Thursday, March 20, 2003

Searchers Find Data Recorder From Shuttle. Searchers seeking debris from the space shuttle Columbia have found a data recorder that captures information from dozens of sensor locations. By Matthew L. Wald. 11:07:19 AM

National Briefing: Mid-Atlantic. MARYLAND: School District Leader Quits; MARYLAND: Admission Brings Case Reviews;. 11:07:17 AM

National Briefing: South. NORTH CAROLINA: Bill Of Rights Surfaces; ARKANSAS: Acting To Hold Down Jury Awards;. 11:07:16 AM

National Briefing: Southwest. NEW MEXICO: Red Carpet For Little Green Men;. 11:07:15 AM

Robert Shelton, Leader of Big Klan Faction, Dies at 73. Robert M. Shelton was the longtime leader of one of the largest and most notorious factions of the Ku Klux Klan. By The New York Times. 11:07:15 AM

Herbert Aptheker, 87, Prolific Marxist Historian, Is Dead. Herbert Aptheker was best known for writing the three-volume "Documentary History of the Negro People in the United States." By Christopher Lehmann-haupt. 11:07:14 AM

Senator Deplores Attack on Iraq. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the senior member of the Senate, said that he mourned the prospects for his nation at the start of a war he has long opposed. By The New York Times. 11:07:14 AM

We Interrupt This Broadcast, but How Much for How Long?. Executives worry about when to return to regular programming after hostilities fully break out and what adjustments they will have to make to their prime time lineups. By Bill Carter. 11:07:13 AM

House Votes to Make It Harder to Seek Bankruptcy. Heeding complaints from lenders and businesses, the House passed a measure to make it harder for people to eliminate their debts by filing for bankruptcy. By Carl Hulse. 11:07:13 AM

Text of President Bush's Speech By The New York Times. 11:07:13 AM

Day of Waiting and Wondering Ends With Word From President. At 10:15 on Wednesday night, President Bush ended what had become an anxious guessing game in Iraq, in Washington and around the world. By Richard W. Stevenson. 11:07:12 AM

After a Lengthy Buildup, an Anticlimactic Strike. When explosions finally rang out in Baghdad, they seemed so mild that even some veteran warriors could not believe the war had begun. By Alessandra Stanley. 11:07:12 AM

As War Starts, Refugees Feel a Mixture of Dread and Relief. Many Iraqi-Americans are elated by the prospect of "regime-change," but fearful for relatives in Iraq and worried about a backlash in the United States. By Jacques Steinberg. 11:07:11 AM

2-Day Snow of Up to 7 Feet Stalls Colorado and Wyoming. A late winter snowstorm shut down large parts of Colorado and Wyoming, with airports and roads closed as several feet of snow piled up over 48 hours. By The New York Times. 11:07:11 AM

Diocese Plans to Shut Home of Its Bishop After Suits. BOSTON, March 19 The Diocese of Manchester will close the New Hampshire residence of Bishop John B. McCormack to help offset legal costs for sexual abuse cases and a drop in donations. The diocese's decision to close the large brick residence in the city's North End by June 30 is part of a cost-cutting plan that includes the closing of a Manchester youth retreat house and the elimination of 19 diocesan jobs, including those of a housekeeper and a part-time cook at the residence, Patrick F. McGee, the diocesan spokesman, said today. Closing the residence should save $47,000 annually, he said. The diocese has not decided if it will sell the house, which was donated to the diocese in the late 1940's, although lawyers are investigating liquidation. The plan includes administrative belt-tightening and the formation of two panels to streamline diocesan programs, Mr. McGee said. The plan was made in response to a finance council recommendation that at least $500,000 be trimmed from the diocese's $2.5 million operating budget for the 2003 fiscal year. By The New York Times. 11:07:10 AM

Study Challenges Case for Diversity at Colleges. A study financed by supporters of challenges to affirmative action has found that diversity does not improve perception of educational quality or ease racial tensions on campuses. By Greg Winter. 11:07:09 AM

2 Scholarly Articles Diverge on Role of Race in Medicine. Two articles in The New England Journal of Medicine take different views on whether race is a meaningful factor in medicine. By Nicholas Wade. 11:07:09 AM

Searchers Find Data Recorder From Shuttle. Searchers seeking debris from the space shuttle Columbia have found a data recorder that captures information from dozens of sensor locations. By Matthew L. Wald. 11:07:08 AM

Anti-Germ Bill Advances, but a Related One Stalls. A Senate committee unanimously approved a plan to strengthen the nation's germ warfare defense, but could not agree on compensation for people injured by the smallpox vaccine. By Robert Pear. 11:07:07 AM

Bioterror Adviser to Reduce Role. Dr. Donald A. Henderson informed the Department of Health and Human Services in a letter made public yesterday that he would significantly reduce the time he spent as one of its principal advisers on bioterrorism. By The New York Times. 11:07:07 AM

Aide to Ex-Illinois Governor Is Convicted of Racketeering. A federal jury convicted a longtime aide to former Gov. George Ryan of Illinois, and to Mr. Ryan's campaign committee, of racketeering, mail fraud and obstruction of justice. By Jodi Wilgoren. 11:07:06 AM

Chaos by Lone Man Bewilders Capital. A tobacco farmer who drove a tractor rig into a decorative pond on the National Mall and threatened to blow himself up surrendered to authorities on Wednesday. By Christopher Marquis. 11:07:05 AM

Drilling in Alaska, a Priority for Bush, Fails in the Senate. The Senate narrowly voted against drilling for oil in the Alaskan wildlife refuge, dealing a crippling blow to the central element of the Bush energy plan. By David Firestone. 11:07:05 AM

Bin Laden Chose 9/11 Targets, Al Qaeda Leader Says. A senior leader of Al Qaeda captured early this month in Pakistan has told interrogators that Osama bin Laden personally selected the targets for the Sept. 11 attacks. By Eric Lichtblau. 11:07:04 AM

Administration Seeks More Money to Protect Against Terror Attacks. The White House has said that it plans to ask Congress for an emergency spending package for domestic counterterrorism programs. By Philip Shenon. 11:07:04 AM

Approach of War Reveals an Alienation in California. As Americans braced in recent days for the war against Iraq, many Californians were feeling strangely out of it. By Dean E. Murphy. 11:07:03 AM

Warning of Difficulty, Bush Says Americans Will Disarm Foe. American forces struck Baghdad after American officials received fresh intelligence that suggested a gathering of senior Iraqi leaders. By David E. Sanger with John F. Burns. 11:07:03 AM

World Business Briefing: Europe. GERMANY: Bank Chairman Resigns; IRELAND: Technology Loss Narrows; BRITAIN: Rate Increase Was Considered; BELGIUM: Brewer'S Profit Falls; GERMANY: Bmw Profit Rises;. 11:07:02 AM

World Business Briefing: Asia. SOUTH KOREA: Banks Bail Out Trade Concern; JAPAN: Insurer Sets Stock Price;. 11:07:01 AM

Many Marketers to Curb Campaigns. Major marketers are poised to shelve billions of dollars worth of advertising when war with Iraq breaks out. By Stuart Elliott. 11:07:01 AM

A Most Unsettling Time for French Wineries. The threat of a boycott of French wines by Americans could not come at a worse time for a struggling industry. By John Tagliabue. 11:07:01 AM

Pirelli Returns to Basics With Tires Made in U.S.. While the phone industry and Pirelli's other core business, manufacturing cable, are in deep slumps, Pirelli's tire operation has held up well. By Eric Sylvers. 11:07:00 AM

Britain Plans to Review 4 of 5 Bidders for Safeway. A British official ruled that four of the five potential buyers of the supermarket chain would have to submit their proposals to further antitrust scrutiny. By Suzanne Kapner. 11:06:59 AM

Paying the Price for Isolation. American unilateral bravado regarding the war could be costly when it comes to the economy. By Jeff Madrick. 11:06:59 AM

Promises, but No Firm Figures, on Federal Antiterror Money. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is trying to get more U.S. dollars to defend New York City. By Raymond Hernandez. 11:06:58 AM

Chaos by Lone Man Bewilders Capital. A tobacco farmer who drove a tractor rig into a decorative pond on the National Mall and threatened to blow himself up surrendered to authorities on Wednesday. By Christopher Marquis. 11:06:58 AM

Detroit Fears Sales Will Turn More Sluggish. With high gas prices and war jitters putting a dent in auto sales, many car dealers are worried that even zero percent financing won't help. By Danny Hakim. 11:06:57 AM

Bush's Speech Stops Game. Under a mandate from the National Basketball Association, Wednesday night's Knicks game against the New Orleans Hornets was stopped for President Bush's speech. By The New York Times. 11:06:56 AM

Anti-Germ Bill Advances, but a Related One Stalls. A Senate committee unanimously approved a plan to strengthen the nation's germ warfare defense, but could not agree on compensation for people injured by the smallpox vaccine. By Robert Pear. 11:06:55 AM

Designers Lose a Free Oscar Plug. Hollywood's decision to roll up the red carpet at the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday will cost the fashion industry incalculable free publicity. By Ruth La Ferla and Alex Kuczynski. 11:06:54 AM

A City in Fear Loses Some of Its Swagger. Subtle fears have been part of life in New York for a long time, since Sept. 11. But they are more pronounced in the face of war. By Joyce Purnick. 11:06:53 AM

Bioterror Adviser to Reduce Role. Dr. Donald A. Henderson informed the Department of Health and Human Services in a letter made public yesterday that he would significantly reduce the time he spent as one of its principal advisers on bioterrorism. By The New York Times. 11:06:51 AM

Philippe Starck as Talking Heads. The show "Philippe Starck," at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, is highly unorthodox because it presents none of the French designer's famous objects. By Alan Riding. 11:06:50 AM

Face-Lift for a Viennese Dowager. The Albertina, a tradition-bound institution housing one of the world's premier collections of graphic art, has reopened to raves after a $100 million overhaul. By Hugh Eakin. 11:06:49 AM

World Briefing: Middle East. IRAN: Journalist'S Sentence Upheld;. 11:06:47 AM

World Briefing: Asia. SOUTH KOREA: Leader Agrees To Inquiry;. 11:06:45 AM

Text of Saddam Hussein's Speech. BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Here is the text, as translated from Arabic by The Associated Press, of Saddam Hussein's televised speech after U.S. attacks began Thursday. By The Associated Press. 11:06:45 AM

Cuba Arrests a Score of Dissidents Linked to a U.S. Diplomat. The roundup singled out independent journalists whose reports on politics and daily life have earned them the ire of Fidel Castro's government. By David Gonzalez. 11:06:44 AM

The Afghan Elvis 'Lives' 24 Years After His Death. Much like the real Elvis, Ahmad Zahir, Afghanistan's most beloved pop musician, has long been dead. But also like the real Elvis, his popularity has endured, his legend magnified. By Amy Waldman. 11:06:42 AM

Nazis' Human Cargo Now Haunts French Railway. An Austrian-born French Jew went to court to demand that France's national railroad company accept its responsibility for transporting Jews to Nazi death camps. By Alan Riding. 11:06:41 AM

Doctors Say China Minimizes Pneumonia Outbreak's Extent. Just one day after officials announced that an outbreak of a deadly pneumonia was "effectively under control," news of previously unreported potential cases emerged. By Elisabeth Rosenthal. 11:06:41 AM

Europe Union Finds Bugging of Offices of 5 Nations. Listening devices were found in the offices of the French, German, British, Austrian and Spanish delegations in a headquarters building. By Elaine Sciolino. 11:06:40 AM

As War Starts, Refugees Feel a Mixture of Dread and Relief. Many Iraqi-Americans are elated by the prospect of "regime-change," but fearful for relatives in Iraq and worried about a backlash in the United States. By Jacques Steinberg. 11:06:40 AM

Reluctant Saudi Arabia Prepares Its Quiet Role in the U.S.-Led War on Iraq. Saudi Arabia is taking part in preparations for the war and will be involved, albeit quietly and obliquely, when it comes. By Craig S. Smith. 11:06:39 AM

Palestinian Becomes Premier, Diminishing Arafat's Power. In a move that marks the most significant cut in Yasir Arafat's powers, Mahmoud Abbas accepted the new post of Palestinian prime minister. By Greg Myre. 11:06:39 AM

Persian Gulf Oil Disruptions Have Begun. So far, the markets have shrugged off concerns that problems with shipping in the region could be substantial or last long. By Neela Banerjee. 11:06:38 AM

Watching Intently as a War Is Born 6,000 Miles Away. After months of diplomacy and ominous words from Washington, there was some shrugging acceptance now that the moment for action had come. By Tina Kelley and Elissa Gootman. 11:06:37 AM

Starting a War, Appealing for Surrender and Pulling Out the Networks. Roughly 90 minutes after the ultimatum to Saddam Hussein expired Wednesday without the Iraqi leader showing any willingness to flee Baghdad, American forces fired the first shots of the campaign to remove Mr. Hussein by force. President Bush, in a brief address to the nation about 45 minutes after the attack was launched, announced that American forces had begun the By Anthony Depalma. 11:06:36 AM

Day of Waiting and Wondering Ends With Word From President. At 10:15 on Wednesday night, President Bush ended what had become an anxious guessing game in Iraq, in Washington and around the world. By Richard W. Stevenson. 11:06:36 AM

New York Steps Up Some Scrutiny and Some Traffic Slows to Crawl. Concerned that river crossings are among the likelier potential targets for terrorist attacks, the New York Police Department sharply increased its patrols at bridges and tunnels. By William K. Rashbaum and James Barron. 11:06:35 AM

Text of President Bush's Speech By The New York Times. 11:06:34 AM

White House Tells Congress Why the Nation Must Go to War. Following are excerpts from a White House report to Congress yesterday on the president's rationale for war, as provided by the White House. The full report is online at nytimes.com/international. 11:06:34 AM

Administration Seeks More Money to Protect Against Terror Attacks. The White House has said that it plans to ask Congress for an emergency spending package for domestic counterterrorism programs. By Philip Shenon. 11:06:33 AM

Strong Reservations, Most Aimed at Bush. President Bush's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein and the approach of war prompted strong reaction abroad. 11:06:33 AM

Approach of War Reveals an Alienation in California. As Americans braced in recent days for the war against Iraq, many Californians were feeling strangely out of it. By Dean E. Murphy. 11:06:33 AM

After a Lengthy Buildup, an Anticlimactic Strike. When explosions finally rang out in Baghdad, they seemed so mild that even some veteran warriors could not believe the war had begun. By Alessandra Stanley. 11:06:32 AM

We Interrupt This Broadcast, but How Much for How Long?. Executives worry about when to return to regular programming after hostilities fully break out and what adjustments they will have to make to their prime time lineups. By Bill Carter. 11:06:32 AM

Bin Laden Chose 9/11 Targets, Qaeda Agent Says. A senior leader of Al Qaeda captured early this month in Pakistan has told interrogators that Osama bin Laden personally selected the targets for the Sept. 11 attacks. By Eric Lichtblau. 11:06:31 AM

Senator Deplores Attack on Iraq. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the senior member of the Senate, said that he mourned the prospects for his nation at the start of a war he has long opposed. By The New York Times. 11:06:31 AM

Some Insurance Rates in the Gulf Have Doubled Overnight. Prices for insurance for ships, businesses, oil workers and journalists in the Persian Gulf region are skyrocketing. By Joseph B. Treaster. 11:06:30 AM

A Trade Show Talks Shop Between Talk of an Invasion. War worries were pervasive on Wednesday at a large international gathering of the wireless communications industry. By Simon Romero. 11:06:30 AM

Troops Told to Carry Freedom, Not the Flag. United States troops were ordered not to display any flags because they could give Iraqi citizens the wrong idea about the convoys of artillery, ammunition and soldiers. By Jim Dwyer. 11:06:29 AM

An Army Brat Who Grew Up and Became an Officer. CAMP NEW JERSEY, Kuwait, March 19 In some ways, Col. Steven Boltz is an unusual intelligence officer. Colonel Boltz, deputy chief of staff for intelligence of the Army's V Corps, does not have a West Point or Ivy League degree: his father was an Army sergeant. At times he is blunt and talkative; at other times, according to some among his staff, he can be moody and quiet. By Bernard Weinraub. 11:06:29 AM

In Kuwait, a Dentist From Queens Misses the Subway and the Met. Capt. Cynthia V. Brito never thought she'd go to war, but she accepted her situation with aplomb, with some humor and, of course, plenty of nerves. By Bernard Weinraub. 11:06:28 AM

With Battle Ahead, Sober Time for Troops. As soldiers prepared for the drive to Iraq, they attended religious services, bought items in the almost empty post exchanges and made last-minute phone calls. By Bernard Weinraub. 11:06:27 AM

Setting the Stage. Some wars begin with a bang. Others begin with limited airstrikes and psychological operations to weaken the enemy's resistance. This war began with both. By Michael R. Gordon. 11:06:26 AM

U.S. Courts Network It Once Described as 'All Osama'. The Bush administration has embraced Al Jazeera as Washington fights the propaganda front of the Iraqi conflict. By Jane Perlez with Jim Rutenberg. 11:06:25 AM

Turkey Limits Military Help to U.S. on Iraq. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey was poised only to open its airspace to American warplanes bound for Iraq. By Frank Bruni. 11:06:25 AM

Big Sandstorm, 'Kuwaiti Crud,' Clogs the Lungs and Stops the Convoys. An enormous sandstorm swept through the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, limiting visibility to a few yards and grounding helicopters. By Marc Santora. 11:06:25 AM

Critics Say U.S. Lacks Legal Basis for Attack. Diplomats argued that the planned American-led invasion to disarm Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein had no basis in international law. By Felicity Barringer. 11:06:24 AM

Iraqis Told, 'Sign Here' to Surrender as Lee Did. Even before the war started, the U.S. Army was telling officers in Iraq to surrender their units by signing "articles of capitulation." By Bernard Weinraub. 11:06:24 AM

In a Day of Waiting, First Surrenders and Later, First Missile Attack. Army engineering battalions pushed into the demilitarized zone along the Iraqi border as the first Iraqi soldiers surrendered. By Patrick E. Tyler. 11:06:23 AM

Iraq Launches Missile Attack Against U.S. Troops. Iraq fired missiles across the Kuwaiti border toward U.S. troops today, prompting soldiers to put on gas masks. At least one of the rockets was intercepted by Patriot missiles. By The Associated Press. 11:06:23 AM

Antiwar Protests Flare in Many Countries. A wave of antiwar protests began to roll across Europe and the Middle East today after the war against Iraq sparked angry demonstrations in Asia and Australia. By Reuters. 11:06:22 AM

Bush Declares Start of Iraq War; Missile Said to Be Aimed at Hussein. American forces poised on Iraq's southern border and at sea began strikes to disarm the country. By David E. Sanger with John F. Burns. 11:06:22 AM

Pentag Iraq Fires Back and Appeals for Surrender Go Out By The New York Times. 11:06:21 AM

Iraqi War Worries Seoul That North Korea Might Be Next. The first American air and missile strikes on Iraq inspired worries here today that North Korea might be next on the list of Washington's targets and that South Korea could be drawn into conflict whether it likes it or not. By Don Kirk. 11:06:20 AM

W.H.O. Reports Gains Against Respiratory Outbreak. The World Health Organization expressed optimism that scientists had found a virus that could be the cause of a respiratory ailment. By Lawrence K. Altman with Mark Landler. 11:06:20 AM

1,000 U.S. Troops Raid Afghan Towns. About 1,000 American troops launched a raid on villages in southeastern Afghanistan on Thursday in a hunt for al Qaeda members. By Jane Perlez. 11:06:19 AM

In Baghdad, Sirens Wail as Missiles Strike. Saddam Hussein exhorted his people to "draw your swords" against invaders and referred to the U.S. government as "criminals" and "Zionists." By John F. Burns. 11:06:17 AM

Border Clash Follows Iraq Firing Missiles at G.I.'s in Kuwait. A patrol of light armored vehicles from the Marine First Division encountered two Iraqi armored personnel carriers south of the border with Iraq. By John F. Kifner with David E. Sanger. 11:06:16 AM

Senator Deplores Attack on Iraq. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the senior member of the Senate, said that he mourned the prospects for his nation at the start of a war he has long opposed. By The New York Times. 11:06:15 AM

Text of President Bush's Speech By The New York Times. 11:06:14 AM

After a Lengthy Buildup, an Anticlimactic Strike. When explosions finally rang out in Baghdad, they seemed so mild that even some veteran warriors could not believe the war had begun. By Alessandra Stanley. 11:06:14 AM

House Votes to Make It Harder to Seek Bankruptcy. Heeding complaints from lenders and businesses, the House passed a measure to make it harder for people to eliminate their debts by filing for bankruptcy. By Carl Hulse. 11:06:13 AM

Searchers Find Data Recorder From Shuttle. Searchers seeking debris from the space shuttle Columbia have found a data recorder that captures information from dozens of sensor locations. By Matthew L. Wald. 11:06:13 AM

Bioterror Adviser to Reduce Role. Dr. Donald A. Henderson informed the Department of Health and Human Services in a letter made public yesterday that he would significantly reduce the time he spent as one of its principal advisers on bioterrorism. By The New York Times. 11:06:12 AM

Anti-Germ Bill Advances, but a Related One Stalls. A Senate committee unanimously approved a plan to strengthen the nation's germ warfare defense, but could not agree on compensation for people injured by the smallpox vaccine. By Robert Pear. 11:06:12 AM

Chaos by Lone Man Bewilders Capital. A tobacco farmer who drove a tractor rig into a decorative pond on the National Mall and threatened to blow himself up surrendered to authorities on Wednesday. By Christopher Marquis. 11:06:11 AM

Drilling in Alaska, a Priority for Bush, Fails in the Senate. The Senate narrowly voted against drilling for oil in the Alaskan wildlife refuge, dealing a crippling blow to the central element of the Bush energy plan. By David Firestone. 11:06:11 AM

Bin Laden Chose 9/11 Targets, Al Qaeda Leader Says. A senior leader of Al Qaeda captured early this month in Pakistan has told interrogators that Osama bin Laden personally selected the targets for the Sept. 11 attacks. By Eric Lichtblau. 11:06:10 AM

Administration Seeks More Money to Protect Against Terror Attacks. The White House has said that it plans to ask Congress for an emergency spending package for domestic counterterrorism programs. By Philip Shenon. 11:06:10 AM

Day of Waiting and Wondering Ends With Word From President. At 10:15 on Wednesday night, President Bush ended what had become an anxious guessing game in Iraq, in Washington and around the world. By Richard W. Stevenson. 11:06:09 AM

Warning of Difficulty, Bush Says Americans Will Disarm Foe. American forces struck Baghdad after American officials received fresh intelligence that suggested a gathering of senior Iraqi leaders. By David E. Sanger with John F. Burns. 11:06:09 AM

Tips for Crossing Platforms By David Pogue. 11:06:02 AM

Hold It Right There, My Camera's Ringing. Manufacturers of mobile phones and the companies that provide service for them seem to be betting that Americans will share Japanese consumers' enthusiasm for taking pictures with their phones. By Stephen C. Miller. 11:06:01 AM

For Work or Wanderlust, Carry Thousands of Maps. Even if you could afford to buy 62,000 topographic maps and nautical charts, storing them might pose problems. Now Maptech, a company that distributes digital copies of government maps on CD's, is making its collection available for downloading by subscription. By Ian Austen. 11:06:01 AM

Zoom In on Distant Action With a Long, Steady Lens. A high-powered zoom lens magnifies not only the detail of a subject but its motion and that of the camera. Such unwanted motion was an easily anticipated problem for buyers of the Lumix DMC-FZ1 from Panasonic: its Leica Vario-Elmarit lens has a 12X zoom ratio, the longest of any digital still camera. By Ivan Berger. 11:06:00 AM

Happily Roaming the House With a Wireless Monitor. Despite their complications, home networks are usually the solution for people who want to connect computers scattered around the house. Philips aims to simplify the equation with the DesXcape 150DM, which lets one computer be in two places at once. By Adam Baer. 11:06:00 AM

A Vintage Palmtop Holds Users in Thrall. WHEN Victor Rehorst pulls out his oversize personal digital assistant, there is often someone with a question. "They usually ask, what kind of a Palm is that?" Mr. Rehorst said. By Ian Austen. 11:05:57 AM

Calling Your Own Shots on Unsafe Attachments. Q. I keep getting a message that says, "Outlook Express removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your mail." Is there a way to block this message and decide for myself whether attachments are unsafe? By J.d. Biersdorfer. 11:05:55 AM

Memories as Heirlooms Logged Into a Database. Microsoft researchers are devising an electronic diary that can keep track of all the everyday details in a person's life in a single database. By Anne Eisenberg. 11:05:54 AM

Help Wanted: Customizing a Job Search. Its not the be-all and end-all, but the Web, skillfully used, can help a job hunter get a leg up. By Thomas J. Fitzgerald. 11:05:54 AM

Where Heroes Get Help, and Villains Get Their Due. New video games allow you to steal from the rich and battle evil. By Charles Herold. 11:05:53 AM

Headphones to Please The Eyes as Well as the Ears. Headphones have evolved in their own right, both as audio equipment and fashion statements. By Michel Marriott. 11:05:52 AM

Technology Briefing: Internet. ERROR FORCES AMAZON TO SHUT BRITISH WEB SITE;. 11:05:51 AM

Technology Briefing: Hardware. APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS SHARES DROP ON LOWERED FORECAST; GORE ELECTED TO APPLE COMPUTER BOARD; STUDY FOCUSES ON DECLINE OF HIGH-TECH JOBS;. 11:05:51 AM

Technology Briefing: Software. ADOBE IMPOSES LIMIT ON INSIDERS' SHARE SALES;. 11:05:50 AM

Can't Get a Tee Time? Try the Corner Bar. Virtual golfers have turned a coin-operated video game into a barroom phenomenon. By David Bernstein. 11:05:49 AM

Big Holder Buying Rest of Expedia in Stock Deal. Expedia, one of the largest online travel agencies, agreed on Wednesday to be acquired by its part-owner USA Interactive. By Saul Hansell. 11:05:48 AM

A Trade Show Talks Shop Between Talk of an Invasion. War worries were pervasive on Wednesday at a large international gathering of the wireless communications industry. By Simon Romero. 11:05:46 AM

For Laptops, a New Way to Say 'Fast'. Intel's new Centrino chip for laptops is very fast and dramatically improves battery life, but not everyone will need it. By David Pogue. 11:05:45 AM

Their Mission: Intercepting Deadly Cargo. Sophisticated, expensive electronic devices are being used to prevent terrorists from bringing weapons through American ports and borders. By Seth Schiesel. 11:05:44 AM

Technology Briefing: Hardware. APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS SHARES DROP ON LOWERED FORECAST; GORE ELECTED TO APPLE COMPUTER BOARD; STUDY FOCUSES ON DECLINE OF HIGH-TECH JOBS;. 11:05:43 AM

Pirelli Returns to Basics With Tires Made in U.S.. While the phone industry and Pirelli's other core business, manufacturing cable, are in deep slumps, Pirelli's tire operation has held up well. By Eric Sylvers. 11:05:42 AM

Europe Challenging German Law Protecting VW. The European Commission began legal proceedings on Wednesday to challenge a German law that protects Volkswagen from a hostile takeover. By Paul Meller. 11:05:41 AM

Britain Plans to Review 4 of 5 Bidders for Safeway. A British official ruled that four of the five potential buyers of the supermarket chain would have to submit their proposals to further antitrust scrutiny. By Suzanne Kapner. 11:05:40 AM

Diller Is Leaving Vivendi Entertainment Post. Barry Diller said that he was leaving his job as interim chief executive of Vivendi Universal Entertainment to focus on his interactive business. By Geraldine Fabrikant. 11:05:39 AM

Technology Briefing: Internet. ERROR FORCES AMAZON TO SHUT BRITISH WEB SITE;. 11:05:38 AM

Robert Leonard, a Creator of Ticketmaster, Dies at 70. Robert Anthony Leonard's technical expertise and marketing prowess helped create the worldwide machine that opens doors to over 150,000 events a year. By Wolfgang Saxon. 11:05:37 AM

Sending 'Liberal Media' Truism to the Fact-Checker. In an impressively researched book, Eric Alterman provocatively challenges the conservative belief in a liberal media bias. By Orville Schell. 11:05:36 AM

U.S. Courts Network It Once Described as 'All Osama'. The Bush administration has embraced Al Jazeera as Washington fights the propaganda front of the Iraqi conflict. By Jane Perlez with Jim Rutenberg. 11:05:35 AM

We Interrupt This Broadcast, but How Much for How Long?. Executives worry about when to return to regular programming after hostilities fully break out and what adjustments they will have to make to their prime time lineups. By Bill Carter. 11:05:34 AM

Strong Reservations, Most Aimed at Bush. President Bush's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein and the approach of war prompted strong reaction abroad. 11:05:33 AM

A Rocker and a Revered Author Bond for a Cause. When Robert Coles, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, needed to raise enough money to save his magazine, DoubleTake, from closing, he called Bruce Springsteen. By Jacques Steinberg. 11:05:32 AM

Now, Teenage D/cor. Pottery Barn has announced the first comprehensive line directed exclusively at consumers aged 12 to 19. By Marianne Rohrlich. 11:05:31 AM

In U.S. Eyes, a Fraud Particularly Bold. It was a fraud that went on for more than 15 years, complete with By Floyd Norris. 11:05:30 AM

Paying the Price for Isolation. American unilateral bravado regarding the war could be costly when it comes to the economy. By Jeff Madrick. 11:05:29 AM

A Most Unsettling Time for French Wineries. The threat of a boycott of French wines by Americans could not come at a worse time for a struggling industry. By John Tagliabue. 11:05:28 AM

Many Marketers to Curb Campaigns. Major marketers are poised to shelve billions of dollars worth of advertising when war with Iraq breaks out. By Stuart Elliott. 11:05:27 AM

Persian Gulf Oil Disruptions Have Begun. So far, the markets have shrugged off concerns that problems with shipping in the region could be substantial or last long. By Neela Banerjee. 11:05:26 AM

Art Dealer and 3 Others Sued Over $26.5 Million in Taxes. Federal prosecutors filed suit on Wednesday against the Manhattan art dealer Larry Gagosian and three business associates. By Carol Vogel. 11:05:25 AM

Designers Lose a Free Oscar Plug. Hollywood's decision to roll up the red carpet at the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday will cost the fashion industry incalculable free publicity. By Ruth La Ferla and Alex Kuczynski. 11:05:25 AM

Big Holder Buying Rest of Expedia in Stock Deal. Expedia, one of the largest online travel agencies, agreed on Wednesday to be acquired by its part-owner USA Interactive. By Saul Hansell. 11:05:23 AM

Interpublic Faces Audit by I.R.S.. The company disclosed a federal audit of its income tax returns and provided more details about previously announced charges. 11:05:22 AM

Some Insurance Rates in the Gulf Have Doubled Overnight. Prices for insurance for ships, businesses, oil workers and journalists in the Persian Gulf region are skyrocketing. By Joseph B. Treaster. 11:05:21 AM

A Trade Show Talks Shop Between Talk of an Invasion. War worries were pervasive on Wednesday at a large international gathering of the wireless communications industry. By Simon Romero. 11:05:20 AM

In Shift, Enron Will Retain Interests in Some Pipelines. The stories of Enron's ultimate demise may prove to be at least somewhat exaggerated. By Kurt Eichenwald. 11:05:19 AM

House Votes to Make It Harder to Seek Bankruptcy. Heeding complaints from lenders and businesses, the House passed a measure to make it harder for people to eliminate their debts by filing for bankruptcy. By Carl Hulse. 11:05:18 AM

Airline to Drop 1,200 Jobs as Part of Cost-Cutting Plan. Continental Airlines said that it would eliminate 1,200 jobs as part of a plan that would try to cut expenses $500 million a year. By Edward Wong. 11:05:16 AM

Oil Prices Surge on Reports of Iraq Fires. LONDON (AP) -- Oil prices jumped Thursday as U.S. military officers reported that three oil wells were burning in southern Iraq. By The Associated Press. 11:05:14 AM

Detroit Fears Sales Will Turn More Sluggish. With high gas prices and war jitters putting a dent in auto sales, many car dealers are worried that even zero percent financing won't help. By Danny Hakim. 11:05:11 AM

Sprint Settles Suits With Policy Shift and $50 Million. In a settlement that may signal a shift in the battleground for corporate reform, Sprint agreed to changes in governance. By Patrick Mcgeehan. 11:05:10 AM

Karmazin to Stay at Viacom. After months of negotiations, Mel Karmazin, the president of Viacom, signed a new contract to remain with the company. By Geraldine Fabrikant. 11:05:08 AM

Hospital Chain Accused of Accounting Fraud. HealthSouth, the nation's largest chain of rehabilitation hospitals, was accused on Wednesday of adding $1.4 billion in nonexistent earnings to its profits. By Milt Freudenheim. 11:05:06 AM

Allianz Reports $1.3 Billion Loss in 2002. German insurance giant Allianz said today it lost $1.3 billion last year, citing continued deficits at its Dresdner Bank subsidiary. By The Associated Press. 11:05:05 AM

Airlines Cancel Flights as War Begins. Many airlines cancelled flights today and sent special planes to ferry their nationals home. By The Associated Press. 11:05:05 AM

Economic Indicators Fall in February. A yardstick of future U.S. economic activity declined in February, reversing a four-month trend of gains, the Conference Board reported today. By The Associated Press. 11:05:04 AM

Stocks Retreat as Tensions Mount. The Dow Jones industrial average fell today after six straight sessions of gains, as investors grew skittish over the war in Iraq. By The Associated Press. 11:05:04 AM