AP Online
08-19-2004
Cleric Rejects Iraq Ultimatum, Aide Says
Minister of State, Qassim Dawoud speaks at a news conference in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq Thursday Aug. 19, 2004.Dawoud said Thursday that Iraqi forces could begin an offensive against Muqtada al-Sadr within hours, despite the firebrand cleric's acceptance of a peace proposal. To prevent an imminent attack on his forces, who are holed up in the revered Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf, Dawoud said al-Sadr must immediately disarm his Mahdi Army militia and hand over its weapons to the authorities. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
NAJAF, Iraq (AP) _ Militant Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Thursday rejected a government ultimatum to disarm his militia immediately and pull them out of a revered Shiite shrine here or risk a massive onslaught by Iraqi forces, an aide to the cleric said. The news came soon after militants, presumably from his Mahdi Army militia, bombarded a Najaf police station with mortars rounds, killing seven policemen and injuring 31 others, hospital officials said.
Kerry: Bush Lets Groups Do 'Dirty Work'
Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., arrives in Boston on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch)
BOSTON (AP) _ Sen. John Kerry accused President Bush on Thursday of relying on front groups to challenge his record of valor in Vietnam, asserting, "He wants them to do his dirty work." Defending his record, the Democratic presidential candidate said, "Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented my service in Vietnam and awarded me the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts."
Dream Team Rallies to Beat Aussies 89-79
Allen Iverson of the United State's , center, commits a foul as he makes a pass over Australia's CJ Burton during the first half of a preliminary game in the men's basketball competition at the Helliniko Indoor Arena in Athens during the 2004 Olympics Games, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) _ LeBron James eyed Shawn Marion's pass coming toward him and made a split-second decision to redirect the ball. One nifty touch pass later, Dwyane Wade converted it into a layup. The basket broke the last tie and began a game-changing 10-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter, leading the Americans to a 89-79 victory over Australia on Thursday at the Athens Games. The win might have gone a long way toward reversing the fortunes of the much-maligned U.S. team, which struggled in a victory over Greece and was embarrassed in a loss to Puerto Rico in the opener.
Google Shares Expected to Trade Shortly
A man glances up at the Google sign announcing the Internet search engine's initial public offering Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004, on the NASDAQ marketsite in New York. (AP Photo/ Kathy Willens)
SAN JOSE, California (AP) _ Shares of Google Inc. were expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market on Thursday, the culmination of a unique and highly public initial stock offering for the 6-year-old dot-com dreamed up in a garage. The final initial public offering price of $85, set late Wednesday through an unorthodox auction that alienated many on Wall Street, cleared the way for the stock to start trading under the symbol "GOOG" on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Price-Gouging New Worry in Charley's Wake
A tree trimmer cuts off branches in the rear of Ilyse Kusnetz's home in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. In Hurricane Charley's aftermath, price gouging is a growing concern in Florida. Kusnetz is paying $2,400 to have the trees cut. (AP Photo/Peter Cosgrove)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ The oak tree in Ilyse Kusnetz's back yard caused one headache when it crashed into her house during Hurricane Charley. Now the tree is sprouting a second worry: price gouging. Kusnetz, 38, said Wednesday that she didn't have enough time to get several estimates from companies willing to cut it down and haul it away, so she's paying an Ohio-based crew $2,400.
Leading Indicators, Jobless Claims Dip
NEW YORK (AP) _ A closely watched measure of future economic activity fell in July for the second consecutive month, reinforcing evidence that the nation's financial recovery is slackening. The Conference Board said Thursday its Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators dropped by 0.3 percent in July to 116.0, following a revised decline of 0.1 percent in June. Last month was the first time in more than a year that the index had lost ground.
Elmer Bernstein, Film Composer, Dead at 82
Composer Elmer Bernstein accepts the award for Best Music/Score for "Far From Heaven," at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association 28th Annual Achievement Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2003. Bernstein, the versatile, Oscar-winning composer who scored such movie classics as "The Ten Commandments," "The Magnificent Seven," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Great Escape" and "True Grit," died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. He was 82. (AP Photo/Lucy Nicholson, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Film composer Elmer Bernstein, who created a brawny, big-sky theme for "The Magnificent Seven," nerve-jangling jazz for "The Man With The Golden Arm" and heart-rending grace notes for "To Kill a Mockingbird," has died. Bernstein, whose prolific career spanned seven decades and earned him 14 Academy Award nominations, an Oscar win and an Emmy Award, died in his sleep at his Ojai home Wednesday, said his publicist, Cathy Mouton. He was 82.
Seiko Epson Develops Micro Flying Robot
Japanese electronics maker Seiko Epson Corp.'s "Micro Flying Robot," that looks like a miniature helicopter about the size of a giant bug, is adjusted by Wang Wei, a Chinese postgraduate student studying mechanical engineering at Japan's Tsukuba University, during its demonstration at the company's Tokyo office Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. The still-not-for-sale 12.3 gram (0.4 ounce) 85 millimeter (3.35 inch)-tall robot, the company hopes will be used for security, disaster rescue and space exploration in the future, flies autonomously according toa flight-route program sent by Bluetooth wireless from a computer. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
TOKYO (AP) _ Seiko Epson Corp. is developing a flying robot that looks like a miniature helicopter and is about the size of a giant bug. The company hopes it'll prove handy for security, disaster rescue and space exploration. The robot, 3.35 inches tall and 0.4 ounces, follows a flight-route program sent by Bluetooth wireless from a computer.
Stocks Open Lower As Market Awaits Google
Traders work on floor of the New York Stock Exchange after the opening bell Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey)
NEW YORK (AP) _ With the much-ballyhooed initial public offering of Google Inc. behind them and oil chugging to a new record high, investors took a step back Thursday, sending stocks lower. In early trading, the Dow Jones industrial average declined 16.37, or 0.2 percent, to 10,066.78.
Owners Seek Best Ballpark Deal for Expos
Boston Red Sox chief executive officer Larry Lucchino smiles as he exits a meeting with Major League Baseball owners in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. Baseball owners discussed the fate of the Montreal Expos, who play a fourth of their home games in Puerto Rico. The first day of the two-day meeting most likely will feature a three-year contract extension for commissioner Bud Selig. (AP Photo/H. Rumph, Jr.)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Trying to get the best possible ballpark deal for the Montreal Expos, major league baseball instructed its lawyers to press ahead with negotiations involving four of the areas bidding for the team. Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said Wednesday that the meetings will take place within 10 days but didn't specify any communities. A baseball official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said meeting will be set up with Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C; Las Vegas; and Norfolk, Va.
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