Michael Jordan airs retirement plans, gloom in America
A funereal gloom enveloped most of American society on Tuesday as Michael Jordan, a national treasure and arguably the greatest modern athlete in the world, announced his retirement from professional basketball.

Flynt expose: Panicking Repuplicans allege White House ploy
Amid grubbier than usual politics in scandal-ridden Washington, President Clinton on Tuesday mailed out a $850,000 cheque to Paula Jones towards settlement of a sexual harassment suit which opened a can of worms that still imperils his presidency.

Iraq calls for dialogue to end crisis
Iraq, in an apparent shift of policy, said it would prefer a balanced dialogue to solve its impasse with the United States and Britain following their military confrontation.

  Anwar cannot be signed off
  Primakov flays US sanctions on Russian institutions
  Iraq shifts policy as Arab nations prepare for meeting
  Kissinger papers attempt to upset ties
  No plans to attcak N-Korea
  Recall fiat
  Butler, sanctions will stay
  Lankan child claims to be reincarnation of former president
  Ranariddh throws Khmer Rouge court decision to UN
  US citizenship to cost more
  Bank of Japan moves to check yen rise
  Starbucks of US brings coffee culture to China
  Thai corporate debt recast needs quick move
  HBG German unit writes down DM 150 m
  Koralu to venture into smelting, power
  Indonesia diesel imports back to normal
  Asian gasoline margin topped out on Indonesia
  Iran's Khatami to discuss oil on Saudi visit
  GITIC impact on China grain trade seen limited
  Randstad 98 net up 29 pc,outlook cautious
  S Korea's Hyundai to sell stakes in telecom firms
  Vilniaus profit seen 55-60 million litas
  Singapore unable to sustain many more Internet firms
  Lucent to buy Ascend for up to $22 bn - sources
  Asian currency gains leave central banks on edge
  China's forex reserves swells to $145bn