SetFit/ag_news · Datasets at Hugging Face

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A Daily Look at U.S. Iraq Military Deaths (AP) AP - As of Wednesday, Aug. 25, 964 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 722 died as a result of hostile action and 242 died of non-hostile causes.	0	World
Jacobsen Skips Hartford to Play Tradition (AP) AP - Last year, Peter Jacobsen was too young to play in the Tradition. This year, he has already won a major on the Champions Tour as he readies for his debut in the tournament he helped bring to his home state.	1	Sports
Alta prison bans pedophile from socials with kids that fuel his fantasies (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - WINNIPEG (CP) - A medium-security prison in Alberta has banned a Manitoba pedophile from social functions with the children of other inmates following the man's admission that the events fuel his sexual fantasies.	0	World
Olympics: Fame But Questions for Greece's New Heroine ATHENS (Reuters) - Fani Halkia hurtled from virtual obscurity to become Olympic women's 400 meters hurdles champion on Wednesday, giving Greece a new sports diva to hail but sparking a barrage of questions over her rise to prominence.	1	Sports
U.S. Expresses Concern About UAL Pensions WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration expressed fresh concern on Wednesday about the possibility bankrupt United Airlines <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=UALAQ.OB target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">UALAQ.OB</A> might scrap its employee pension plans, which would shift the burden of paying benefits to the government.	2	Business
Nikkei Seen Firming After 11,000 Cleared TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average is expected to extend gains on Thursday as investors keep a healthy appetite for blue-chip exporters after a fall in oil prices boosted confidence over the U.S. economy and lifted Wall Street stocks.	2	Business
Sudan Closes Its Embassy in Washington (AP) AP - Sudan said Wednesday it had closed its embassy in Washington after being unable to find a bank that would handle its financial matters.	0	World
Sumitomo Mitsui bid for UFJ to test cost-cutting skills TOKYO: Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc #39;s US\$29bil hostile bid for UFJ Holdings Inc may hinge on its ability to convince shareholders that it can cut costs and bad loans at Japan #39;s most unprofitable bank, investors said.	2	Business
EU probes Microsoft-Time Warner deal The European Commission on Wednesday opened an in-depth investigation into plans for joint takeover of ContentGuard, a US anti-piracy tech firm, by Microsoftand Time Warner.	2	Business
US stocks end higher as crude oil prices continue decline Wall Street stocks traded higher Wednesday as crude oil prices, reaching above 49 dollars per barrel last week, plunged for a fourth straight session.	2	Business
CORRECTED - IMF says loosening of yuan in China #39;s interest In WASHINGTON story headlined quot;IMF says loosening of yuan in China #39;s interest quot; please read in first paragraph ... undervalued ... instead of ... overvalued ... (corrects direction). WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters	2	Business
US Fed official says economic softness quot;fleeting quot; President of the US Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Jack Guynn said on Wednesday that the soft patch that the US economy hit recently was likely to be short-lived.	2	Business
Alitalia Unions Threaten Strikes on Contract Demands (Update1) Alitalia SpA, Italy #39;s largest airline, faces strikes and airport blockades should Chief Executive Giancarlo Cimoli seek bankruptcy protection for the carrier, cut thousands of jobs or break up the company, union officials said.	2	Business
Auckland airport profit up 13 Auckland International Airport has reported a 13 increase in annual net profit, buoyed by strong growth in passenger numbers and a 30 increase in international seat capacity.	2	Business
Washington Post Managing Editor Resigns Steve Coll, The Washington Post #39;s managing editor since 1998, is stepping down to focus on writing books, the paper reported Wednesday.	2	Business
Stocks: New drop in oil prices encourages Wall St. NEW YORK Stocks inched higher in quiet trading on Wednesday as a pair of government reports offered conflicting signals about the economy, and oil prices declined.	2	Business
Former Enron Official Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (AFP) - A former top Enron official responsible for investor relations pleaded guilty Wednesday to securities fraud as part of a plea agreement, under which he has agreed to cooperate fully with the government #39;s ongoing criminal	2	Business
NTT DoCoMo and Motorola teams up on 3G Phones NTT DoCoMo, top mobile phone carrier in Japan, and Motorola Inc., worlds number two cell-phone maker, plans to develop third-generation cell phones that allow subscribers in Japan to use services in other parts of Asia and Europe.	3	Sci/Tech
Feds Bust File-Sharing Sites Law enforcement agents have raided five homes and one ISP in what the Department of Justice calls the first federal enforcement action against piracy on peer-to-peer networks.	3	Sci/Tech
New technique to enhance semiconductors Conventional silicon based microchips have been known to be problematic at high temperatures, often due to heat generated by the circuit within while operating at high frequencies.	3	Sci/Tech
Microsoft expands mainframe pitch Microsoft is expanding a plan to draw mainframe customers to Windows for high-end applications. Under a program with the internal code name Mission Critical Microsoft, the company is trying to extend its current	3	Sci/Tech
Body Asymmetry Tied to Aggression If one of your ears is bigger than the other, it may be a sign you #39;re more likely to be aggressive when you get angry. So say Ohio State University researchers, who found	3	Sci/Tech
Science Magazine: Asia Farmers Sucking Continent Dry Asian farmers drilling millions of pump-operated wells in an ever-deeper search for water are threatening to suck the continent #39;s underground reserves dry, a science magazine warned on Wednesday.	3	Sci/Tech
Jamaica to provide free Net access JAMAICA #39;S government has announced a \$US5 million program to provide free internet access in poor communities across the island.	3	Sci/Tech
Arsenal beat Forest #39;s record ARSENAL became the first side in English football to go 43 league matches unbeaten when they beat Blackburn 3-0 at Highbury last night to return to the top of the Premiership.	1	Sports
Patterson sends Brewers packing Corey Patterson smacked a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning Wednesday to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 4-2 victory and complete a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.	1	Sports
Russia Observes Day of Mourning for Plane Crash Victims Russians are observing a day of mourning Thursday for the 89 victims of two nearly simultaneous plane crashes Tuesday. Investigators say they have no evidence to prove whether the crashes late on Tuesday were caused by terrorism.	0	World
US reiterates support for Iraqi interim government The United States on Wednesday reiterated American support for the Iraqi interim government headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. The US supports Allawi and his government #39;s	0	World
Darfur witnesses arrested in Sudan The Sudanese government was accused yesterday of arresting people who have spoken to foreign visitors, ceasefire monitors and journalists about continuing atrocities in Darfur.	0	World
Palestinians vote for reforms; fear Arafat inaction Palestinian legislators voted yesterday to back an anti-corruption reform package, but feared nothing would come of it as President Yasser Arafat was withholding his stamp of approval.	0	World
Lawyer Advising Vets Quits Bush Campaign WASHINGTON - One of President Bush's top lawyers resigned from his campaign Wednesday, a day after disclosing that he had given legal advice to a veterans group airing TV ads challenging Democrat John Kerry's Vietnam War service. The guidance included checking ad scripts, the group said...	0	World
U.S. Expresses Concern About UAL Pensions (Reuters) Reuters - The Bush administration expressed\fresh concern on Wednesday about the possibility bankrupt\United Airlines (UALAQ.OB) might scrap its employee pension\plans, which would shift the burden of paying benefits to the\government.	2	Business
Curacao Rallies to Beat Taiwan 9-8 in LLWS (AP) AP - Down four runs with only three outs left, Curacao manager Vernon Isabella thought his team's run for a championship was over. That was until Jonathan Schoop led an unlikely rally.	1	Sports
IBM, Vanco Land VPN Deal LONDON -- IBM has signed a 7-year 500 million deal with Lloyds TSB to enhance the Bank #39;s voice and data services in support of next-generation business solutions.	3	Sci/Tech
Russia Looks for Cause of 2 Plane Crashes (AP) AP - Russian investigators labored Wednesday to determine whether terrorism caused the near-simultaneous crashes of two jetliners, killing all 89 people aboard and spreading anxieties about a possible bloody escalation of the Chechen conflict.	0	World
Rice Hall Buys Growth On The Cheap (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - Maybe it's the sunshine, but San Diego has been a hotbed of growth-oriented mutual funds for more than two decades. Most of these growth shops buy the hottest names with the fastest growth rates. But one, Rice Hall James, takes a more cautious approach.	2	Business
Chinese Game Maker Shows Winning Touch (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - Chinese Internet companies that lit up Wall Street last year have become fading stars. Most blame the slowdown in the wireless end of their business for their shrinking market value.	3	Sci/Tech
Nikkei Opens Higher on Economic Optimism TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.73 percent at the opening on Thursday as investors bought exporters such as Canon Inc. after a fall in oil prices boosted confidence over the U.S. economy and lifted Wall Street stocks.	2	Business
The Olympic Drug Problem Just eleven days into the 2004 Olympics in Athens, we have already been confronted with the seemingly common problem of drug use within sport. So much so, in fact, that it has been dubbed "The Gene Games" by chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency's ethical issues review panel, Thomas Murray. In a recent interview conducted by the New York Times, Murray talks about the impact of drugs in sport, and what effect they have on the athletes involved.	3	Sci/Tech
Microsoft releases Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Microsoft Corp. has announced the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system, the successor to Windows XP Tablet PC Edition introduced in November 2002.	3	Sci/Tech
Microsoft releases key management software Microsoft Wednesday released the latest versions of its performance and monitoring tool, which forms a cornerstone in its plan to create a management platform for Windows.	3	Sci/Tech
France case over Yahoo drags on SAN JOSE, California Yahoo will likely have a tough time getting American courts to intervene in a dispute over the sale of Nazi memorabilia in France after a US appeals court ruling.	3	Sci/Tech
Manchester United join hunt for Rooney MANCHESTER, Aug 25 (SW) - Within the past hour, Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, has confirmed that the club had made a 20m bid to sign 18 year old England International Wayne Rooney from Everton.	1	Sports
Newisys paves way for 16-, 32-chip Opteron servers Company looks to leap past current limit of eight Opteron processors in a single server.	3	Sci/Tech
Winamp vulnerable to camouflaged-skin attacks Users of the music player should watch out for hacked themes; a flaw allows would-be intruders to take control of PCs.	3	Sci/Tech
U.S. government cracks down on P-to-P piracy U.S. law enforcement agents raided five homes and one Internet service provider on Wednesday in what the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) calls the first federal enforcement action against piracy on peer-to-peer (P-to-P) networks.	3	Sci/Tech
Publishing amp; Broadcasting Second-Half Doubles to A\$394 Million Publishing amp; Broadcasting Ltd. #39;s second-half profit more than doubled as advertising sales and gaming returns increased at the owner of Australia #39;s top-rating television network and the nation #39;s biggest casino.	2	Business
Ferguson in bid for #39;fabulous #39; Rooney The pursuit of Wayne Rooney became serious last night as Everton confirmed Manchester United had tabled a 20m bid for the England striker.	1	Sports
SI.com CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs appeared to receive a gift from first base umpire Mark Wegner leading off the bottom of the ninth.	1	Sports
Iraqi cleric urges march to Najaf Iraq #39;s most respected Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made a dramatic return to the country Wednesday and urged all Iraqi Muslims to join him on a march to the	0	World
Nikkei Opens Higher on Economic Optimism (Reuters) Reuters - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.73 percent\at the opening on Thursday as investors bought exporters such\as Canon Inc. after a fall in oil prices boosted confidence\over the U.S. economy and lifted Wall Street stocks.	2	Business
Arafat Fends Off Challenge Over Reforms (AP) AP - RAMALLAH, West Bank #151; Yasser Arafat fended off another challenge to his authority Wednesday when Palestinian lawmakers backed away from sweeping reform demands, instead approving a watered down set of recommendations.	0	World
Thatcher's Son Charged in Coup Plot (AP) AP - The son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, an ex-race car driver whose business career has been dogged by accusations of questionable arms deals and shady ventures, was charged Wednesday with helping finance a foiled coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.	0	World
Glance at GOP Platform (AP) AP - In developing a party platform, Republicans devoted much effort to the question of how to extend a welcome to party members who oppose the GOP's stand against abortion and gay rights.	0	World
Playing Catch-Up With Sheffield Even nearly 25 years later, Gary Sheffield still wonders how his team from Tampa, Fla., lost to Taiwan in the 1980 Little League World Series.	1	Sports
Digital attacks on Winamp use 'skins' for camouflage Users of the music player should watch out for hacked themes; a flaw allows would-be intruders to take control of PCs.	3	Sci/Tech
Microsoft faces new EC inquiry European Union regulators yesterday flexed their muscles by ordering an in-depth inquiry into plans by Microsoft and Time Warner to buy one of the world #39;s leading providers of anti-piracy software.	2	Business
BAE wins anti-missile contract BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman were last night awarded contracts by the United States government to develop technology for protecting commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles.	2	Business
Force is with Pinewood after Star Wars deal Pinewood Shepperton yesterday reported a 32 rise in first-half profits as the film studio business reported its maiden results following a 92m flotation this year.	2	Business
Under fire, CA pledges to right its ship Facing shareholder anger, top executives of Computer Associates International (CA) this week pledged to add 150 new employees to aid its channel efforts and to overcome distractions created	3	Sci/Tech
Salad oil may fuel hydrogen car of future Researchers yesterday unveiled a new fuel: clean, green and also good in a salad dressing. Sunflower oil is light in taste and rich in vitamin E, and Valerie Dupont of the University of Leeds believes it could	3	Sci/Tech
NASA funds extension of Mars Odyssey orbiter mission NASA has extended the mission of the Mars Odyssey orbiter which has been studying and mapping the Red Planet since early 2002 as well as serving as a relay for data from the surface rovers Spirit and Opportunity.	3	Sci/Tech
Arsenal sets unbeaten streak record Arsenal set the new English soccer standard Wednesday with a 3-0 win over the Blackburn Rovers at Highbury, eclipsing the old mark of 42 (21 wins, 21 ties) held by Nottingham Forest since 1978.	1	Sports
Bryant Prosecutors Say Some Data Tainted (AP) AP - Two days before the start of jury selection in Kobe Bryant's rape case, prosecutors charged that crucial DNA evidence the defense had hoped to use to prove the NBA star's innocence might have been contaminated.	1	Sports
NFL Expresses Interest in Anaheim Franchise (AP) AP - The NFL has approached Anaheim city officials about possibly building a stadium complex for an NFL franchise that could begin play as soon as 2008.	1	Sports
Australia planning to buy long-range stealth cruise missiles: report (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia will become the first country in the Southeast Asia Pacific region to be armed with long-range stealth cruise missiles in a move that could irritate its neighbours, a newspaper said Thursday.	0	World
NL Wrap: Patterson's Homer Keeps Cubs in NL Wildcard Lead NEW YORK (Reuters) - Corey Patterson clubbed a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League (NL) Wednesday.	1	Sports
Gates Contributes to Stem Cell Campaign (AP) AP - Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates contributed #36;400,000 to the campaign backing a California ballot measure that would make billions of dollars available for human embryonic stem cell research and cloning projects in the state, according to campaign records.	3	Sci/Tech
Alien Catfish Species Found in N.J. Canal (AP) AP - An alien species of catfish has been caught in the Delaware Raritan Canal, prompting fears among environmental officials that the voracious predator could devastate native catfish, sunfish and some sturgeon populations the way it has in southeastern states.	3	Sci/Tech
PC users happier--especially with Apple, Dell Customer satisfaction with home computers reaches three-year peak, with highest marks for Apple and Dell, survey says.	3	Sci/Tech
UPDATE 3-Gambro sells US kidney clinics unit to DaVita Swedish kidney-care company Gambro AB (GAMBa.ST: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday it signed a \$3.05 billion deal to sell its US clinics	2	Business
Japan Trade Surplus Expands Again in July (AP) AP - Japan's trade surplus expanded for the 13th straight month in July due to rising exports of automobiles and high-technology products to Asia, the United States and Europe.	0	World
Japan Stocks Firm on Optimism on Oil Fall TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.37 percent in early trade on Thursday as investors bought exporters such as Canon Inc. after a fall in oil prices boosted confidence over the U.S. economy and lifted Wall Street stocks.	2	Business
NASA Extends Mars Odyssey Orbiter Mission (AP) AP - NASA has extended the mission of the Mars Odyssey orbiter which has been studying and mapping the Red Planet since early 2002 as well as serving as a relay for data from the surface rovers Spirit and Opportunity.	3	Sci/Tech
Crude Oil Little Changed After 3.9 Plunge on Gasoline Supply Crude oil futures were little changed, after plunging 3.9 percent yesterday, the biggest decline in almost three months, as a government report showed that US gasoline supplies were higher than expected.	2	Business
Profits rise as AGL flags NZ sale Australian Gas Light Company has flagged the sale of its stake in New Zealand #39;s NGC Holdings, after the Australian energy retailer today reported an 18.	2	Business
Former Enron official pleads guilty to securities fraud A former top Enron official pleaded guilty Wednesday to securities fraud and agreed to cooperate fully with the ongoing criminal investigation of Enron #39;scollapse.	2	Business
Pinewood studios maiden profit jumps British film studio Pinewood Shepperton, home to James Bond and Harry Potter films, has posted a 31.6 percent gain in its maiden half-year profit report and says it is confident on prospects for the full year.	2	Business
Shell #39;faces \$1.5bn Nigeria bill #39; Nigeria #39;s Senate is reportedly to ask a Shell unit to pay \$1.5bn (0.84bn) compensation to oilfield communities for environmental damage.	2	Business
US Awards Airliner Antimissile Contracts Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and BAE Systems PLC (BA.L: Quote, Profile, Research) were tapped by the Bush administration on Wednesday to develop	2	Business
Overtime rules may affect 7.3M New federal rules governing overtime pay went into effect Monday. USA TODAY workplace reporter Stephanie Armour explains how the rules will affect some workers.	2	Business
Reports Show a Mixed View of Economy Factory orders for costly manufactured goods in July recorded the biggest gain in four months. New-homes sales, meanwhile, slid, according to a pair of reports that offered a mixed picture of economic activity.	2	Business
Boldly going where no chips have gone before Paris - One of the last frontiers of semiconductor technology - environments where electronic devices have to run at high power, in fierce heat or at lethal doses of radiation - may be about to fall.	3	Sci/Tech
Sinister new worm turns PCs into peeping toms An internet security company has discovered a sinister computer worm that turns people #39;s machines into peeping toms, secretly recording everything they see and hear.	3	Sci/Tech
Scientists Say Sunoil Could Power Cars, Homes British scientists say they have found a new, greener way to power cars and homes using sunflower oil, a commodity more commonly used for cooking fries.	3	Sci/Tech
Study: Americans happier with their PCs US consumers are happier with their PC purchases than they have been in the past three years, with Apple Computer and Dell pleasing them most, according to a report.	3	Sci/Tech
In Crocodile Evolution, the Bite Came Before the Body The creature, named Junggarsuchus sloani, was a three-foot-long one-meter-long sphenosuchianone of a class of small, slender, land-dwelling crocodilians that lived from about 230 million to 150 million years ago.	3	Sci/Tech
New turn in Yahoo tussle with France over Nazi items Yahoo #39;s face-off with France over Nazi paraphernalia took its latest twist Monday, with a federal appeals court reversing an earlier decision that found the First Amendment protected the Web portal from legal action over the issue in the United States.	3	Sci/Tech
IOC Ignores Snub, but Israel Stands Tall HE was the brown-eyed windsurfer with a gentle waviness to his thick hair, perched last night atop a medal stand, struggling to keep his tin voice on key as he sang a national anthem called quot;The Hope.	1	Sports
From shock winner to dignified loser, Gardner leaves stage a true <b>...</b> The man who beat the man they said was the greatest wrestler the world has ever known felt his own tug of mortality here yesterday, in a grey building on a scorching, rubbish-strewn hillside of broken-down houses and a stray goat.	1	Sports
Campbell throws rivals a curve ball Going into territory that Merlene Ottey, Grace Jackson and Juliet Cuthbert could never quite reach, Veronica Campbell gave Jamaica their first women #39;s sprint gold medal in last night #39;s 200 metres final.	1	Sports
BA directors to help staff cope with holiday rush at Heathrow Rod Eddington, the chief executive of British Airways, and 11 of his fellow directors will be working at Heathrow airport over the Bank Holiday weekend as part of a desperate	0	World
Kuwait minister assures release of Indian hostages NEW DELHI: Kuwait is working closely with Iraqi authorities to ensure the safe and expeditious release of three Indians abducted in Iraq, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Sabah al-Salem al Sabah said on Wednesday.	0	World
News in Brief Pope John Paul II presided at a special prayer service Wednesday for an icon he is returning to Russia, expressing his hopes that the gesture will improve relations between Roman Catholics and Russian Orthodox Christians.	0	World
Rangers lose Love match Another of Roman Abramovich #39;s football investments paid handsomely last night, unfortunately for Rangers whose plunge from fat cats of Scottish football to poor relations of the European game	1	Sports
Hamm says he wouldn #39;t want to share all-around gold Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm said Wednesday he would prefer not to share his gold medal with South Korea #39;s Yang Tae-young despite a judging mistake that ultimately cost Yang the gold.	1	Sports
Juninho tries on Larsson #39;s No 7 shirt For a small man, he looks as though he will wear it lightly. No sooner had Juninho completed his protracted move from Middlsbrough to Celtic - he has signed a two-year contract, subject to	1	Sports
Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric returns home as fighting rages in Najaf Hoping to end weeks of fighting in Najaf, Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric unexpectedly returned home from Britain on Wednesday armed with a new peace initiative and a call for Iraqis across the country to march on the holy city to demand an	0	World
Gyurcsany named as next Hungarian PM Millionaire businessman Ferenc Gyurcsany has been nominated by Hungary #39;s ruling Socialist Party as the next premier, Kossuth Radio said Wednesday.	0	World
Applying the Geneva Convention The veteran guardians of the wall, who are called at all times to rally round the hasbara flag when the enemy once again brings up the anti-Israel canard regarding the application of the	0	World

A Daily Look at U.S. Iraq Military Deaths (AP) AP - As of Wednesday, Aug. 25, 964 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 722 died as a result of hostile action and 242 died of non-hostile causes.

0

World

Jacobsen Skips Hartford to Play Tradition (AP) AP - Last year, Peter Jacobsen was too young to play in the Tradition. This year, he has already won a major on the Champions Tour as he readies for his debut in the tournament he helped bring to his home state.

1

Sports

Alta prison bans pedophile from socials with kids that fuel his fantasies (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - WINNIPEG (CP) - A medium-security prison in Alberta has banned a Manitoba pedophile from social functions with the children of other inmates following the man's admission that the events fuel his sexual fantasies.

0

World

Olympics: Fame But Questions for Greece's New Heroine ATHENS (Reuters) - Fani Halkia hurtled from virtual obscurity to become Olympic women's 400 meters hurdles champion on Wednesday, giving Greece a new sports diva to hail but sparking a barrage of questions over her rise to prominence.

1

Sports

U.S. Expresses Concern About UAL Pensions WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration expressed fresh concern on Wednesday about the possibility bankrupt United Airlines <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=UALAQ.OB target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">UALAQ.OB</A> might scrap its employee pension plans, which would shift the burden of paying benefits to the government.

2

Business

Nikkei Seen Firming After 11,000 Cleared TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average is expected to extend gains on Thursday as investors keep a healthy appetite for blue-chip exporters after a fall in oil prices boosted confidence over the U.S. economy and lifted Wall Street stocks.

2

Business

Sudan Closes Its Embassy in Washington (AP) AP - Sudan said Wednesday it had closed its embassy in Washington after being unable to find a bank that would handle its financial matters.

0

World

Sumitomo Mitsui bid for UFJ to test cost-cutting skills TOKYO: Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc #39;s US\$29bil hostile bid for UFJ Holdings Inc may hinge on its ability to convince shareholders that it can cut costs and bad loans at Japan #39;s most unprofitable bank, investors said.

2

Business

EU probes Microsoft-Time Warner deal The European Commission on Wednesday opened an in-depth investigation into plans for joint takeover of ContentGuard, a US anti-piracy tech firm, by Microsoftand Time Warner.

2

Business

US stocks end higher as crude oil prices continue decline Wall Street stocks traded higher Wednesday as crude oil prices, reaching above 49 dollars per barrel last week, plunged for a fourth straight session.

2

Business

CORRECTED - IMF says loosening of yuan in China #39;s interest In WASHINGTON story headlined quot;IMF says loosening of yuan in China #39;s interest quot; please read in first paragraph ... undervalued ... instead of ... overvalued ... (corrects direction). WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters

2

Business

US Fed official says economic softness quot;fleeting quot; President of the US Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Jack Guynn said on Wednesday that the soft patch that the US economy hit recently was likely to be short-lived.

2

Business

Alitalia Unions Threaten Strikes on Contract Demands (Update1) Alitalia SpA, Italy #39;s largest airline, faces strikes and airport blockades should Chief Executive Giancarlo Cimoli seek bankruptcy protection for the carrier, cut thousands of jobs or break up the company, union officials said.

2

Business

Auckland airport profit up 13 Auckland International Airport has reported a 13 increase in annual net profit, buoyed by strong growth in passenger numbers and a 30 increase in international seat capacity.

2

Business

Washington Post Managing Editor Resigns Steve Coll, The Washington Post #39;s managing editor since 1998, is stepping down to focus on writing books, the paper reported Wednesday.

2

Business

Stocks: New drop in oil prices encourages Wall St. NEW YORK Stocks inched higher in quiet trading on Wednesday as a pair of government reports offered conflicting signals about the economy, and oil prices declined.

2

Business

Former Enron Official Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (AFP) - A former top Enron official responsible for investor relations pleaded guilty Wednesday to securities fraud as part of a plea agreement, under which he has agreed to cooperate fully with the government #39;s ongoing criminal

2

Business

NTT DoCoMo and Motorola teams up on 3G Phones NTT DoCoMo, top mobile phone carrier in Japan, and Motorola Inc., worlds number two cell-phone maker, plans to develop third-generation cell phones that allow subscribers in Japan to use services in other parts of Asia and Europe.

3

Sci/Tech

Feds Bust File-Sharing Sites Law enforcement agents have raided five homes and one ISP in what the Department of Justice calls the first federal enforcement action against piracy on peer-to-peer networks.

3

Sci/Tech

New technique to enhance semiconductors Conventional silicon based microchips have been known to be problematic at high temperatures, often due to heat generated by the circuit within while operating at high frequencies.

3

Sci/Tech

Microsoft expands mainframe pitch Microsoft is expanding a plan to draw mainframe customers to Windows for high-end applications. Under a program with the internal code name Mission Critical Microsoft, the company is trying to extend its current

3

Sci/Tech

Body Asymmetry Tied to Aggression If one of your ears is bigger than the other, it may be a sign you #39;re more likely to be aggressive when you get angry. So say Ohio State University researchers, who found

3

Sci/Tech

Science Magazine: Asia Farmers Sucking Continent Dry Asian farmers drilling millions of pump-operated wells in an ever-deeper search for water are threatening to suck the continent #39;s underground reserves dry, a science magazine warned on Wednesday.

3

Sci/Tech

Jamaica to provide free Net access JAMAICA #39;S government has announced a \$US5 million program to provide free internet access in poor communities across the island.

3

Sci/Tech

Arsenal beat Forest #39;s record ARSENAL became the first side in English football to go 43 league matches unbeaten when they beat Blackburn 3-0 at Highbury last night to return to the top of the Premiership.

1

Sports

Patterson sends Brewers packing Corey Patterson smacked a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning Wednesday to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 4-2 victory and complete a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.

1

Sports

Russia Observes Day of Mourning for Plane Crash Victims Russians are observing a day of mourning Thursday for the 89 victims of two nearly simultaneous plane crashes Tuesday. Investigators say they have no evidence to prove whether the crashes late on Tuesday were caused by terrorism.

0

World

US reiterates support for Iraqi interim government The United States on Wednesday reiterated American support for the Iraqi interim government headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. The US supports Allawi and his government #39;s

0

World

Darfur witnesses arrested in Sudan The Sudanese government was accused yesterday of arresting people who have spoken to foreign visitors, ceasefire monitors and journalists about continuing atrocities in Darfur.

0

World

Palestinians vote for reforms; fear Arafat inaction Palestinian legislators voted yesterday to back an anti-corruption reform package, but feared nothing would come of it as President Yasser Arafat was withholding his stamp of approval.

0

World

Lawyer Advising Vets Quits Bush Campaign WASHINGTON - One of President Bush's top lawyers resigned from his campaign Wednesday, a day after disclosing that he had given legal advice to a veterans group airing TV ads challenging Democrat John Kerry's Vietnam War service. The guidance included checking ad scripts, the group said...

0

World

U.S. Expresses Concern About UAL Pensions (Reuters) Reuters - The Bush administration expressed\fresh concern on Wednesday about the possibility bankrupt\United Airlines (UALAQ.OB) might scrap its employee pension\plans, which would shift the burden of paying benefits to the\government.

2

Business

Curacao Rallies to Beat Taiwan 9-8 in LLWS (AP) AP - Down four runs with only three outs left, Curacao manager Vernon Isabella thought his team's run for a championship was over. That was until Jonathan Schoop led an unlikely rally.

1

Sports

IBM, Vanco Land VPN Deal LONDON -- IBM has signed a 7-year 500 million deal with Lloyds TSB to enhance the Bank #39;s voice and data services in support of next-generation business solutions.

3

Sci/Tech

Russia Looks for Cause of 2 Plane Crashes (AP) AP - Russian investigators labored Wednesday to determine whether terrorism caused the near-simultaneous crashes of two jetliners, killing all 89 people aboard and spreading anxieties about a possible bloody escalation of the Chechen conflict.

0

World

Rice Hall Buys Growth On The Cheap (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - Maybe it's the sunshine, but San Diego has been a hotbed of growth-oriented mutual funds for more than two decades. Most of these growth shops buy the hottest names with the fastest growth rates. But one, Rice Hall James, takes a more cautious approach.

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Chinese Game Maker Shows Winning Touch (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - Chinese Internet companies that lit up Wall Street last year have become fading stars. Most blame the slowdown in the wireless end of their business for their shrinking market value.

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Sci/Tech

Nikkei Opens Higher on Economic Optimism TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.73 percent at the opening on Thursday as investors bought exporters such as Canon Inc. after a fall in oil prices boosted confidence over the U.S. economy and lifted Wall Street stocks.

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The Olympic Drug Problem Just eleven days into the 2004 Olympics in Athens, we have already been confronted with the seemingly common problem of drug use within sport. So much so, in fact, that it has been dubbed "The Gene Games" by chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency's ethical issues review panel, Thomas Murray. In a recent interview conducted by the New York Times, Murray talks about the impact of drugs in sport, and what effect they have on the athletes involved.

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Sci/Tech

Microsoft releases Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Microsoft Corp. has announced the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system, the successor to Windows XP Tablet PC Edition introduced in November 2002.

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Microsoft releases key management software Microsoft Wednesday released the latest versions of its performance and monitoring tool, which forms a cornerstone in its plan to create a management platform for Windows.

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Sci/Tech

France case over Yahoo drags on SAN JOSE, California Yahoo will likely have a tough time getting American courts to intervene in a dispute over the sale of Nazi memorabilia in France after a US appeals court ruling.

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Sci/Tech

Manchester United join hunt for Rooney MANCHESTER, Aug 25 (SW) - Within the past hour, Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, has confirmed that the club had made a 20m bid to sign 18 year old England International Wayne Rooney from Everton.

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Newisys paves way for 16-, 32-chip Opteron servers Company looks to leap past current limit of eight Opteron processors in a single server.

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Sci/Tech

Winamp vulnerable to camouflaged-skin attacks Users of the music player should watch out for hacked themes; a flaw allows would-be intruders to take control of PCs.

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Sci/Tech

U.S. government cracks down on P-to-P piracy U.S. law enforcement agents raided five homes and one Internet service provider on Wednesday in what the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) calls the first federal enforcement action against piracy on peer-to-peer (P-to-P) networks.

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Publishing amp; Broadcasting Second-Half Doubles to A\$394 Million Publishing amp; Broadcasting Ltd. #39;s second-half profit more than doubled as advertising sales and gaming returns increased at the owner of Australia #39;s top-rating television network and the nation #39;s biggest casino.

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Business

Ferguson in bid for #39;fabulous #39; Rooney The pursuit of Wayne Rooney became serious last night as Everton confirmed Manchester United had tabled a 20m bid for the England striker.

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SI.com CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs appeared to receive a gift from first base umpire Mark Wegner leading off the bottom of the ninth.

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Iraqi cleric urges march to Najaf Iraq #39;s most respected Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made a dramatic return to the country Wednesday and urged all Iraqi Muslims to join him on a march to the

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Nikkei Opens Higher on Economic Optimism (Reuters) Reuters - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.73 percent\at the opening on Thursday as investors bought exporters such\as Canon Inc. after a fall in oil prices boosted confidence\over the U.S. economy and lifted Wall Street stocks.

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Arafat Fends Off Challenge Over Reforms (AP) AP - RAMALLAH, West Bank #151; Yasser Arafat fended off another challenge to his authority Wednesday when Palestinian lawmakers backed away from sweeping reform demands, instead approving a watered down set of recommendations.

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Thatcher's Son Charged in Coup Plot (AP) AP - The son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, an ex-race car driver whose business career has been dogged by accusations of questionable arms deals and shady ventures, was charged Wednesday with helping finance a foiled coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.

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Glance at GOP Platform (AP) AP - In developing a party platform, Republicans devoted much effort to the question of how to extend a welcome to party members who oppose the GOP's stand against abortion and gay rights.

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Playing Catch-Up With Sheffield Even nearly 25 years later, Gary Sheffield still wonders how his team from Tampa, Fla., lost to Taiwan in the 1980 Little League World Series.

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Digital attacks on Winamp use 'skins' for camouflage Users of the music player should watch out for hacked themes; a flaw allows would-be intruders to take control of PCs.

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Sci/Tech

Microsoft faces new EC inquiry European Union regulators yesterday flexed their muscles by ordering an in-depth inquiry into plans by Microsoft and Time Warner to buy one of the world #39;s leading providers of anti-piracy software.

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Business

BAE wins anti-missile contract BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman were last night awarded contracts by the United States government to develop technology for protecting commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles.

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Business

Force is with Pinewood after Star Wars deal Pinewood Shepperton yesterday reported a 32 rise in first-half profits as the film studio business reported its maiden results following a 92m flotation this year.

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Business

Under fire, CA pledges to right its ship Facing shareholder anger, top executives of Computer Associates International (CA) this week pledged to add 150 new employees to aid its channel efforts and to overcome distractions created

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Sci/Tech

Salad oil may fuel hydrogen car of future Researchers yesterday unveiled a new fuel: clean, green and also good in a salad dressing. Sunflower oil is light in taste and rich in vitamin E, and Valerie Dupont of the University of Leeds believes it could

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Sci/Tech

NASA funds extension of Mars Odyssey orbiter mission NASA has extended the mission of the Mars Odyssey orbiter which has been studying and mapping the Red Planet since early 2002 as well as serving as a relay for data from the surface rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

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Sci/Tech

Arsenal sets unbeaten streak record Arsenal set the new English soccer standard Wednesday with a 3-0 win over the Blackburn Rovers at Highbury, eclipsing the old mark of 42 (21 wins, 21 ties) held by Nottingham Forest since 1978.

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Bryant Prosecutors Say Some Data Tainted (AP) AP - Two days before the start of jury selection in Kobe Bryant's rape case, prosecutors charged that crucial DNA evidence the defense had hoped to use to prove the NBA star's innocence might have been contaminated.

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NFL Expresses Interest in Anaheim Franchise (AP) AP - The NFL has approached Anaheim city officials about possibly building a stadium complex for an NFL franchise that could begin play as soon as 2008.

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Sports

Australia planning to buy long-range stealth cruise missiles: report (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia will become the first country in the Southeast Asia Pacific region to be armed with long-range stealth cruise missiles in a move that could irritate its neighbours, a newspaper said Thursday.

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NL Wrap: Patterson's Homer Keeps Cubs in NL Wildcard Lead NEW YORK (Reuters) - Corey Patterson clubbed a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League (NL) Wednesday.

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Gates Contributes to Stem Cell Campaign (AP) AP - Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates contributed #36;400,000 to the campaign backing a California ballot measure that would make billions of dollars available for human embryonic stem cell research and cloning projects in the state, according to campaign records.

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Sci/Tech

Alien Catfish Species Found in N.J. Canal (AP) AP - An alien species of catfish has been caught in the Delaware Raritan Canal, prompting fears among environmental officials that the voracious predator could devastate native catfish, sunfish and some sturgeon populations the way it has in southeastern states.

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Sci/Tech

PC users happier--especially with Apple, Dell Customer satisfaction with home computers reaches three-year peak, with highest marks for Apple and Dell, survey says.

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UPDATE 3-Gambro sells US kidney clinics unit to DaVita Swedish kidney-care company Gambro AB (GAMBa.ST: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday it signed a \$3.05 billion deal to sell its US clinics

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Japan Trade Surplus Expands Again in July (AP) AP - Japan's trade surplus expanded for the 13th straight month in July due to rising exports of automobiles and high-technology products to Asia, the United States and Europe.

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Japan Stocks Firm on Optimism on Oil Fall TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.37 percent in early trade on Thursday as investors bought exporters such as Canon Inc. after a fall in oil prices boosted confidence over the U.S. economy and lifted Wall Street stocks.

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NASA Extends Mars Odyssey Orbiter Mission (AP) AP - NASA has extended the mission of the Mars Odyssey orbiter which has been studying and mapping the Red Planet since early 2002 as well as serving as a relay for data from the surface rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

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Crude Oil Little Changed After 3.9 Plunge on Gasoline Supply Crude oil futures were little changed, after plunging 3.9 percent yesterday, the biggest decline in almost three months, as a government report showed that US gasoline supplies were higher than expected.

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Business

Profits rise as AGL flags NZ sale Australian Gas Light Company has flagged the sale of its stake in New Zealand #39;s NGC Holdings, after the Australian energy retailer today reported an 18.

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Business

Former Enron official pleads guilty to securities fraud A former top Enron official pleaded guilty Wednesday to securities fraud and agreed to cooperate fully with the ongoing criminal investigation of Enron #39;scollapse.

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Business

Pinewood studios maiden profit jumps British film studio Pinewood Shepperton, home to James Bond and Harry Potter films, has posted a 31.6 percent gain in its maiden half-year profit report and says it is confident on prospects for the full year.

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Business

Shell #39;faces \$1.5bn Nigeria bill #39; Nigeria #39;s Senate is reportedly to ask a Shell unit to pay \$1.5bn (0.84bn) compensation to oilfield communities for environmental damage.

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Business

US Awards Airliner Antimissile Contracts Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and BAE Systems PLC (BA.L: Quote, Profile, Research) were tapped by the Bush administration on Wednesday to develop

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Business

Overtime rules may affect 7.3M New federal rules governing overtime pay went into effect Monday. USA TODAY workplace reporter Stephanie Armour explains how the rules will affect some workers.

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Reports Show a Mixed View of Economy Factory orders for costly manufactured goods in July recorded the biggest gain in four months. New-homes sales, meanwhile, slid, according to a pair of reports that offered a mixed picture of economic activity.

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Business

Boldly going where no chips have gone before Paris - One of the last frontiers of semiconductor technology - environments where electronic devices have to run at high power, in fierce heat or at lethal doses of radiation - may be about to fall.

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Sci/Tech

Sinister new worm turns PCs into peeping toms An internet security company has discovered a sinister computer worm that turns people #39;s machines into peeping toms, secretly recording everything they see and hear.

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Sci/Tech

Scientists Say Sunoil Could Power Cars, Homes British scientists say they have found a new, greener way to power cars and homes using sunflower oil, a commodity more commonly used for cooking fries.

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Sci/Tech

Study: Americans happier with their PCs US consumers are happier with their PC purchases than they have been in the past three years, with Apple Computer and Dell pleasing them most, according to a report.

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Sci/Tech

In Crocodile Evolution, the Bite Came Before the Body The creature, named Junggarsuchus sloani, was a three-foot-long one-meter-long sphenosuchianone of a class of small, slender, land-dwelling crocodilians that lived from about 230 million to 150 million years ago.

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New turn in Yahoo tussle with France over Nazi items Yahoo #39;s face-off with France over Nazi paraphernalia took its latest twist Monday, with a federal appeals court reversing an earlier decision that found the First Amendment protected the Web portal from legal action over the issue in the United States.

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IOC Ignores Snub, but Israel Stands Tall HE was the brown-eyed windsurfer with a gentle waviness to his thick hair, perched last night atop a medal stand, struggling to keep his tin voice on key as he sang a national anthem called quot;The Hope.

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From shock winner to dignified loser, Gardner leaves stage a true <b>...</b> The man who beat the man they said was the greatest wrestler the world has ever known felt his own tug of mortality here yesterday, in a grey building on a scorching, rubbish-strewn hillside of broken-down houses and a stray goat.

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Campbell throws rivals a curve ball Going into territory that Merlene Ottey, Grace Jackson and Juliet Cuthbert could never quite reach, Veronica Campbell gave Jamaica their first women #39;s sprint gold medal in last night #39;s 200 metres final.

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BA directors to help staff cope with holiday rush at Heathrow Rod Eddington, the chief executive of British Airways, and 11 of his fellow directors will be working at Heathrow airport over the Bank Holiday weekend as part of a desperate

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Kuwait minister assures release of Indian hostages NEW DELHI: Kuwait is working closely with Iraqi authorities to ensure the safe and expeditious release of three Indians abducted in Iraq, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Sabah al-Salem al Sabah said on Wednesday.

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News in Brief Pope John Paul II presided at a special prayer service Wednesday for an icon he is returning to Russia, expressing his hopes that the gesture will improve relations between Roman Catholics and Russian Orthodox Christians.

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Rangers lose Love match Another of Roman Abramovich #39;s football investments paid handsomely last night, unfortunately for Rangers whose plunge from fat cats of Scottish football to poor relations of the European game

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Hamm says he wouldn #39;t want to share all-around gold Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm said Wednesday he would prefer not to share his gold medal with South Korea #39;s Yang Tae-young despite a judging mistake that ultimately cost Yang the gold.

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Juninho tries on Larsson #39;s No 7 shirt For a small man, he looks as though he will wear it lightly. No sooner had Juninho completed his protracted move from Middlsbrough to Celtic - he has signed a two-year contract, subject to

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Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric returns home as fighting rages in Najaf Hoping to end weeks of fighting in Najaf, Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric unexpectedly returned home from Britain on Wednesday armed with a new peace initiative and a call for Iraqis across the country to march on the holy city to demand an

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Gyurcsany named as next Hungarian PM Millionaire businessman Ferenc Gyurcsany has been nominated by Hungary #39;s ruling Socialist Party as the next premier, Kossuth Radio said Wednesday.

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Applying the Geneva Convention The veteran guardians of the wall, who are called at all times to rally round the hasbara flag when the enemy once again brings up the anti-Israel canard regarding the application of the

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