Terenews should be back online shortly. Here is a message I received
from them yesterday morning:

This email is in regards to your account with
us.

We would like to inform you that we are currently having problems with one
of our domain names (teranews.com).  You will not be able to connect to any
host names that in end teranews.com, including free.teranews.com, although
http://www.teranews.net is not effected.

Our domain registrar, DirectNIC.com recently contacted us requesting that we
update our domains whois information to include a telephone number.  We
explained that we provided all support via email and/or postal mail.
DirectNic.com responded saying that we had then had to buy their
"Anonymous Domain" service.  We did not want the stigma attached to such
services as we have ran an honest business for over 5 years.  We informed
them that we would order a telephone line to comply with their demands.  The
only reply from DirectNic.com was when they disabled our domain.  Apparently
buying more service is an acceptable solution, but ordering a phone line is
not.

Although our phone system isn't complete, as our voice prompts haven't been
customized, we have been assigned a phone number.  We have updated the whois
information as requested, yet DirectNIC.com has still not restored our
domain.

We need our customers help.  Please call DirectNIC at (504) 679-5170 and
request that expedite this matter.  They are effecting the lives of nearly
100,000 people.

Thank you,
Tera News Staff
help@teranews.net

And here is a second update I received later on Thursday from teranews:

This email is in regards to your account with
us.

We received good news from DirectNIC.com!

At 1:39pm:

If today you carbon copy me at legal@directnic.com on a message to the same
group informing them that they should not contact directNIC regarding this
matter because you made a mistake, then we will drop the issue of damages
and go back to business as usual.

At 4:07pm:

"The only acceptable option at this point is for you to send out a retraction
email by 5:00 p.m. central standard time today, clarifying that you were
incorrect to blame directNIC, to the same people that received your original
email. If you do not, then you will have to accept the consequences of your
actions."

[ we then asked if they would restore our domain, their reply is below ]

At 4:54pm:

"Now we must also require the rescinding email to be carbon copied to
legal@directnic.com. We are not interested in you blaming yourself, but
you must
clarify that we are not to blame; otherwise, the defamation will
continue to harm
us.

With those two conditions met, we can restore all three domains.
I hope you can understand our position and that we can get this
resolved today."

-- end quotes --

We replied that the this email would be sent so here it is...

To our most honorable users, DirectNIC and TeraNews have reached an
agreement.  It is our wish that you no longer contact DirectNIC in regards
to this case.  They are not to blame for the disruption of service and have
agreeed to restore service today.

We look forward to resuming service.  We thank you for your support and
understanding. Your show of support will be rewarded.

Thank you,
Tera News Staff
help@teranews.net