SetFit/ag_news · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 100 1.01k	label int64 0 3	label_text stringclasses 4 values
Pope returns icon to Russia Pope John Paul, aiming to improve ties with Russia #39;s Orthodox Church and possibly pave the way for a papal trip, has sent an icon dear to Russians on its way back to Moscow after nearly a century in the West.	0	World
Jones in Long-Jump Final; Johnson Falters (AP) AP - Marion Jones made a quiet debut, drawing a smattering of applause while advancing to the long jump final. Allen Johnson attracted the eyes of the entire Olympic Stadium, for all the wrong reasons.	1	Sports
Oracle says its software gaining on rival SAP San Francisco, December 7: Oracle Corp on Monday said it believes its business software applications, an area that has lagged the rest of the company, are gaining ground against market leader SAP AG of Germany.	2	Business
Justice Dept. Cracks Down Internet Crime (AP) AP - The FBI seized computers, software and equipment as part of an investigation into illegal sharing of copyrighted movies, music and games over an Internet "peer-to-peer" network, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Wednesday.	3	Sci/Tech
Squirrel Runs Circles Around Yanks, Tribe (AP) AP - This squirrelly newcomer caused quite a stir at Jacobs Field. A brown squirrel ran onto the field in the bottom of the third inning Wednesday night and ran circles around the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.	1	Sports
Raymond Advances to Pilot Pen Quarters (AP) AP - Lisa Raymond overcame a loss in the first set and beat Nadia Petrova 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Pilot Pen tournament.	1	Sports
NZ NGC Says Will End Merger Talks With Other Companies WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--NGC Holdings Ltd. (NGC.NZ), a New Zealand gas distribution and metering concern, Thursday said it will end ongoing merger discussions with fellow energy companies following a decision	2	Business
Harry Potter boosts Pinewood #39;s profits The films Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the latest Harry Potter helped take Pinewood Shepperton #39;s half-year profits to a record 6.	2	Business
Shell hit by \$1.5bn oil pollution claim from Nigerian Senate Shell, the beleaguered oil giant, has been asked by Nigeria #39;s Senate to pay \$1.5bn (830m) compensation to communities affected by oil pollution in the country.	2	Business
Jurassic croc had a deathly bite A rare fossil from the age of the dinosaurs is shedding light on when the modern crocodile first evolved a skull strong enough to keep hold of its prey during the dismembering #39;death roll #39;.	3	Sci/Tech
Sistani to Lead Peace Mission to Embattled Iraq City Iraq #39;s top Shi #39;ite cleric was due to travel to Najaf on Thursday after making a surprise return to the country to try to end bitter fighting creeping ever closer to the city #39;s holiest shrine.	0	World
Playboy to open club in Shanghai Playboy Enterprises, the adult entertainment company, has announced plans to open a private members club in Shanghai even though the company #39;s flagship men #39;s magazine is still banned in China.	2	Business
Firms chosen to build anti-missile defense Teams led by BAE Systems and Northrup Grumman were chosen Wednesday to build and test prototypes for anti-missile systems to defend US commercial planes against shoulder-fired rockets.	2	Business
NASA Mars Odyssey Begins Overtime After Successfull Mission NASA #39;s Mars Odyssey orbiter begins working overtime today after completing a prime mission that discovered vast supplies of frozen water, ran a safety check for future astronauts, and mapped surface textures and minerals all over Mars, among other feats.	3	Sci/Tech
Greek Fani Halkia wins women #39;s 400m hurdles gold Greece #39;s Fani Halkia captured the women #39;s 400m hurdles gold medal before a boisterous home crowd at the Olympic Games in Athens on August 25.	1	Sports
Roundup: Gardner upset in wrestling ATHENS - After suffering a stunning 4-1 overtime loss to Kazakhstan #39;s Georgiy Tsurtsumia in the men #39;s Greco-Roman super heavyweight semifinals, defending champion Rulon Gardner came back to win the bronze medal today by defeating Sajad Barzi of Iran, 3	1	Sports
SA elect to bat in third one-dayer Dambulla, Sri Lanka - South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and decided to bat in the third one-dayer against Sri Lanka here on Wednesday.	1	Sports
Terrorist shadow over twin disasters Details of the almost simultaneous crashes of two Russian airliners began to emerge yesterday - shocking a public that has become largely inured to terrorism and prompting fears of further attacks.	0	World
U.S. Searches Computers, Trying to Disrupt Piracy Federal authorities conducted six searches Wednesday in an attempt to disrupt a network used to trade copies of movies, software, games, and music.	3	Sci/Tech
Europe Opens Another Inquiry Involving Microsoft The European Commission has opened an investigation into the planned acquisition of ContentGuard Holdings by Microsoft and Time Warner.	3	Sci/Tech
For Graphic Artists, Back to the Barricades This is a big year for protest graphics, one of the oldest art forms in the United States and one that is booming thanks in part to the Internet.	3	Sci/Tech
Padres Paste Slumping Mets 4-0 (AP) AP - Brian Lawrence escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and allowed just four hits the rest of the way Wednesday night, pitching the San Diego Padres to a 4-0 victory over the slumping New York Mets.	1	Sports
Lenovo confirms talks with #39;major #39; IT company China #39;s Lenovo Group is in talks with a major international IT company regarding an acquisition, it said in an announcement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Tuesday.	2	Business
Packers Sign Former Giants Defensive End (AP) AP - Unable to develop a pass-rusher opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the Green Bay Packers signed former New York Giants defensive end Kenny Holmes on Wednesday.	1	Sports
Tigers Squeak by Slumping White Sox 5-4 (AP) AP - Marcus Thames drove in three runs, and Nate Robertson pitched eight strong innings in the Detroit Tigers' 5-4 victory over the slumping Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.	1	Sports
SCO, BayStar Fight Appears Over (Ziff Davis) Ziff Davis - A SCO spokesman says the company has completed its arranged settlement with its former financial backer without fanfare.	3	Sci/Tech
N.H.L. Talks Up World Cup, Not Much Else The league and the players' association met for talks Wednesday, but tried to keep the focus on the World Cup of Hockey.	1	Sports
6 Employees From CACI International, Titan Referred for Prosecution Report alleges interrogators from two firms used methods that were not concurrent with military practice.	2	Business
China's Revolutionary Tactic: Bailout Despite a country's commitment to marketplace logic, some firms are simply too big and too entangled to be allowed to fold.	2	Business
For Mutual Funds, First the Slap. Now Comes the Pinch. A year after the mutual fund industry began to clamp down on some abuses, critics say that other questionable practices that cost investors much more remain untouched.	2	Business
Dude, Where's My Resale Value? Detroits big rebates and interest-free financing deals have strengthened car sales for the last three years. But they have also eroded the resale value of many American automotive brands.	2	Business
U.S. Wins \$1.9 Million in Back Pay for Janitors The Department of Labor reached a settlement with a contractor for the Target Corporation had not paid overtime to hundreds of immigrant janitors who often worked seven nights a week.	2	Business
Built for America, Sold (Cheaply) to the World Billions of dollars worth of global telecommunications networks bought or built by United States investors now belong to Chinese, Indian and other non-American companies that have snapped them up for a fraction of their cost.	2	Business
Update 1: Medical Device Approvals Keep Stocks Up Medical device and drug company stocks closed up Wednesday after being in the spotlight after two device companies reported Food and Drug Administration approvals for products, but shares of Cyberonics Inc.	2	Business
UPDATE 2-Fed will be flexible, oil hits growth, Guynn says A recent soft spot in US growth will likely prove temporary and should not alter a Federal Reserve plan to gradually raise interest rates, Atlanta Fed Bank President Jack Guynn said on Wednesday.	2	Business
Reports Show a Mixed View of Economy (AP) AP - 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
Mullin Confident About Warriors' Future (AP) AP - Despite losing his most dependable big man, Chris Mullin believes his offseason moves will help the Golden State Warriors end their long playoff drought.	1	Sports
Ortiz Powers Red Sox Past Blue Jays 11-5 (AP) AP - David Ortiz homered twice and drove in four runs, and Curt Schilling earned his 16th win in the Boston Red Sox's 11-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.	1	Sports
Clean houses 'may trigger asthma' Parents who keep a clean house may unwittingly be developing asthma in their children, research suggests.	0	World
Optus, Vodafone Australia to Share Wireless Network (Correct) SingTel Optus Ltd. and Vodafone Australia will share a high-speed wireless phone network, matching a similar alliance between their main rivals.	2	Business
Australian Media Giant Posts Earnings Jump Australian media empire Publishing amp; Broadcasting Ltd. reported Thursday a 75 percent jump in earnings for the fiscal year ending June 30, thanks to a strong economy and a rebound in advertising revenue.	2	Business
US Searches Computers, Trying to Disrupt Piracy ederal authorities searched computers in six locations yesterday in an attempt to disrupt a network used to trade copies of movies, software, games and music.	3	Sci/Tech
Lanka claims \$5m for #39;cable damages #39; COLOMBO: Sri Lankan authorities tried to seize an Indian ship yesterday and sought \$5 million in damages, accusing it of breaking the undersea fibre optic cable that connects the tropical island #39;s main Internet links to the rest of the world.	3	Sci/Tech
Google to Bloggers: Get Your Ad Share Google Inc. is making it easier for Webloggers to earn extra cash, while expanding the reach of its search-based advertising. Its Blogger service this week put out a call to bloggers to share in advertising	3	Sci/Tech
Friendly Audience for Hamm aul Hamm was no longer in Athens last night but instead was on the set of quot;Late Show With David Letterman quot; carrying his three Olympic medals.	1	Sports
Terror mystery haunts jet disasters Russian authorities struggled last night to explain how two passenger aircraft had apparently blown up simultaneously in midair on Tuesday night, killing all 89 people on board.	0	World
Mark Thatcher under house arrest Mark Thatcher remains under house arrest in South Africa after being accused of involvement in an alleged coup in Equatorial Guinea.	0	World
Khartoum agrees to bigger peace force The Sudanese government bowed to international pressure yesterday and agreed to allow more foreign troops in the stricken Darfur region.	0	World
Racist attacks cast shadow over French liberation celebrations Paris partied to celebrate the 60th anniversary of liberation from Nazi occupation yesterday, but its mayor warned that, faced with a recent surge in racist and anti-semitic attacks, the city needed to recover the courage it had shown in the summer of 1944	0	World
Suspected File-Sharing 'Hubs' Raided After a months-long sting operation, FBI agents raided residences in Texas, Wisconsin and New York, bringing the Justice Department into campaign against illegal downloads. <FONT face="verdana,MS Sans Serif,arial,helvetica" size="-2"\ color="#666666"><B>-The Washington Post</B></FONT>	3	Sci/Tech
E.U. Firm Probes Area Firm's Ownership A Bethesda company owned by Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc. is the subject of an investigation into whether the firm's software will give the two media giants a monopoly in copyright protection. <FONT face="verdana,MS Sans Serif,arial,helvetica" size="-2"\ color="#666666"><B>-The Washington Post</B></FONT>	3	Sci/Tech
Magazines Use Online Ads As Selling Point Vogue appears to be at the vanguard of a revived effort by publishers to extend the usefulness of their products online.	3	Sci/Tech
Venture Capital's Transparency Trouble Among the tables, charts and bottom-line numbers in venture capital firm Grotech Capital Group's quarterly report to its investors is what Managing General Partner Frank A. Adams calls his "heart of hearts," a narrative of his gut feelings about companies that Grotech of Timonium has invested in. The essay includes Adams's candid opinions about the companies' top executives and their chance of succeeding.	3	Sci/Tech
Nepal talks hopes KATHMANDU: Nepal #39;s ruling coalition expressed hope yesterday for peace talks to end eight years of war as the capital returned to normal after Maoist rebels who control much of the countryside lifted a blockade.	0	World
Speculators driving up oil prices says Kuwait NEW DELHI: Kuwait #39;s foreign minister said yesterday that Middle East oil exporters are producing at maximum capacity to stabilise prices that are being driven up by speculators from outside the region.	0	World
#39;Problems with Musharraf but US needs him #39; WASHINGTON: Highlighting the dilemma facing US policymakers, Vice Chairman of the 9/11 Commission Lee Hamilton has said while US had quot;problems quot; with Pakistan President Musharraf on issues of terrorism, nuclear proliferation and lack of democracy, it	0	World
Suspected File-Sharing 'Hubs' Raided (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Federal agents yesterday took their first steps to go after individuals who illegally trade copyrighted music and videos over the Internet, seizing computers, software and related equipment at five homes around the country.	3	Sci/Tech
Venture by Time Warner And Microsoft Unsettles E.U. (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - A Bethesda company owned by Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc. is the subject of a European Union investigation into whether the company's software will give the two media giants a monopoly in copyright protection.	3	Sci/Tech
Giants Overcome Marlins 6-5 in 10 Innings (AP) AP - Rudy Seanez intentionally walked Barry Bonds to load the bases in the 10th inning, then couldn't throw a strike when he tried. Pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski walked on four pitches to force in the tiebreaking run, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Florida Marlins 6-5 on Wednesday night.	1	Sports
Indians Squirrel Away 4-3 Win Over Yanks (AP) AP - Coco Crisp caused more commotion than a runaway squirrel, diving headfirst for a go-ahead bunt single in the eighth inning that sent Cleveland over the New York Yankees 4-3 Wednesday night, ending the Indians' nine-game losing streak.	1	Sports
Cards Score in Ninth to Top Reds 6-5 (AP) AP - Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds hit two-runs homers, and pinch-runner Reggie Sanders scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning on Joe Valentine's wild pitch to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 Wednesday night.	1	Sports
Oldest Panda Raised in Captivity Dies (AP) AP - The oldest panda raised in captivity has died at an eastern China zoo at the age of 33, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.	3	Sci/Tech
Canada Beats U.S. 3-1 in Cup Hockey (AP) AP - Vincent Lecavalier, Joe Sakic and Brad Richards scored in the second period to lead Canada to a 3-1 over the United States in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition game Wednesday night.	1	Sports
Asian Stocks Up on Outlook, Lower Oil SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian shares vaulted ahead on Thursday as lower oil prices and strong trade data in Japan boosted investor confidence that global economic growth could be sustained.	2	Business
2 Companies Get Contracts to Protect Jets Teams led by BAE Systems and the Northrop Grumman Corporation were chosen Wednesday to build and test prototypes for antimissile systems to defend commercial planes against shoulder-fired rockets.	2	Business
Boeing lands Singapore order Boeing regained some ground in its battle with Airbus yesterday when it won a \$7.35billion order from Singapore Airlines for 31 aircraft.	2	Business
For Mutual Funds, First the Slap. Now Comes the Pinch. oxes of documents, many bearing the names of well-known mutual fund companies, line the halls of Eliot Spitzer #39;s offices in downtown Manhattan.	2	Business
Australia amp; New Zealand Don Huse, chief executive of Auckland International Airport Ltd., speaks on a teleconference from Auckland about the company #39;s fiscal full-year profit reported today.	2	Business
UPDATE 1-Cirrus Logic cuts 7 percent of staff Cirrus Logic Inc. (CRUS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , a maker of microchips for consumer electronics and other applications, on Wednesday said it had cut its work force by	2	Business
Sprint Signs Cable VoIP Partnership with Mediacom Sprint will provide an outsourced VoIP telephone service to Mediacom Communications, the eighth largest cable operator in the US serving 2.7 million homes in 23 states.	3	Sci/Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Athens, Greece -- Debbie Ferguson carried the blue and yellow Bahamian flag during the parade of nations in the Olympic opening ceremony, then stood proudly Wednesday night as it flew in Olympic Stadium to honor her bronze medal in the 200 meters.	1	Sports
Sudanese Official Asserts African Peacekeepers Aren #39;t Needed A top Sudanese official said Wednesday that his country did not need African Union peacekeepers to protect civilians in its troubled western Darfur region but	0	World
Premier Yu makes rare stopover in Japan Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday made a rare stopover on Japanese soil, thanks to Typhoon Aere, prompting quot;grave concern quot; from China over the unexpected trip #39;s diplomatic overtones.	0	World
New York bans rally against Bush New York bans a huge rally against President Bush before the Republican Convention on environmental grounds.	0	World
Abuses at Prison Tied to Officers in Intelligence A high-level Army investigation has found that military intelligence interrogators played a major role in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.	0	World
Scandal Forces Interrogators to Explain Military and civilian interrogators in Iraq who have long relied on the element of surprise and fear of the unknown find themselves having to explain their methods.	0	World
Thatcher's Son Charged in Coup Plot 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
Venture by Time Warner And Microsoft Unsettles EU A Bethesda company owned by Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc. is the subject of a European Union investigation into whether the company #39;s software will give the two media giants a monopoly in copyright protection.	2	Business
Motorola, DoCoMo to make 3G phones for business use TOKYO: Motorola and NTT DoCoMo, Japan #39;s top mobile phone operator, said yesterday they would jointly develop third-generation (3G) handsets, giving Motorola a way into a market largely out of reach for foreign manufacturers.	3	Sci/Tech
Suspected File-Sharing #39;Hubs #39; Raided Federal agents yesterday took their first steps to go after individuals who illegally trade copyrighted music and videos over the Internet, seizing computers, software and related equipment at five homes around the country.	3	Sci/Tech
Use of hot wafers #39; are one step closer to becoming reality 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
Aussies to take on Dutch in hockey finals Defending champions Netherlands will meet Australia in the finals of the men #39;s hockey event at the Athens Olympic Games. While Australia beat Spain, Netherlands got the better of Germany to qualify for the finals.	1	Sports
McDonald #39;s salads break Olympic record US fastfood giant McDonald #39;s says that sales at its three restaurants around Olympic venues in Greece have so far exceeded its expectations, according to CRIENGLISH.	1	Sports
* Hopes rise for end to bloody conflict Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most senior Shia cleric in Iraq, unexpectedly returned to his homeland yesterday after nearly three weeks overseas during which anarchy has rapidly taken hold.	0	World
Village missing after landslide A landslide triggered by Typhoon Aere buried a mountain village in northern Taiwan yesterday, with the fate of at least 20 residents unknown, the government #39;s disaster relief center said.	0	World
New polio outbreak adds to woes of Sudanese refugees Polio, which can paralyze small children, has become the latest threat to refugees already struggling with famine and disease in the camps of Darfur.	0	World
Human gland evolved from gills The human parathyroid gland, which regulates calcium levels, probably evolved from fish gills, say researchers.	3	Sci/Tech
Hubble spots 'youngest galaxy' The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted what may be the youngest galaxy ever seen in the Universe.	3	Sci/Tech
Sky count to track orang numbers Helicopters flights are used to count endangered orang-utans in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo.	3	Sci/Tech
89 dead in twin Russian plane crashes, terror probed (AFP) AFP - Russia observed a day of mourning for the 89 people killed when two Russian passenger jets crashed almost simultaneously hundreds of miles apart after taking off from the same Moscow airport, raising new fears of terrorist attacks.	0	World
NL Wrap: Patterson 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
Indians Squirrel Away 4-3 Win Over Yanks CLEVELAND - Coco Crisp caused more commotion than a runaway squirrel, diving headfirst for a go-ahead bunt single in the eighth inning that sent Cleveland over the New York Yankees 4-3 Wednesday night, ending the Indians' nine-game losing streak. The Indians rallied for two runs in the eighth, providing an entertaining end to the 30,605 fans who spent much of the evening cheering for a squirrel...	0	World
Charges Possible for Dave Matthews Band CHICAGO - Authorities were considering criminal charges Wednesday against the Dave Matthews Band and one of its tour bus drivers for allegedly dumping human waste from a bus into the Chicago River, dousing a tour boat filled with passengers. The announcement came a day after the state sued the band and driver Stefan Wohl, accusing them of violating state water pollution and public nuisance laws...	0	World
UPDATE 1-Potlatch to sell \$457.5 mln in assets to Ainsworth Forest products company Potlatch Corp. (PCH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it agreed to sell certain plants and assets to Canada-based Ainsworth Lumber Co.	2	Business
Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Rise, Dollar Up Against Yen Tokyo stocks rose Thursday morning, following earlier gains by US shares on Wall Street. The dollar was up against the Japanese yen.	2	Business
Microsoft Dismisses British Objections to Anti-Linux Ad Microsoft sources said Wednesday that a British regulatory agency #39;s objections to an anti-Linux advertisement published as part of its controversial quot;Get the Facts quot; campaign are moot because the ad is no longer running.	3	Sci/Tech
COURT HEARING Abuse Judge May Give Immunity for Testimony by <b>...</b> The judge in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse case said Tuesday that he might award immunity from prosecution in exchange for the testimony of several senior military	0	World
Twins Make Short Work of Rangers (AP) AP - Minnesota didn't hit Texas starter Ryan Drese very hard, the Twins just hit him a lot in an 8-5 victory Wednesday night.	1	Sports
Indian state govt under cloud as deadly riots probed (AFP) AFP - Police and officials in Gujarat are slowly starting to reveal how Hindu nationalists ruling the western Indian state either turned a blind eye or deliberately inflamed deadly Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002.	0	World
Campaigning Bush plays up US diplomacy (AFP) AFP - Amid wilting election-year support for the military campaign in Iraq, US President George W. Bush is distancing himself from the go-it-alone "war president" image he once embraced with relish.	0	World

Pope returns icon to Russia Pope John Paul, aiming to improve ties with Russia #39;s Orthodox Church and possibly pave the way for a papal trip, has sent an icon dear to Russians on its way back to Moscow after nearly a century in the West.

0

World

Jones in Long-Jump Final; Johnson Falters (AP) AP - Marion Jones made a quiet debut, drawing a smattering of applause while advancing to the long jump final. Allen Johnson attracted the eyes of the entire Olympic Stadium, for all the wrong reasons.

1

Sports

Oracle says its software gaining on rival SAP San Francisco, December 7: Oracle Corp on Monday said it believes its business software applications, an area that has lagged the rest of the company, are gaining ground against market leader SAP AG of Germany.

2

Business

Justice Dept. Cracks Down Internet Crime (AP) AP - The FBI seized computers, software and equipment as part of an investigation into illegal sharing of copyrighted movies, music and games over an Internet "peer-to-peer" network, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Wednesday.

3

Sci/Tech

Squirrel Runs Circles Around Yanks, Tribe (AP) AP - This squirrelly newcomer caused quite a stir at Jacobs Field. A brown squirrel ran onto the field in the bottom of the third inning Wednesday night and ran circles around the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.

1

Sports

Raymond Advances to Pilot Pen Quarters (AP) AP - Lisa Raymond overcame a loss in the first set and beat Nadia Petrova 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Pilot Pen tournament.

1

Sports

NZ NGC Says Will End Merger Talks With Other Companies WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--NGC Holdings Ltd. (NGC.NZ), a New Zealand gas distribution and metering concern, Thursday said it will end ongoing merger discussions with fellow energy companies following a decision

2

Business

Harry Potter boosts Pinewood #39;s profits The films Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the latest Harry Potter helped take Pinewood Shepperton #39;s half-year profits to a record 6.

2

Business

Shell hit by \$1.5bn oil pollution claim from Nigerian Senate Shell, the beleaguered oil giant, has been asked by Nigeria #39;s Senate to pay \$1.5bn (830m) compensation to communities affected by oil pollution in the country.

2

Business

Jurassic croc had a deathly bite A rare fossil from the age of the dinosaurs is shedding light on when the modern crocodile first evolved a skull strong enough to keep hold of its prey during the dismembering #39;death roll #39;.

3

Sci/Tech

Sistani to Lead Peace Mission to Embattled Iraq City Iraq #39;s top Shi #39;ite cleric was due to travel to Najaf on Thursday after making a surprise return to the country to try to end bitter fighting creeping ever closer to the city #39;s holiest shrine.

0

World

Playboy to open club in Shanghai Playboy Enterprises, the adult entertainment company, has announced plans to open a private members club in Shanghai even though the company #39;s flagship men #39;s magazine is still banned in China.

2

Business

Firms chosen to build anti-missile defense Teams led by BAE Systems and Northrup Grumman were chosen Wednesday to build and test prototypes for anti-missile systems to defend US commercial planes against shoulder-fired rockets.

2

Business

NASA Mars Odyssey Begins Overtime After Successfull Mission NASA #39;s Mars Odyssey orbiter begins working overtime today after completing a prime mission that discovered vast supplies of frozen water, ran a safety check for future astronauts, and mapped surface textures and minerals all over Mars, among other feats.

3

Sci/Tech

Greek Fani Halkia wins women #39;s 400m hurdles gold Greece #39;s Fani Halkia captured the women #39;s 400m hurdles gold medal before a boisterous home crowd at the Olympic Games in Athens on August 25.

1

Sports

Roundup: Gardner upset in wrestling ATHENS - After suffering a stunning 4-1 overtime loss to Kazakhstan #39;s Georgiy Tsurtsumia in the men #39;s Greco-Roman super heavyweight semifinals, defending champion Rulon Gardner came back to win the bronze medal today by defeating Sajad Barzi of Iran, 3

1

Sports

SA elect to bat in third one-dayer Dambulla, Sri Lanka - South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and decided to bat in the third one-dayer against Sri Lanka here on Wednesday.

1

Sports

Terrorist shadow over twin disasters Details of the almost simultaneous crashes of two Russian airliners began to emerge yesterday - shocking a public that has become largely inured to terrorism and prompting fears of further attacks.

0

World

U.S. Searches Computers, Trying to Disrupt Piracy Federal authorities conducted six searches Wednesday in an attempt to disrupt a network used to trade copies of movies, software, games, and music.

3

Sci/Tech

Europe Opens Another Inquiry Involving Microsoft The European Commission has opened an investigation into the planned acquisition of ContentGuard Holdings by Microsoft and Time Warner.

3

Sci/Tech

For Graphic Artists, Back to the Barricades This is a big year for protest graphics, one of the oldest art forms in the United States and one that is booming thanks in part to the Internet.

3

Sci/Tech

Padres Paste Slumping Mets 4-0 (AP) AP - Brian Lawrence escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and allowed just four hits the rest of the way Wednesday night, pitching the San Diego Padres to a 4-0 victory over the slumping New York Mets.

1

Sports

Lenovo confirms talks with #39;major #39; IT company China #39;s Lenovo Group is in talks with a major international IT company regarding an acquisition, it said in an announcement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

2

Business

Packers Sign Former Giants Defensive End (AP) AP - Unable to develop a pass-rusher opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the Green Bay Packers signed former New York Giants defensive end Kenny Holmes on Wednesday.

1

Sports

Tigers Squeak by Slumping White Sox 5-4 (AP) AP - Marcus Thames drove in three runs, and Nate Robertson pitched eight strong innings in the Detroit Tigers' 5-4 victory over the slumping Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

1

Sports

SCO, BayStar Fight Appears Over (Ziff Davis) Ziff Davis - A SCO spokesman says the company has completed its arranged settlement with its former financial backer without fanfare.

3

Sci/Tech

N.H.L. Talks Up World Cup, Not Much Else The league and the players' association met for talks Wednesday, but tried to keep the focus on the World Cup of Hockey.

1

Sports

6 Employees From CACI International, Titan Referred for Prosecution Report alleges interrogators from two firms used methods that were not concurrent with military practice.

2

Business

China's Revolutionary Tactic: Bailout Despite a country's commitment to marketplace logic, some firms are simply too big and too entangled to be allowed to fold.

2

Business

For Mutual Funds, First the Slap. Now Comes the Pinch. A year after the mutual fund industry began to clamp down on some abuses, critics say that other questionable practices that cost investors much more remain untouched.

2

Business

Dude, Where's My Resale Value? Detroits big rebates and interest-free financing deals have strengthened car sales for the last three years. But they have also eroded the resale value of many American automotive brands.

2

Business

U.S. Wins \$1.9 Million in Back Pay for Janitors The Department of Labor reached a settlement with a contractor for the Target Corporation had not paid overtime to hundreds of immigrant janitors who often worked seven nights a week.

2

Business

Built for America, Sold (Cheaply) to the World Billions of dollars worth of global telecommunications networks bought or built by United States investors now belong to Chinese, Indian and other non-American companies that have snapped them up for a fraction of their cost.

2

Business

Update 1: Medical Device Approvals Keep Stocks Up Medical device and drug company stocks closed up Wednesday after being in the spotlight after two device companies reported Food and Drug Administration approvals for products, but shares of Cyberonics Inc.

2

Business

UPDATE 2-Fed will be flexible, oil hits growth, Guynn says A recent soft spot in US growth will likely prove temporary and should not alter a Federal Reserve plan to gradually raise interest rates, Atlanta Fed Bank President Jack Guynn said on Wednesday.

2

Business

Reports Show a Mixed View of Economy (AP) AP - 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

Mullin Confident About Warriors' Future (AP) AP - Despite losing his most dependable big man, Chris Mullin believes his offseason moves will help the Golden State Warriors end their long playoff drought.

1

Sports

Ortiz Powers Red Sox Past Blue Jays 11-5 (AP) AP - David Ortiz homered twice and drove in four runs, and Curt Schilling earned his 16th win in the Boston Red Sox's 11-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

1

Sports

Clean houses 'may trigger asthma' Parents who keep a clean house may unwittingly be developing asthma in their children, research suggests.

0

World

Optus, Vodafone Australia to Share Wireless Network (Correct) SingTel Optus Ltd. and Vodafone Australia will share a high-speed wireless phone network, matching a similar alliance between their main rivals.

2

Business

Australian Media Giant Posts Earnings Jump Australian media empire Publishing amp; Broadcasting Ltd. reported Thursday a 75 percent jump in earnings for the fiscal year ending June 30, thanks to a strong economy and a rebound in advertising revenue.

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Business

US Searches Computers, Trying to Disrupt Piracy ederal authorities searched computers in six locations yesterday in an attempt to disrupt a network used to trade copies of movies, software, games and music.

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Sci/Tech

Lanka claims \$5m for #39;cable damages #39; COLOMBO: Sri Lankan authorities tried to seize an Indian ship yesterday and sought \$5 million in damages, accusing it of breaking the undersea fibre optic cable that connects the tropical island #39;s main Internet links to the rest of the world.

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Sci/Tech

Google to Bloggers: Get Your Ad Share Google Inc. is making it easier for Webloggers to earn extra cash, while expanding the reach of its search-based advertising. Its Blogger service this week put out a call to bloggers to share in advertising

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Sci/Tech

Friendly Audience for Hamm aul Hamm was no longer in Athens last night but instead was on the set of quot;Late Show With David Letterman quot; carrying his three Olympic medals.

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Sports

Terror mystery haunts jet disasters Russian authorities struggled last night to explain how two passenger aircraft had apparently blown up simultaneously in midair on Tuesday night, killing all 89 people on board.

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World

Mark Thatcher under house arrest Mark Thatcher remains under house arrest in South Africa after being accused of involvement in an alleged coup in Equatorial Guinea.

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World

Khartoum agrees to bigger peace force The Sudanese government bowed to international pressure yesterday and agreed to allow more foreign troops in the stricken Darfur region.

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Racist attacks cast shadow over French liberation celebrations Paris partied to celebrate the 60th anniversary of liberation from Nazi occupation yesterday, but its mayor warned that, faced with a recent surge in racist and anti-semitic attacks, the city needed to recover the courage it had shown in the summer of 1944

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World

Suspected File-Sharing 'Hubs' Raided After a months-long sting operation, FBI agents raided residences in Texas, Wisconsin and New York, bringing the Justice Department into campaign against illegal downloads. -The Washington Post

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Sci/Tech

E.U. Firm Probes Area Firm's Ownership A Bethesda company owned by Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc. is the subject of an investigation into whether the firm's software will give the two media giants a monopoly in copyright protection. -The Washington Post

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Sci/Tech

Magazines Use Online Ads As Selling Point Vogue appears to be at the vanguard of a revived effort by publishers to extend the usefulness of their products online.

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Sci/Tech

Venture Capital's Transparency Trouble Among the tables, charts and bottom-line numbers in venture capital firm Grotech Capital Group's quarterly report to its investors is what Managing General Partner Frank A. Adams calls his "heart of hearts," a narrative of his gut feelings about companies that Grotech of Timonium has invested in. The essay includes Adams's candid opinions about the companies' top executives and their chance of succeeding.

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Sci/Tech

Nepal talks hopes KATHMANDU: Nepal #39;s ruling coalition expressed hope yesterday for peace talks to end eight years of war as the capital returned to normal after Maoist rebels who control much of the countryside lifted a blockade.

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World

Speculators driving up oil prices says Kuwait NEW DELHI: Kuwait #39;s foreign minister said yesterday that Middle East oil exporters are producing at maximum capacity to stabilise prices that are being driven up by speculators from outside the region.

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World

#39;Problems with Musharraf but US needs him #39; WASHINGTON: Highlighting the dilemma facing US policymakers, Vice Chairman of the 9/11 Commission Lee Hamilton has said while US had quot;problems quot; with Pakistan President Musharraf on issues of terrorism, nuclear proliferation and lack of democracy, it

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World

Suspected File-Sharing 'Hubs' Raided (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Federal agents yesterday took their first steps to go after individuals who illegally trade copyrighted music and videos over the Internet, seizing computers, software and related equipment at five homes around the country.

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Sci/Tech

Venture by Time Warner And Microsoft Unsettles E.U. (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - A Bethesda company owned by Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc. is the subject of a European Union investigation into whether the company's software will give the two media giants a monopoly in copyright protection.

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Sci/Tech

Giants Overcome Marlins 6-5 in 10 Innings (AP) AP - Rudy Seanez intentionally walked Barry Bonds to load the bases in the 10th inning, then couldn't throw a strike when he tried. Pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski walked on four pitches to force in the tiebreaking run, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Florida Marlins 6-5 on Wednesday night.

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Sports

Indians Squirrel Away 4-3 Win Over Yanks (AP) AP - Coco Crisp caused more commotion than a runaway squirrel, diving headfirst for a go-ahead bunt single in the eighth inning that sent Cleveland over the New York Yankees 4-3 Wednesday night, ending the Indians' nine-game losing streak.

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Sports

Cards Score in Ninth to Top Reds 6-5 (AP) AP - Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds hit two-runs homers, and pinch-runner Reggie Sanders scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning on Joe Valentine's wild pitch to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 Wednesday night.

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Sports

Oldest Panda Raised in Captivity Dies (AP) AP - The oldest panda raised in captivity has died at an eastern China zoo at the age of 33, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.

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Sci/Tech

Canada Beats U.S. 3-1 in Cup Hockey (AP) AP - Vincent Lecavalier, Joe Sakic and Brad Richards scored in the second period to lead Canada to a 3-1 over the United States in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition game Wednesday night.

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Sports

Asian Stocks Up on Outlook, Lower Oil SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian shares vaulted ahead on Thursday as lower oil prices and strong trade data in Japan boosted investor confidence that global economic growth could be sustained.

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Business

2 Companies Get Contracts to Protect Jets Teams led by BAE Systems and the Northrop Grumman Corporation were chosen Wednesday to build and test prototypes for antimissile systems to defend commercial planes against shoulder-fired rockets.

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Business

Boeing lands Singapore order Boeing regained some ground in its battle with Airbus yesterday when it won a \$7.35billion order from Singapore Airlines for 31 aircraft.

2

Business

For Mutual Funds, First the Slap. Now Comes the Pinch. oxes of documents, many bearing the names of well-known mutual fund companies, line the halls of Eliot Spitzer #39;s offices in downtown Manhattan.

2

Business

Australia amp; New Zealand Don Huse, chief executive of Auckland International Airport Ltd., speaks on a teleconference from Auckland about the company #39;s fiscal full-year profit reported today.

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Business

UPDATE 1-Cirrus Logic cuts 7 percent of staff Cirrus Logic Inc. (CRUS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , a maker of microchips for consumer electronics and other applications, on Wednesday said it had cut its work force by

2

Business

Sprint Signs Cable VoIP Partnership with Mediacom Sprint will provide an outsourced VoIP telephone service to Mediacom Communications, the eighth largest cable operator in the US serving 2.7 million homes in 23 states.

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Sci/Tech

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Athens, Greece -- Debbie Ferguson carried the blue and yellow Bahamian flag during the parade of nations in the Olympic opening ceremony, then stood proudly Wednesday night as it flew in Olympic Stadium to honor her bronze medal in the 200 meters.

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Sports

Sudanese Official Asserts African Peacekeepers Aren #39;t Needed A top Sudanese official said Wednesday that his country did not need African Union peacekeepers to protect civilians in its troubled western Darfur region but

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World

Premier Yu makes rare stopover in Japan Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday made a rare stopover on Japanese soil, thanks to Typhoon Aere, prompting quot;grave concern quot; from China over the unexpected trip #39;s diplomatic overtones.

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World

New York bans rally against Bush New York bans a huge rally against President Bush before the Republican Convention on environmental grounds.

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World

Abuses at Prison Tied to Officers in Intelligence A high-level Army investigation has found that military intelligence interrogators played a major role in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

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World

Scandal Forces Interrogators to Explain Military and civilian interrogators in Iraq who have long relied on the element of surprise and fear of the unknown find themselves having to explain their methods.

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World

Thatcher's Son Charged in Coup Plot 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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World

Venture by Time Warner And Microsoft Unsettles EU A Bethesda company owned by Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc. is the subject of a European Union investigation into whether the company #39;s software will give the two media giants a monopoly in copyright protection.

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Business

Motorola, DoCoMo to make 3G phones for business use TOKYO: Motorola and NTT DoCoMo, Japan #39;s top mobile phone operator, said yesterday they would jointly develop third-generation (3G) handsets, giving Motorola a way into a market largely out of reach for foreign manufacturers.

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Sci/Tech

Suspected File-Sharing #39;Hubs #39; Raided Federal agents yesterday took their first steps to go after individuals who illegally trade copyrighted music and videos over the Internet, seizing computers, software and related equipment at five homes around the country.

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Sci/Tech

Use of hot wafers #39; are one step closer to becoming reality 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

Aussies to take on Dutch in hockey finals Defending champions Netherlands will meet Australia in the finals of the men #39;s hockey event at the Athens Olympic Games. While Australia beat Spain, Netherlands got the better of Germany to qualify for the finals.

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Sports

McDonald #39;s salads break Olympic record US fastfood giant McDonald #39;s says that sales at its three restaurants around Olympic venues in Greece have so far exceeded its expectations, according to CRIENGLISH.

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Sports

* Hopes rise for end to bloody conflict Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most senior Shia cleric in Iraq, unexpectedly returned to his homeland yesterday after nearly three weeks overseas during which anarchy has rapidly taken hold.

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World

Village missing after landslide A landslide triggered by Typhoon Aere buried a mountain village in northern Taiwan yesterday, with the fate of at least 20 residents unknown, the government #39;s disaster relief center said.

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World

New polio outbreak adds to woes of Sudanese refugees Polio, which can paralyze small children, has become the latest threat to refugees already struggling with famine and disease in the camps of Darfur.

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World

Human gland evolved from gills The human parathyroid gland, which regulates calcium levels, probably evolved from fish gills, say researchers.

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Sci/Tech

Hubble spots 'youngest galaxy' The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted what may be the youngest galaxy ever seen in the Universe.

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Sci/Tech

Sky count to track orang numbers Helicopters flights are used to count endangered orang-utans in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo.

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Sci/Tech

89 dead in twin Russian plane crashes, terror probed (AFP) AFP - Russia observed a day of mourning for the 89 people killed when two Russian passenger jets crashed almost simultaneously hundreds of miles apart after taking off from the same Moscow airport, raising new fears of terrorist attacks.

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World

NL Wrap: Patterson 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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Sports

Indians Squirrel Away 4-3 Win Over Yanks CLEVELAND - Coco Crisp caused more commotion than a runaway squirrel, diving headfirst for a go-ahead bunt single in the eighth inning that sent Cleveland over the New York Yankees 4-3 Wednesday night, ending the Indians' nine-game losing streak. The Indians rallied for two runs in the eighth, providing an entertaining end to the 30,605 fans who spent much of the evening cheering for a squirrel...

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World

Charges Possible for Dave Matthews Band CHICAGO - Authorities were considering criminal charges Wednesday against the Dave Matthews Band and one of its tour bus drivers for allegedly dumping human waste from a bus into the Chicago River, dousing a tour boat filled with passengers. The announcement came a day after the state sued the band and driver Stefan Wohl, accusing them of violating state water pollution and public nuisance laws...

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World

UPDATE 1-Potlatch to sell \$457.5 mln in assets to Ainsworth Forest products company Potlatch Corp. (PCH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it agreed to sell certain plants and assets to Canada-based Ainsworth Lumber Co.

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Business

Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Rise, Dollar Up Against Yen Tokyo stocks rose Thursday morning, following earlier gains by US shares on Wall Street. The dollar was up against the Japanese yen.

2

Business

Microsoft Dismisses British Objections to Anti-Linux Ad Microsoft sources said Wednesday that a British regulatory agency #39;s objections to an anti-Linux advertisement published as part of its controversial quot;Get the Facts quot; campaign are moot because the ad is no longer running.

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Sci/Tech

COURT HEARING Abuse Judge May Give Immunity for Testimony by ... The judge in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse case said Tuesday that he might award immunity from prosecution in exchange for the testimony of several senior military

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World

Twins Make Short Work of Rangers (AP) AP - Minnesota didn't hit Texas starter Ryan Drese very hard, the Twins just hit him a lot in an 8-5 victory Wednesday night.

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Sports

Indian state govt under cloud as deadly riots probed (AFP) AFP - Police and officials in Gujarat are slowly starting to reveal how Hindu nationalists ruling the western Indian state either turned a blind eye or deliberately inflamed deadly Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002.

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World

Campaigning Bush plays up US diplomacy (AFP) AFP - Amid wilting election-year support for the military campaign in Iraq, US President George W. Bush is distancing himself from the go-it-alone "war president" image he once embraced with relish.

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World