French Find No Flight-Terror Tie, But American Suspicions Remain
Date: 26 December 2003
By Edmund L. Andrews and Craig S. Smith
Edmund Andrews
French security officials say they have found no terrorist links among people booked for six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles that were canceled as result of warnings from American officials; American government officials say United States is still investigating people with reserved seats on planes who never showed up for flights; Bush administration officials say potential attackers might have been tipped off by news reports earlier in week that included vague references to American concerns about France; refuse to say if any of no-shows were on list of suspected terrorists that Americans supplied the French this week; French officials say they plan to resume Paris-Los Angeles flights on Dec 26; in New York and New Jersey, police increase their surveillance of critical sites out of general caution rather than specific threats; police officers around United States remain on alert but there are few signs of trouble on Christmas holiday; United States formally asks Mexico to heighten security precautions at Mexican airports and border crossings; photo (M)
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Big Lender Is Indicted In Japan
Date: 27 December 2003
By Ken Belson
Ken Belson
Takefuji Corp, one of Japan's biggest consumer loan companies, is indicted on charges of wiretapping conversations of journalists who have criticized its lending practices; chairman Yasuo Takei is arrested for violating telecommunications laws after admitting to ordering wiretaps; Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service lower credit ratings for Takefuji, and share price falls 2.8 percent; photo (M)
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Where's the Mayor? Not Your Business, Staff Says
Date: 27 December 2003
By Eric Lipton
Eric Lipton
Eric Lipton analyzes policy of New York officials on informing public about personal travel; Mayor Michael R Bloomberg refuses to inform press of his personal travels, while Gov George E Pataki gives only vague destinations and periods (M)
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New Year's Resolutions
Date: 26 December 2003
By Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman Op-Ed column says Pres Bush has turned country sharply to right and holds that 2004 Presidential election will determine whether right's takeover is complete; hopes news coverage of election will reflect its seriousness; offers some suggestions to his journalistic colleagues, including wish that they actually look at candidates' policy proposals, study candidates' records, and beware of personal anecdotes and political histrionics (M)
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BIOPURE SHARES DECLINE 14% ON NEWS OF S.E.C. ALERT
Date: 27 December 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Shares of Biopure fall 14 percent following disclosure of impending Securities and Exchange Commission investigation; Biopure says probe probably involves testing of its experimental human-blood substitute Hemopure; Hemopure would be first human-blood substitute in US if approved (S)
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MEDIMMUNE'S ANTITRUST CASE AGAINST GENENTECH BLOCKED
Date: 27 December 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Federal Judge Mariana Pfaelzer rules MedImmune cannot pursue antitrust claims in its suit to invalidate patent controlled by Genentech for method to create drugs using antibody molecules to fight diseases; Genentech and Celltech Group reached confidential agreement in 2001 to end dispute over whose scientists first created method of manufacturing combined human and nonhuman genes (S)
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AMERICA WEST ANNOUNCES PLANS TO EXPAND WORK FORCE
Date: 27 December 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
America West Airlines to hire more than 1,000, expanding its work force for first time since Sept 11 terrorist attacks as part of plan to increase number of passengers carried next year by 10 percent; hiring will increase number of employees 7.7 percent from 13,000 (S)
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SPX TO RECORD $12 MILLION EXPENSE TO REDUCE DEBT
Date: 27 December 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
SPX will incur $12 million in costs related to reducing $200 million debt on bank loan; forecast for full-year profits is unchanged (S)
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NORTHROP WINS $900 MILLION RADAR PROJECT FOR AIR FORCE
Date: 27 December 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Northrop Grumman wins $900 million US Air Force contract to develop radar system that can track ground targets and cruise missiles (S)
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World Business Briefing | Asia: China: Rise In Power Rates
Date: 26 December 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
China will raise electricity rates by average of 2.5 percent Jan 1 to discourage consumption and help power companies finance new generators (S)
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