SetFit/ag_news · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Wal-Mart Says August Sales May Be Little Changed (Update4) Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world #39;s largest retailer, said August sales will be little changed or rise as much as 2 percent, hurt by Hurricane Charley and sluggish demand for back-to-school products.	2	Business
KMart to Sell 18 Stores to Home Depot Retailer Kmart Holdings Corp. (KMRT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday finalized a deal to sell 18 of its stores to Home Depot Inc.	2	Business
Stocks Post Early Gains As Oil Is Steady Stocks are posting some early gains this morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 10 points in today #39;s early going. Advancing issues on the New York Stock Exchange hold a 4-3 lead over decliners.	2	Business
Siebel, EDS Ink BPO Deal Siebel Systems Inc. and Electronic Data Systems Corp. this week will announced a partnership to help companies avoid many of the costs and complexities of managing customer relationship management systems in enterprises.	3	Sci/Tech
Sudan Rejects Africa Troop Offer at Darfur Talks (Reuters) Reuters - Sudan rejected an offer of African troops\to disarm rebels in Darfur as peace talks began in Nigeria,\insisting it was capable of neutralizing both pro-government\and rebel militia fighting in the western region.	0	World
Ryu ends Chinese domination Ryu Seung Min of South Korea beats Wang Hao to take gold in the table tennis men's singles.	0	World
FedEx Raises Forecast, Stock Climbs NEW YORK (Reuters) - FedEx Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=FDX.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">FDX.N</A> on Monday raised its earnings forecast for the fiscal first quarter and full year, citing strong demand for its international express, ground and less-than-truckload services.	2	Business
Northern Cyprus trade ban lifted Turkish Cypriots begin trading with Greek Cypriots in the south for the first time in three decades.	0	World
Stocks Open Slightly Higher as Oil Eases NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks showed small gains at the open on Monday as easing oil prices alleviated investors' worry about the effect of higher fuel costs on corporations and consumers.	2	Business
Toys R us Posts Net Profit NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toys R Us Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=TOY.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">TOY.N</A>, which is considering getting out of the toy business, on Monday posted a second-quarter net profit, reversing a year-earlier loss, as it works to restructure its toy stores.	2	Business
Southwest Airlines to Cut 88 Flights NEW YORK (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=LUV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">LUV.N</A>, the largest U.S. discount carrier, on Monday said it will eliminate 88 scheduled flights in order to boost revenue by freeing up planes for more lucrative markets.	2	Business
Basketball: U.S. Men Cruise Past Angola, 89-53 ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. men's basketball team got their first comfortable win at the Olympic basketball tournament Monday, routing winless Angola 89-53 in their final preliminary round game.	1	Sports
Olympics: Greece Gets Instant New 'Immortal' ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece, shamed and angered by Olympic doping scandals, hailed an instant new heroine Monday when Athanasia Tsoumeleka won the women's 20 km walk to give the Olympic hosts their first athletics gold medal.	1	Sports
Owen Seeks New Challenge at Real Madrid LONDON (Reuters) - England striker Michael Owen says he is looking forward to a "nerve-racking" new challenge after leaving his comfortable life at Liverpool to join Real Madrid.	1	Sports
2006 Olympic Torch Relay Unveiled (AP) AP - The torch relay for the 2006 Turin Olympics will pass by the Leaning Tower of Pisa and go up Venice's Grand Canal in a route that will cover every province in Italy.	1	Sports
Scientists Say Risk of Water Wars Rising (Reuters) Reuters - The risk of wars being fought over\water is rising because of explosive global population growth\and widespread complacency, scientists said on Friday.	3	Sci/Tech
Audit of Venezuelan vote backs Chavez An audit of Venezuela #39;s referendum results has confirmed that President Hugo Chavez won the poll fairly and found no evidence to support the opposition #39;s claims of widespread vote-rigging, international observers said	2	Business
Columnist quits over plagiarism A BUSINESS columnist has resigned from The Seattle Times after admitting he plagiarised the work of other journalists. Stephen H Dunphy #39;s resignation followed an internal investigation, the paper #39;s executive editor said in a column published on Sunday.	2	Business
File-sharing software off legal hook In a judicial blow to the entertainment industry, a federal appeals court ruled that makers of two leading file-sharing programs are not legally liable for the songs, movies	3	Sci/Tech
Western Drought Is Grounding Boaters Sarah Huston and her husband, Tom, spend their afternoons catching catfish and bass on Roosevelt Lake. When it gets too hot, they cast their lines off a shaded dock or relax inside their air-conditioned boat.	3	Sci/Tech
Elber blow for Lyon Lyon have suffered a major blow with the news that Giovane Elber will out of action for several months. The Brazilian striker was thought to have injured his ankle in the game against Metz, but further scans revealed the problem to be far more serious.	1	Sports
Sudanese peace talks open African Union-sponsored peace talks between Sudan #39;s government and rebel leaders from its war-torn Darfur region began on Monday amid disagreement over the deployment of peacekeepers.	0	World
Afghanistan #39;s Karzai in Pakistan for terror talks Afghan President Hamid Karzai began a visit to neighbouring Pakistan on Monday to discuss cooperation in the battle against Islamic militants ahead of his October re-election bid.	0	World
Google Yields More Than Fistful of Dollars There's a new social class in town -- the "Google Riche" -- and while their newfound wealth is impressive, they might want to spend some time thinking about their new tax brackets and how to keep the sharks from taking a few bites off the top. <FONT face="verdana,MS Sans Serif,arial,helvetica" size="-2" color="#666666"><B>-washingtonpost.com</B></FONT>	3	Sci/Tech
Treasuries Lower in Data Vacuum (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. Treasuries prices were sucked\lower on Monday as speculators took advantage of a vacuum of\economic news to test the bearish side of recent tight trading\ranges.	2	Business
Cartel inquiry claims Amcor chief The boss of packaging company Amcor has quit his post amid a growing scandal over allegations of price-fixing. Amcor said chief executive Russell Jones - along with top divisional head Peter Sutton - had both resigned.	2	Business
Mission Fantastic to Mars -- Part 1 They made history in more ways than one. Not just because they landed two robot geologists on Mars. Not just because they provided conclusive evidence that water once flowed on the Red Planet. The JPL team that sent two rovers to Mars this year made history because they completed in 3 1/2 years what mission planners usually complete in seven.	3	Sci/Tech
Treasuries Lower in Data Vacuum NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries prices were sucked lower on Monday as speculators took advantage of a vacuum of economic news to test the bearish side of recent tight trading ranges.	2	Business
Sudan Rejects Africa Troop Offer at Darfur Talks ABUJA (Reuters) - Sudan rejected an offer of African troops to disarm rebels in Darfur as peace talks began in Nigeria, insisting it was capable of neutralizing both pro-government and rebel militia fighting in the western region.	0	World
YUKOS Cuts 2004 Forecast by 4.5 Percent MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian oil major YUKOS on Monday cut its oil output forecast for this year by 4.5 percent and said it would slash capital expenditure by more than a third due to its tax dispute with the state.	2	Business
Nepal Opposition Calls for Truce to End Blockade KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's main opposition party urged the government on Monday to call a unilateral cease-fire with Maoist rebels and seek peace talks to end a road blockade that has cut the capital off from the rest of the country.	0	World
Postal Service seals big SAP deal Enterprise software maker gets stamp of approval to replace letter carrier's 700,000-employee human resources system.	3	Sci/Tech
Wal-Mart Lowers August Sales Forecast Wal-Mart had previously expected same-store sales to grow between 2 percent and 4 percent during the month. Today it gave a range from flat to up 2 percent.	2	Business
ARM to buy designer of systems-on-a-chip With the acquisition of Artisan Components, ARM will get 340 employees, plus facilities in California and India.	3	Sci/Tech
Norway Searches for Treasured Masterpieces OSLO, Norway - Police launched a nationwide investigation Monday for armed robbers who barged into a lightly guarded Oslo museum and ripped the Edvard Munch masterpiece "The Scream" and another painting from the walls, as stunned visitors watched in disbelief. The paintings were stolen from Oslo's Munch Museum on Sunday by masked, armed thieves who pulled them from the walls as visitors and staff watched in shock...	0	World
Abu Ghraib Judge Implores U.S. Over Case MANNHEIM, Germany - A military judge hearing evidence about the alleged abuse of prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison pressed the U.S. government Monday to speed up its investigation, warning that delays could derail the case against at least one of the accused soldiers...	0	World
Dream Team Breezes Past Angola 89-53 ATHENS, Greece - The Americans got a taste of what it was like in the good ol' days. They finally played an opponent they were able to beat easily, routing Angola 89-53 Monday in their final preliminary game of Olympic men's basketball...	0	World
Wal-Mart Sales Slump Sends Stocks Sliding NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s warning of disappointing sales sent stocks lower Monday, as investors' concerns about a slowing economy offset their relief over a drop in oil prices. October contracts for a barrel of light crude were quoted at \$46.58, down 14 cents, on the New York Mercantile Exchange...	0	World
Gateway's PCs, Notebooks Available at MicroCenter SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PC maker Gateway Inc. said on Sunday its new line of notebooks, desktop personal computers and monitors aimed at retail markets will be available at Micro Center's 20 stores in the United States.	3	Sci/Tech
Santander to Cut 3,000 Jobs at Abbey After Takeover (Update1) Santander Central Hispano SA, which last month offered 8.2 billion pounds (\$14.9 billion) to buy the UK mortgage lender Abbey National Plc, said it will eliminate 3,000 jobs at the British company.	2	Business
UK #39;s ARM to buy Artisan of US British semiconductor designer ARM Holdings said Monday it has agreed to buy US technology firm Artisan Components for \$913 million in cash and stock to boost its product range and reach more customers.	2	Business
Toys R Us Swings to Profit Toys R Us (TOY:NYSE - news - research) swung to a second-quarter profit after revealing recently that it was considering exiting its namesake business.	2	Business
Drought In West Grounds Boaters Sarah and Tom Huston worry their days of leisurely casting fishing lines off a shaded dock in Roosevelt Lake are numbered. The Arizona lake, about 110 miles northeast of Phoenix, is now just 30 percent full, local rangers say.	3	Sci/Tech
Lan switch sales looking good for 2004 Despite a decline of two per cent in the second quarter of 2004, the global market for local area network (Lan) switches remains up 23 per cent year over year, the latest market research from IDC has found.	3	Sci/Tech
Radcliffe baffled by failure A tearful Paula Radcliffe has revealed she has no idea what went wrong in her failed bid for Olympic marathon gold. The Briton said fans deserved an explanation but was waiting for test results from a Monday	1	Sports
Golf: Cink in command in winning NEC Invitational AKRON, Ohio - Six days after US captain Hal Sutton added him to the Ryder Cup team, Steward Cink completed the best performance of his career by turning the final round of the NEC Invitational into a showcase of poise and putting.	1	Sports
Transmeta suffers hype and hardware reality Perhaps the decision to name its flagship product after a fictional shipwrecked traveler who spent almost 30 years trapped on a small island was not the best of omens for Transmeta Corp.	3	Sci/Tech
HP to manage IT for Finnish energy giant Finnish energy giant Fortum Corp. has signed a five-year agreement with Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) to manage its IT infrastructure and support about 10,000 users across Europe.	3	Sci/Tech
Cisco, Microsoft merge IP telephony with CRM Cisco Systems Inc. is set to offer starting Monday a tool to help small and medium-sized businesses use Microsoft Corp. CRM (customer relationship management) software in combination with a Cisco IP (Internet Protocol) communication system.	3	Sci/Tech
Playboy plan for a private lifestyle club in Shanghai ICONIC brand Playboy plans to open a private club in Chinas commercial capital of Shanghai in a first for the communist nation, which still bans the companys flagship mens magazine.	2	Business
Toys quot;R quot; Us Posts 2Q Profit, Sales Fall Toys quot;R quot; Us Inc. swung to a profit in the second quarter from a loss a year ago, buoyed by a reversal of \$200 million in income tax reserves.	2	Business
The Economy Is Killing Overtime NEW YORK - The effect of new US overtime rules that go into effect today are the subject of intense dispute between labor groups and the Bush administration.	2	Business
Southwest Airlines to Cut 88 Flights Southwest Airlines Inc. (LUV.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest US discount carrier, on Monday said it will eliminate 88 scheduled flights in order to boost revenue by freeing up planes for more lucrative markets.	2	Business
FedEx Ups Profit Estimates FedEx (FDX ) raised raised its 2005 profit forecast for a second time. The package-delivery giant sees \$4.40 to \$4.60 earnings per share, vs.	2	Business
Macromedia wires up Flex Builder Macromedia is heading in a new direction with the launch of a development tool for Flex, its development platform for rich internet applications (RIAs).	3	Sci/Tech
Germans shun violent video games Germans #39; reluctance to play violent video games and to spend much in a subdued consumer climate are proving stubborn obstacles to the growth of Europe #39;s least-developed games market.	3	Sci/Tech
Math concepts may be limited by language A rose by any other name may smell as sweet. But when it comes to accurately counting the flowers in that bouquet, the numbers #39; names matter.	3	Sci/Tech
Will Pruett come down on Herd now? How many other teams can make news by finishing two-a-day practices with a bar fight -- not to mention one in which some Thundering Herd knucklehead maybe gives a ticket to the festivities to a player on a team they #39;ll be playing next month?	1	Sports
Fighting continues in Najaf amid shrine standoff US forces and Shiite militants fought fierce battles in Najaf today, with airstrikes near a revered shrine and exchanges of mortar fire and artillery, as the US military	0	World
Volkswagen to Seek Wage Freeze in Contract Talks (Update4) Volkswagen AG, Europe #39;s largest carmaker, wants German workers to agree to a two-year wage freeze to cut costs amid a stagnating market, dismissing a union demand for a 4 percent yearly raise.	0	World
#39;Jackal #39; Accomplice Acquitted of Bombings A German court acquitted the suspected right-hand man of international guerrilla quot;Carlos the Jackal quot; Monday of charges that he took part in deadly bomb attacks in France more than 20 years ago.	0	World
Gateway's PCs, Notebooks Available at MicroCenter (Reuters) Reuters - PC maker Gateway Inc. said on\Sunday its new line of notebooks, desktop personal computers\and monitors aimed at retail markets will be available at Micro\Center's 20 stores in the United States.	3	Sci/Tech
Basketball: U.S. Cruises Past Angola 89-53 ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. men's basketball team got their first comfortable win at the Olympic basketball tournament Monday, routing winless Angola 89-53 in their final preliminary round game.	1	Sports
Blue Chips Flat After Wal-Mart News NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips were little changed on Monday as a disappointing sales forecast from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=WMT.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">WMT.N</A>, the world's biggest retailer, offset the effect of easing oil prices.	2	Business
US Won #39;t Wait Long In Airbus-Boeing Row The United States will not wait long before resorting to legal action in the trade dispute over government support for Airbus and Boeing, US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said on Tuesday.	2	Business
U.S. Weighs Creation of Geologic Trail (AP) AP - Dry Falls lives up to its name. Not a drop of water cascades down the 500-foot cliffs at this arid, rocky place near Grand Coulee Dam.	3	Sci/Tech
Israel Plans 530 Settler Homes with U.S. Acquiescence HAR GILO, West Bank (Reuters) - Israel plans to build 530 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank after Washington softened its opposition to growth in Jewish enclaves, a policy shift Palestinians say will make peace impossible.	0	World
Wal-Mart Cuts Sales View; Stock Dips <p>\</p><p> By Emily Kaiser</p><p> CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <WMT.N> lowered\its August sales forecast on Monday because of disappointing\back-to-school demand, casting doubt on the strength of U.S.\consumer spending in a key shopping season.</p>	2	Business
Intel lops Pentium 4 prices Newest P4 chips, the 500 series, drop in price by 18 percent to 35 percent; a host of other chips are cheaper now as well.	3	Sci/Tech
Transmeta Plans for the LongRun Four years later, chip maker still struggles to compete with AMD and Intel.	3	Sci/Tech
Gateway #39;s PCs, Notebooks Available at MicroCenter PC maker Gateway Inc. said on Sunday its new line of notebooks, desktop personal computers and monitors aimed at retail markets will be available at Micro Center #39;s 20 stores in the United States.	3	Sci/Tech
AT amp;T CallVantage Service To Be Available in More Than 600 Best Buy <b>...</b> BEDMINSTER, NJ, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- AT amp;T today announced that Best Buy will be among the first national retailers to offer AT amp;T #39;s residential Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service, AT amp;T CallVantage	3	Sci/Tech
EDS picks Siebel as its preferred CRM vendor Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) is beginning to implement a new vendor-relationship strategy emphasizing deeper alliances with fewer vendors.	3	Sci/Tech
TCEQ recommends changes to enforcement policies AUSTIN -- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality released a draft report today that makes several recommendations aimed at improving the agency #39;s ability to enforce environmental laws.	3	Sci/Tech
Cink finally gets the monkey off his back Stewart Cink erased a dreadful record of final-round meltdowns to win the WGC Invitational here on Sunday. The 31-year-old had previously led into the final round six times on the US PGA Tour, and had been beaten every time.	1	Sports
Defensive gem for Jays There is nothing that brings out more derisive comments and sneers along press row than the mention of the Blue Jays ranking second in the American League in team defence.	1	Sports
US planes bomb Najaf, hopes of peace fade Iraq: US planes pounded Najaf #39;s cemetery and historic centre near the Imam Ali shrine on Monday, dimming hopes of a peaceful end to a near three-week stand-off between US-led Iraqi troops and Shiite militia.	0	World
Iraqis release kidnapped US journalist Kidnapped US journalist Micah Garen was recovering from his ordeal in Iraq Monday after being released on the orders of rebel cleric Moqtada Sadr.	0	World
George Bush is an quot;imbecile quot; says North Korea George Bush seems to be gaining a reputation lately for saying the wrong things in his speeches and diplomacy has been replaced with insults.	0	World
Kremlin candidate for Chechen presidency set to win DAVID HARDAKER: In Soviet times, it was a long-held tradition to immortalise leaders by renaming streets and major cities after them.	0	World
Foreign leaders commemorate centenary of Deng Xiaoping #39;s birth Top leaders of Armenia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Moldova have paid homage to late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping on the occasion of his 100th birthday.	0	World
An Open Music Platform John Gruber observes on Daring Fireball, #147;The iPod, iTunes, and iTMS work with any modern personal computer, Windows or Mac. Yes, the original iPod debuted as a Mac-only peripheral, and iTunes for Windows appeared even later #151; but Apple offered complete support for Windows relatively quickly. The iPod and iTunes are fully compatible with your existing CD and MP3 music collections. #148; Aug 20	3	Sci/Tech
Birdie Helps Woods Retain Top Ranking (AP) AP - What seemed like a meaningless birdie on the final hole of the NEC Invitational will ensure that Tiger Woods keeps his No. 1 world ranking at least one week longer.	1	Sports
'All Aboard' France's Artouste Express, France's highest-altitude train (AFP) AFP - Eighty years ago the Artouste train in the French Pyrenees transported workers and materiel to build a dam at 2000 meters (6500 feet) altitude, but today it ferries tourists for a sometimes hair-raising ride along one of Europe's highest rail lines.	0	World
Windows Upgrade Causing Campus Headaches (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Microsoft Corp.'s decision to release a major upgrade for its flagship operating system in the same month that hundreds of thousands of students are reporting to college campuses across the nation is causing a major headache for the higher education community.	3	Sci/Tech
Finding Friends Foes (Forbes.com) Forbes.com - Tens of millions of people play videogames online; the tricky part is finding your friends--and favorite foes--among them. Michael Cassidy can help. His company, Xfire, runs a Web site that is the TV Guide, ma icirc;tre d' and instant messenger of the gaming world. Cassidy's service can point you to a buddy who is ready to play the game you want at any moment of the day or night. He already has a lot of friends to prove it. In eight months a million people in 100 countries have downloaded Xfire's software.	2	Business
British energy expert alerts Ont. to failures in hydro restructuring (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - WINDSOR, Ont. (CP) - Ontario risks sharp price increases if it gives the private sector a greater role in the electricity market, says a British expert on energy markets.	0	World
Race row as Mbeki blood rejected SA's blood service faces questions after President Mbeki's blood is destroyed because he is black.	0	World
Toys R us Posts Operating Loss NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toys R Us Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=TOY.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">TOY.N</A>, which is considering getting out of the toy business, on Monday posted a second-quarter operating loss on poor sales of video games and markdowns on older merchandise.	2	Business
Dollar Rebounds as Oil Prices Ease NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar was stronger across the board on Monday as oil prices eased from record highs and a more optimistic view on global economic growth prospects spread through trading floors, analysts said.	2	Business
Nepal Confirms Its Nationals Kidnapped in Iraq KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal confirmed on Monday that 13 of its citizens had been kidnapped by an Islamic group in Iraq and appealed for their release.	0	World
Yukos cuts output to save money Russian oil producer Yukos is cutting back its production and slashing its expenditure, as the company battles for survival.	2	Business
Rethinking Big Pharma Risk is knocking Big Pharma stocks down. They won't be getting up anytime soon.	2	Business
Toys R us Posts Operating Loss Toys R Us Inc. (TOY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which is considering getting out of the toy business, on Monday posted a second-quarter operating loss on poor sales of video games and markdowns on older merchandise.	2	Business
Woolies in top-shelf profit WOOLWORTHS yesterday hit back at rejuvenated competitor Coles Myer with a 13 per cent jump in full-year net profit and a belief it can replicate the performance in the coming year.	2	Business
Plot Advanced in Kmart Real Estate Story Kmart (KMRT:Nasdaq - news - research) continued to make progress realizing value for its real-estate portfolio Monday, completing an agreement to sell 18 stores to Home Depot (HD:NYSE - news - research) for \$271 million.	2	Business
Schering Exercises License Option Drug giant Schering-Plough Corp. said Monday that it will pay \$10 million to exercise its option to license ViroPharma Inc. #39;s cold treatment in the United States and Canada.	2	Business
China demand boosts metal recycler SIMS Group, the world #39;s biggest metal recycler, yesterday posted a 50 per cent jump in full-year net profit to \$112.5 million, buoyed by the Chinese economy #39;s effect on global metal markets.	2	Business
Macromedia Rolls New Flex Builder Tool Macromedia (Quote, Chart) took the wraps off its first developer tool for its Flex platform that it says will encourage more people to build rich media and Web-facing applications.	3	Sci/Tech
Stereo sun birds study space weather AUSTRALIAN scientists are working with NASA and the French government to create an advanced space weather instrument that will go on board the STEREO (Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory) space mission next year.	3	Sci/Tech

Wal-Mart Says August Sales May Be Little Changed (Update4) Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world #39;s largest retailer, said August sales will be little changed or rise as much as 2 percent, hurt by Hurricane Charley and sluggish demand for back-to-school products.

2

Business

KMart to Sell 18 Stores to Home Depot Retailer Kmart Holdings Corp. (KMRT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday finalized a deal to sell 18 of its stores to Home Depot Inc.

2

Business

Stocks Post Early Gains As Oil Is Steady Stocks are posting some early gains this morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 10 points in today #39;s early going. Advancing issues on the New York Stock Exchange hold a 4-3 lead over decliners.

2

Business

Siebel, EDS Ink BPO Deal Siebel Systems Inc. and Electronic Data Systems Corp. this week will announced a partnership to help companies avoid many of the costs and complexities of managing customer relationship management systems in enterprises.

3

Sci/Tech

Sudan Rejects Africa Troop Offer at Darfur Talks (Reuters) Reuters - Sudan rejected an offer of African troops\to disarm rebels in Darfur as peace talks began in Nigeria,\insisting it was capable of neutralizing both pro-government\and rebel militia fighting in the western region.

0

World

Ryu ends Chinese domination Ryu Seung Min of South Korea beats Wang Hao to take gold in the table tennis men's singles.

0

World

FedEx Raises Forecast, Stock Climbs NEW YORK (Reuters) - FedEx Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=FDX.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">FDX.N</A> on Monday raised its earnings forecast for the fiscal first quarter and full year, citing strong demand for its international express, ground and less-than-truckload services.

2

Business

Northern Cyprus trade ban lifted Turkish Cypriots begin trading with Greek Cypriots in the south for the first time in three decades.

0

World

Stocks Open Slightly Higher as Oil Eases NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks showed small gains at the open on Monday as easing oil prices alleviated investors' worry about the effect of higher fuel costs on corporations and consumers.

2

Business

Toys R us Posts Net Profit NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toys R Us Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=TOY.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">TOY.N</A>, which is considering getting out of the toy business, on Monday posted a second-quarter net profit, reversing a year-earlier loss, as it works to restructure its toy stores.

2

Business

Southwest Airlines to Cut 88 Flights NEW YORK (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=LUV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">LUV.N</A>, the largest U.S. discount carrier, on Monday said it will eliminate 88 scheduled flights in order to boost revenue by freeing up planes for more lucrative markets.

2

Business

Basketball: U.S. Men Cruise Past Angola, 89-53 ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. men's basketball team got their first comfortable win at the Olympic basketball tournament Monday, routing winless Angola 89-53 in their final preliminary round game.

1

Sports

Olympics: Greece Gets Instant New 'Immortal' ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece, shamed and angered by Olympic doping scandals, hailed an instant new heroine Monday when Athanasia Tsoumeleka won the women's 20 km walk to give the Olympic hosts their first athletics gold medal.

1

Sports

Owen Seeks New Challenge at Real Madrid LONDON (Reuters) - England striker Michael Owen says he is looking forward to a "nerve-racking" new challenge after leaving his comfortable life at Liverpool to join Real Madrid.

1

Sports

2006 Olympic Torch Relay Unveiled (AP) AP - The torch relay for the 2006 Turin Olympics will pass by the Leaning Tower of Pisa and go up Venice's Grand Canal in a route that will cover every province in Italy.

1

Sports

Scientists Say Risk of Water Wars Rising (Reuters) Reuters - The risk of wars being fought over\water is rising because of explosive global population growth\and widespread complacency, scientists said on Friday.

3

Sci/Tech

Audit of Venezuelan vote backs Chavez An audit of Venezuela #39;s referendum results has confirmed that President Hugo Chavez won the poll fairly and found no evidence to support the opposition #39;s claims of widespread vote-rigging, international observers said

2

Business

Columnist quits over plagiarism A BUSINESS columnist has resigned from The Seattle Times after admitting he plagiarised the work of other journalists. Stephen H Dunphy #39;s resignation followed an internal investigation, the paper #39;s executive editor said in a column published on Sunday.

2

Business

File-sharing software off legal hook In a judicial blow to the entertainment industry, a federal appeals court ruled that makers of two leading file-sharing programs are not legally liable for the songs, movies

3

Sci/Tech

Western Drought Is Grounding Boaters Sarah Huston and her husband, Tom, spend their afternoons catching catfish and bass on Roosevelt Lake. When it gets too hot, they cast their lines off a shaded dock or relax inside their air-conditioned boat.

3

Sci/Tech

Elber blow for Lyon Lyon have suffered a major blow with the news that Giovane Elber will out of action for several months. The Brazilian striker was thought to have injured his ankle in the game against Metz, but further scans revealed the problem to be far more serious.

1

Sports

Sudanese peace talks open African Union-sponsored peace talks between Sudan #39;s government and rebel leaders from its war-torn Darfur region began on Monday amid disagreement over the deployment of peacekeepers.

0

World

Afghanistan #39;s Karzai in Pakistan for terror talks Afghan President Hamid Karzai began a visit to neighbouring Pakistan on Monday to discuss cooperation in the battle against Islamic militants ahead of his October re-election bid.

0

World

Google Yields More Than Fistful of Dollars There's a new social class in town -- the "Google Riche" -- and while their newfound wealth is impressive, they might want to spend some time thinking about their new tax brackets and how to keep the sharks from taking a few bites off the top. -washingtonpost.com

3

Sci/Tech

Treasuries Lower in Data Vacuum (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. Treasuries prices were sucked\lower on Monday as speculators took advantage of a vacuum of\economic news to test the bearish side of recent tight trading\ranges.

2

Business

Cartel inquiry claims Amcor chief The boss of packaging company Amcor has quit his post amid a growing scandal over allegations of price-fixing. Amcor said chief executive Russell Jones - along with top divisional head Peter Sutton - had both resigned.

2

Business

Mission Fantastic to Mars -- Part 1 They made history in more ways than one. Not just because they landed two robot geologists on Mars. Not just because they provided conclusive evidence that water once flowed on the Red Planet. The JPL team that sent two rovers to Mars this year made history because they completed in 3 1/2 years what mission planners usually complete in seven.

3

Sci/Tech

Treasuries Lower in Data Vacuum NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries prices were sucked lower on Monday as speculators took advantage of a vacuum of economic news to test the bearish side of recent tight trading ranges.

2

Business

Sudan Rejects Africa Troop Offer at Darfur Talks ABUJA (Reuters) - Sudan rejected an offer of African troops to disarm rebels in Darfur as peace talks began in Nigeria, insisting it was capable of neutralizing both pro-government and rebel militia fighting in the western region.

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World

YUKOS Cuts 2004 Forecast by 4.5 Percent MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian oil major YUKOS on Monday cut its oil output forecast for this year by 4.5 percent and said it would slash capital expenditure by more than a third due to its tax dispute with the state.

2

Business

Nepal Opposition Calls for Truce to End Blockade KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's main opposition party urged the government on Monday to call a unilateral cease-fire with Maoist rebels and seek peace talks to end a road blockade that has cut the capital off from the rest of the country.

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World

Postal Service seals big SAP deal Enterprise software maker gets stamp of approval to replace letter carrier's 700,000-employee human resources system.

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Sci/Tech

Wal-Mart Lowers August Sales Forecast Wal-Mart had previously expected same-store sales to grow between 2 percent and 4 percent during the month. Today it gave a range from flat to up 2 percent.

2

Business

ARM to buy designer of systems-on-a-chip With the acquisition of Artisan Components, ARM will get 340 employees, plus facilities in California and India.

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Sci/Tech

Norway Searches for Treasured Masterpieces OSLO, Norway - Police launched a nationwide investigation Monday for armed robbers who barged into a lightly guarded Oslo museum and ripped the Edvard Munch masterpiece "The Scream" and another painting from the walls, as stunned visitors watched in disbelief. The paintings were stolen from Oslo's Munch Museum on Sunday by masked, armed thieves who pulled them from the walls as visitors and staff watched in shock...

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World

Abu Ghraib Judge Implores U.S. Over Case MANNHEIM, Germany - A military judge hearing evidence about the alleged abuse of prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison pressed the U.S. government Monday to speed up its investigation, warning that delays could derail the case against at least one of the accused soldiers...

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World

Dream Team Breezes Past Angola 89-53 ATHENS, Greece - The Americans got a taste of what it was like in the good ol' days. They finally played an opponent they were able to beat easily, routing Angola 89-53 Monday in their final preliminary game of Olympic men's basketball...

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World

Wal-Mart Sales Slump Sends Stocks Sliding NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s warning of disappointing sales sent stocks lower Monday, as investors' concerns about a slowing economy offset their relief over a drop in oil prices. October contracts for a barrel of light crude were quoted at \$46.58, down 14 cents, on the New York Mercantile Exchange...

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World

Gateway's PCs, Notebooks Available at MicroCenter SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PC maker Gateway Inc. said on Sunday its new line of notebooks, desktop personal computers and monitors aimed at retail markets will be available at Micro Center's 20 stores in the United States.

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Sci/Tech

Santander to Cut 3,000 Jobs at Abbey After Takeover (Update1) Santander Central Hispano SA, which last month offered 8.2 billion pounds (\$14.9 billion) to buy the UK mortgage lender Abbey National Plc, said it will eliminate 3,000 jobs at the British company.

2

Business

UK #39;s ARM to buy Artisan of US British semiconductor designer ARM Holdings said Monday it has agreed to buy US technology firm Artisan Components for \$913 million in cash and stock to boost its product range and reach more customers.

2

Business

Toys R Us Swings to Profit Toys R Us (TOY:NYSE - news - research) swung to a second-quarter profit after revealing recently that it was considering exiting its namesake business.

2

Business

Drought In West Grounds Boaters Sarah and Tom Huston worry their days of leisurely casting fishing lines off a shaded dock in Roosevelt Lake are numbered. The Arizona lake, about 110 miles northeast of Phoenix, is now just 30 percent full, local rangers say.

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Sci/Tech

Lan switch sales looking good for 2004 Despite a decline of two per cent in the second quarter of 2004, the global market for local area network (Lan) switches remains up 23 per cent year over year, the latest market research from IDC has found.

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Sci/Tech

Radcliffe baffled by failure A tearful Paula Radcliffe has revealed she has no idea what went wrong in her failed bid for Olympic marathon gold. The Briton said fans deserved an explanation but was waiting for test results from a Monday

1

Sports

Golf: Cink in command in winning NEC Invitational AKRON, Ohio - Six days after US captain Hal Sutton added him to the Ryder Cup team, Steward Cink completed the best performance of his career by turning the final round of the NEC Invitational into a showcase of poise and putting.

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Sports

Transmeta suffers hype and hardware reality Perhaps the decision to name its flagship product after a fictional shipwrecked traveler who spent almost 30 years trapped on a small island was not the best of omens for Transmeta Corp.

3

Sci/Tech

HP to manage IT for Finnish energy giant Finnish energy giant Fortum Corp. has signed a five-year agreement with Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) to manage its IT infrastructure and support about 10,000 users across Europe.

3

Sci/Tech

Cisco, Microsoft merge IP telephony with CRM Cisco Systems Inc. is set to offer starting Monday a tool to help small and medium-sized businesses use Microsoft Corp. CRM (customer relationship management) software in combination with a Cisco IP (Internet Protocol) communication system.

3

Sci/Tech

Playboy plan for a private lifestyle club in Shanghai ICONIC brand Playboy plans to open a private club in Chinas commercial capital of Shanghai in a first for the communist nation, which still bans the companys flagship mens magazine.

2

Business

Toys quot;R quot; Us Posts 2Q Profit, Sales Fall Toys quot;R quot; Us Inc. swung to a profit in the second quarter from a loss a year ago, buoyed by a reversal of \$200 million in income tax reserves.

2

Business

The Economy Is Killing Overtime NEW YORK - The effect of new US overtime rules that go into effect today are the subject of intense dispute between labor groups and the Bush administration.

2

Business

Southwest Airlines to Cut 88 Flights Southwest Airlines Inc. (LUV.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest US discount carrier, on Monday said it will eliminate 88 scheduled flights in order to boost revenue by freeing up planes for more lucrative markets.

2

Business

FedEx Ups Profit Estimates FedEx (FDX ) raised raised its 2005 profit forecast for a second time. The package-delivery giant sees \$4.40 to \$4.60 earnings per share, vs.

2

Business

Macromedia wires up Flex Builder Macromedia is heading in a new direction with the launch of a development tool for Flex, its development platform for rich internet applications (RIAs).

3

Sci/Tech

Germans shun violent video games Germans #39; reluctance to play violent video games and to spend much in a subdued consumer climate are proving stubborn obstacles to the growth of Europe #39;s least-developed games market.

3

Sci/Tech

Math concepts may be limited by language A rose by any other name may smell as sweet. But when it comes to accurately counting the flowers in that bouquet, the numbers #39; names matter.

3

Sci/Tech

Will Pruett come down on Herd now? How many other teams can make news by finishing two-a-day practices with a bar fight -- not to mention one in which some Thundering Herd knucklehead maybe gives a ticket to the festivities to a player on a team they #39;ll be playing next month?

1

Sports

Fighting continues in Najaf amid shrine standoff US forces and Shiite militants fought fierce battles in Najaf today, with airstrikes near a revered shrine and exchanges of mortar fire and artillery, as the US military

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World

Volkswagen to Seek Wage Freeze in Contract Talks (Update4) Volkswagen AG, Europe #39;s largest carmaker, wants German workers to agree to a two-year wage freeze to cut costs amid a stagnating market, dismissing a union demand for a 4 percent yearly raise.

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World

#39;Jackal #39; Accomplice Acquitted of Bombings A German court acquitted the suspected right-hand man of international guerrilla quot;Carlos the Jackal quot; Monday of charges that he took part in deadly bomb attacks in France more than 20 years ago.

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World

Gateway's PCs, Notebooks Available at MicroCenter (Reuters) Reuters - PC maker Gateway Inc. said on\Sunday its new line of notebooks, desktop personal computers\and monitors aimed at retail markets will be available at Micro\Center's 20 stores in the United States.

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Sci/Tech

Basketball: U.S. Cruises Past Angola 89-53 ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. men's basketball team got their first comfortable win at the Olympic basketball tournament Monday, routing winless Angola 89-53 in their final preliminary round game.

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Sports

Blue Chips Flat After Wal-Mart News NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips were little changed on Monday as a disappointing sales forecast from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=WMT.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">WMT.N</A>, the world's biggest retailer, offset the effect of easing oil prices.

2

Business

US Won #39;t Wait Long In Airbus-Boeing Row The United States will not wait long before resorting to legal action in the trade dispute over government support for Airbus and Boeing, US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said on Tuesday.

2

Business

U.S. Weighs Creation of Geologic Trail (AP) AP - Dry Falls lives up to its name. Not a drop of water cascades down the 500-foot cliffs at this arid, rocky place near Grand Coulee Dam.

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Sci/Tech

Israel Plans 530 Settler Homes with U.S. Acquiescence HAR GILO, West Bank (Reuters) - Israel plans to build 530 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank after Washington softened its opposition to growth in Jewish enclaves, a policy shift Palestinians say will make peace impossible.

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World

Wal-Mart Cuts Sales View; Stock Dips \ By Emily Kaiser CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <WMT.N> lowered\its August sales forecast on Monday because of disappointing\back-to-school demand, casting doubt on the strength of U.S.\consumer spending in a key shopping season.

2

Business

Intel lops Pentium 4 prices Newest P4 chips, the 500 series, drop in price by 18 percent to 35 percent; a host of other chips are cheaper now as well.

3

Sci/Tech

Transmeta Plans for the LongRun Four years later, chip maker still struggles to compete with AMD and Intel.

3

Sci/Tech

Gateway #39;s PCs, Notebooks Available at MicroCenter PC maker Gateway Inc. said on Sunday its new line of notebooks, desktop personal computers and monitors aimed at retail markets will be available at Micro Center #39;s 20 stores in the United States.

3

Sci/Tech

AT amp;T CallVantage Service To Be Available in More Than 600 Best Buy ... BEDMINSTER, NJ, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- AT amp;T today announced that Best Buy will be among the first national retailers to offer AT amp;T #39;s residential Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service, AT amp;T CallVantage

3

Sci/Tech

EDS picks Siebel as its preferred CRM vendor Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) is beginning to implement a new vendor-relationship strategy emphasizing deeper alliances with fewer vendors.

3

Sci/Tech

TCEQ recommends changes to enforcement policies AUSTIN -- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality released a draft report today that makes several recommendations aimed at improving the agency #39;s ability to enforce environmental laws.

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Sci/Tech

Cink finally gets the monkey off his back Stewart Cink erased a dreadful record of final-round meltdowns to win the WGC Invitational here on Sunday. The 31-year-old had previously led into the final round six times on the US PGA Tour, and had been beaten every time.

1

Sports

Defensive gem for Jays There is nothing that brings out more derisive comments and sneers along press row than the mention of the Blue Jays ranking second in the American League in team defence.

1

Sports

US planes bomb Najaf, hopes of peace fade Iraq: US planes pounded Najaf #39;s cemetery and historic centre near the Imam Ali shrine on Monday, dimming hopes of a peaceful end to a near three-week stand-off between US-led Iraqi troops and Shiite militia.

0

World

Iraqis release kidnapped US journalist Kidnapped US journalist Micah Garen was recovering from his ordeal in Iraq Monday after being released on the orders of rebel cleric Moqtada Sadr.

0

World

George Bush is an quot;imbecile quot; says North Korea George Bush seems to be gaining a reputation lately for saying the wrong things in his speeches and diplomacy has been replaced with insults.

0

World

Kremlin candidate for Chechen presidency set to win DAVID HARDAKER: In Soviet times, it was a long-held tradition to immortalise leaders by renaming streets and major cities after them.

0

World

Foreign leaders commemorate centenary of Deng Xiaoping #39;s birth Top leaders of Armenia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Moldova have paid homage to late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping on the occasion of his 100th birthday.

0

World

An Open Music Platform John Gruber observes on Daring Fireball, #147;The iPod, iTunes, and iTMS work with any modern personal computer, Windows or Mac. Yes, the original iPod debuted as a Mac-only peripheral, and iTunes for Windows appeared even later #151; but Apple offered complete support for Windows relatively quickly. The iPod and iTunes are fully compatible with your existing CD and MP3 music collections. #148; Aug 20

3

Sci/Tech

Birdie Helps Woods Retain Top Ranking (AP) AP - What seemed like a meaningless birdie on the final hole of the NEC Invitational will ensure that Tiger Woods keeps his No. 1 world ranking at least one week longer.

1

Sports

'All Aboard' France's Artouste Express, France's highest-altitude train (AFP) AFP - Eighty years ago the Artouste train in the French Pyrenees transported workers and materiel to build a dam at 2000 meters (6500 feet) altitude, but today it ferries tourists for a sometimes hair-raising ride along one of Europe's highest rail lines.

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World

Windows Upgrade Causing Campus Headaches (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Microsoft Corp.'s decision to release a major upgrade for its flagship operating system in the same month that hundreds of thousands of students are reporting to college campuses across the nation is causing a major headache for the higher education community.

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Sci/Tech

Finding Friends Foes (Forbes.com) Forbes.com - Tens of millions of people play videogames online; the tricky part is finding your friends--and favorite foes--among them. Michael Cassidy can help. His company, Xfire, runs a Web site that is the TV Guide, ma icirc;tre d' and instant messenger of the gaming world. Cassidy's service can point you to a buddy who is ready to play the game you want at any moment of the day or night. He already has a lot of friends to prove it. In eight months a million people in 100 countries have downloaded Xfire's software.

2

Business

British energy expert alerts Ont. to failures in hydro restructuring (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - WINDSOR, Ont. (CP) - Ontario risks sharp price increases if it gives the private sector a greater role in the electricity market, says a British expert on energy markets.

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World

Race row as Mbeki blood rejected SA's blood service faces questions after President Mbeki's blood is destroyed because he is black.

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World

Toys R us Posts Operating Loss NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toys R Us Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=TOY.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">TOY.N</A>, which is considering getting out of the toy business, on Monday posted a second-quarter operating loss on poor sales of video games and markdowns on older merchandise.

2

Business

Dollar Rebounds as Oil Prices Ease NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar was stronger across the board on Monday as oil prices eased from record highs and a more optimistic view on global economic growth prospects spread through trading floors, analysts said.

2

Business

Nepal Confirms Its Nationals Kidnapped in Iraq KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal confirmed on Monday that 13 of its citizens had been kidnapped by an Islamic group in Iraq and appealed for their release.

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World

Yukos cuts output to save money Russian oil producer Yukos is cutting back its production and slashing its expenditure, as the company battles for survival.

2

Business

Rethinking Big Pharma Risk is knocking Big Pharma stocks down. They won't be getting up anytime soon.

2

Business

Toys R us Posts Operating Loss Toys R Us Inc. (TOY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which is considering getting out of the toy business, on Monday posted a second-quarter operating loss on poor sales of video games and markdowns on older merchandise.

2

Business

Woolies in top-shelf profit WOOLWORTHS yesterday hit back at rejuvenated competitor Coles Myer with a 13 per cent jump in full-year net profit and a belief it can replicate the performance in the coming year.

2

Business

Plot Advanced in Kmart Real Estate Story Kmart (KMRT:Nasdaq - news - research) continued to make progress realizing value for its real-estate portfolio Monday, completing an agreement to sell 18 stores to Home Depot (HD:NYSE - news - research) for \$271 million.

2

Business

Schering Exercises License Option Drug giant Schering-Plough Corp. said Monday that it will pay \$10 million to exercise its option to license ViroPharma Inc. #39;s cold treatment in the United States and Canada.

2

Business

China demand boosts metal recycler SIMS Group, the world #39;s biggest metal recycler, yesterday posted a 50 per cent jump in full-year net profit to \$112.5 million, buoyed by the Chinese economy #39;s effect on global metal markets.

2

Business

Macromedia Rolls New Flex Builder Tool Macromedia (Quote, Chart) took the wraps off its first developer tool for its Flex platform that it says will encourage more people to build rich media and Web-facing applications.

3

Sci/Tech

Stereo sun birds study space weather AUSTRALIAN scientists are working with NASA and the French government to create an advanced space weather instrument that will go on board the STEREO (Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory) space mission next year.

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Sci/Tech