• Cold-shouldered Russia welcomes N.Korean talks
    MOSCOW, April 17 (AFP) - Russia, denied a negotiating role over North Korea's nuclear crisis, said Thursday it welcomed next week's three-way talks between Washington, Beijing and Pyongyang.
  • EU urges Palestinian leadership to approve new cabinet as soon as possible
    RAMALLAH, West Bank April 17 (AFP) - The European Union's Middle East envoy urged the Palestinians Thursday to approve a new cabinet as soon as possible to speed up the publication of a Mideast peace roadmap.
  • PFF Bancorp Inc. Maintains Upward Earnings Per Share Momentum Through Strategic Transition to Higher Margin Business Model
    POMONA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--PFF Bancorp Inc. (NYSE:PFB), the holding company for PFF Bank & Trust (the "bank"), today reported record earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $2.83 for fiscal 2003, compared with $2.74 for fiscal 2002.
  • Golden gun linked to Saddam found at London's Heathrow airport: press
    LONDON, April 18 (AFP) - A gold-plated gun given to one of Saddam Hussein's henchmen has been seized at London's Heathrow Airport, a British daily said Friday.
  • Allied Capital Declares Dividend of $0.57 Per Share
    Earnings to be Released April 22, 2003; Conference Call Scheduled
  • Dell No. 1 Worldwide in Computer Shipments
    Customers Again Make Dell the Industry Leader With Almost 6 Million Units Shipped
  • Tokyo stocks open 0.78 percent higher / Japanese Stocks [Apr 17]
    TOKYO, April 18 (AFP) - Share prices in Tokyo opened higher Friday with the Nikkei-225 index gaining 61.13 points or 0.78 percent to 7,883.03 in the first five minutes of trading.
  • Nazi-Stolen Art Returned to Owner's Heirs
    PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- Authorities are returning 135 art works by European masters to the heirs of a Czech Jew whose collection was stolen by the Nazis, a museum said Thursday.
  • Women activists launch campaign against Liberian war
    MONROVIA, April 17 (AFP) - Hundreds of Liberian women peace activists have begun a non-violent campaign to persuade the government and rebels to cease the continuing war in their West African country.
  • PCL Scoreboard as of 11:40 p.m. / Apr 17
  • 2003 Dallas Mavericks Playoff Roster through Apr 17
  • 2003 Detroit Pistons Playoff Roster through Apr 17
  • Heritage first-round scores / Apr 17
    First-round scores from the $4,500,000 Heritage, played from April 17-20 at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
  • AHL Scoreboard as of 08:43 p.m. / Apr 17
  • Minnesota Wild Team Report / Apr 17
    Last result: 3-1 loss vs. Colorado, April 16 Series: Trail Western Conference quarterfinals, 3-1 Next game: April 19 at Colorado
  • McPherson to Help Rebuild Iraq Economy
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michigan State University President Peter McPherson, who served as the second-highest Treasury Department official in the Reagan administration, is being tapped as the government's point person on financial matters related to the rebuilding of Iraq.
  • Bush's top cultural adviser steps down over looting of Iraqi museum
    WASHINGTON, April 17 (AFP) - Martin Sullivan, the head of President George W. Bush's cultural advisory committee, stepped down this week in protest over the United States failing to stop the looting of Baghdad's museum, according to a letter released Thursday.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art to stage major exhibition of ancient Iraqi art
    NEW YORK, April 17 (AFP) - Amid recriminations over the looting of the main Baghdad antiquities museum during the US-led war, New York is preparing to host the biggest exhibition on Mesopotamian art in recent years.
  • Sun Microsystems Posts Small 3Q Profit
    SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Despite a 10 percent drop in revenue, server and software maker Sun Microsystems Inc. posted a $4 million profit for its fiscal third quarter.
  • Financial Industries Corporation Announces 2002 Results and Restatements of Prior Year End Results
    AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Financial
  • APS Financial Corporation Initiates Loral Space & Communications Ltd. Notes
    AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--APS Financial Corporation has initiated coverage on the Notes of Loral Space & Communications Ltd. (NYSE:LOR).
  • Builders League of South Jersey Responds to Slump in Housing Starts in New Jersey
    CHERRY HILL TOWNSHIP, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--With declines in new home construction down drastically for the third month in a row, the Builders League of South Jersey is concerned that the lack of availability will exacerbate the existing housing crisis in New Jersey.
  • Indonesian market expected to rise in coming week / Weekly Indonesian Stocks [Apr 17]
    JAKARTA, April 17 (AFP) - The Indonesian stock market is expected to rise in the coming week since stocks are still attractive at current valuations, an analyst said Thursday.
  • British geologist murdered in Eritrea
    ASMARA, April 17 (AFP) - A British geologist has been murdered in Eritrea, where he worked for a Canadian company, government officials and diplomats said Thursday.
  • Religion Today [Apr 17]
    AHMADABAD, India (AP) -- The Rt. Rev. Vinodkumar Malaviya, a Protestant bishop in western India, is accustomed to providing food, cattle fodder, clothes and medical care to anyone in need.
  • Preview: Tampa Bay (5-9) at Boston (9-5) 6:05 p.m. EDT / Apr 17
    BOSTON (Ticker) -- Pedro Martinez tries to continue his dominance over Tampa Bay Devils Rays on Thursday when he takes the mound for the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
  • Recap: HARRISBURG (Expos) 6, Altoona (Pirates) 4 / Apr 17
    HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (Ticker) -- Glenn Davis hit a two-run homer and Vic Gutierrez added a key triple to lead the Harrisburg Senators to a 6-4 victory over the Altoona Curve. Davis tied the score at 4-4 with his blast to right field in the eighth inning, and Vic Gutierrez brought home Quincy Foster with his triple later in ...
  • Utah Jazz Playoff History / Apr 17
    Playoff Appearances: 20
  • Ferrero advances to quarterfinals of Monte Carlo tennis / Apr 17
    MONTE CARLO (Ticker) - Top seed and defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Argentine Gaston Gaudio Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the $2.64 millon Monte Carlo Masters.
  • Gartner Says Worldwide PC Shipments Experienced Third Consecutive Quarter of Positive Growth
    Gartner Says Worldwide PC Shipments Experienced Third Consecutive Quarter of Positive Growth; Worldwide PC Shipments Increased 6 Percent in First Quarter of 2003
  • Jupitermedia Announces IBM as Cornerstone Sponsor for Its Enterprise Linux Forum Conference & Expo, to Be Held June 4-6 in Santa Clara
    Enterprise Linux Forum Conference & Expo
  • eircom, Ireland's Largest Telecommunications Operator, Selects Portal Software
    eircom, Ireland's Largest Telecommunications Operator, Selects Portal Software; Portal's Infranet to Provide Billing for New Broadband Residential Services
  • Bridge Bancorp, Inc. Reports 27.1% Increase in First Quarter 2003 Diluted Earnings Per Share
    BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Bridge Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ/OTC: BDGE), the holding company for The Bridgehampton National Bank (the "Bank"), today reported record earnings for the first quarter of 2003.
  • ACE Financial Solutions Promotes Karen Levine and Michael Canter to Executive Vice President
    PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--ACE INA announces the promotions of Karen Levine and Michael Canter to the positions of executive vice president, ACE Financial Solutions.
  • Building Pharmaceutical Blockbusters in a Crowded Market: Strategies, Budgets and Activities
    CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Top performing product launches demonstrate operational excellence in the critical management areas of product development, organizational development and market development.
  • Clashes at steelmaker protests in Luxembourg, 23 arrested
    LUXEMBOURG, April 17 (AFP) - Twenty-three people were arrested Thursday in clashes between police and protestors demonstrating in Luxembourg against steel plant closures, officials said.
  • Cessna's Citation CJ3 Takes Its First Flight
    WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Cessna Aircraft Company's newest light business jet, the Citation CJ3, has successfully completed its first flight. The CJ3 departed from McConnell Air Force Base today at 9:20 a.m., and landed at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport at 11:03 a.m. The airplane was piloted by Dan ...
  • Bond Prices Rise at Midday / Bonds [Apr 17]
    NEW YORK (AP) -- Treasury bond prices were higher at midday Thursday.
  • Lillian Vernon Sells After 52 Years
    RYE, N.Y. (AP) -- She was pregnant, short on cash and hated housework, so in 1951 Lillian Hochberg set up shop at her kitchen table, selling mail-order purses and belts embossed with a customer's name. The Lillian Vernon catalog company was born.
  • Clergy: Veggie Jesus Ad Is Sacrilegious
    PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- Christian and Jewish clergy say a billboard that promotes vegetarianism by claiming "Jesus was the prince of peas" is historically inaccurate and sacrilegious.
  • Nev. Officials: Newmont Stonewalled Probe
    RENO, Nev. (AP) -- The world's largest gold producer stonewalled state investigators looking into whistleblower complaints about pollution at one of its Nevada mines, state officials say.
  • W. Va. Villages War Contribution Abundant
    HELVETIA, W.Va. (AP) -- Military deployments can strain any community. But in this small, remote mountain village, the loss leaves a hole that everyone notices and no one can get off their mind.
  • U.S. Congressmen, Arafat Discuss Plan
    RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- A U.S. congressional delegation met Yasser Arafat on Thursday in the first high-level American visit since Washington effectively boycotted the Palestinian leader last year.
  • German police arrest key suspects in children killing
    AACHEN, Germany, April 17 (AFP) - Two men wanted over the killing of an 11-year-old German boy and his nine-year-old sister last month have been arrested, local police said Thursday.
  • Rumsfeld: Bioweapons May Be Hard to Find
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. military's search for chemical and biological weapons is unlikely to succeed until Iraqis lead American forces to them, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday.
  • Shiite clergy enter vacuum left by Saddam's fall
    BAGHDAD, April 17 (AFP) - The clergy of Iraq's majority Shiites, politically marginalized under Saddam Hussein, are filling a vacuum left by the strongman's fall, intervening to stop looting and restore security.
  • Recap: CHICAGO Cubs 16, Cincinnati 3 / Apr 17
    SPORTSTICKER NL RECAP
  • Montreal Expos Attendance Report through Apr 17
  • Florida Marlins Team Report / Apr 17
    Last Game: 7-3 win at Philadephia, April 17 Streak: Won 2
  • New York Islanders Team Report / Apr 17
    Last result: 4-1 loss at Ottawa, April 17 Series: Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinals, 4-1
  • Preview: Arizona (6-5) at Grand Rapids (8-3) Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT / Apr 17
    GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (Ticker) -- The Grand Rapids Rampage will look for their fourth straight win when they face the Arizona Rattlers at Van Andel Arena on Saturday.
  • Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups Launches Educational Effort to Empower Cancer Patients
    PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003-- Comprehensive Guide to Cancer Clinical Trials Now Available To the Public
  • Troops on high alert for Indian premier's Kashmir visit
    SRINAGAR, India, April 17 (AFP) - Indian security forces battling Islamic insurgency in Kashmir have gone on high alert ahead of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's two-day visit to the restive region.
  • And for 200,000 dollars ... where is Saddam?
    AS-SALIYAH, Qatar April 17 (AFP) - The Iraq war is essentially over and the regime has been deposed, but a nagging 200,000 dollar question still casts a shadow over the US military victory: where is Saddam Hussein?
  • U.S. Forces Nab Saddam's Half-Brother
    CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar (AP) -- U.S. Special Forces on Thursday captured Barzan Ibrahim Hasan, a half-brother of Saddam Hussein, the U.S. Central Command reported.
  • Patapsco Bancorp, Inc. Announces 23% Increase in Earnings
    BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Patapsco Bancorp, Inc. (OTC, Electronic Bulletin Board:PATD), the parent company of The Patapsco Bank, announced a 10% increase in quarterly earnings and a 23% increase in year to date earnings.
  • Cathay Pacific Cleared for China Entry
    HONG KONG (AP) -- Cathay Pacific Airways on Thursday won clearance from Hong Kong to fly into mainland China after more than a decade-long absence, defeating an aggressive effort by its partner-turned-rival Dragonair to keep it out.
  • BNY Trust Company of Missouri to Acquire the Corporate Trust Business of INTRUST Bank
    ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--The Bank of New York Company, Inc. announced today that its indirect subsidiary, BNY Trust Company of Missouri, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the corporate trust business of INTRUST Bank, N.A. INTRUST Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of INTRUST Financial Corp.
  • Fitch Rates Bank One Issuance Trust ONEseries Class A --2003-3--
    CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Bank One Issuance Trust's issuance of $1,250 million ONEseries class A (2003-3) notes are rated 'AAA' by Fitch Ratings. The class A (2003-3) notes accrue interest at one-month LIBOR plus 0.11% payable monthly with an expected maturity date of April 15, 2008.
  • Amersham Biosciences Extends CodeLink Line with 20K Human Gene Bioarray
    PISCATAWAY, NJ--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003-- Introducing CodeLink(TM) UniSet Human 20K I Bioarray
  • English Court Repudiates World Wide Fund for Nature
    Ends Legal Block To Sale of THQ/Jakks World Wrestling Entertainment Videogames
  • SARS choking Japan's "welcome plan" to boost tourism
    TOKYO, April 17 (AFP) - The SARS outbreak is choking Japan's aim -- temporarily at least -- of doubling the number of foreign visitors visiting here, although the country still remains free of the killer pneumonia, tourism officials said Thursday.
  • Japanese shares close 0.73 percent lower / Japanese Stocks [Apr 16]
    TOKYO, April 17 (AFP) - Japanese share prices closed 0.73 percent lower Thursday, led by technology stocks after losses on Wall Street and ahead of the long Easter holiday for overseas markets, dealers said.
  • Market Figures as of 4:17 p.m.
    Market Figures as of 4:17 p.m.
  • Turkey says 'destined' to become EU member
    ATHENS, April 17 (AFP) - Turkey said Thursday it was "destined" to become a European Union member, a day after 10 countries signed accession treaties to join the EU next year.
  • Seattle Mariners Injury Report / Apr 17
  • NL Attendance Report through Apr 17
  • Buffalo Bisons 2003 Game-by-Game / Apr 17
  • Louisville Bats 2003 Game-by-Game / Apr 17
  • Akron Aeros 2003 Game-by-Game / Apr 17
  • Ford Plays Down Pickup Game Injury
    AUSTIN (AP) -- Texas point guard T.J. Ford played down the severity of his injury in a pickup basketball game, saying he "took a spill" and was taken to the hospital only as a precaution.
  • Philadelphia 76ers Playoff History / Apr 17
    Playoff Appearances: 42
  • Quote of the Day for Apr 17
    Detroit Red Wings coach Dave Lewis after his team was swept by the seventh seeded Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the Western Conference quarterfinals:
  • Tour of Aragon results
  • Foreign cuisine off the menu at German parliament restaurant
    BERLIN, April 17 (AFP) - Foreign cuisine is to be struck off the menu at the German lower house of parliament's public restaurant in favour of local fare.
  • Parents of 13 Lebanese prisoners in Iraq ask US forces to help find them
    BEIRUT, April 17 (AFP) - A group representing the parents of 13 Lebanese imprisoned by the deposed regime of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein 10 to 20 years ago called Thursday on US forces to help find them.
  • Entercom Communications Schedules First Quarter 2003 Earnings Release
    BALA CYNWYD, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Entercom Communications (NYSE:ETM) announced today that it will release first quarter 2003 financial results before the market opens on Monday, May 5, 2003.
  • AERT's First Quarter Gross Sales Hit $11.4 Million
    SPRINGDALE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:AERTA) announced today that unaudited gross sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, were $11.4 million, a 19.5% increase over gross sales of $9.5 million in the same period last year.
  • Palomar Technologies Selected as One of the 30 Best Small Electronics Companies by Electronic Business Magazine
    VISTA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Palomar Technologies announced today that it was named one of the "30 Best Small Electronics Companies" by Electronic Business magazine.
  • Cymer Announces Live Webcasts of Upcoming Investor Conferences
    SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Cymer, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: CYMI), the world's leading supplier of excimer light sources used in semiconductor manufacturing, today announced that the company will provide live webcasts of its presentations to investors at the following upcoming investor conferences. The presentations ...
  • Intelli-Check Sells ID-CHECK Units to National Restaurant Group
    ID-CHECK Proving Its Value in Combating Inadvertent Sale of Alcohol to Under-Age Purchasers
  • Actors Protest Proposed Union Merger
    LOS ANGELES (AP) -- About 50 actors gathered outside the Screen Actors Guild headquarters to oppose SAG's proposed merger with the leading television and radio actors' union, saying screen actors would not be properly represented after the consolidation.
  • Torture Fears Don't Halt Deportation
    PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Mor Sene said separatist rebels tore off his toenails and stabbed him in the chest when he lived in Senegal, while government soldiers accused him of conspiring with the enemy.
  • Rain Falls Across Midwest, Southeast;
    Wet weather was moving across the Midwest and Southeast early Thursday, and was forecast to spread rain to parts of the mid-Atlantic region by later in the day.
  • Recap: Twins 6, Tigers 0 / Apr 17
    MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- It has been feast or famine for the Minnesota Twins so far in 2003.
  • Recap: LOS ANGELES 4, Padres 3 / Apr 17
    SPORTSTICKER NL RECAP
  • Savi Technology Provides New Real-Time Inventory Management Solution for U.S. Army Ammunition Depots
    SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003-- Integrated AIT-Software Automation Dramatically Boosts
  • The Mysterious Island of ``Dinotopia'' Reveals Itself to Gamers Everywhere
    The Mysterious Island of ``Dinotopia'' Reveals Itself to Gamers Everywhere; Uncharted Exploration, Ferocious Combat and Mind Bending Puzzles Await
  • More than 15 percent of Russia's HIV sufferers are in jail
    MOSCOW, April 17 (AFP) - More than 15 percent of Russians officially registered as HIV-infected are behind bars in the country's overcrowded prisons, a justice ministry official said on Thursday.
  • S. Korean President Defends Nuclear Talks
    SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea's president said Thursday he believes negotiations between the United States, North Korea and China will help ease a nuclear standoff even though his country has been excluded from the talks.
  • Hart Candidacy Could Revive Bad Memories
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Gary Hart first ran for president in 1984. It was the year the country first heard about stonewashed jeans, scientists identified the AIDS virus and Michael Jordan began his rookie season in the National Basketball Association.
  • Japan to send staff to help Iraqi interim authority
    TOKYO, April 18 (AFP) - Japan will send four or five officials to join the planned US-led interim administration in Iraq as soon as possible, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi announced Friday.
  • General congratulates military on "tremendous combat victory" in Iraq
    WASHINGTON, April 17 (AFP) - The top US general congratulated the military Thursday on a "tremendous combat victory" in Iraq, becoming the first top US military or administration official to declare victory.
  • Ingersoll-Rand Reports First Quarter 2003 Earnings of $153.2 million, or $0.90 Diluted EPS
    HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (NYSE:IR), a leading diversified industrial firm, today announced that net earnings and revenues increased in the first quarter of 2003 compared to the 2002 first quarter.
  • Cummins First Quarter Loss Due to Global Uncertainty and Soft Markets
    COLUMBUS, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CUM) today reported a loss for the first quarter 2003 of $34 million, or $0.86 per share, on sales of $1.39 billion. This compares to a loss of $26 million, or $0.68 per share, on sales of $1.33 billion for the first quarter of 2002. Excluding the cumulative ...
  • Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation Declares Dividend
    MOSINEE, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--The Board of Directors of Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation (NYSE:WMO) today declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.085 per share on its common stock.
  • Domestic Oil, Gas Rig Count Up in Week / Oil and Gas Rig Count [Apr 17]
    HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States was up 15 this week to 994.
  • Gannett Acquires Tourist Magazines in Hawaii
    MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Gannett Co., Inc. today announced the acquisition of the "101 Things to Do" series of magazines in Hawaii.
  • Stowaways: Boat Crew Beaten, Abandoned Us
    SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) -- Three Dominican stowaways say the enraged crew of a Panamanian cargo ship beat them with hammers and metal rods and forced them overboard far off the coast of Texas, with only a wooden raft to cling to.
  • Youth killed by bicycle-bomb in northeastern Colombia
    BOGOTA, April 17 (AFP) - A youth died Thursday in the Colombian village of Fortul, 300 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of Bogota, when he rode a bicycle-bomb that exploded near a military post, according to a local official.
  • Russia will not support "automatic" lifting of UN sanctions on Iraq
    MOSCOW, April 17 (AFP) - Russia will not support a United States proposal to lift United Nations sanctions on Iraq unless it is confirmed that the country has no weapons of mass destruction, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Thursday.