World Briefing | Asia: China: North Korea Refugees Secretly Ousted
Date: 30 September 2003
By James Brooke (NYT)
James NYT
Defectors, journal published by North Korean defectors, reports China purposely sent 58 North Koreans, once arrested for trying to leave China, on to North Korea to avoid negative international publicity; China still holds South Korean photographer Seok Jae Hyun, who was arrested documenting their attempted escape (S)
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Lopez Backtracks
Date: 30 September 2003
By Ray Glier
Ray Glier
Atlanta Braves catcher Javy Lopez addresses remarks he made about Chicago Cubs (S)
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Top Editor at El Diario Quits Over Decision on Castro Article
Date: 01 October 2003
By Michael Luo
Michael Luo
Gerson Borrero resigns as top editor of El Diario/La Prensa over decision by newspaper's owners to kill article by Fidel Castro; Spanish-language newspaper, with daily circulation of 52,000, was bought in July by newspaper investment company Knight Paton Media Corp; company's two partners Douglas Knight and David Paton refuse to comment (M)
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Loving the Circus, and Negotiating With the Lions
Date: 01 October 2003
By Robin Finn
Robin Finn
Public Lives profile of Barry F Lipton, 10-term president of Newspaper Guild of New York, which settled last week with The New York Times on eight-year contract, and this week is bargaining with Reuters, Time Inc, and El Diario/La Prensa; photo (M)
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U.S. Must Counteract Image In Muslim World, Panel Says
Date: 01 October 2003
By Steven R. Weisman
Steven Weisman
Panel chosen by Bush administration warns that US would have to radically transform public relations efforts to salvage plummeting image among Muslims and Arabs because hostility has reached 'shocking levels; US Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World, led by former Amb Edward P Djerejian, says Iraq war and Mideast conflict have increased anger toward US among people ignorant of or misinformed about US policies; committee says much more should be spent on outreach programs and calls for special White House coordinator; Djerejian notes power of Arab satellite television that reaches even worst slums, and absence of American perspectives there (M)
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PRESIDENT ORDERS FULL COOPERATION IN LEAKING OF NAME
Date: 01 October 2003
By Richard W. Stevenson and Eric Lichtblau
Richard Stevenson
Justice Department begins full investigation into whether Bush administration officials illegally disclosed to journalists name of undercover CIA agent married to former Amb Joseph Wilson, who has criticized US intelligence on Iraq; department instructs White House to preserve all related records, including those involving contacts with Robert Novak, who disclosed name in July column, and Newsday reporters Timothy M Phelps and Khut Royce; Pres Bush orders cooperation and expresses confidence that department can investigate without outside special counsel; says there are 'just too many leaks' and vows that anyone violating law 'will be taken care of'; Wilson has said disclosure about wife Valerie Plame appears intended to discourage other critics or to punish him; Atty Gen John Ashcroft says career prosecutors and FBI agents will investigate; Bush comments in Chicago, accompanied by political adviser Karl Rove, who officials deny is source of leak; photo (M)
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White House Denies a Top Aide Identified an Officer of the C.I.A.
Date: 30 September 2003
By Eric Lichtblau and Richard W. Stevenson
Eric Lichtblau
White House denies suggestion that Pres Bush's senior adviser Karl Rove illegally disclosed identity of undercover CIA officer; also rejects growing calls from Democrats for appointment of special outside counsel to determine whether anyone in administration disclosed officer's identity in effort to punish officer's husband for his criticism of Iraqi intelligence; FBI has opened investigation into case; White House spokesman Scott McClellan says there is no conflict of interest for Atty Gen John Ashcroft to oversee inquiry that could have immense political implications for Bush; columnist Robert Novak says nobody in administration told him to leak information about CIA officer; says he learned about her while covering her husband's trip to Africa; growing furor underscores Bush administration's continued political vulnerability on issue of whether it exaggerated threat from Iraq before war; even some Republicans in Congress are beginning to cast more skeptical eye on administration's use of intelligence to make its case against Iraq (M)
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DYNEGY TO SELL DEBT IN PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Date: 01 October 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Dynegy Inc plans to sell $300 million in notes in private placement to help pay off term loan and lease obligation (S)
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NORSTAN TO CUT AN ADDITIONAL 100 JOBS
Date: 30 September 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Norstan Inc, which sells and services telephone and computer systems, will eliminate another 100 jobs (S)
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FIDELITY TO CUT COMMISSIONS FOR ACTIVE TRADERS
Date: 30 September 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Fidelity Investments will cut commissions in October on stock and options trades by 42 percent for its most active customers; new rate of $8, down from $14, applies to Fidelity's 'gold level' customers who make at least 120 trades each year and have $30,000 in household assets at company (S)
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