The America's Intelligence Wire articles from March 2004

The America's Intelligence Wire archives from March 2004

THE REAL REASON JOBS WON'T BE COMING BACK.
March 1, 2004... (From BusinessWeek) MICHAEL J. MANDEL was heading in the right direction when he zoomed past the real reason jobs have not reappeared (``So where are the jobs?'' News: Analysis & Commentary, Jan. 26). The foundation of economic theory is...

Zurich, Geneva named cities with highest quality of life.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) The Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva topped an urban quality of life survey published Monday. The war-battered Iraqi capital, Baghdad, ranked last in the survey of 215 cities around the world. Vancouver, Canada and...

Trinidad defeats Haiti 6-2 in women's Olympic soccer qualifying.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Natalie Des Vignes scored three goals Sunday as Trinidad and Tobago won its first match at the CONCACAF women's Olympic soccer qualifying tournament by beating Haiti 6-2. Both teams have been eliminated from the...

Alves, Osorio score two each as Talleres takes top spot in Argentine league.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Victor Piriz Alves and Aldo Osorio scored two goals each Sunday as Talleres beat Colon 4-0 to take over first place after three rounds in the Argentine league. The victory was the third straight for the Cordoba-based...

Fifty years on, historic school desegregation ruling remains a work in progress.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) EDITOR'S NOTE: It was 50 years ago that the U.S. Supreme Court decreed segregated public schools unconstitutional. The effects live on in myriad ways, and yet, in much of America, equality and integration remain...

United States beats Mexico in women's Olympic soccer qualifying; Trinidad tops Haiti.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Abby Wambach scored the insurance goal in the 28th minute Sunday as the United States beat Mexico 2-0 at the CONCACAF women's Olympic soccer qualifying tournament. Both teams advanced to the semifinals of the...

Mexican Soccer Results.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Results from the eighth round of the Mexican first division (home teams listed first): Saturday's games Veracruz 1, Chiapas 3 Cruz Azul 1, Pachuca 2 Monterrey 2, Santos 1 Guadalajara 0, Toluca 0...

Tokyo stocks open higher, dollar flat against yen.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Tokyo stocks opened higher on Monday, as investors shrugged off a tech stock downturn on Wall Street last week and focused instead on the U.S. dollar's recent gains against the Japanese yen. The dollar was steady...

TV Reporter Accused of Sex With Minors.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A television reporter has been charged with having sexual contact with minors, some of whom were troubled youths he had mentored, police said. Stephen Hill, 45, was hospitalized with self-inflicted slashes on his...

Brazilian Soccer Results.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Results from the regional Brazilian soccer championships (home teams listed first): Carioca Championship Wednesday's game Vasco 2, Madureira 1 Saturday's game Portuguesa 2, America 2 Sunday's...

Rivals Fluminense and Botafogo play to scoreless draw in Rio Cup.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Fluminense goalkeeper Fernando Henrique came up with several big saves Sunday as his team played rival Botafogo to a 0-0 draw in the Rio Cup. The game at Maracana stadium marked the first matchup between top teams in...

Residents of remote northwest Australian towns warned to brace for fierce cyclone.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Weather authorities Monday warned residents of remote northwest Australian towns to brace for a powerful tropical cyclone expected to lash the region. Cyclone Monty was carrying destructive gusts of up to 240...

Kovalchuk nets two goals as Thrashers beat Rangers 3-2.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Ilya Kovalchuk bounced back from a one-game benching to score his NHL-leading 34th and 35th goals, and the Atlanta Thrashers held off the New York Rangers 3-2 Sunday. "I apologized to the team, and I just wanted to...

Pleasure Craft Sinks Off Miami, Killing 1.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A man died and two others survived after a 20-foot pleasure boat they were on sank in Biscayne Bay, the Coast Guard said Sunday. The boat was anchored Saturday night when it started sinking and the three men abandoned...

Obituaries in the News.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Ken Carter DALLAS (AP) _ Longtime radio broadcaster Ken Carter died Saturday. He suffered from congestive heart disease and diabetes, a friend said. He was 60. Carter billed himself as the "semi-legendary almost...

Pumas defeat Morelia 2-1 to move to 17 points overall in Mexican league.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Ismael Iniguez and Argentine Bruno Marioni scored a goal each Sunday as the Pumas of Mexico's National Autonomous University defeated Morelia 2-1 to stay in the lead of Group 2 in Mexican league. The Chiapas Jaguars,...

Cahill OK to play for Australia.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Tim Cahill, who spent five minutes playing soccer for Western Samoa as a teenager, has won his nine-year quest to represent Australia, authorities said Monday. Sydney-born Cahill, who plays for English first division...

Report says Australian government was "more moderate" than United States, Britain in assessment of Iraqi threat.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) A parliamentary report Monday cleared the Australian government of exaggerating the threat of Iraq's prewar weapons programs, saying Canberra was "more moderate" than coalition partners Britain and the United States....

Guatemala goalkeeper Danny Ortiz dies after collision during league match.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Guatemala international goalkeeper Danny Ortiz died Sunday after colliding with an opponent during a Guatemalan league soccer match. Ortiz, who was playing for Municipal, crashed into Comunicaciones forward Mario...

Report: Japan, France to provide aid for Iraqi museum, Olympic athletes.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Japan and France plan to coordinate their aid to Iraq, providing funds to sponsor Olympic athletes and restore relics at the war-ravaged country's National Museum, a report said Monday. Japanese Foreign Minister...

Report says Australian government was "more moderate" than United States, Britain in assessment of Iraqi threat.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) A parliamentary report Monday cleared the Australian government of exaggerating the threat of Iraq's prewar weapons programs, saying Canberra was "more moderate" than coalition partners Britain and the United States....

Strong quake shakes southern Greece, no reports of injuries or damage.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A strong earthquake shook southern Greece early Monday and authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damages. The Thessaloniki Seismological Institute said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of...

Strong Quake Shakes Southern Greece.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A strong earthquake shook southern Greece early Monday and authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage. The Thessaloniki Seismological Institute said the quake had a preliminary...

Iraqis said to reach agreement on text of interim constitution.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Iraqi officials reached agreement early Monday on the draft of an interim constitution and will probably sign the document after a Shiite Muslim religious holiday ends, a spokesman for a member of the Iraqi Governing...

Report says Australian government was "more moderate" than United States, Britain in assessment of Iraqi threat.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A parliamentary report Monday cleared the Australian government of exaggerating the threat of Iraq's prewar weapons programs, saying Canberra was "more moderate" than coalition partners Britain and the United States. ...

Strong quake shakes southern Greece, no reports of injuries or damage.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) A strong earthquake shook southern Greece early Monday and authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damages. The Thessaloniki Seismological Institute said the quake had a preliminary...

U.N. Security Council reaches agreement to send military force to restore order in Haiti, diplomats say.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) U.N. Security Council members reached agreement Sunday night to authorize the deployment of an international force to Haiti for three months to restore order in the lawless Caribbean nation, U.N. diplomats said. A...

Man Drives SUV Into Maui Airport.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A man drove a sport utility vehicle into the ticket lobby of Maui's main airport Sunday, then set the vehicle on fire, grounding outgoing flights for hours. No one was injured in the incident, which the FBI said was...

Iraqis said to reach agreement on text of interim constitution.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Iraqi officials reached agreement early Monday on the draft of an interim constitution and will probably sign the document after a Shiite Muslim religious holiday ends, a spokesman for a member of the Iraqi Governing...

Aristide says he was bound for South Africa, according to Caribbean official.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A senior Caribbean official said Sunday that Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide told him a during refueling stop he was bound for South Africa. Aristide, who left Haiti early Sunday, did not indicate whether he...

Tokyo stocks surge more than 2 percent to 20-month high at midday as dollar rises against yen.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Tokyo stocks climbed nearly 2.5 percent to a 20-month high on Monday morning, as investors snapped up technology issues and other blue chip exporters in response to the U.S. dollar's rise against the Japanese yen. The...

China's premier affirms plans for `stable' currency.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Premier Wen Jiabao affirmed China's plans to keep its currency's politically sensitive exchange rate "basically stable," a state financial newspaper said Monday. Wen's comments come amid intense foreign pressure on...

Aristide says he was bound for South Africa, according to Caribbean official.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A senior Caribbean official said Sunday that Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide told him a during refueling stop he was bound for South Africa. Aristide, who left Haiti early Sunday, did not indicate whether he...

Hong Kong robbery victims tied to tree, then rescued when family phones thief on mobile.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Thieves robbed a Hong Kong couple and tied them to a tree in a park, but they were rescued more than 10 hours later after their family rang their mobile phone and a thief answered and explained where they were, police said...

Small Plane Skirts Vehicle in Vt. Landing.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) The pilot of a small plane made an emergency landing on a Vermont road Sunday after losing the plane's only engine, passing above a vehicle before landing in front of an overpass with just enough room to coast under it....

Police raid railway company's offices, arrest executives, suspected racketeers on suspicion of payoff scandal.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Police on Monday raided the headquarters of major railway operator Seibu and arrested several company officials, including a top executive, for their suspected roles in a corporate racketeering scandal. Seibu Railways...

Man drives SUV into Maui airport, halts air traffic for hours.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A man drove a sport utility vehicle into the ticket lobby of Maui's main airport, then set the vehicle on fire, grounding outgoing flights for hours. No one was injured in the incident Sunday, which the FBI said was...

Pierce leads Celtics over Raptors 91-82.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Paul Pierce scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Boston Celtics beat Toronto 91-82 Sunday, the Raptors' season-worst ninth straight loss. Jiri Welsch added 15 points for the Celtics, who...

Seven Teens Die in Tennessee Car Wreck.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A car with seven teenagers aboard went airborne after going fast over a small hill, hitting a tree and killing everyone inside, police said. Officers quoted friends of the driver, Michael Fradella, 15, as saying he...

Trade minister cautions Australian business on U.S. free trade deal.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Trade Minister Mark Vaile conceded Monday that not all sectors of Australian business will be pleased with the government's free trade agreement with the United States once its details are fully disclosed. Details of...

Pittman, sprinters among missing on Australian Olympic athletics team.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Ten athletes, including former world pole vault champion Dmitri Markov, were guaranteed berths in the Australian athletics team for the Athens Games after a four-day Olympic selection meet. But Athletics Australia...

Heavy Rain Blamed for Two Deaths in Texas.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Two people, including a woman swept away by rushing water, died Sunday as heavy rain moved through North Texas. The woman drowned after being swept away as she tried to cross a rain-swollen creek, Crowley police said....

New Paltz, New York, mayor waiting until weekend to perform more marriages.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) New Paltz Mayor Jason West said he won't perform any more gay or lesbian marriages until Saturday. West said he has been overwhelmed by the number of people inquiring about the ceremonies since Thursday night, when he...

New Paltz Mayor Plans More Gay Weddings.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) New Paltz Mayor Jason West said he won't perform any more gay or lesbian marriages until Saturday. West said he has been overwhelmed by the number of people inquiring about the ceremonies since Thursday night, when he...

Two American brothers deported from Philippines for suspected links to terrorist groups.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Two American brothers arrested in the Philippines last year for alleged ties to al-Qaida-linked groups were deported to the United States, immigration officials said Monday. Michael Ray Stubbs, 55, of Antioch,...

Residents of remote northwest Australian towns warned to brace for fierce cyclone.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Weather authorities Monday warned residents of remote northwest Australian towns to brace for a powerful tropical cyclone expected to lash the region. Cyclone Monty was carrying destructive gusts of up to 240...

Aging boomers fight for entertainment limelight.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- It's not the first time older actors have made their presence felt at the Academy Awards, but this year's nomination of Diane Keaton as best actress in "Something's Gotta Give"...

UPDATE 1-Dollar rises vs. yen, weak vs. euro in Asia.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) TOKYO (CBS.MW) - The dollar rose against the yen by early afternoon trade Monday in Asia on suspected forex intervention after a senior Japanese finance ministry official indicated that the greenback has...

UPDATE 2-Tokyo stocks surge on strong Japan, U.S.economic signs.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Tokyo stocks remained sharply higher by midafternoon trade Monday on a weaker yen and strong economic data from both Japan and the United States. The Nikkei gained 229 points, or 2.1...

Australia's BHP Billiton announces China iron ore venture.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Australian mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. announced a multibillion-dollar joint venture Monday to supply iron ore to China's booming steel industry. As part of the deal, four Chinese steel mills will take a stake...

UPDATE 1-Is the bull tiring after 16 months?
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) This is a special edition of The Technical Indicator, a daily CBS MarketWatch column that's usually available only to paying subscribers. For a more detailed assessment of the markets on a day-to-day basis...

UPDATE 1-Cisco is March stock of the month.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - Hurt by disappointment in its latest quarterly results, Cisco saw its shares trimmed in February. But expectations for continued economic recovery and demand for networking products...

Taiwan says ousted Haitian president hasn't asked for asylum.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Taiwan said Monday that ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has not requested asylum on this island. Aristide's close adviser Leslie Voltaire told The Associated Press in Haiti on Sunday that the former...

Indonesia leader visits dengue fever patients.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) President Megawati Sukarnoputri on Monday toured a Jakarta hospital packed with poor children suffering from dengue as the Indonesian government announced the season's death toll from the mosquito-born virus had risen to...

'Rings' goes 11 for 11 at Oscars.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) -- "Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King" received a coronation of record proportions Sunday as the final installment of the fantasy trilogy batted 1.000 at the Academy Awards, taking...

Markets act worried, but are still fairly optimistic.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- As worrisome as things are starting to look, they're still reflecting a fair amount of optimism. The Nasdaq Composite just suffered its sixth-straight weekly loss. Semiconductor...

UPDATE 1-'Rings' goes 11 for 11 at Oscars.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) -- "Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King" received a coronation of record proportions Sunday as the final installment of the fantasy trilogy batted 1.000 at the Academy Awards, taking...

Report: UPS in talks to cancel $9 bln in jet orders.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - UPS, hit by a shift in consumer preferences toward less-expensive ground-delivery services, is negotiating with Airbus to cancel more than $1.6 billion in orders for A300-600...

Police officer slain in latest attack in Thailand's restive south.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) An unidentified gunman fatally shot a police officer Monday in Thailand's restive south, the latest in a string of deadly attacks in the country's Muslim-dominated provinces this year, a police spokesman said. Border...

Australian delegation leaves for Zimbabwe for security tour.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) An Australian cricket delegation left for Zimbabwe on Monday to investigate security measures for this year's proposed one-month tour in May and June. Cricket Australia (CA) general manager Michael Brown and team...

Feds probe Coca-Cola over Japan sales.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) TOKYO (CBS.MW) - U.S. federal investigators are investigating Coca-Cola's dealings with a Japanese company in connection with allegations the beverage giant overstated financial results for several years by...

Tokyo stocks surge 2 percent to close at 20-month high as dollar rises against yen.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Tokyo stocks advanced 2 percent to close at a 20-month high on Monday, as investors snapped up technology issues and other blue chip exporters in response to the U.S. dollar's rise against the Japanese yen. The...

10 people die in bus fire in Tajikistan.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A bus caught fire in an apparent accident outside the Tajik capital, killing 10 passengers aboard including a seven-month-old child, authorities said. Experts believe a gas leak in the engine led to the Saturday...

League head `horrified' over sexual assault allegations.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) The chief executive of Australia's National Rugby League said Monday that allegations of sexual assaults by several players on one club had "horrified" him. David Gallop, speaking outside league headquarters in...

Irish backpackers charged with rape of Canadian tourist.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Two Irish backpackers appeared in court Monday charged with raping a Canadian woman last week in the northern city of Darwin. The two Irish students, aged 19 and 20, were released on bail after facing Darwin...

Governing party candidate killed in eastern Sri Lanka.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Unidentified gunmen raided a hospital at dawn Monday and killed a candidate in coming parliamentary elections who was being treated for injuries received in an attempt on his life two days earlier, police said. ...

Kovalchuk nets two goals as Thrashers beat Rangers 3-2.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Ilya Kovalchuk bounced back from a one-game benching to score his NHL-leading 34th and 35th goals, and the Atlanta Thrashers held off the New York Rangers 3-2. "I apologized to the team, and I just wanted to show...

Japanese police raid railway offices, arrest executives for suspected links to racketeering scandal.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Police on Monday raided the headquarters of Seibu Railway Co. and arrested several company officials, including three top executives, for suspected involvement in a corporate racketeering scandal. Takuji Wakabayashi, a...

Pearson '03 profits rise, sales fall; sees '04 growth.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Pulses)) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Publisher Pearson on Monday said 2003 pre-tax profit rose 3 percent to 410 million pounds, with revenues falling 6 percent to 4.048 billion pounds. The publisher said strong competitive...

GKN '03 pre-tax profits fall 4%, hit by pension charges.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Pulses)) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- GKN , the British engineering group, said 2003 pre-tax profits fell 4 percent to 173 million pounds, while sales rose 3 percent to 4.585 billion pounds. Increased U.K. pension deficit...

Exel logistics 03 sales, profit on Asia, U.K. growth.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Pulses)) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- British logistics group Exel Monday posted a 9.7 percent rise in pre-tax and items profit for 2003 to 148.4 million pounds as sales rose 8.3 percent to 5.1 billion pounds. In constant...

Pierce leads Celtics over Raptors 91-82.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Paul Pierce scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Boston Celtics beat Toronto 91-82 Sunday, the Raptors' season-worst ninth straight loss. Jiri Welsch added 15 points for the Celtics, who ended...

Japan's Narita airport tightens security checks on carry-on baggage.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Passengers flying from Narita International Airport's Terminal 1 can no longer temporarily hand over knives and other sharp objects found in their carry-on luggage during security checks, officials said Monday, amid moves...

Aristide arrives in Central African Republic after fleeing Haiti.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide arrived in Central African Republic early Monday after fleeing his country, state radio reported early Monday. Aristide arrived in the African nation with his wife and...

Aristide arrives in Central African Republic after fleeing Haiti.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide arrived in Central African Republic early Monday after fleeing his country, state radio reported early Monday. Aristide arrived in the African nation with his wife and...

Uzbek authorities extend deadline for aid group registration that has raised fears among international community.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Uzbek authorities extended a Monday deadline for international aid groups to reregister, giving them an extra month to meet new requirements that have raised tension with the United States and concerns among aid groups...

Stoddart wants Formula One engine packages provided.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Minardi Formula One racing team boss Paul Stoddart said Monday he wants the sport's five major engine manufacturers to honor a deal to provide cut-price engines for struggling teams. Minardi said that unless BMW,...

Aristide arrives in Central African Republic after fleeing Haiti.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide arrived in Central African Republic early Monday after fleeing his country, state radio reported early Monday. Aristide arrived in the African nation with his wife...

Retailer M&S to raise UK 400 mln in bond for pensions.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Pulses)) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer Monday announced plans to inject 400 million pounds into its U.K. defined benefit pension plan by the end of March with a bond issue. M&S said a March 31,...

BHP plans China steel venture, sales at $9 bn in 25 yrs.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Pulses)) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- U.K.-Australian mining and metals group BHP Billiton Monday announced plans for a joint venture agreement with four Chinese steel mills, called the Wheelarra Joint Venture. It said the...

UPDATE 3-Tokyo stocks surge on strong Japan, U.S.economic signs.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Tokyo's key stock benchmark closed at a 20-month high Monday as exporters jumped on a weaker yen and strong economic data from both Japan and the United States. The Nikkei Average ended...

Eaton Vance fund manager keeps lid on taxes and risk.
March 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) Byline: Reed Fujii BOSTON (CBS.MW) -- Duncan Richardson is a cautious investor -- and proud of it. "Boring is beautiful," said Richardson, manager of the Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Growth 1.2 fund....

State government rejects call to cull koalas.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Byline: Reed Fujii Cute, cuddly and fast breeding, thousands of koalas are eating themselves out of a home on an Australian island. Worried authorities admit the teddy-bear like creatures could soon face...

Subway workers vote to go on strike.
March 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Byline: Reed Fujii Subway workers on the London Underground have voted to go on strike over the firing of maintenance staff, their union said Monday. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said members voted to...