Crude oil prices neared their all-time record high of \$49.40 US as supply fears in Iraq and other key producers pushed up early trade Monday, while the market took stock of hurricane Ivan #39;s impact on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Crude oil prices near continued march toward symbolic \$50 US level


That is the one-word message of advice that citizens wanted to send to members of Congress at the end of last week. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate looked as if they are having trouble seizing

A wandering Congress trips over the US Constitution


A police search concluded there was no threat to a New York-bound Greek airliner forced to make an emergency landing in Britain following a bomb threat that mentioned Iraq, officers said Monday.

Diverted London Airliner Given All-Clear


The Chargers #39; defense had one of its better games in recent years, despite allowing 23 points. One of the keys was an adjustment to disrupt the Broncos #39; passing game.

Defensive adjustments keep it close


BOSTONThese Yankees are an arrogant bunch. Six consecutive first-place finishes tend to do that. But very rarely do you see a team in the heat of a pennant race facing the team chasing them send out a starting pitcher just to see him get work.

Sox punish cocky Yankees


When Vijay Singh started out as a pro golfer more than 20 years ago, \$10 million seemed an unreachable goal. One more victory -- and, the way he #39;s playing, that could be only one more tournament away -- and

It #39;s a record: Singh surpasses Woods again


The Sims 2 adds DNA into the mix and much more realistic 3D graphics, which gives the game an eerie feeling of reality.

Sims 2 plays with life addicts


Before deporting him to Lebanon in 1991, the late Yitzhak Rabin called Ezz-Eldin Sheikh al-Khalil the snakes head, singling him out as the terror master who raised and handled Hamas most accomplished terror operatives, Adnan al Hool and

DEBKAfile Special Analysis


SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Singapore #39;s industrial output rose a smaller-than-expected 5.3 on year in August, as the production of pharmaceuticals fell sharply from a high base a year ago.

DATA VIEW: Singapore Aug Indus Output Below Expectations


Adobe has updated Photoshop #39;s support for digital cameras #39; RAW image formats. The new plug-in adds to the number of camera models supported and includes a utility for converting images into the DNG, digital negative format.

Adobe updates RAW plug-in with digital negative format


LONDON, England -- British entrepreneur Richard Branson announced his company has signed a deal to offer the world #39;s first commercial flights to space under the branding  quot;Virgin Galactic.

Now Virgin to offer trips to space


I've been a soup van volunteer for three months plus a couple of weeks. I've also been casually mentioning this example of my beneficence in everyday conversation for about the same length of time. I use this particular phrasing, rather than

Kill The Poor


Donnie Downs, president and chief executive of Plan B Technologies Inc., said the company itself is a

Plan B Proposes Its Own Alternatives


European editorials on Monday commented on the results of the local elections in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

European Press Review: Climate Change


Five judges of the top court will hear a petition filed by Zee Telefilms on Tuesday. A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court said a five-judge bench would hear the dispute that threatens the rights of India #39;s

SC to hear Zee petition tommorrow


MILLIONS of pounds are likely to be wiped off profits at the Caribbean arm of furniture retailer Courts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ivan.

Hurricane Ivan blows Courts #39; profits away


Finance Minister P Chidambaram will lead a high-level delegation for the annual IMF-World Bank meeting in Washington from October 1, where New Delhi would press for higher aid flows for infrastructure and social development.

FM, Reddy to attend IMF-WB meet


Opinion Heaven help us all - there #39;s a blog battle being waged between Red Hat #39;s chief cheerleader Michael Tiemann and Sun Microsystems #39; President Jonathan Schwartz.

Red Hat opens losing propaganda offensive against Sun


From today, new users of Microsoft #39;s Outlook and Outlook Express won #39;t be able to view Hotmail emails for free. The company has announced that in future the service will only be available to subscribers of the MSN premium services costing \$19.

Microsoft closes Hotmail to Outlook and Outlook Express users


Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson calls him the best English player in the last 30 years, and he #39;s expected to debut for the club Tuesday in its Champions League match at Old Trafford against Turkey #39;s Fenerbahce.

The Wayne Rooney era begins at Manchester United


Getting a life gets a lot more complicated in this sequel to the best-selling computer game in history.

The Sims 2; Demon Stone; The Number Devil


McData plans to introduce a new SAN router this week designed to connect the growing number of isolated SAN networks in corporations.
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<img src=

McData offers SAN consolidation


KAMMENA VOURLA, Greece (Reuters) - A bus carrying school  students and teachers to the Athens Paralympic Games collided  with a truck in central Greece on Monday killing at least seven  people and injuring 24, officials said.

Greek School Bus Crash Kills Seven, Injures 24


Walgreen Co., the largest US drugstore chain, said fourth-quarter profit rose 18 percent, helped by sales of prescription drugs. Net income had its biggest gain in almost two years, climbing

Walgreen 4th-Qtr Net Rises 18 Percent on Drug Sales (Update1)


quot;We dont see this market as crowded. There is tremendous growth potential quot; - Zack Zalon, Virgin Digital president. Story in full VIRGIN Mobile, part of billionaire Sir Richard Bransons sprawling business

Virgin tunes into the online music market


Shares of ESS Technology (ESST.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , a maker of computer chips for DVD equipment, fell 4.4 percent in premarket trading on Monday after the company lowered its third-quarter revenue and earnings

Before the Bell - ESS Technology drops 4.4 pct


LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Paul Hamm appeared before the sports world's highest court Monday to argue why he should he keep his Olympic gymnastics gold medal.    The Court of Arbitration for Sport convened to hear the appeal from a South Korean gymnast who believes he was unfairly deprived of the gold in the men's all-around event in Athens last month because of a scoring error...

Sports Court Hears Hamm Gold Medal Appeal


NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Comcast said Monday that it has an option to cut its stake in Time Warner Cable to 17 percent from 21 percent in exchange for stock in a unit that will hold cable-television systems and cash.

Comcast gets option on TW Cable


A leader of a Philippine communist breakaway group has been killed, in what may be rivalry among former comrades. The shooting is the latest in a series of assassinations of Communist Party defectors.

Rivalry Blamed in Philippine Communist Leader #39;s Death


The auto maintenance company has a simple business but a complicated prognosis.

Touchy Times at Midas


British Prime Minister Tony Blair met in London with Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley Monday about power sharing with Northern Ireland #39;s Assembly.

Blair, Paisley confer on N. Ireland


Microsoft attorney Brad Smith, said:  quot;We will certainly be prepared to comply with the court #39;s order whatever it may be. We have invested a tremendous amount of time and energy and spent millions

Microsoft Lawyer Says Company Able To Comply with EU Antitrust <b>...</b>


CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Tommy Hilfiger Corp. tumbled Monday after the company disclosed that a grand jury was looking into the buying-office commissions the retailer pays to a non-US subsidiary.

Hilfiger tumbles on grand jury probe


Siemens VDO Automotive and Freescale Semiconductor have renewed their automotive relationship, representing about \$245 million for components including ASICs, microcontrollers, analog and sensor components, beginning in 2006.

Siemens, Freescale Extend Auto Partnership


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were knocked lower on  Monday, with the Dow dipping briefly below 10,000, as record  high oil prices threatened to hurt corporate profits and a  brokerage downgrade hit semiconductor shares.

Stocks Slip on Oil, Downgrade of Semis


Fannie Mae, facing questions about its accounting similar to those that shook up Freddie Mac last year, has agreed to changes that will bring it in compliance with accounting standards.

Fannie Mae agrees to accounting changes


SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Betrusted Holdings Inc. in New York and TruSecure Corp. in Herndon, Va., last week said they #39;re merging to form a single IT security services vendor.

Cybertrust CEO Says Merger Driven by Users


AFP - The US presidential race hit a new low in nastiness with images of Osama bin Laden and epithets such as  quot;despicable quot; and  quot;un-American quot; bombarding voters before a crucial series of televised debates.

Presidential campaign turns even nastier (AFP)


The director of a 10-minute film shown on Dutch television hopes to draw attention to what she says is widespread but hidden violence against Muslim women.

A Graphic Film of Protest, and Cries of Blasphemy


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Bishop Thomas Dupre, the former head of the Springfield Diocese, was indicted Monday on child rape charges, accused of molesting two boys in the 1970s, the county prosecutor said...

Bishop Indicted on Child Rape Charges


SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - CHICAGO -- Microsoft #39;s announcement of a disk-to-disk backup application designed to consolidate data backups on Windows servers positions the company to compete against storage management stalwarts such as Veritas

Sidebar: Microsoft Enters Data Backup Arena


JENSON Button was happy to settle for runners-up spot despite falling agonisingly short of a maiden Formula One win for the second race in succession.

Button happy with 2nd


AP - Holiday postage stamps celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa will be issued next month, the U.S. Postal Service announced Monday.

Holiday Stamps to Be Issued in Oct. (AP)


IronPort Systems has launched the latest version of its IronPort C-Series E-mail Security Appliance, adding Virus Outbreak Filters that the company said could respond to new virus outbreaks within minutes.

Shaving Time From The Virus Race


ALEXANDRIA, Va. Sept. 27, 2004 - US Airways Group Inc. warned in a bankruptcy court filing that it may have to liquidate by February if a judge does not impose a temporary 23 percent pay cut on its union workers.

US Airways May Liquidate by February


ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Dell Inc. and America Online Inc. announced a partnership Monday to provide 5,000 low-income students with free refurbished personal computers and a year #39;s worth of Internet access.

Dell, AOL team up in schools initiative


Cisco Systems is accelerating its push into the SMB market with the launch this week of entry-level switching modules, an aggregation switch and a Web-based management tool that helps smaller customers gain easier access to high-level features.

Cisco #39;s SMB Goods


Reuters - An Indian gold coin which is nearly\1,900 years old and shows one of the earliest depictions of\Buddha is to be sold at auction where it is expected to fetch\up to 15,000 pounds ( #36;27,000).

Gold Indian Coin Expected to Fetch  #36;27,000 (Reuters)


Fannie Mae agreed to keep more cash on hand while it corrects accounting problems, a U.S. regulator said.

Embattled Mortgage Giant Agrees to Meet New Standards


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasury debt prices climbed on Monday  as investors bet oil prices near record highs might dent U.S.  consumption and force the Federal Reserve to slow the pace of  interest rate hikes.

Treasuries Benefit on Spike in Crude Oil


Barely more than a year removed from his best season, Jamal Mashburn is likely done playing in the NBA. Mashburn and the New Orleans Hornets announced Monday, a week before the opening

Mashburn #39;s season blocked by knee injury; may retire


AP - Analyzing the DNA of elephants may help trace the origins of ivory being sold illegally, information researchers hope will help foil such trade.

Elephant DNA Could Help Stem Ivory Trade (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - NYMEX crude oil futures jumped 36  cents in electronic trading on Monday evening to the  psychological \$50 a barrel level, the highest in the 21 years  oil futures have traded on the exchange, as Nigerian rebels  decided an

NYMEX Oil Rises on Nigerian Rebel Threat


To boost performance for high-end users, Dell Inc. is upgrading its high-performance computing clusters by adding support for larger Topspin InfiniBand switches and PCIe host channel adapters.

Dell upgrades high-performance cluster line


A  quot;formidable information and technology management challenge quot; faces the Homeland Security Department, according a report released today by the Government Accountability Office.

DHS faces IT management challenge, GAO says


Oil prices rose to record highs Monday near \$50 a barrel for US crude as Nigeria emerged as the latest focus for worries about supply in an already tight worldwide energy market.

Oil Near \$50 on Supply Fears in Nigeria


Cisco Systems is aggressively targeting small and midsize businesses with a set of Ethernet switching products designed to greatly reduce the cost and complexity of operating a network.

Cisco switch products target small business


One way or another, Paul Hamm #39;s gold-medal odyssey is about to end. Whether he gets to keep the medal and the title he won a month ago in the Olympic men #39;s gymnastics all-around will be up to the sporting world #39;s highest authority.

Court to hear case in gymnastics flap


NEW YORK -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has trouble remembering those frantic seconds when he escaped from his burning racecar. He believes, however, that his late father figured in his survival.

Junior: Late father  #39;had a lot to do #39; with rescue


DUBAI - A steel mesh wall collapsed on workers building a multi-billion-dollar extension to Dubai #39;s international airport yesterday, leaving five dead and 12 injured, authorities said.

5 dead in Dubai airport accident


Ly-Huong Pham becomes the supercomputer maker's senior vice president of operations, and Peter Ungaro is made senior vice president for sales, marketing and services.

Cray promotes two execs


The role of agents in multimillion-pound football transfer deals came under fresh scrutiny yesterday after Manchester United revealed payments of 11m to middle-men for their help in signing players.

Manchester United admits paying 11m to transfer middle-men


MONTREAL, Canada : Sky-high oil costs will keep air transport profits in the basement, with losses between three billion and four billion dollars this year, despite a pickup in traffic, the international air trade association said.

Sky-high oil prices will ground air transport profits: IATA


Walgreen Co. (WAG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the top US drugstore chain, on Monday said quarterly profit rose 18 percent on strong sales of prescription drugs

UPDATE 3-Walgreen profit rises, more stores planned


Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Two clubs with storied tradition but in the midst of current turmoil will meet Tuesday when Real Madrid and Roma highlight Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League group play.

Troubled Real and Roma meet as Champions League resumes


Charlottesville, VA (Sports Network) - The No. 12 ranked Virginia Cavaliers will be without defensive end Chris Canty for the remainder of the season.

No. 12 Virginia loses key defensive player


The Redskins and Cowboys are underway from FedEx Field, a game that marks the first time legends Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells have faced each other since 1990.

Redskins Underway


BRIGHTON, England The annual conference of Prime Minister Tony Blair #39;s Labour Party opened here Monday under the pall of the war in Iraq, as the fate of the British hostage Ken Bigley remained uncertain amid fresh appeals for his release from family

Hostages plight clouds meeting of Blairs party


U.S. senators are debating a controversial measure to exempt foreign student graduates from the cap on H-1B visas.

Senate weighs H-1B visa changes


is Olympic gold medal safe in his parents #39; Wisconsin farmhouse, lovingly tucked into a white gym sock, the gymnast Paul Hamm had one goal in mind when he boarded a plane for Europe last week: to remain the Olympic all-around champion.

Hamm Pleads Case as the One and Only Champ


washingtonpost.com - Microsoft Corp. officials said yesterday that the company has spent millions of dollars preparing a version of its Windows operating system without a program for playing digital music and videos, in the event it loses its bid to postpone antitrust sanctions ordered by European authorities.

Microsoft Crafts Backup Plan (washingtonpost.com)


Crude oil futures rose above \$50 a barrel in New York on concern rebel attacks in Nigeria may reduce production while US inventories are near a 29-year low because of disruptions caused by Hurricane Ivan.

Crude Oil Futures Rise Above \$50 on Threat to Nigerian Supply


THE HAGUE: President General Pervez Musharraf Monday described the killing of Amjad Farooqi as big achievement by security forces and said  quot;important terrorist has been eliminated.

President terms Farooqi #39;s death big achievement


The blue-chip Dow Jones average closed below 10,000 for the first time in about six weeks on Monday as a spike in oil prices to nearly \$50 a barrel renewed concerns about corporate profits while analysts cutting recommendations hurt

Stocks Fall on Oil, Dow Ends Below 10,000


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Manny Ramirez belted his  league-leading 43rd homer and Johnny Damon hit a three-run shot  as the Boston Red Sox clinched a playoff spot with a 7-3 win  over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in St Petersburg on Monday.

AL Wrap: Red Sox Down Devil Rays to Clinch Playoff Spot


Roy Oswalt became the NL #39;s first 19-game winner, and the Houston Astros stayed close in the wild-card race with a 10-3 victory over the St.

Oswalt wins 19th as Astros keep up the pace


The Red Sox clinch a second straight trip to the playoffs, topping Tampa Bay, 7-3, Monday behind Manny Ramirez's 43rd homer.

Boston Secures Spot


Maybe there #39;s some technical justification for why Paul Hamm was forced to defend his gymnastics gold medal Monday before a sports court in Switzerland.

Gold belongs to Hamm


Vodafone said today it remained keen on purchases in France, eastern Europe and Asia and Africa as it detailed annual cost cuts expected to reach 2.

Vodafone keen on future expansion


SHANGHAI: A tired but determined Guillermo Canas of Argentina held off a strong early charge from Spains Guillermo Garcia-Lopez to win his first round Shanghai ATP match 7-6, 6-1 on Monday.

SHANGHAI ATP: Canas struggles to first round win


Moises Alou has a right to his opinion, Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker said Monday. Alou said everything he needed to say Sunday.

Skipper gives support while league sends warning


Britain #39;s Tony Blair faces one of the trickiest speeches of his career today, seeking to win back his Labour party after rifts over Iraq and spell out new policies to set up next year #39;s re-election bid.

Blair readies crucial party speech under Iraq cloud


North Korea said Monday that it will not resume talks on its nuclear weapons program until the Bush administration ends its  quot;hostile policy quot; against Pyongyang and

North Korea Resists Talks on Nuclear Arms


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Fueled by new supply worries in the United States and Nigeria, crude-oil futures made history Monday when the price topped \$50 per barrel late Monday and one analyst said additional disruptions could push prices to \$60 per barrel

Hurricanes, unrest in Nigeria feed supply concerns


A former executive who was a participant in the wrongdoing that helped cripple Enron testified on Monday, providing the first glimpse through the eyes of a principal of

Former Executive Testifies, Offering Insider #39;s Look at Enron #39;s <b>...</b>


SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 -- London -- The ultimate high-end incentive trip took another step closer to reality yesterday when Richard Branson, head of the Virgin Group, announced plans to launch commercial space flights by 2007.

Virgin to Launch Commercial Space Flights by 2007


Chone Figgins and Troy Percival saved the Anaheim Angels, and gave them a little boost in the AL West race. Figgins had RBI hits in the last two innings and scored the go-ahead run on an infield grounder.

Angels 5, Rangers 3


Crude oil prices settled at \$49.64 a barrel, up 76 cents as traders expressed concern that recent hurricanes had hurt output in the United States.

Oil Nears \$50 as Gulf Storms Curtail Output


Thailand confirmed its second death from bird flu Tuesday, and said the fatal case might have been transmitted by a human victim rather than a bird, according to published report.

May have been transmitted between humans- report


Harrah #39;s Entertainment Inc. and Caesars Entertainment Inc. agreed to sell four casino hotels to an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC for about \$1.

INDUSTRY REPORT: Gambling -- Casinos to be sold


It #39;s like doing cold-case detective work on elephants, but University of Washington scientist Samuel Wasser has devised an innovative method for pinpointing the DNA fingerprints of poached elephant tusks.

Using DNA to stop elephant poachers


LANDOVER, Md. - Bill Parcells celebrated the touchdown with a big smile and his fist thrust high in the air...

Cowboys Defeat Redskins 21-18


Without acknowledging responsibility for the car-bombing death of a Hamas activist in Syria, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim yesterday issued a toughly worded

Israel levels new accusations against Syria


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average fell 0.4  percent to a six-week closing low on Tuesday, marking an  eight-day losing streak, after oil prices topped \$50 a barrel,  fanning concern over the business outlook for Japanese  companies.

Japan Shares Fall to Low on Oil Worry


Banknorth Group Inc.'s biggest investors are voicing concerns about the proposed sale of a controlling stake to Toronto-Dominion Bank .

Banknorth investors voice doubts on bid


CAMARILLO, Calif. - Gas prices jumped more than 5 cents a gallon in the past two weeks, largely because of supply problems related to Hurricane Ivan, an industry analyst said.

Gas prices up 5 cents after Hurricane Ivan


Paul Hamm said yesterday that he would give back his Olympic gold medal if sport #39;s highest court ordered him to. But lawyers for the American gymnast and the

Hearing held on Hamm medal


Catalyst Fund General Partner I Inc., a disgruntled shareholder of Hollinger Inc., claimed yesterday that the company #39;s independent board members have demanded the resignations of Conrad Black, his wife and other insiders -- a charge disputed by the

Independent directors demanded Black #39;s resignation, investor says


many people were killed. The US military last week claimed to have killed around 100 of Zarqawi #39;s. militiamen who have the area largely under their control.

US forces bomb Falluja


Shares of Tommy Hilfiger Corp. plummeted 22 percent yesterday following Friday #39;s announcement that the apparel maker #39;s US division received subpoenas from the US Attorney #39;s Office regarding

Hilfiger shares plunge amid probe


AP - Raymond Goethals, the Belgian soccer coach who led Olympique Marseille to the 1993 European Champions Cup title, died Monday, according to news reports. He was 83.

Soccer Coach Raymond Goethals Dies at 83 (AP)


Citigroup Inc., the world #39;s biggest bank, named Sallie Krawcheck chief financial officer and head of strategy, making her the highest-ranking woman on Wall Street and giving her responsibilities outside the brokerage industry.

Citigroup #39;s Krawcheck Named Finance, Strategy Chief (Update2)


Richard Branson #39;s Virgin Mobile has forecast substantially higher earnings and margins, but disappointing predictions for service revenue

Virgin Mobile growth prospects disappoint


WASHINGTON -- The US Army may shorten yearlong combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan amid concerns the long and perilous duty is making it difficult to recruit soldiers and keep current ones, officials said yesterday.

US Army considers shorter combat tours


AOL has kicked off an initiative designed to make it easier for developers to engineer, test and distribute licensed AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) clients for mobile devices.

AOL aims to boost IM on mobiles


Oil should continue to flow from Nigeria, the world #39;s seventh largest exporter, despite a rebel threat to attack foreign oil workers in an  quot;all-out war quot; due to start on Friday, multinational energy companies said.

Nigerian oil flows despite rebel threat-companies


Three British bankers will today begin fighting extradition to the US on fraud charges related to Enron Corp., the first test of new British extradition laws.

UK Bankers Begin Extradition Hearing on Enron-Related Charges


Reuters - Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. , the\largest bottler of Pepsi drinks, on Tuesday said quarterly\profit rose on volume growth in the United States and Europe.

Pepsi Bottling Profit Rises (Reuters)


Microsoft and Amazon.com Monday filed one joint and several separate lawsuits against companies and individuals accusing them variously of trying to defraud consumers by imitating Amazon and Microsoft, the companies said Tuesday.

Microsoft, Amazon.com file phishing, spamming lawsuits


London - Lincoln University in the east of England has appointed Britain #39;s first professor of animal psychiatry, a report said on Tuesday.

Meet UK #39;s  #39;Dr Dolittle #39; of animal behaviour


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Telecommunications equipment maker  Motorola Inc. <A HREF=

Motorola to Cut 1,000 Jobs, Take Charge


Half of Viagra tablets sold on the Internet are fake, research suggests.

Viagra bought online 'often fake'


By LAURAN NEERGAARD     WASHINGTON (AP) -- Scientists are conducting thousands of medical experiments that can offer tantalizing hope to the ill, but tracking them down and getting enrolled can be incredibly difficult.    It might get easier, thanks to a growing push by doctors and lawmakers to force drug companies to list on a national registry every study they conduct...

National Registry Push Could Ease Drug Study Hunt


New Simple Start Edition accounting software targets small businesses still using pencil and paper.

First Look: Intuit's QuickBooks for Newbies


PC shipments in the second quarter grew faster than any three-month period since 1999, IDC said Monday, citing the continued pent-up demand for replacement systems as the driving force behind the sales surge.

PC Sales Hot For 2004, But Will Soon Cool Off


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened higher on Tuesday,  with beaten down shares offering bargains to investors and oil  producer stocks bolstered by crude oil prices breaking through  the \$50 a barrel mark.

Stocks Open Higher, Shrug Off Oil Spike


After Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, Microsoft has identified Russia as the fourth market for its low cost scaled down operating system, Windows XP Starter Edition (XP SE).

Russians Next In Line To Receive Cheap Windows


Scientists say a DNA map of Africa #39;s elephant herds will help combat the illegal trade in ivory. The map is a genetic profile of elephant groupings across the continent, from the dense forests of western and central Africa to the vast eastern savanna.

DNA map of elephants to net Africa #39;s ivory poachers


Major oil companies operating in Nigeria #39;s oil-rich southern region say they will not give in to threats of attacks on their facilities and employees by militias.

Oil Companies In Nigeria Say They Won #39;t Give In To Threats


Motorola to Cut 1,000 Jobs


AFP - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf kicked off a three-day visit to Italy by calling on the world community to stand united in the fight against global terrorism.

Pakistan's Musharraf calls for unity against global terrorism (AFP)


NEW YORK - Job worries helped push consumer confidence down in September for the second consecutive month, a New York-based private research group said Tuesday.    The Consumer Confidence Index fell 1.9 points to 96.8 from a revised reading of 98.7 in August, according to The Conference Board...

Consumer Confidence Dips in September


Vehicle tool maker sees profit below forecasts amid high steel prices, soft demand in Europe. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Snap-on Inc., which makes vehicle-repair tools, said Tuesday its third-quarter and full-year

Snap-on warns for 3Q, 2004


US economic growth is expected to slow in 2005 due to rising interest rates and high crude oil prices, according to a forecast of participants at a Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago conference released on Monday.

Chicago Fed conf. sees US 2005 GDP down at 3.3 pct


SHANGHAI, China -- Defending champion Mark Philippoussis suffered a first round humiliation in the Shanghai Open, losing to unheralded American Glenn Weiner 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Philippoussis is humbled by Weiner


AP - Browns running back Lee Suggs, inactive for Cleveland's first three games with a neck stinger, has been granted medical clearance to practice at full speed this week.

Browns' Lee Suggs Ready for Return (AP)


BANGKOK (Reuters) - Top seed Roger Federer toiled to beat  battling Frenchman Nicolas Thomann and reach the second round  of the Thailand Open on Tuesday.

Top Seed Federer Struggles Through in Thai Opener


The Windows XP Starter Edition Pilot program has expanded to add a fourth country, Russia, which now becomes the fourth market to join Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Russia Next to get Windows XP Starter Edition


Freescale Semiconductor Inc. took some of the wraps off of its dual-core microprocessor design, which the company said would be tailored to embedded applications.

Freescale Unveils Dual-Core PowerPC


With the misery that has plagued the airline industry recently, the last place you #39;d expect to see some inspiring -- heck, potentially rule-breaking -- thinking would be from an airline entrepreneur.

Virgin Starts (70) Mile-High Club


Under international pressure to disarm and disband Arab militias in troubled Darfur, Sudan #39;s government is instead reportedly moving hundreds, possibly thousands, of the fighters from Darfur to remote areas of southern Sudan.

Sudan Reportedly Hiding Arab Fighters in Southern Sudan


ATLANTA (Reuters) - Home improvement retailer Lowe's Cos.  <A HREF=

Lowe's Sees Profit Rising in 2005, 2006


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - Standard  amp; Poor #39;s on Tuesday cut the debt rating of BellSouth and SBC Communications, citing stiff competition and potential problems in absorbing AT amp;T Wireless.

S amp;P cuts SBC, BellSouth debt ratings


Freescale Semiconductor Inc. today unveiled the embedded MPC8641D Dual Core processor designed to deliver a performance jump and increased system bandwidth while keeping power under control.

Freescale Details 90nm Dual Core Processor Architecture


A decision on labor relief may be the difference between survival and liquidation.

US Airways' Holding Pattern


AFP - US consumer confidence fell for the second straight month in September as the outlook for jobs deteriorated, the Conference Board said.

US consumer confidence down for second month as job woes deepen (AFP)


German-American automaker DaimlerChrysler and Canadian transportation company Bombardier have settled a dispute over the 2001 sale of railcar maker Adtranz, the companies said in statements Tuesday.

DaimlerChrysler, Bombardier Settle Dispute


New York, Sep 27 (UNI) Members of the Indian-American community who attended a public meeting addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcomed his speech and expressed confidence that India would soon be a developed economy.

Indian-Americans hail Manmohan speech


Bombardier Inc. (BBDb.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) and DaimlerChrysler AG (DCXGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) ended a three-year dispute over the Montreal company #39;s acquisition of train

Bombardier, DaimlerChrysler Settle


PARKFIELD, Calif. - A strong earthquake struck Central California on Tuesday that was felt from San Francisco to the Los Angeles area...

Strong Earthquake Strikes Central Calif.


Real Madrid captain Raul was the hero as he scored twice to help his side overturn a two-goal deficit and beat Roma, easing the crisis with the Spanish club while making even worse what has been a dreadful season so far for Roma.

Real Madrid 4 Roma 2


NEW YORK (Reuters) - ConAgra Foods Inc. <A HREF=

Hicks Muse Pays for ConAgra's Swift Stake


Mary Bellis Waller, now 64, posted on two Internet dating sites during her search for a companion. Waller was a pioneer of online dating among people her age, and thousands of others age 60 and older are also turning to the Internet to find romance.

More Older People Turning to the Internet to Find Love


NEW YORK (AP) -- In a harbinger of security threats to come, hackers have exploited a newly announced flaw in Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) programs and begun circulating malicious code hidden in images that use the popular JPEG format...

Hackers Target Flaw in Microsoft's JPEG


The Associated Press By Rachel Konrad

News: Schwarzenegger signs bill banning paperless voting systems


Reuters - Travel and real estate company\Cendant Corp.  is close to an agreement to buy online\travel site Orbitz Inc.  for about  #36;1.2 billion in\cash, a source close to the talks said on Tuesday.

Cendant Near Deal to Buy Orbitz for  #36;1.2 Bln-Source (Reuters)


On the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Chechnya, some say there are few alternatives to negotiations.

Putin's Chechnya options narrow


SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - An international consortium of 28 defense-oriented companies hopes to develop standards for a network-centric framework that allows a variety of communications and information systems and sensors to interact on a

New defense consortium aims for greater systems interoperability


Some fans think 44-year-old Candlestick Park is already a dinosaur. Now the San Francisco 49ers #39; home stadium has the name to match.

49ers #39; home to be renamed Monster Park after stereo cable company


A jury in federal court in Tennessee has ordered Medtronic Inc. to pay at least \$109 million to an inventor in a dispute over rights to spinal fusion technology.

Jury Orders Medtronic to Pay \$109 Mln to Inventor


Defending champion Mark Philippoussis crashed out in the first round of the Shanghai Open on Tuesday, losing to American Glenn Weiner 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Angry Philippoussis loses again


AP - Syracuse point guard Billy Edelin has been declared ineligible for the first semester of the academic year because he does not meet NCAA academic requirements, school officials said Tuesday.

Syracuse Guard Ruled Ineligible for Fall (AP)


China dominated the medals race at the Paralympic Games that ended Tuesday, and Chinese officials expect a similar performance when Beijing hosts the games in four years

China Wins Paralympics


SEATTLE -- Amazon.com has filed three lawsuits in King County Superior Court against unidentified defendants who allegedly forged e-mails and Web sites to fool consumers into thinking they are doing business with the Internet retailer.

Amazon sues spammers for misleading consumers


SourceLabs could create some buzz because of its pedigree team of founders. The company is led by Chief Executive Byron Sebastian, a former executive at San Jose #39;s BEA Systems, who founded the company in spring.

High-Tech Start-Up Strives For Open-Source Compatibility


(CBS/AP) As US forces continued to bombard the restive city of Fallujah and clashed with militants in the streets of Baghdad, there was unrest in the normally quiet British-patrolled city of Basra.

Unrest Spreads To Southern Iraq


Taiwan Foreign Minister Chen Tan- sun, who dismissed Singapore as a country the size of a booger, #39; #39; regretted his improper wording, #39; #39; said Foreign Ministry spokesman Michel Lu.

Taiwan Acknowledges Minister #39;s Improper Wording #39; on Singapore


THE scientist who made his name by cloning Dolly the sheep said yesterday that he was  quot;very optimistic quot; about gaining a licence to clone human embryos to aid understanding of motor neurone disease.

Why I will clone human cells: Dolly creator


AP - Apparently even a Hall of Fame coach doesn't get a break from the officials.

Redskins Coach Bemoans Questionable Calls (AP)


elta Air Lines said yesterday that it was cutting the pay of executives and other salaried workers by 10 percent and making other changes meant to help it avoid a bankruptcy filing.

Salaries Cut 10 at Delta in Bid to Remain Solvent


Palestinian gunmen yesterday released a CNN journalist abducted in Gaza City apparently to pressure members of an Arab minority group not to serve in the Israeli army.

Gunmen free CNN journalist


Wall Street, which forced Google, the Internet search engine, to sharply lower the price of its shares in its initial public offering in August, has decided that the company is worth a lot more today than it was then.

Google Shares, Once Devalued, Just May Be Winners After All


An I.B.M. machine has reclaimed the title of fastest supercomputer, overtaking a Japanese computer that had caused shock waves at United States government agencies when it set a computing speed record in 2002.

I.B.M. Supercomputer Sets World Record for Speed


The Nuggets could be re-signing free-agent forward Rodney White in the near future if White is able to resolve his off-court problems.

Vandeweghe keeps interest in forward White


Rather than rapping knuckles after abuse is uncovered, chairman William H. Donaldson wants the SEC staff to work with and get to know Wall Street well enough to get the jump on problems before  investors lose money.

SEC Wants Fixes, Instead of  Fines


AP - A Syrian crackdown on terror groups would be the best way to halt violence in Syria and promote peace in the Middle East, the State Department said Monday after the assassination in Damascus of a leader of Hamas' bombing unit.

Feds: Syrian Clampdown on Terror Positive (AP)


Foreign-exchange trading surged to a record daily average of \$1.9 trillion this year as hedge funds and other money managers increased bets on currencies, according to the Bank for International Settlements.

Currency Trading Rises to Record \$1.9 Trillion a Day (Update3)


NEW YORK - In a harbinger of security threats to come, hackers have exploited a newly announced flaw in Microsoft Corp. programs and begun circulating malicious code hidden in images that use the popular JPEG format.

Hackers take advantage of Microsoft #39;s JPEG flaw


Jeff Bagwell drove in two runs and Brandon Backe pitched five solid innings to help the Houston Astros gain ground in the NL wild-card race with a 2-1 win over the St.

Astros 2, Cardinals 1


China and Singapore on Monday urged the international community to help calm Beijing #39;s dispute with Taiwan over its push for independence.

China, Singapore Say World Must Help Calm Taiwan Row


TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei fell 0.19 percent by  midday on Wednesday, erasing initial gains and extending losses  into a ninth straight day as worries about high oil prices and  domestic economic uncertainty hit exporters and tech stocks.

Tokyo Stocks Turn Lower by Midday


Fredrik Ljungberg admits Rosenborg have exceeded expectations in the Champions League, but is looking to put one over on his Scandinavian cousins tonight.

Gunners Ready for Tough Test


Michael Kasprowicz will miss the must-win second limited-overs international in Sydney, but not because of his disastrous late over that gave New Zealand a stranglehold on the first game, Australian cricket selectors said Monday.

Kasprowicz Prested #39; after Aussies lose series-opener


WASHINGTON - Major League Baseball will announce Wednesday that Washington will be the new home of the Montreal Expos, bringing the national pastime back to the nation's capital for the first time in 33 years, The Associated Press has learned.    A city official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington has been notified by Major League Baseball of the impending announcement...

Official: MLB to Move Expos to Washington


David Beckham could not hide his relief after Real Madrid overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Roma 4-2 in Champions League Group B. Madrid opened their campaign with a shock 3-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen

Real Back on Track


AP - Victims who lost relatives, homes and belongings in Tropical Storm Jeanne are now tormented by street gangs who attack food convoys, raid homes at night and shoot those who get in their way.

Gangs on Prowl in Storm-Wracked Haiti (AP)


SOMERS, NY - Pepsi Bottling Group Inc., the largest bottler of PepsiCo Inc. beverages, Tuesday said its profit for the latest quarter rose 4.4 percent as volume improved.

Business Glance


The European research facility which helped shape our view of matter and invented the world wide web is exactly 50 years old.

Particle lab celebrates 50th birthday


TAIPEI (dpa) - Taiwan Foreign Minister Mark Chen apologised to Singapore on Tuesday over the words he used in describing the Southeast Asian city-state.

Taiwan FM apologises for  #39;rude words #39; against Singapore


Bethany Donaphin didn #39;t have time to think when she got the ball with the score tied and clock winding down in regulation. Donaphin hit a turnaround jumper with 0.5 of a second remaining to lift the host New

Liberty rally to edge Shock


Although Motorola Inc. announced it is cutting 1,000 jobs at its facilities worldwide, Chandler economic development officials Tuesday said the city should not see a negative impact at the company #39;s two sites.

Motorola cuts may not hurt Chandler


Shares in UK department store group House of Fraser have risen after the firm said it had cut half-year losses and was seeing solid sales growth.

Sales boost for House of Fraser


India #39;s star batsman Sachin Tendulkar says he may be fit for next week #39;s first Test against Australia, after revealing the tennis elbow injury was showing  quot;tremendous improvement.

Tendulkar not giving up on first Test


In the beginning there was Darwin. And then there was intelligent design. How the next generation of 'creation science' is invading America's classrooms. By Evan Ratliff from Wired magazine.

The Crusade Against Evolution


LONDON (Reuters) - European stock markets rose and absorbed  three separate share placings on Wednesday, boosted by Wall  Street's strong finish while oil prices held close to \$50 a  barrel ahead of U.S. oil inventory data.

Shares Gain While Oil Holds Near \$50


WASHINGTON - The green is still there, but with touches of blue, red and yellow. A stylized image of the Stars and Stripes now waves in the background.

New \$50 bill designed to counter counterfeits


AP - For the first time in over three months, the Angels are back in first place.

Angels Ascend to First-Place Tie With A's (AP)


The Earth Simulator, an NEC supercomputer, is surpassed, at last. IBM announced yesterday that its Blue Gene/L supercomputer had achieved a sustained performance of 36.

BlueGene sneaks past Earth Simulator


Aimed at making cheaper PCs, Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled low-cost Windows XP Starter Edition operating systems in India in Hindi targetting the first-time home users.

Microsoft #39;s low-cost operating system


Duke University -- A Supernova Early Warning System (SNEWS) that detects ghostlike neutrino particles that are the earliest emanations from the immense, explosive death throes of large stars will alert astronomers of the blasts before they can see the flash.     SNEWS

Supernova Warning System Will Give Astronomers Earlier Notice


If Fannie Mae (FNM) is hampered by new limits on its operations, shareholders of the USA #39;s biggest mortgage-investment company are likely to feel the pinch more than the nation #39;s mortgage borrowers.

Fannie Mae woes may hit stock


The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant today announced a year-long pilot program to start shipping the Windows XP Starter Edition to India in early 2005.

India to get started on Starter Edition


Ahead of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank meeting, the World Bank on Tuesday placed India as the fourth largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, even as it said the country lagged behind in technology and efficiency.

India 4th largest economy: World Bank


The International Cricket Council are to open a global cricket academy designed to improve standards of lesser nations.

Cricket: Dubai global academy


Telecommunications equipment maker Agere Systems Inc. said Wednesday it will lay off 500 employees, or 7.6 per cent of its workforce, as part of a corporate restructuring.

Telecom equipment maker Agere to cut 500 employees, 7.6 of <b>...</b>


Most IT Managers won #39;t question the importance of security, but this priority has been sliding between the third and fourth most important focus for companies.

JPEG exploit could beat antivirus software


RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Lawmakers angered by the  Palestinian leadership's failure to make reforms plan to force  a parliamentary no-confidence vote that could bring down the  government appointed by Yasser Arafat, legislators said.

No-Confidence Vote Planned Against Palestinian PM


Scheduled to fly out of bankruptcy-court shelter this week, Air Canada announced a deal Wednesday to buy 45 Embraer aircraft in a deal worth at least \$1.

Air Canada to Buy 45 Aircraft From Embraer


NEW YORK (Reuters) - International Business Machines Corp.  on Wednesday said it has developed the world's fastest  computer, putting it back on top after a Japanese supercomputer  claimed the title some two years ago.

IBM Says Its Supercomputer Is World's Fastest


MacCentral - Apple has improved the services offered to subscribers of .Mac. Previously, the amount of storage for a basic .Mac account was 100MB, with a maximum of 15MB for e-mail. The service's base online storage has been increased to 250MB, e-mail service has been enhanced, and the cost of upgrading has been reduced. .Mac's basic subscription price remains the same -- US #36;99.95 per year.

.Mac bumps up storage capacity, improves mail (MacCentral)


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

Oil Falls Below \$49 on Nigeria Cease-Fire


The North American bullfrog population is booming. That may sound like good news, but it isn't #151;not when the frog has leaped far beyond its native habitat.

Invading Bullfrogs Appear Nearly Unstoppable


BANGALORE, INDIA -- Microsoft Corp. will introduce the Windows XP Starter Edition in India early next year, the company said Wednesday, two days after announcing similar plans for Russia.

Microsoft to offer stripped-down XP in India


Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (JOSB:Nasdaq - news - research) posted a handsome third-quarter profit Monday, as strong Internet and catalogue sales helped drive a 17 hike in net income.

Jos. A. Bank Profit Jumps


AP - The State Department said Monday it is taking seriously allegations that Laotian military forces may have massacred children of the country's Hmong ethnic minority.

U.S. Asks Laos to Check Massacre Report (AP)


LAS VEGAS - A three-seat rocket plane with stubby wings and a nose studded with round windows will try to blast out of Earth #39;s atmosphere above the Mojave Desert today to qualify for a US\$10 million (\$15.

Date with destiny for private rocketeers


That prison is located in West Virginia which means that she is not headed to a facility in Connecticut or Florida, as she had hoped.

Stewart #39;s Prison Chosen


In a fresh blow to Europe #39;s antitrust enforcers, a top appeals tribunal said regulators wrongly blocked MCI WorldCom #39;s aborted bid to buy Sprint Corp in 2000.

EU antitrust ruling on MCI overturned


Verizon Wireless has launched AOL Mail, a move that will give its Get It Now customers, who are AOL members, wireless access to their e-mail.

Verizon Wireless Offers AOL Mail


DENTON, Texas Last season #39;s NCAA rushing and scoring leader will miss the rest of this football season. North Texas running back Patrick Cobbs has sprained ligaments in his left knee.

Sports: Cobbs out for the season


MONTREAL : Air Canada said it sealed a deal with Brazil #39;s Embraer SA for 45 Embraer-190 aircraft, worth 1.35 billion US dollars at list price.

Air Canada confirms order for 45 Embraer jets


Want a full-fledged Windows XP computer that's about the size of a Pocket PC? Tiny machine debuts after two years of delay.

Start-up OQO to launch hand-size PC


The last time the nation #39;s capital was home to the national pastime, the game was literally a riot. Fans stormed the field with two outs in the ninth inning of the Washington Senators #39; farewell appearance at RFK Stadium on Sept.

Baseball #39;s return: a long time coming for DC


Reuters - Shares of Internet travel site\Travelzoo Inc.  rose nearly 4 percent on Wednesday as\market rumors of a secondary stock offering faded.

Travelzoo Shares Rise as Offering Rumor Fades (Reuters)


On its latest earnings call (7/14/04), a question was asked about the profitability of iTunes, and management responded by stating that it made just a small profit.

Will iTunes ever make a lot of money for Apple?


On-demand CRM provider Salesforce.com Wednesday rolled out a parallel service its calling Support.com and aiming at corporations with far-flung call centers, help desks, and on-call technicians.

Salesforce.com Launches On-Demand Support System


AP - Parliament on Wednesday elected one of Hungary's wealthiest businessmen as prime minister, ending two months of political uncertainty.

Hungary's Parliament Elects Prime Minister (AP)


Reuters - Baseball fans in the nation's\capital were anxiously awaiting formal word on Wednesday that\the financially beleaguered Montreal Expos would relocate to\the city for the 2005 season.

Washington Baseball Fans Await Word on Expos (Reuters)


Hotel workers at four San Francisco hotels have commenced a two-week strike this morning after working without a union contract for more than six weeks.

Workers from 4 SF hotels go on strike


CSKA Moscow clinched their first-ever Champions League win on Wednesday as Paris St Germain #39;s revival came to a shuddering halt at the Lokomotiv Stadium.

CSKA Moscow 2 Paris St Germain 0


Company's third open-source contribution is the first time it has shared code for actual application.

Microsoft open-sources Web authoring application


Colombia is back in business and the Andean country has ample room for growth backed by aggressive and transparent government policies but with some challenges

Colombia back in business, needs reforms-Uribe


MOJAVE, California -- A Southern California aerospace team took a big step toward capturing the \$10 million Ansari X Prize Wednesday, but not without surviving a scary moment when the pilot found himself in a rapid spin as he roared across the threshold

SpaceShipOne Rolls Toward Victory


SEATTLE - A toxic algae bloom 30 miles wide has been detected 15 miles off the northwest coast of Washington state, the largest and most potentially lethal yet found by scientists in the region.

Mammoth toxic algae bloom sighted off Washington state coast


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday  as investors snapped up semiconductor shares at bargain prices  and bought some blue chips after crude oil retreated from  record high prices.

U.S. Stocks End Higher


com September 29, 2004, 2:57 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.

Salesforce.com launches on-demand support


In January Disney and Pixar terminated their talks to extend a distribution partnership that has created such cartoon hits as  quot;Finding Nemo quot; and the  quot;Toy Story quot; series.

Disney Rules Out New Deal with Pixar Studios


Customers of Apple #39;s .Mac Internet service can hit the delete button less often now that the company has boosted the amount of storage it gives subscribers.

Apple beefs up .Mac storage limits


Phoenix, AZ -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed free agent pitcher Jeff Fassero for the remainder of the 2004 season. The move comes just five days after he was released by the Colorado Rockies.

Diamondbacks Ink Fassero


AP - A judge cleared the way for the release of documents and other evidence in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case on Wednesday.

Judge Clears Release of Kobe Evidence (AP)


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Travel and real estate heavyweight  Cendant Corp. on Wednesday said it will buy travel Web site  Orbitz Inc. for about \$1.25 billion, making it the  second-largest competitor in the online travel industry.

Cendant to Buy Orbitz for \$1.25 Billion


A growing cottage industry is taking customers' raw home video and putting it on DVD, in some cases producing short movies with sophisticated cinematic effects and a musical soundtrack.

For Neglected Video, a Hollywood Touch


Researchers are developing tiny atomic clocks that could be made using standard semiconductor processes and slipped into cellphones, hand-held computers and global positioning system receivers.

Time on a Chip: The Incredible Shrinking Atomic Clock


Expos president Tony Tavares told reporters of the move after the Expos #39; final home game. That news was later confirmed to Washington mayor Anthony Williams by MLB officials.

Expos set for Washington


InfoWorld - Security experts have spotted the first attempts to create an Internet worm that propagates using instant messages and exploits a recently disclosed flaw in Microsoft software.

Instant messaging worm exploits JPEG flaw (InfoWorld)


AP - IBM Corp. claimed unofficial bragging rights Tuesday as owner of the world's fastest supercomputer. For three years running, the fastest supercomputer has been NEC's Earth Simulator in Japan.

IBM Says Blue Gene Breaks Speed Record (AP)


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

Web Founder Says Cooperation Needed (AP)


AFP - Britain has extended full citizenship rights to Gurkha soldiers from Nepal who serve in the British armed forces, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.

Britain extends citizenship rights to Gurkha soldiers (AFP)


When Steve Williams picked up the ball Barry Bonds had just hit for his 700th home run, he thought he had his hands on a piece of history.

Catch a piece of history but hire a lawyer first


In a move to add more open-source arrows to its quiver, Linux seller Red Hat has acquired the Netscape server software products of AOL Time Warner, the companies plan to announce Thursday.

Red Hat acquires AOL #39;s Netscape server software


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

I.B.M. Agrees to Settle Part of Giant Pension Case


NEW YORK, Sept. 29 -- Federal prosecutors told a judge in a filing late Tuesday night that they have evidence that former WorldCom Inc. chief executive Bernard J. Ebbers knew company officials had improperly tinkered with the telecommunications firm's accounting to boost its publicly reported profits.

Immunity in Ebbers Case Opposed in U.S. Filing


MOJAVE -- Burt Rutan #39;s space ship one made its first trip into sub-orbital outer space in pursuit of the \$10 million Ansari X Prize.

Success For Spaceship One


moving northeast over large parts of the country including Tokyo, with winds up to 67 miles per hour. Media reports said at least nine had died, but public broadcaster NHK said the toll had reached 11.

Typhoon Meari kills nine in Japan


With world number one Vijay Singh missing because of Hurricane Jeanne and Masters champion Phil Mickelson another no-show, there was even more attention than usual on Tiger Woods at Mount Juliet in County Kilkenny this afternoon.

ALL EYES ON WOODS #39; FITNESS


AP - California will end the force feeding of ducks, geese and other birds to produce the gourmet liver product foie gras by 2012 under legislation signed Wednesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger.

Schwarzenegger Signs 'Foie Gras' Bill (AP)


Microsoft and Amazon.com have joined forces to take legal action against US and Canadian-based companies for allergy sending fraudulent e-mails to Amazon and Hotmail users, claiming to represent these companies.

Microsoft, Amazon File Lawsuits Against Spammers


Individually theyve been unstoppable in their respective industries. Theyre both legends that have survived the dot com burst and came out winners.

Microsoft, Amazon to combine forces


This article is the first in a new, regular series of articles and interviews with top Microsoft program managers. Our goal is to give you a close-up, helpful and informative look at things

An Interview with Bill Baker, SQL Server BI General Manager


Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Thursday he won #39;t automatically follow his British counterpart Tony Blair who has said he could apologize for faulty evidence on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Australian PM fails to apologize on wrong pre-war intelligence on <b>...</b>


In another move to cut costs, Continental Airlines is closing 14 of its ticketing offices systemwide, including three in the Houston area.

Around The Region


Federal prosecutors yesterday announced new perjury and obstruction-of-justice charges against HealthSouth Corp. founder Richard M. Scrushy, accusing the former chief executive of the rehabilitation

Grand Jury Adds to HealthSouth Charges


AFP - Some 20 people gather for a lunch of whale meat and potatoes inside a large wooden building facing a frozen fjord bathed in sunlight. No, these are not tourists on vacation, but rather criminals serving time in one of Greenland's open penal centers.

Greenland criminals take road back to society, not prison (AFP)


The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a copyright bill that stands at the center of the file-sharing debate.

Senate Bill Aims at Makers of File-Sharing Software


Reuters - A car crashed into a gate of Japan's\parliament building in central Tokyo on Thursday and caught\fire, Jiji news agency said.

Car Crashes Into Japan Parliament Gate -Jiji (Reuters)


In Pedro Martinez stats, news #39; first start since conceding to the New York Yankees stats, schedule by declaring that the Red Sox stats, schedule #39; rivals were his daddy, #39; #39; the Tampa

Pedro, Red Sox offer up few Rays of hope


The Connecticut Sun had an off game last Saturday, when they dropped the opener of their WNBA Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Washington Mystics.

Sales, Sun surge ahead


The proportion of people living on less than \$1 a day decreased from 40 to 21 per cent of the global population between 1981 and 2001, says the World Bank #39;s latest annual report.

Poor? Who #39;s poor? Poverty is down


Reuters - Investment bank Lehman Brothers\Holdings Inc. is negotiating to buy GLG Partners, a large\British hedge fund, the Wall Street Journal reported on\Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

Lehman in Talks to Buy UK Hedge Fund -WSJ (Reuters)


GAZA (Reuters) - A column of Israeli tanks surged into the  heart of the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on  Thursday as the army broadened its sweep for militants behind a  deadly rocket attack on an Israeli town.

Israeli Tanks Surge Into Gaza Refugee Camp -Witnesses


SEOUL (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova  disposed of Japan's Miho Saeki 6-3, 6-1, on Thursday to sweep  into the quarter-finals of the Hansol Korea Open.

Sharapova Sweeps Into Korea Open Quarters


Do not bring up last season. Patriots coach Bill Belichick despises talk of the past, except when it helps him prepare his team for the upcoming week.

Patriots have memory to feel sorry about


Boston Scientific Corp. and Medtronic Inc. , competing to enter the US market for stents that keep neck arteries open, said separate studies showed their devices prevent complications including stroke after 30 days.

Neck stents boosted in two studies


IBM Corp. on Wednesday said it has developed the world #39;s fastest computer - a 16,000-processor version of its BlueGene/L supercomputer.

IBM Claims Its BlueGene Supercomputer Is the Fastest


By all accounts, Jay Fiedler is a good guy. He signs autographs, performs charity work and always speaks well of others, even the New York Jets.

NFL: QB shuffle: Miami gives Fiedler the ball


BANGKOK, Thailand Sept. 30, 2004 - Millions of volunteers led by emergency teams fanned out across Thailand on Thursday in a new drive to fight bird flu after the prime minister gave officials 30 days to eradicate the epidemic.

Thailand Tackles Bird Flu Epidemic


The rolling experienced by SpaceShipOne on its first Ansari X Prize flight on Wednesday will not jeopardise the team #39;s chances of winning the \$10 million purse, team members said in a post-flight briefing.

Rough ride won #39;t stop next X Prize shot


DAVIE  Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt promoted quarterback Jay Fiedler in hopes of providing a spark to his winless squad. Perhaps simply playing the archrival Jets will be enough to jump-start a season on the brink.

Dolphins won #39;t let Jets fans rankle them


SAITAMA -- A middle-aged man who fatally stabbed his parents has been arrested, police said. Hideo Nakajima, an unemployed man from Soka, Saitama Prefecture, apparently called police shortly before 8 pm, Wednesday.

Man arrested for fatally stabbing elderly parents


_ At least three bombs exploded near a US convoy in western Baghdad on Thursday, killing 37 people and wounding more than 50, officials said.

Multiple Bombings Kill At Least 37 In Capital


The number of Americans seeking initial jobless benefits jumped by 18,000 last week, the government said on Thursday, but it attributed the entire rise to the effects of hurricanes that have battered the southern United States.

Jobless Claims Rise on Hurricanes


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - General Mills announced plans Thursday to start using healthier whole grains in all of its ready-to-eat cereals, including children #39;s cereals such as Trix, Cocoa Puffs and Lucky Charms.

General Mills goes whole grains


SYDNEY : Australia captain Ricky Ponting #39;s thumb injury has forced him out of the opening two cricket Tests against India starting next week, Cricket Australia (CA) said.

Cricket: Ponting out of two Tests against India


Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf met Pope John Paul II, who urged him to adopt a  quot;spirit of dialogue and tolerance quot; in his region.

Musharraf meets Pope John Paul


The Gurkhas who have served in the British Army have won an historic fight to be allowed to apply for British citizenship. The decision comes after a lengthy fight by the Nepalese soldiers for the right to

Gurkhas win citizenship fight


BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Arab news network Al-Jazeera showed video Thursday of 10 new hostages seized in Iraq by militants.    Al-Jazeera said the 10 - six Iraqis, two Lebanese and two Indonesian women - were taken by The Islamic Army in Iraq...

Footage Shows 10 New Hostages in Iraq


European shares turned negative and government bonds were struggling for direction on Thursday after US data showed subdued inflation numbers, flat spending and a rise in unemployment.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Shares and dollar turn south after US data


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

Going Private: The Promise and Danger of Space Travel


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips were lower on Thursday  after drug company and Dow component Merck   Co.<A HREF=

Blue Chips Drop After Merck Announcement


PalmSource #39;s latest iteration of the Palm OS operating system, code named Cobalt, is expected to be available in consumer mobile phone devices in the first half of 2005.

Palm Shows New SmartPhone OS Rev


The uncertainty over Tiger Woods #39; participation at the World Golf Championship at Mount Juliet ended this morning when the American ace decided to play despite injury.

Woods plays through the pain barrier


Reuters - Tammy Hough is a life-long\Republican, a socially conservative stay-at-home mother and a\woman who puts American security as a top priority, so many\pundits see her vote as an easy one for President Bush. But\she's not so sure.

What Do Women Want in a Presidential Candidate? (Reuters)


Efforts to forge the world's largest free trade zone between the European Union and South America's Mercosur economic bloc are unlikely to be concluded by an Oct. 31 deadline, the EU said Thursday, with both sides declaring each other's trade offers insufficient.

Tough Talks Ahead After EU Is Criticized


Sept. 30, 2004Reacting to calls from pharmaceutical retailers, distributors and manufacturers, EPCglobal has added a new action group to specifically study the pharmaceutical industry

Pharma Groups Work on EPC Issues


Linux seller plans to release Netscape Enterprise Suite as open-source software in a bid to expand beyond its core product.

Red Hat taps Netscape to broaden its landscape


The Spanish-American War is over and a

Net firms: Don't tax VoIP


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- Breakfast cereal maker General Mills is converting all of its cereals to whole grain. The company says it becomes the first leading food company to make the move involving cereals.

General Mills converting all US cereals to whole grain


OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. <A HREF=

Nortel Cuts Fewer Jobs, Exits Real Estate


JABALYA, Gaza (Reuters) - Twenty-three Palestinians and  three Israelis were killed Thursday, Gaza's bloodiest day for  more than two years, as Israel's army struck back after a  rocket attack killed two Israeli children in a border town.

23 Palestinians, 3 Israelis Die in Gaza Fighting


Tesco is rolling out radio barcode technology across its 98 Tesco Extra stores to track high-value items between its internal distribution centres and its outlets.

Tesco steps up RFID efforts


WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2004 -- A series of car bombings in Baghdad today killed one American soldier and wounded 13 others. The bombings also killed at least two Iraqi policemen and reportedly injured scores of other Iraqis.

Baghdad Bombings Kill One US Soldier, Wound 13


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Global semiconductor sales growth  slowed to 1 percent in August as electronics makers reacted to  growing inventories in Asia by limiting orders of chips, an  industry trade group said on Thursday.

August Chip Sales Growth Slows on High Inventory


Its Saturday Night Live version of

Hasbro's No Conehead


Austin Kearns knows he #39;ll be back home in Louisville, Ky., once the regular season ends on Sunday. The Cincinnati Reds outfielder did his best Wednesday to keep the Chicago Cubs

Cubs brushed back Chicago loses wild-card lead after ninth-inning <b>...</b>


What a shocker! The great Roy Jones lying unconscious on the canvas for five minutes. And who was the man who put him there? Unlikely light-heavyweight journeyman Glen Johnson - who, by his own admission, isn #39;t that flash.

Glory days long gone for Roy Jones


It did not go unnoticed among the press corps traveling with President Bush that British Prime Minister Tony Blair apologized this week to fellow Labor Party officials for the fact that, as it

POLITICAL POINTS  1:27 PM Sorry Is the Hardest Word


The Motley Fool - IBM (NYSE: IBM - News) has new bragging rights. Press reports indicate that the technology giant has created the world's fastest supercomputer two years after a Japanese computer claimed that title.

IBM Claims Computing Crown (The Motley Fool)


NewsFactor - Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT) has acquired Netscape \server-software products of AOL Time Warner (NYSE: AOL), as part of the Linux vendor's

Red Hat Acquires Netscape Server Software (NewsFactor)


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

Dunn Sets Major League Strikeouts Record (AP)


BALTIMORE--Proponents of radio frequency identification used to have a quick and easy response to consumer advocates charging that the technology posed an alarming threat to privacy.

Privacy questions arise as RFID hits stores


AFP - The US presidential candidates were set to go head to head in a bruising, high-stakes televised debate, with Republican incumbent George W. Bush aiming to lock in his lead in the race and Democratic challenger John Kerry banking on a comeback.

Bush, Kerry brace for key presidential debate (AFP)


Global lenders need to offer more grants and debt relief to poor countries and tailor lending toward the private sector, Treasury Secretary John Snow said today.

Treasury Chief Urges Debt Relief for Poor Nations


The eastern span of the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge, currently under construction and over budget, will be re-bid, according to Sunne Wright McPeak, secretary of California #39;s Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, which oversees Caltrans, the

Bay Bridge span faces re-bid, possible redesign


PayPal, eBay Inc. #39;s (EBAY.O: Quote, Profile, Research) online payment service, will expand its US buyer protection program to cover up to \$1,000 for qualified transactions, the company said on Thursday.

EBay Expands PayPal Buyer Protection Up to \$1,000


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck   Co Inc. <A HREF=

Merck Pulls Arthritis Drug from Market


CLEVELAND Indians righthander Kyle Denney was reported to be in a stable condition after being shot in the leg on the team bus yesterday.

Baseballer shot on bus


For the reason, with apologies to Michael Vick, look no further than the third-youngest head coach in the NFL. James Lawrence Mora, the son, is already starting to look suspiciously like father James Earnest

Born to coach


Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker talked to LaTroy Hawkins on Thursday, and said he #39;ll go to the right-hander again if the team is in a save situation.

Notes: Two-strike, two-out blues


Global semiconductor sales rose 1.1 percent to \$18.2 billion in August from the previous month and it appears as though chip inventories are declining, an industry trade group said Thursday.

August chip sales up


The much-anticipated debut of Wayne Rooney for Manchester United lived up to its billing. It didn #39;t take long for Rooney to make a splash as he became the first United player in 99 years to score a hat trick in his debut.

ON SOCCER Rooney #39;s United debut makes cost look cheap


The Trix Rabbit and that Lucky Charms leprechaun are going on a whole-grain diet. General Mills announced Thursday that it will convert all of its breakfast cereals to whole grain.

Update 2: General Mills to Make Cereals Whole Grain


AP - Ask Curtis Martin to pick one of the most important additions to the New York Jets this season, and he has a quick answer: left guard Pete Kendall.

Kendall Gives Jets' Offensive Line a Boost (AP)


Fossils from extinct dogs show why bigger is not better -- giant meat-eating animals died out because they relied too heavily on hunting other big animals, scientists reported on Thursday.

Dog Extinctions Show Why Bigger Isn #39;t Better


METCASH stunned long-term suitor Foodland (FOA) yesterday with an audacious \$846 million takeover bid to create a supermarket heavyweight better able to compete with its bigger rivals.

Bid to create grocery giant


Forbes.com - This past summer 25,000 consumers, aged 18 to 24, received short text messages on their cell phones alerting them to numbers on 225 million bottle caps of Snapple iced tea, pink lemonade and the like. People holding a winning number, announced by text message and traditional media, landed overseas trips and walk-on parts on TV shows.

Opportunity Rings (Forbes.com)


In a fitting microcosm of the Seattle Mariners #39; season, Ichiro Suzuki took oen more step toward history while his embattled team suffered another loss.

Ichiro now one hit from Sisler #39;s hits record


Three bombs exploded at a neighborhood celebration today in western Baghdad, killing 35 children and seven adults, officials said.

Bombs kill 35 children in Iraq


More PCs run the alternative OS, but many will end up with a pirated version of Windows, report says. Linux may be shipping on a growing number of PCs sold in the emerging markets of Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Is Piracy Pushing Linux Sales?


Thirteen years into their probe, U.S. investigators have assembled a team of smugglers, accountants and associates to testify against Colombian cartel kingpin Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela.

Witnesses to Confront Cali Cartel Kingpin


NEW YORK Iran #39;s foreign minister has said that his country will never give up its right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful use, though he denied any intent to produce nuclear weapons.

Iran leader reasserts arms views


AP - The flurry of earthquakes at Mount St. Helens intensified further Thursday, and one scientist put the chance of a small eruption happening in the next few days at 70 percent.

Experts Predict Mount St. Helens Eruption (AP)


Microsoft just swears that it hasn #39;t given up on Internet Explorer and that it #39;s really, really important to the future of Microsoft, to the next version of Windows, etc.

Minding the Search Engine Business


NEW YORK -- Omar Minaya stood behind a small lectern in a danky room in the bowels of Shea Stadium, and allowed his life to flash before his eyes.

Singer: Minaya returns home


After riding Jeremy Bonderman #39;s four-hitter to an 8-0 victory over Tampa Bay in Thursday #39;s first game, the Tigers watched their worn-out bullpen come unglued -- again -- when

Tigers split at Tampa


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

Three Hold First-Round Lead at SFB Classic (AP)


Henry Ford once said that his factories didn #39;t make cars,  quot;they make money. quot; It is a philosophy Bernie Ecclestone would surely understand more than most after his surgically dispassionate decision yesterday not to include the British grand prix on the

Biggest threat to Britain #39;s grand prix heritage


Rick Fox retires Thursday, ending a 13-year pro career during which he was part of three NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rick Fox Retires


AP - Matt Morris struggled in his final tuneup for the playoffs, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 Thursday night to send the NL Central champions to their first four-game losing streak of the season.

Brewers Hand Cards Fourth Straight Loss (AP)


The IAAF will increase testing and funding as well as cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency in its bid to detect and stem the use of new performance-enhancing substances, the sport #39;s governing body said Sunday.

IAAF to increase anti-doping measures


The creators of a private rocket plane will go ahead with plans for another launch next week in a quest to claim a multimillion-dollar prize, despite a harrowing flight in which the spacecraft rolled dramatically while hurtling toward

Creators of private spaceship announce plans for second launch <b>...</b>


Ichiro, Madritsch and Cabrera are having a blast in an AL West race they watched from a distance. OAKLAND - George Sisler stayed on top for at least another day, but the Seattle Mariners took down the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.

Mariners torment old foe A #39;s


Scott Podsednik and Keith Ginter both had a homer and three RBI Thursday night to help Milwaukee edge St. Louis, 7-6. In his final start prior to the playoffs, St.

MLB: Milwaukee 7, St. Louis 6


Federal prosecutors in Washington have opened an investigation into possible wrongdoing at mortgage giant Fannie Mae, just days after regulators accused

Fannie Mae criminal probe begun


He yelped after his second drive. His knees buckled after making contact on the sixth tee. . (See photo at left.) He stopped a half-dozen times and lifted his shirt so his caddie could rub heating cream between his shoulder blades.

Sports in brief


WASHINGTON -- Federal prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible wrongdoing at mortgage giant Fannie Mae , just days after regulators accused the company of shoddy accounting practices, according to sources familiar with the probe.

US launches probe of Fannie Mae woes


The British Grand Prix has been dropped from the provisional calendar of Formula One races for next year, media reports said yesterday.

British Grand Prix gets axed


SAMARRA, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a major assault Friday to regain control of the insurgent stronghold of Samarra, and hospital officials said at least 80 people were killed and 100 wounded...

80 Killed in U.S. Offensive in Iraq


The SpaceShipOne team will attempt to win the \$10 million Ansari X Prize on Monday, the 47th anniversary of the start of the first space race when the Soviet Union launched its Sputnik satellite.

SpaceShipOne,take two


A British Airways passenger plane flying from Berlin to London reported an unspecified security threat and made an emergency landing in Amsterdam on Thursday, escorted by two Dutch F-16 jet fighters, the airline said.

BA flight makes emergency landing in Amsterdam, escorted by F-16 <b>...</b>


Hanover boys' soccer coach Jim Sylvia is beginning to see a pattern in his team's play. Luckily, it's not the kind of trend to complain about.

Different Shea provides late-game heroics for Hanover


Newcastle eased their way into the UEFA Cup group stages on Thursday night as Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert hit the goals trail again in a 5-1 victory over Bnei Sachnin in Israel.

UEFA Cup Round-up


SEOUL (Reuters) - The determination of North Korea to  develop nuclear arms could harden after President Bush and his  rival, Senator John Kerry, clashed over how to proceed with  six-party talks on Pyongyang's ambitions, analysts said.

Bush, Kerry Differ on Approach to North Korea


Connecticut linebacker Alfred Fincher matched his career high with 17 tackles and helped the Huskies secure their first Big East win as a conference member

Huskies trip up Pitt


Tonight will be a busy one on the local fight scene with two cards. At the Bayside Expo Center, Ray Oliveira will take on Hicklet Lau for the vacant International Boxing Union welterweight title. On the same card, heavyweight prospect Matt Godfrey (4-0, 2 KOs) of Providence will face Andrew Hutchinson.

Friday is all right for fighting


TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average closed up 1.49 percent  on Friday, the first day of the fiscal second half, as a strong  reading in the Bank of Japan's

Nikkei Closes Higher After Strong Tankan


The two companies say they will jointly develop a set-top box to download movies over the internet. Netflix will arrange the movie licensing from Hollywood studios, and TiVo will take care of the product technology.

Netflix, TiVo Promise New Service


Indonesian police on Friday identified the man they suspect was the suicide bomber in an attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta last month, and said the 30

Indonesia police identify embassy attacker


BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday pledged to improve the leadership of the Communist Party at a time when its popularity is waning.

Wen calls for better leadership from party


Quirky, stick-figure

Dare you fight the possessed tomatoes?


Netflix, the online DVD rental company, and TiVo yesterday said they will work together to deliver movies digitally down the wires, presumably specifically to the latter #39;s PVR equipment.

Netflix, TiVo sign VoD alliance


US scientists have charted the genetic map of a microscopic algae that absorbs huge amounts of greenhouse gases.  quot;These organisms are incredibly important in the global carbon cycle, quot; said Virginia Armbrust

Genome mapped of CO2-absorbing algae


The Lions lost 3-1 to Ferencvaros - failing to progress to the next round of the UEFA Cup - on a night that saw four visiting fans suffering stab wounds and numerous other incidents of inter-fan violence.

Millwall to complain to UEFA


It has not gone unnoticed in Spain that the four goals Real Madrid put past Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday equalled their tally in five league matches after one of their worst starts to a domestic campaign for many years.

Rejuvenated Real out to start scoring goals


Some of the net's biggest players such as AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo are stepping up efforts to combat spam.

Net giants adopt anti-spam system


Microsoft Corp. said Friday that small companies and their customers would suffer most if it is forced to remove its digital media software from Windows, while the European Union accused it of being

EU Accuses Microsoft of Paternal View


AP - An audio tape purportedly released by Osama bin Laden's deputy calls for attacks on U.S. and British interests everywhere, according to a broadcast Friday by Al-Jazeera television.

Bin Laden Deputy Purportedly Seeks Strikes (AP)


French President Jacques Chirac says France should hold a referendum on Turkey's entry to the European Union.

Chirac seeks vote on Turkey bid


BAE Systems shares slid more than 4 per dcent in early trade after the company, while announcing  quot;good progress quot; on its Eurofighter contracts, admitted further troubles in the controversial al-Yamamah programme.

Saudi setback hurts BAE Systems


A prescription painkiller used by more than 250,000 Australians to treat arthritis has been withdrawn from sale after a clinical trial found it doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Arthritis drug withdrawn after trial


NEW YORK (Ticker) -- After a season in which they fired their coach, the New York Liberty are hosting the top-seeded Connecticut Sun Friday in Game One of the best-of-three Eastern Conference finals.

GAME DAY PREVIEW Game time: 7:30 PM


EU ministers agree to set up five pilot reception centres in Africa to process asylum applications.

EU set to launch 'transit camps'


With the economy slowly turning up, upgrading hardware has been on businesses radar in the past 12 months as their number two priority.

Sun makes run for supercomputing title


American Abigail Spears advanced to the quarterfinals of the Korea Open on Wednesday with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win over second-seeded Shinobu Asagoe of Japan.

Spears, Stosur advance to quarterfinals


Being the biggest dog may pay off at feeding time, but species that grow too large may be more vulnerable to extinction, new research suggests. Over 50 million years a succession of large carnivores evolved in North America, diversified, and then died out.

Threat of Extinction Looms Over Larger Species


Designer Burt Rutan #39;s SpaceShipOne cracked through Earth #39;s atmosphere and into outer space Sept. 29. Pilot Mike Mevill guided the aircraft to an altitude of 102,870 meters.

SpaceShipOne ready for X Prize


Reuters - Linux distributor Red Hat Inc. \said on Thursday that it had bought Netscape's computer user\identification and management technology from America Online\Inc., a unit of Time Warner Inc.

Red Hat Buys Technology from Netscape (Reuters)


SPACE.com - The second attempt by the rocketplane SpaceShipOne to soar into space and snag \  the  #36;10 million Ansari X Prize is planned for Monday, officials announced last \  night.

SpaceShipOne's 2nd Shot at X Prize Slated for Monday (SPACE.com)


German industrial giant Siemens has signed a 2.69bn contract to deliver technology services around the world to the BBC, a deal that will see it acquire the broadcasters technology subsidiary.

Siemens in 2.69bn deal with BBC


BUDAPEST, Hungary -- UEFA has charged Hungary #39;s Ferencvaros after their fans threw missiles and shouted racist abuse in Thursday #39;s UEFA Cup tie against Millwall.

Two Millwall fans stabbed, hospitalized


Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies Friday re-signed forward Stromile Swift to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not released.

Grizzlies make Swift move


Palo Alto-based Hewlett-Packard Co. has bought IT services company Synstar plc, of Bracknell, England for about \$293.3 million. Synstar has some 1,500 customers across Europe, selling IT support for various computer platforms.

Hewlett-Packard buys Synstar


OCTOBER 01, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Sun Microsystems Inc. this week released Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0, an upgrade of its programming language with more than 100 new features designed to bolster

Sun ships Java upgrade, focuses on ease of use


DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. <A HREF=

Ford Down, Nissan Up in September Sales


The San Francisco Multi-Employer Group announced this morning that it has locked out UNITE HERE Local 2 employees from 10 hotels and staffed the vacated positions with replacement workers.

Employees from 10 hotels locked out


The Blackberry wireless device maker is straining to exceed expectations.

Research Is Definitely in Motion


Level 3 today announced that it has purchased Sprint #39;s wholesale dial-up Internet access business for \$34 million in cash. Sprint is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America.

Level 3 Acquires Sprint #39;s Wholesale Dial-Up Internet Business


Despite a seemingly calamitous crash to Earth last month by the Genesis spacecraft, large portions of the solar wind samples it had gathered in space appear to be salvageable, NASA scientists announced on Sept.

Salvaging Genesis


Jerome Williams pitched seven innings in his first start in two months, and San Francisco jumped back into a tie for the NL wild-card lead by beating host San Diego.

National League Roundup


Adam Dunn hit his 44th home run of the season as the Cincinnati Reds dealt the Chicago Cubs a blow to their National League wild card aspirations with an 8-3 win at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.

NL Wrap: Dunn Goes Deep as Reds Tame Cubs


NEW YORK - Newly optimistic investors sent stocks sharply higher Friday, propelling the Dow Jones industrials up more than 100 points, after economic data showed strength in manufacturing and construction. Wall Street greeted the departure of PeopleSoft Inc.'s chief executive by buying up technology shares...

Stocks Climb on Strong Economic Data


MONTREAL - Molson Inc. has served up a warning of disappointing summer-quarter earnings, saying sales have been slow in Canada and profitability has been squeezed in Brazil.

Molson issues earnings warning


THE future of the world #39;s large wild mammals is threatened by pressures similar to those that caused the extinction of two-thirds of such species at the end of the most recent Ice Age.

Large mammals facing the fate of the sabre tooth


Al Qaeda #39;s No. 2 man Ayman Zawahiri called for an all-out armed resistance in the Muslim world against the West and Jews whom he described as crusaders.

Al Qaeda Urge Wide-Scale Muslim Resistance


Amit Yoran leaves the Department of Homeland Security a little over a year after joining.

U.S. cybersecurity chief resigns


The government #39;s cybersecurity chief has abruptly resigned from the Homeland Security Department amid a concerted campaign by the technology industry and some lawmakers to persuade the Bush administration to give him more authority and money for

Update 2: US Cybersecurity Chief Abruptly Resigns


The seedings held Friday in the quarterfinals at the ATP stop in Shanghai, with No. 2 Jiri Novak stopping No. 8 Jan-Mike Gambill, and No.

Novak, Canas Top Dogs Left at ATP Shanghai


THE legal battle surrounding the awarding of telecast rights to Sony Entertainment Television for the forthcoming Australia tour of India is getting complicated with the Prasar Bharati CEO, Mr KS Sarma, saying that the national broadcaster would approach

Cricket telecast: Prasar Bharati to move SC as aggrieved party #39;


Your company made it to Fortune's 100 Fastest Growing Companies list. Is that a good thing?

Fortune's 100 Most Doomed?


If a herring asks you to pull his finger, be very afraid. Thats one of the lessons derived from this years Ig Nobel awards ceremony, an event that honors offbeat scientific achievements.

Ig Nobel awards honor weird science advances


Both have some reason for optimism. Guillon should benefit from his first start at Arkansas and from the more friendly environment of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Can Alabama pass? Can South Carolina run?


roundup Plus: Level 3 to buy Sprint's dial-up business...Cisco CEO's salary shoots up from \$1...SanDisk ups capacity on flash memory cards.

Briefly: MSN Messenger beta leaks onto Web


ALLENTOWN, Pa. - President Bush on Friday ripped into Sen...

Bush, Kerry Trade Barbs Following Debate


China says it will move toward a flexible exchange rate for its currency, but there is no word on how long such a transition will take.

China Pledges to Move Toward Flexible Exchange Rate


WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will not appeal a ruling by a California judge that would allow Oracle Corp.'s proposed hostile takeover of competing software vendor PeopleSoft Inc.

DOJ won't appeal Oracle ruling


AFP - The American Civil Liberties Union, the leading US civil rights group, petitioned the US Supreme Court to rule on the right of homosexuals to adopt children.

US Supreme Court asked to rule on homosexuals' right to adopt children (AFP)


Subaru World Rally team driver Petter Solberg took the lead on the all-new Rally Italia Sardinia on SS1 this morning Friday and held onto that advantage all day to end the leg more than thirty seconds ahead of second placed Marcus Gronholm.

WORLD RALLY NEWS Subaru: Solberg has a  #39;relatively #39; good lead.


Spain hailed the fulfilment of an old dream and the rise of a new star on Monday after the national team secured the country #39;s second Davis Cup title in five years.

Jubilant Spain revels in glory of second Davis Cup


Big Blue enhances its

IBM expands data centers, on-demand service


Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Star striker Ronaldo could miss Real Madrid #39;s La Liga contest Sunday against Deportivo La Coruna due to injury.

Ronaldo a doubt for Real


The United States welcomed on Friday Sudanese official #39;s announcement to accept a larger AfricanUnion (AU) mission in the western region of Darfur and urged the speedy deployment of AU troops.

US welcomes Sudan #39;s acceptance of expanded AU mission in Darfur


Amit Yoran, the government's cybersecurity chief, abruptly resigned yesterday after a year at the Department of Homeland Security, a move that raised questions about the Bush administration's ability to quickly improve cybersecurity.

Nation's cybersecurity chief abruptly quits DHS post


He (Haradinaj) is a war crimes suspect, and Serbian authorities will face numerous difficulties ... with such a person, Kostunica said.

Europe ; Serbia calls on UN to annul appointment of Kosovo PM


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. They #39;re closing eight Saks Fifth Avenue stores and three Off Fifth outlet stores. Saks Incorporated says shutting down weaker stores will allow the company to focus on its more  quot;productive quot; locations and further strengthen its brand.

Saks announces store closings


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

U.N. War Court Transfers First Case to Serbia


Open Source Initiative general counsel Larry Rosen is now an advisor to Black Duck Software.

Legal expert joins open-source screening firm


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan  Greenspan on Friday said he was very worried Congress would try  to thwart efforts by the Financial Accounting Standards Board  to require expensing of stock options.

Greenspan Worried Congress to Bar Options Expensing


Sept. 30, 2004 -- Long-term use of the painkiller Vioxx doubles a person #39;s risk of heart attack and stroke, a huge clinical trial shows.

Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market


The Chicago Cubs need more than rally caps, good-luck charms or curse-busters now. Mike Hampton and Dewayne Wise each hit two-run homers to lead the Atlanta Braves to

Cubs plate three runs in ninth inning, fall a run short


Ministers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) gathered in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on September 29 to formulate a common anti-terrorism strategy.

Russias strange bedfellows


New York retailing group Saks said Friday it will close 11 stores and shed 700 jobs. The company said it will close down eight Saks Fifth Avenue stores and three Off 5th Avenue

Saks to close 11 stores


Saks says shutting down weaker stores will allow the company to focus on its more  quot;productive quot; locations and further strengthen its brand.

Saks announces store closings


The rules controlling the trade in many at-risk wildlife species may change at a Bangkok meeting starting on Saturday. The 166 member states of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of

Bangkok animal trade talks open


GAZA (Reuters) - The Israeli army killed two militants  Saturday in an air strike in the northern Gaza Strip, bringing  the number of Palestinians Israel has killed in one of its  deadliest Gaza raids to 39.

Israel Kills Two Militants During Massive Gaza Raid


The withdrawal of Vioxx may take a bite out of Merck  amp; Co. #39;s revenues, but it isn #39;ta setback for arthritis patients, doctors said Friday, because dozens of other drugs offer the same symptom relief.

MDs: Vioxx not the only drug to help arthritis


Company Chairman Bill Gates says

Gates: Microsoft to offer anti-spyware


Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl center Mike Flanagan will undergo surgery on his left knee and miss the rest of the season. Coach Mike Sherman made the announcement after practice Friday, meaning for the second

Packers lose Flanagan for the season


The former official was sentenced after acknowledging that she had favored the Boeing Company in Pentagon contracts while seeking a job at the company for herself.

Ex-Pentagon Official Gets 9 Months for Conspiring to Favor Boeing


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

Gates: US Need Not Fear Overseas Tech


AP - The American Civil Liberties Union asked the Supreme Court on Friday to hear its challenge to Florida's ban on adoptions by gays.

ACLU Seeks to Challenge Gay Adoption Ban (AP)


MADRID (Reuters) - Five explosions were reported in  different parts of Spain Monday after the Basque separatist  group ETA threatened to set off a total of seven bombs, Spanish  media reported.

Five Blasts Reported in Spain After ETA Threats


China made its debut last night in the club of the world's leading economic powers, asinternational pressure mounts to change a decade-old currency peg that critics accuse of giving Chinese products an unfair competitive edge.

China at G-7 Meeting for First Time


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

Ex-Manager At Fannie to Skip Hearing


tocks rose yesterday amid heavy trading on the first day of the fourth quarter as PeopleSoft and chip-related stocks sent the Nasdaq to its highest level in more than two months.

STOCKS  amp; BONDS Technology Issues Lead Rally as the 4th Quarter <b>...</b>


Developing countries on Friday urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF to develop effective lending facilities to assist countries in the prevention of financial crisis.

IMF urged to assist countries in prevention of financial crisis


UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported that Syria has not pulled its forces out of Lebanon as called for by the UN Security Council, and said he had requested a timetable from Damascus for its full implementation.

Lebanon and Syria have not complied with UN resolution: Annan


AFP - A powerful home-made bomb has exploded in a compound housing offices of an autonomous Muslim regional government in the southern Philippine city of Cotabato, wounding one person, police said.

One hurt in blast at Philippines Muslim regional government complex (AFP)


AP - Jeff Bagwell hit a two-run homer and the Houston Astros overcame a sloppy start, remaining atop the NL wild-card standings with a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

Astros Beat Rockies to Keep Wild-Card Lead (AP)


The Seattle Mariners #39; Ichiro Suzuki registered three singles to equal, break and then add to the Major League hits record with his 259th of the season in a game against the Texas Rangers Friday.

Baseball-Ichiro Breaks Hits Record, Adds Single


France, Sweden and Belgium shot down a German proposal to set up European Union refugee processing centres in North Africa, arguing that the idea would do more harm than good.

France Opposes Immigrant Transit Camps in Africa


TALLADEGA, Ala. - Joe Nemechek wasn #39;t surprised to be back at the front of the field, just that it took so long to get there. Nemechek, who earned the nickname  quot;Front Row Joe quot; when he won six poles from 1997-00, got No.

Jeff Gordon Leads Contenders at Talladega


Joe Nemechek wasn #39;t surprised to be back at the front of the field, just that it took so long to get there. Nemechek, who earned the nickname  quot;Front Row Joe quot; when he won six poles from 1997-00, got No.

Jeff Gordon leads contenders at Talladega


KIEV -- Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko yesterday pressed for the prime minister's removal from office, dismissal of electoral officials, and new legislation to guard against fraud in a new presidential runoff, warning that his supporters would continue to blockade government offices until outgoing President Leonid D. Kuchma meets those demands.

Ukraine opposition seeks legal changes


Pakistan beefed up security Saturday as minority Shi #39;ite Muslims prepared to bury victims of a suicide bomb attack on a mosque in the eastern town of Sialkot that killed at least 30 people a day earlier.

Pakistan Ups Security, Shi #39;ites Mourn Bomb Victims