Inamoto looks set to remain in the English Premier League after signing a two and a half year contract with newly promoted West Bromwich Albion.


Canada strikes first: Thornton shines in 2-1 win over USA

The business of hockey as we know it may be on its last wobbling legs. But the people who play the game of hockey showed just how entertaining the sport could be last night at the Bell Centre.


Manny hits two round-trippers in 10-7 victory

even if you were behind home plate, with Curt Schilling #39;s unblinking gaze boring in at you for the better part of 2 1/2 hours


Club gets two runs off Smoltz, but falls to Atlanta

Mike Hampton didn #39;t get the memo describing Citizens Bank Park as a great place to be a hitter. The Atlanta lefty, who wasn #39;t having the best August, must have been


US OPEN: Sharapova rallies; Roddick rockets

NEW YORK -- Maria Sharapova nearly found out how quickly one can go from diva to disaster. Women #39;s highlights: No. 1 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne def.


Nepal mosque stoned after Iraq killings

Dozens of people have thrown stones at a mosque in Kathmandu and tried to set it on fire to protest against the killing of 12 Nepalis in Iraq.


Next Steps on Darfur

ONE MONTH ago, the UN Security Council demanded progress on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Darfur. A resolution called on Sudan #39;s government to allow aid workers unimpeded access to the province and


Thatcher financed coup plot, claims business partner

PRESSURE is mounting on Mark Thatcher after an accusation by one of his business associates that he played a role in the Equatorial Guinea coup plot.


North parties to meet for fresh talks on peace process

The Norths political parties are due to meet in Stormont today for talks aimed at reviving the stalled peace process. The talks are designed to prepare the ground for an intense round of make-or-break negotiations


Women moved by family not ideology

Dusk was falling over the Chechen village of Kirov-Yurt when the Russian troops approached Uvais Nagayev, 32, at the gate of his family house.


Gunmen attack Iraq #39;s Ahmad Chalabi

Gunmen have opened fire on Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi #39;s convoy, wounding two associates, an aide to Chalabi says. The aide, Mithal al-Alousi, told Reuters the convoy was hit on Wednesday


N.Koreans Break Into Japanese School in China

About 29 people, thought to be North Koreans seeking asylum, broke into a Japanese school in Beijing on Wednesday apparently by cutting through the wire perimeter fence.


Indians Rout Yankees 22-0 in Epic Defeat (AP)

AP - The hits and runs kept coming, spinning by on the scoreboard as fast as symbols on a slot machine. It wasn't just a rout, it was an epic defeat, the most one-sided in the 101-year history of the New York Yankees. Cleveland's 22-0 victory Tuesday night matched the biggest post-1900 shutout margin in the major leagues, Pittsburgh's win at the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 16, 1975.


Cheaters are still winners in the eyes of many fans

On a gloriously sunny San Francisco day last April, a friend and I paid \$150 for tickets worth less than \$80 to see the San Francisco Giants play the Milwaukee Brewers at SBC Park. Of course, like thousands of others on that chilly Monday afternoon, we weren't there so much to see the game as to get a chance to ...


MGM Deal Seen Likely (Reuters)

Reuters - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. \has restricted its employees' ability to trade shares in the\company, and could announce as early as next week a deal to be\acquired for up to  #36;5 billion, sources close to the company and\its talks with possible bidders said on Tuesday.


Red Sox Hold Off Angels 10-7 (AP)

AP - Manny Ramirez homered twice, Curt Schilling moved into a tie for the major league lead with 17 wins and the streaking Boston Red Sox beat the Anaheim Angels 10-7 Tuesday night.


No. 13 Bears Face Difficult Early Tests (AP)

AP - What's being billed as one of the most promising seasons for California in years could crash quickly if the Bears can't navigate a difficult early road.


Nikkei Up at Midday, Led by Telecoms (Reuters)

Reuters - Tokyo stocks were higher at midday on\Wednesday thanks to gains in telecom shares and a handful of\small-caps, but the rise was limited as big technology firms\wilted ahead of a business update from bellwether Intel Corp.


Report: Pennington Set to Sign Extension with Jets (Reuters)

Reuters - The New York Jets and\quarterback Chad Pennington are close to a deal that would make\the quarterback the highest- paid player in franchise history.


Consumer Confidence Plummets on Job Market (AP)

AP - Consumers' renewed worries about job prospects led to a bigger-than-expected drop in confidence in August and provided more evidence of the fragility of the economic expansion.


EBay Offers  #36;530 Million for Rest of S.Korean Arm (Reuters)

Reuters - EBay Inc. offered about  #36;530 million to\buy the remainder of South Korean affiliate Internet Auction\Co. Ltd. as it pushes deeper into Asia, saying key shareholders\had accepted a 79 percent increase to an earlier offer.


Dodgers Beat D'backs 4-1 in 13 Innings (AP)

AP - Steve Finley hit a three-run double in the 13th inning in his return to Arizona, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.


Time on Jones's side

Even if indicted BALCO chief Victor Conte has the doping goods on sprinter Marion Jones, it's unclear whether the International Olympic Committee can revoke the five medals she won in Sydney in 2000. The IOC charter says that decisions can be changed only within three years after the closing ceremonies. The question is whether awarding a medal constitutes a decision.


New Coca Plants Said to Lurk in Colombia (AP)

AP - Authorities suspect a new threat is lurking in the mountains and jungles of Colombia: Not a new rebel cadre, but altered coca plants that are bigger, faster-growing and produce more of the compound that gives cocaine its kick.


Sabres Re-Sign Defenseman Dmitri Kalinin (AP)

AP - Defenseman Dmitri Kalinin re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres late Tuesday, ending his threat to play next season in Russia.


Nintendo Cuts Price on Game Boy Advance (AP)

AP - Nintendo Co. has permanently slashed prices on its Game Boy Advance SP portable video game system as the company tries to entrench its No. 1 position in the handheld game market.


SCO Posts  #36;7.4 Million Loss (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - Revenue for the quarter of  #36;11.2 million, compared with  #36;20.1 million in the year-ago quarter, dropped in part because of dwindling SCOsource licensing revenue #151;but SCO's CEO says the company is "steadfast on a dual path for success."


Protesters stone Nepal mosque after Iraq killings (Reuters)

Reuters - Dozens of people threw stones at a mosque in Kathmandu and tried to set it on fire on Wednesday to protest against the killing of 12 Nepalis in Iraq.


Oil Heads Up Ahead of Fuel Stocks Data

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices rose on Wednesday,  pausing from a losing streak well above \$40 a barrel, although  dealers said data on fuel supplies in the United States due  later in the day may trigger a new slide in the market.


Apple Unveils Its Latest iMac, Months After Planned Debut (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Apple Computer Inc. rolled out its latest iMac desktop computer at a convention for Mac users in Paris yesterday, a sleek model in which the processors and drives are packaged behind its 2-inch-thick monitor.


This DVD highlights a storied past

The Globe has collaborated with Cramer Productions and produced a DVD:  quot;Boston's Greatest Sports Stories: Beyond the Headlines quot;.


Kerry: 'We Can, We Must' Win Terror War (AP)

AP - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says President Bush was wrong when he suggested that victory against terrorism might be impossible, declaring that he has a plan to defeat those who threaten the United States.


Roddick Blasts Through, Sharapova Struggles

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Defending champion Andy Roddick  unleashed the fastest serve in U.S. Open history on his way to  a 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Scoville Jenkins Tuesday as Maria  Sharapova's tournament was almost ended at the first stage.


First Lady Promoting Husband As Warrior (AP)

AP - First lady Laura Bush said Tuesday night that her husband agonized through White House walks and somber suppers and took the United States into war against terrorism "because he knew the safety and security of America and the world depended on it."


Rocket Carrying Spy Satellite Launched (AP)

AP - After four launch delays in as many days, a rocket carrying a spy satellite blasted off Tuesday.


Schwarzenegger Lauds Bush on Terror Fight (AP)

AP - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger drew on his childhood in Soviet-occupied Austria to endorse President Bush's war on terror. "Terrorism is more insidious than communism," the bodybuilder-turned-politician said Tuesday in a speech to the Republican convention.


Nikkei Up at Midday, Led by Telecoms

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo stocks were higher at midday on  Wednesday thanks to gains in telecom shares and a handful of  small-caps, but the rise was limited as big technology firms  wilted ahead of a business update from bellwether Intel Corp.


Cubs Trade for DiFelice, Grieve

MONTREAL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs acquired  catcher Mike DiFelice from the Detroit Tigers and outfielder  Ben Grieve from Milwaukee, both for a player to be named later,  Tuesday.


West Africans Draw Up Battle Plans Against Locusts (Reuters)

Reuters - Only a military-style operation with\bases across West Africa can stop the worst locust invasion for\15 years, Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade said Tuesday as\the insects swept into his capital.


Venus Battles Through to Second Round

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Venus Williams advanced to the second  round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday but had to work hard for her  6-3, 7-6 victory against Hungary's Petra Mandula.


Nothing Black and White About Panda Pregnancy (Reuters)

Reuters - Is she or isn't she? Word in the woods\is that Hua Mei, China's first overseas-born panda now back at\home, is expecting.


Sharapova Forced to Scrap Past Granville

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Maria Sharapova express almost  came off the rails Tuesday when she was pushed to the limit in  the U.S. Open first round by American Laura Granville.


Cuban-American Is Likely GOP Senate Candidate in Florida (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush's former housing\secretary, Mel Martinez, took a surprise lead in a ballot in\Florida on Tuesday to pick the Republican party's candidate for\a keenly sought U.S. Senate seat.


Arizona Gets RB Hambrick and DE Zellner from Raiders

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (Sports Network) - The Arizona Cardinals  Tuesday acquired running back Troy Hambrick and defensive end  Peppi Zellner from the Oakland Raiders for an undisclosed 2005  draft pick.


Report: Pennington Set to Sign Extension with Jets

NEW YORK (Sports Network) - The New York Jets and  quarterback Chad Pennington are close to a deal that would make  the quarterback the highest- paid player in franchise history.


Today's schedule

College basketball: MEN -- Boston University at Harvard, 7 p.m.; Wesleyan at Emmanuel, 7 p.m.; Emerson at Babson, 7 p.m.; Plymouth St. at Tufts, 7 p.m.; Newbury at Salem St., 7 p.m.; Merrimack at Bentley, 7:30 p.m.; Curry at Eastern Nazarene, 8 p.m.; Clark at Brandeis, 8 p.m.; Endicott at Gordon, 8 p.m.; WOMEN -- Becker at Emerson, 6 p.m.; ...


WTO Backs Effort Aimed At U.S. Law

The World Trade Organization authorized the European Union and seven other nations yesterday to impose more than \$140 million in punitive duties on American goods, on the grounds that Congress has failed to repeal a controversial anti-dumping law.


Enron Broadband Chief Makes Deal

The chief operating officer of Enron Corp.'s failed Internet unit pleaded guilty yesterday to a single criminal conspiracy charge and agreed to cooperate with the government, as prosecutors continued to build their case against the Houston energy company's top leaders.


Protesters Stone Nepal Mosque After Iraq Killings

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Dozens of people threw stones at a  mosque in Kathmandu and tried to set it on fire on Wednesday to  protest against the killing of 12 Nepalis in Iraq.


Mutual Funds Reveal Shareholder Votes

Vanguard Group Inc. voted in favor of a shareholder proposal demanding that Intel Corp. expense stock options. Putnam Funds and Fidelity Investments voted to dump Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael D. Eisner. Vanguard voted to keep him.


Judge Rules Against OFHEO

Federal regulators lacked the authority to block payment of more than \$50 million in compensation to former Freddie Mac chief executive Leland C. Brendsel while awaiting the outcome of actions they have brought against him, a federal judge here has ruled.


N.Koreans Break Into Japanese School in China

BEIJING (Reuters) - Twenty-nine people, believed to be  North Koreans seeking asylum, broke into a Japanese school in  Beijing on Wednesday by climbing on stools and cutting through  the wire perimeter fence.


Slide of the Yankees: Pinstripes Punished

George Steinbrenner watched from his box as his Yankees suffered the most one-sided loss in the franchise's long history.


Miss Universe, Olympians in Australia Poll Bout

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The first face-to-face bout in  Australia's election campaign was staged inside an airport  hangar on Wednesday with prime ministerial contenders sparring  with Miss Universe and hundreds of Olympians before a phalanx  of cameras.


Billups, Pistons fill it up vs. Mavericks

Chauncey Billups tied his season high with 24 points and Richard Hamilton scored 13 of his 19 in the third quarter, helping the Detroit Pistons pull away from the Mavericks and post a 101-85 victory last night in Dallas.


Canada Sets Tone in World Cup Victory Over U.S.

The North American rivalry picked up at the same elite level it reached when Canada beat the United States for the gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics.


Transactions

BASEBALL Boston (AL): Claimed P Tim Bausher on waivers from Colorado (NL); named Fernando Arroyo pitching coach at Portland (EL). Colorado (NL): Terminated P Denny Neagle's contract; assigned P Justin Hampson to Colorado Springs (PCL). Los Angeles (NL): Signed OF Ricky Ledee. Milwaukee (NL): Signed INF Trent Durrington to minor league contract; assigned OF Chris Magruder to Nashville (PCL). Philadelphia ...


Armed men storm Russian school

Gunmen seize a secondary school in the southern Russian region of North Ossetia, taking several pupils hostage.


Ex-Macedonian minister arrested

A former Macedonian minister is arrested in Croatia accused of ordering the murder of seven Asians.


Arroyo set to woo China on trade

Philippines leader Gloria Arroyo aims to strengthen economic ties with China during a visit to Beijing.


O'Brien drawing interest?

Looking to fill its football head coaching vacancy after the termination of Keith Gilbertson, the University of Washington may turn to Boston College's Tom O'Brien as a potential candidate.


Glaxo to Begin Posting Drug Trial Results

GlaxoSmithKline is expected to start the process of publicly posting the results of clinical trials for its marketed drugs.


Pfizer Ends Drug Cards for Elderly

Pfizer ended its widely used discount card for the elderly, leaving Medicare beneficiaries at least temporarily without access to reduced prices for popular medicines.


Scan 'as damaging as atomic bomb'

Medical scans expose people to similar levels of radiation as atomic bombs used in Hiroshima, say experts.


Insecure elections marching ever closer

Friday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports on a controversial decision by Missouri's Secretary of State: the state of Missouri will be allowing soldiers stationed overseas to cast ballots via e-mail. Their absentee ballots will be scanned and converted to PDF files, which will be emailed to the Defense Department, printed out, and then faxed to Missouri.  I'm in favor of helping soldiers vote; this is a democracy, everyone should be able to vote. Yet I'm deeply skeptical of this proposal, for two reasons:  The plan depends on e-mailed ballots being printed out and faxed by the Defense Department but does not provide any safeguards against soldiers being sanctioned for how they have voted;  The transmission method is inherently technically insecure


Ravens Sign Sanders

After passing a physical on Tuesday, former All-Pro cornerback Deion Sanders ends his three-year retirement to join the Baltimore Ravens to win another Super Bowl.


At Least 900 Arrested in City as Protesters Clash With Police

A series of demonstrations rippled across Manhattan when protesters tried to converge on the Republican convention.


Custis Takes Control

Family and Tony Robbins have matured and molded University of Maryland free safety Ray Custis into a trusted leader and anchor of the Terrapins' defense.


Giambi Rejoins Yankees

Jason Giambi has returned to the New York Yankees' clubhouse but is still clueless as to when he will be able to play again.


Medal Stays in Hungary

The Hungarian hammer thrower who was stripped of his gold medal after refusing to take a follow-up drug test at the Athens Olympics said Tuesday that he vows to keep his medal.


Man. U. Gets Rooney

Eighteen-year-old phenom Wayne Rooney left Everton  to join Manchester United on Monday after signing a six-year deal worth \$48.3 million.


Astros Creep Closer

After defeating the Reds 8-0, Houston is within three games of the NL wild card lead. Jeff Kent slugs two homers in the Astros win.


U.S. Seeks to Throw Out Terror Convictions

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department asked a judge Tuesday to throw out the convictions of a suspected terror cell in Detroit because of prosecutorial misconduct, reversing course in a case the Bush administration once hailed as a major victory in the war on terrorism.    In a late-night filing, the department told U.S...


Schwarzenegger Lauds Bush on Terror Fight

NEW YORK - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger drew on his childhood in Soviet-occupied Austria to praise President Bush's war on terror...


SCO caps legal costs as losses mount

With its cash reserves dwindling and losses continuing to mount, The SCO Group Inc. is taking measures to cut its expenses and ensure it will have enough cash to process its lawsuit with IBM Corp, the company announced during its quarterly earnings conference call Tuesday. SCO reported a loss of \$7.4 million on revenue of \$11.2 million for the third quarter - a loss that was affected by the \$7.2 million in legal expenses the company incurred during the quarter, which ended July 31.


Hamilton's late surge powers Holy Cross

Kevin Hamilton scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half and Holy Cross held Fordham scoreless over the final five minutes for a 53-39 victory last night in New York.


Egyptians Test Waters in Anticipation of Reform

Mubarak's government tolerates registered opposition groups, but many unofficial organizations have begun operating since the late 1990s.


U.S.: Militants, Not Villagers, Hit in Afghan Raid

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 31 -- The U.S. military said its forces killed more than 20 Islamic fighters on Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan but denied reports it had killed up to eight villagers in the same operation.


After Delays, Milosevic Opens Defense

THE HAGUE, Aug. 31 -- Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic  launched on Tuesday a defiant defense of his conduct during the Balkan wars, accusing his enemies of conspiracies against the Serbs and insisting that his countrymen acted in self-defense.


Update 2: Tokyo Stocks Edge Up Higher; Dollar Falls

Tokyo stocks gained moderately Wednesday morning on bargain hunting following losses the day before. The US dollar was down against the Japanese yen.


Copernic unveils Desktop Search Tool

Copernic Technologies has announced the free availability of the Copernic Desktop Search (CDS), beating Microsoft and Google in the desktop search race.


Internet caf hoists a latte to celebrate 10-year anniversary

LONDON John Major was prime minister of Britain. The Internet, to most people, was like something out of the Jetsons.  quot;Latte quot; was Italian for  quot;milk, quot; not American for  quot;coffee.


Ouch! Yankees hit new low

INDIANS 22, YANKEES 0---At New York, Omar Vizquel went 6-for-7 to tie the American League record for hits as Cleveland handed the Yankees the largest loss in their history last night.


Canadians start fast

The bad blood was everywhere in the building. It caused Canadian coach Pat Quinn to accuse the Americans of running goalie Martin Brodeur.


Office ransacked after killings

A MOB ransacked the office of Qatar Airways in Nepal #39;s capital Kathmandu to vent their anger after 12 Nepalese were killed by Islamic militants in Iraq, an airline employee said.


Militants kill 12 Nepal hostages

Iraqi militants have killed 12 Nepalis they captured just over a week ago, the militants and a Nepalese official said Tuesday. It was the largest mass killing of captives in the grueling war against


Apple Unveils Its Latest iMac, Months Late

Apple Computer Inc. rolled out its latest iMac desktop computer at a convention for Mac users in Paris Tuesday, a sleek model in which the processors and drives are packaged behind its 2-inch-thick monitor.
-The Washington Post


Marketer Sued for Do-Not-Call Violation

The Federal Trade Commission, seeking its first civil penalties against a telemarketer for violating the federal do-not-call list, has sued a Las Vegas firm, saying it called more than 300,000 numbers on the registry to sell time-share properties. -The Washington Post


Enron Broadband Chief Makes Deal

The chief operating officer of Enron Corp.'s failed Internet unit pleaded guilty yesterday to a single criminal conspiracy charge and agreed to cooperate with the government, as prosecutors continued to build their case against the Houston energy company's top leaders.


Water quality fails EU standards

Most rivers, lakes, estuaries and coasts in England and Wales are unlikely to meet new EU rules on water quality, conservationists say.


Briefly: Amazon opens floor to political pundits

roundup Plus: Sony picks up graphics tech for PSP handheld...LinkedIn links a million...AOL gives exclusive sneak peek for fall TV.


Sony picks up graphics tech for PSP

The company licenses graphics compression technology from S3 Graphics for its upcoming PlayStation Portable.


Gadget harvest

Apple unveils its new ultra-thin G5 iMac while Logitech readies the first laser mouse. Also: HP's holiday offerings.


Al Qaeda's Tech Traps

Investigations, arrests highlight how technology aids and weakens terror network.


First Look: Rio's Hot New Carbon MP3 Player

Supersleek 5GB digital audio player is set to challenge Apple's IPod Mini.


EU to consider sanctions against US

The European Union will open talks in coming days on whether and when to impose sanctions on US goods, the bloc #39;s executive says, a day after winning WTO backing over the  quot;Byrd quot; anti-dumping law.


Investigators Tell Story of Ex-CEO #39;s Looting of Hollinger Millions

AccountingWEB.com - Sep-1-2004 - Conrad Black, the former CEO of Hollinger International, boldly and methodically abused his power to pocket millions of dollars that should have gone to the company, an internal investigation revealed.


UBS to buy Schwab #39;s capital markets unit for \$265mn

LONDON, September 1 (New Ratings) - UBS AG (UBR.FSE) has reportedly agreed to acquire Charles Schwab Corporations capital markets unit for \$265 million in an all cash deal.


El jefe del FMI intenta alargar los plazos de la deuda argentina

Rodrigo Rato, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, on Tuesday urged Argentina to increase government saving and to arrive at a comprehensive agreement with its private creditors.


Grid #39;s 6bn sale raises job and safety concerns

National Grid Transco, the pipes and pylons company, yesterday announced a 6bn deal to sell half its gas distribution business. The move pleased the City but alarmed unions and consumer groups.


Business briefs

Worries about job prospects led to a bigger-than-expected drop in consumer confidence in August and provided more evidence of the fragility of the economic expansion.


Phone unit in China has 13 rise

HONG KONG China Telecom, the publicly traded unit of China #39;s biggest fixed-line operator, said Wednesday that profit in the first half of the year rose 13 percent after it bought networks from its parent and expanded a service that competes for mobile


Stocks to Watch Wednesday

Stocks to watch on Wednesday: FOREST LABORATORIES INC. (FRX.N: Quote, Profile, Research). The drug company #39;s experimental treatment for Alzheimer #39;s failed to prove effective in a big clinical trial.


Bank of America reaffirms promises

Bank of America Corp. chief executive Kenneth D. Lewis reaffirmed his bank #39;s commitment to New England yesterday in a round of meetings in Boston with state


Acquitted TAP executive to lead company

TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. #39;s new president starts today, about a month after he and others were acquitted of federal grand jury charges of kickbacks and conspiracy.


Chiron acquires La Jolla biotech

Chiron Corp. said yesterday that it has acquired a La Jolla biotechnology company to further efforts to develop a donor blood screening test to detect mad cow disease.


New class of planets found

small-mass planets soon, quot; said Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, the co-discoverer of one of the new planets.


Apple hopes thin iMac can fatten profits, share

Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday unveiled its long-awaited iMac G5, a 2-inch thick, all-in-one device that hides its computing guts behind a flat-panel screen perched on an aluminum foot.


One in ten could suffer with SP2 problems

One in ten desktops will have problems with the Microsoft Service Pack 2 (SP2) update for Windows XP, claims an integration consultancy.


Microsoft strips Longhorn of WinFS

NEW YORK, September 1 (New Ratings) - Microsoft (MSFT.NAS) reportedly intends to ship Longhorn, its next version of Windows operating system, without WinFS, the next-generation file system.


Samsung phones to double as wallets

Samsung mobile phones look set to double as m-wallets as the mobile phone manufacturer signs a Near Field Communication chip deal with Philips.


Hitachi, Matsushita, Toshiba to jointly make large LCD panels

Japanese hi-tech giants Hitachi, Matsushita and Toshiba said Tuesday they will jointly produce large liquid crystal display (LCD) panels to help them compete more effectively in the lucrative flat-screen television market.


US leader snaps up email firm KVault

A BERKSHIRE-based email archiving company, KVault Software, has been bought for \$225m (125m) by Veritas Software, a leading US security specialist.


Old-flame Web sites boost divorce rates-agency

Web sites that reunite and reignite old lovers are helping push up England #39;s divorce rates, according to a counselling service.


AMD Betting Success Isn #39;t Gone in a Flash

Over the past six months, the usual strict hierarchies of the chip world have seen some rearranging. Perennial underdog Advanced Micro Devices (AMD:NYSE - news - research) has made impressive strides with


SCO caps legal costs, boosts Linux licence revenues

The SCO Group is working on a deal with its lawyers to cap the costs of its legal battle over Linux although it claims to be  quot;well positioned quot; to pursue its current litigation through to its conclusion.


Creative unveils iPod Mini-coloured MuVo2 update

If you can #39;t beat  #39;em, copy  #39;em. Creative Technology today began selling an updated version of its MuVo2 hard drive-based music player in five alternative colours reminiscent of Apple #39;s iPod Mini.


Egyptian mummy  #39;unwrapped #39; by modern scanning

The face of an Egyptian artisan named Harwa has been seen for the first time in 3000 years using CT scans, X-rays and 3D modelling technology.


Logitech launches laser-tracking mouse

Logitech Inc. was set Wednesday to introduce a new mouse that uses a laser beam to track the movements of the device. The mouse, which Logitech claims will be


The Wi-Jack Wi-Fi Wall Outlet

It might cost you \$25 to pick up a wireless access point at Circuit City, but if you want to fool around with some enterprise-level WiFi you normally gotta shell out the big bucks for some commercial-grade ceiling-mounted gear.


Dial-up #39; has new meaning with Ne

America Online is joining a growing number of players beyond traditional phone companies rolling out or testing phone calls over the Internet.


Fixing racing #39;s biggest problem

The arrest of 16 people, including champion jockey Kieren Fallon, in an investigation into horse race fixing is clearly very embarrassing for the sport.


VOLLER HAPPY TO STEP ASIDE

Newly-appointed Roma coach Rudi Voller would be willing to step down if his predecessor Cesare Prandelli decides to return to the Giallorossi club.


Beijing scrambles to reel in costs

Beijing -- Talk in China has shifted from holding a  #39;green #39; or  #39;people #39;s #39; Olympics to a  #39;frugal Games #39; as Beijing tightens its purse strings while undertaking massive preparations to play host to the 2008 event.


Irish invite for marathon athlete

Vanderlei de Lima lost his first place position after former priest Cornelius Horan burst onto the track and wrestled him into the crowd.


Zib takes Ferrero to the limit

The match started at about 4 pm on Louis Armstrong Stadium Court with plenty of empty seats and a lazy, late-summer loginess to the game.


Roundup: Canada, Sweden post victories

Even wearing an unflattering honey mustard- colored sweater, Team Canada players showed their true colors in their opening game of the World Cup of Hockey on Tuesday.


RAIDERS NOTEBOOK Hambrick, Zellner traded to Arizona

Tailback Troy Hambrick once bristled at the prospect of playing behind Emmitt Smith in Dallas, believing the aging Hall of Fame-bound rusher was taking carries that belonged to him.


Captors release 7 hostages in Iraq

Seven truck drivers taken hostage in Iraq over a month ago have been released, according to their employer, Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport company.


Sudanese Aid Workers Released by Rebels

AL-FASHER, Sudan Sept. 1, 2004 - Rebels released six Sudanese aid workers early Wednesday in Darfur, four days after they went missing during a trip to register refugees fled a brutal campaign of killings in the war-ravaged region, a UN official said.


Kathmandu Under Curfew After Violent Protests Against Killing of <b>...</b>

The Nepalese capital Kathmandu is under a curfew, which the government imposed after the city erupted in violent protests against the killing of 12 Nepalese workers in Iraq.


Chalabi Escapes Assassination Attempt

Gunmen opened fire on former Iraqi governing council president Ahmed Chalabi #39;s convoy on Wednesday, wounding two of his bodyguards, the politician and his aides said.


Suspected N. Koreans Enter Japanese School in Beijing

A group of people thought to be North Korean refugees is now in the visa section of the Japanese embassy in Beijing. Japanese diplomats say 29 people entered a Japanese school in the capital Wednesday.


Lebanese MPs to vote Friday on law amendment

Constitutional amendment drafted will allow Lahoud to stand for re-election despite opposition at home, abroad. BEIRUT - Lebanese MPs will vote Friday on a constitutional amendment drafted under pressure from


Mortars Fired at Iraq National Assembly Opening

Insurgents fired mortars and rockets at a venue where Iraq #39;s interim national assembly held its first session Wednesday, a stark reminder of the country #39;s risky road to elections in January.


Two new rocky  #39;super Earths #39; found

Two Neptune-sized planets have been discovered circling stars beyond our Solar System, US astronomers reported on Tuesday. The discoveries, which come less than a week after a similar announcement by European


Self-contained

The Cupertino firm unveiled a new line of iMac desktop computers on Tuesday that have been reduced to a simple 2-inch deep flat-panel LCD display, held up by a slim, aluminum stand.


Earth #39;s  #39;big brothers #39; floating around stars

Washington - A new class of planets has been found orbiting stars besides our sun, in a possible giant leap forward in the search for Earth-like planets that might harbour life.


Robson sacked by Newcastle

NEWCASTLE, England: Bobby Robson #39;s five-year reign as Newcastle United manager ended yesterday when he paid the price for his side #39;s poor start to the season and growing dressing room unrest.


Sharapova Toughs Out Three-Set Win

Maria Sharapova nearly crumbled under the weight of remarkable expectations Tuesday night in her first-round match at the US Open.


Three killed in Russian hostage crisis

MOSCOW: At least three people were killed when gunmen took up to 240 people hostage in a school in North Ossetia, close to Chechnya, ITAR-TASS quoted local authorities as saying.


Sudanese aid workers released by Darfur rebels

The Sudanese Red Crescent confirmed on Wednesday the release of a group of Sudanese aid workers kidnapped by rebels in Darfur since weekend.


Alleged US Army Deserter Says He Will Face Charges

US Army Sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins, who allegedly defected to North Korea nearly 40 years ago, is promising to face desertion charges against him soon.


Analysis: Putin #39;s permanent problem

For more than four years now the word President Vladimir Putin has used about the situation in Chechnya is  quot;normalisation quot;.


Gov #39;t Launches France Telecom Stake Sale

France launched the sale of at least 9.6 percent of France Telecom, a move that could raise up to 5.8 billion euros (\$7.1 billion) that will be used to help the French government reduce its national debt.


US  #39;defector #39; to turn himself in

Charles Robert Jenkins, a one-time US Army sergeant accused of defecting to North Korea 39 years ago, has saidy he will soon surrender to military authorities to  quot;face the charges that have been filed against me.


Apple iMac G5: a first look

The half-dome base is gone, and the iMac G5 is iPod-white in colour. Get more of our first impressions of Apple #39;s redesigned iMac.


Cloning from the dead claim attacked

Viable embryos have been created from dead people by fusing their cells with empty cow eggs, a controversial fertility scientist claimed on Tuesday.


One Small Step as China Opens Space Center

China offered a rare glimpse of its manned space flight center Wednesday, drawing back -- if only slightly -- the veil of secrecy around China #39;s ambitions in outer space.


Three jockeys held in race fixing probe

THREE jockeys and a trainer were arrested today in a probe into alleged fixing of horse races. More than 130 officers raided 19 addresses across Suffolk, North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and arrested 12 people for conspiracy to defraud.


News in brief

A provisional 2005 calendar was doing the rounds in Belgium. It features nineteen races, one more than this year, with all 2004 events still in place, joined by a new race in Turkey.


WHARF AMONG THE WICKETS

Debutant Alex Wharf claimed three quick wickets as England took charge of their first NatWest Challenge match against India at Trent Bridge today.


Armed Attackers Seize School in Russia

Heavily armed insurgents, some with explosives strapped to their bodies, seized a school in southern Russia today and herded scores of schoolchildren and others into its gymnasium.


Milosevic Concludes Opening Statement

Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has ended his opening statement in his war crimes trial, arguing he did nothing wrong.


Militants release seven hostages

SEVEN truck drivers from Egypt, Kenya and India held hostage in Iraq since July 21 and working for a Kuwaiti firm have been released, Al-Arabiya television has reported.


Accused US deserter to report to military

An American soldier accused of deserting to North Korea in 1965 and now in hospital in Tokyo says he is willing to report to the US military in Japan to face charges.