The October 24, 2004 was a Sunday under the star sign of ♏. It was the 297 day of the year. President of the United States was George W. Bush.
If you were born on this day, you are 21 years old. Your last birthday was on the Friday, October 24, 2025, 257 days ago. Your next birthday is on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in 107 days. You have lived for 7,927 days, or about 190,252 hours, or about 11,415,156 minutes, or about 684,909,360 seconds.
Date: 25 October 2004
By Bob Herbert
Bob Herbert
Bob Herbert Op-Ed column says Pres Bush's re-election hopes are dimming with flood of bad news at home and abroad; says Bush is campaigning on fear and Republicans are trying to block as many Democratic votes as possible
Date: 25 October 2004
By Jacques Steinberg
Jacques Steinberg
Rival New York Post and Daily News have each fully covered sexual harassment controversy involving Bill O'Reilly of Fox News and Andrea Mackris, producer on his program, with Post tending to paint Mackris in more negative light than News has; News deputy publisher Martin Dunn suggests Post might be pulling its punches because News Corp owns both Post and Fox; Post editor in chief Col Allan denies he is under pressure to protect O'Reilly; photos (M)
Date: 25 October 2004
By Jacques Steinberg
Jacques Steinberg
Recent ackowledgments of circulation inflation by Tribune Co, Belo Corp and Hollinger International spurrs at least six other newspaper chains to install safeguards intended to bolster confidence in their circulation figures; Knight Ridder, McClatchy Co and E W Scripps now require top executives at each of their papers to sign their names to quarterly circulation figures; analysts and advertisers now have to decide whether safeguards are adequate; photos (M)
Date: 24 October 2004
By Jake Mooney
Jake Mooney
Neighborhood leaders in Dumbo section of Brooklyn laud decision by David Walentas not to build 16-story apartment tower at foot of Brooklyn Bridge; explore possibility of seeking zoning change to restrict height of buildings at site in order to preserve views of bridge and its walkway (M)
Date: 24 October 2004
By Frank Rich
Frank Rich
Frank Rich looks at hypocrisy of Wall Street Journal and Fox newscasters' 'appalled' charge that John Kerry exploited candidate's 'child' by 'outing' Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter, Mary; points out that 'child' is 35-year-old who lives openly with her partner and is paid director of vice presidential operations for Bush campaign; believes that administration is trying to retain right-wing voters who are rabidly anti-gay, at same time that it pays lip service to 'tolerance' of homosexuality to appease sw ing voters; accuses Carl Rove and Mrs Lynne Cheney of playing worst kind of game for political gain; predicts civil war within Republican Party not only on issue of homosexuality, but about all sexuality; photos (M)
Date: 24 October 2004
INTERNATIONAL 3-18 18 Killed in Attacks Across Iraq Insurgents struck United States and Iraqi outposts across the country, killing at least 18 Iraqi police officers and national guardsmen in car bombings and wounding dozens of Iraqis and Americans in the assaults. 1 Military Tribunal Plan Not a single terrorist has been prosecuted in the three years since officials, determined to deal aggressively with the terrorists after the Sept. 11 attacks, gave the military the authority to detain foreign suspects indefinitely and prosecute them in tribunals not used since World War II. 1 Suicide Bombing in Afghanistan A suicide bomber in Afghanistan killed a 12-year-old girl and wounded six people on a busy street in Kabul. The Associated Press reported that one of the wounded, an American, was also killed. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. 16 16 Dead in Japan Earthquakes A series of powerful earthquakes jolted northern Japan in quick succession, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 900, according to a preliminary tally. 18 Obstacles for U.N. Cloning Ban A United Nations effort to ban the cloning of human beings is being held up for the third straight year by a polarizing argument over whether the prohibition should be extended to cover stem cell and other research. 8 North Korean Demands Spurned Secretary of State Colin L. Powell rejected North Korea's demand that the United States drop its ''hostile'' policy toward that nation and agree to other steps before the talks on its nuclear weapons program resume. 11 Doctors Will Examine Arafat Doctors were granted permission to examine Yasir Arafat, who has been suffering from the flu. His aides said he is recovering and is well enough to observe the fast during Ramadan. 18 NATIONAL 20-31 Presidential Race Homestretch President Bush stumped through Florida attacking his opponent's past declarations about Saddam Hussein, while Senator John Kerry sought to expand turnout among the growing Hispanic population in the Southwest, pitching his as the campaign of hope. 24 The Supreme Court refused to place the independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader on the ballot in Pennsylvania. 30 Terror Attack Questions Counterterrorism officials remain concerned that there will be an attack to disrupt the election but have uncovered little specific evidence in the three months since the homeland security secretary declared there was credible intelligence of a Qaeda plot. 29 The federal government began conducting background checks on all foreigners seeking to attend American flight schools, not just those learning to fly larger aircraft, the Transportation Security Administration said. 31 Japan Eases Ban on U.S. Beef American and Japanese negotiators agreed to ease a ban on American beef exports to Japan. 20 Census Category Debate A proposal to eliminate the ''some other race'' option from the 2010 questionnaire in an effort to encourage Hispanics to choose one or more of five standard racial categories has stirred a debate. 21 NEW YORK/REGION 33-39 Beatings May Stem From Bias Police officials in Plainfield, N.J., are debating whether the beatings of 17 Hispanic men by young black men since March were racially motivated. One suspect has been charged with a bias crime. 1 Veterans Under Tax Inquiry The New York office of the Disabled American Veterans and three local chapters are under investigation by state and federal agencies in connection with allegations of tax fraud and embezzlement, officials of the veterans' organization and government authorities said. 39 OBITUARIES 39-40 John McNamara A Bronx native who walked every street in the borough and recorded the often idiosyncratic history of each, he was 92. 40 Chess 38 Weather 41
Date: 25 October 2004
INTERNATIONAL A3-14 Iraqi Leadership Warns Of Missing Explosives The Iraqi interim government has warned that nearly 380 tons of the world's most powerful conventional explosives -- used to demolish buildings, produce missile warheads, and detonate nuclear weapons -- are missing from a sensitive former military installation. A1 Guerrillas dressed as policemen killed about 50 freshly trained Iraqi soldiers as the unarmed soldiers were heading home on leave. The ambush, extraordinarily ambitious in scope and violence, showed a high level of organization. A group called Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia claimed responsibility. A1 The top civilian contracting official for the Army Corps of Engineers has called for an investigation, charging that the Army granted large contracts for work in Iraq and the Balkans without following rules intended to ensure competition and fair prices to the government. A12 Iran Rejects European Proposal Iran rejected a proposal by Britain, Germany and France to suspend its uranium enrichment program in return for help builing a power reactor and to provide a supply of reactor fuel. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman urged those countries to offer a ''more balanced'' proposal. A14 Triumph for Gaza Withdrawal Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel won a major victory as his cabinet easily approved a plan to compensate Jewish settlers who would be uprooted from the Gaza Strip under his plan for a Gaza withdrawal. A14 Karzai Close to Afghan Victory President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has effectively secured his position as the country's first popularly elected president. The final tally is not due until Oct. 30, but election officials and outside election observers said there was no way he could now lose his overall majority. A3 Serbs Boycott Kosovo Election Most of Kosovo's Serbian minority boycotted parliamentary elections, setting back international efforts to resolve the province's future. At issue is whether Kosovo remains part of Serbia or, as the majority Albanians want, becomes independent. A6 Fight Against AIDS in Zambia President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia has pledged to make good on a promise to extend antiretroviral drug treatment to 100,000 AIDS sufferers by the end of 2005, despite a health-care system crippled by mounting financial problems. A14 Aftershocks Continue in Japan Thousands of residents of northern Japan camped outdoors in near freezing temperatures, unnerved by a day of aftershocks from the nation's deadliest earthquake in nearly a decade, a violent jolt that killed 23 people, injured 2,100 and left seven missing. A13 Arrests Made in Mexico Deaths Four suspects were arrested in the deaths of two American tourists who were killed last week in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero. The case appeared to be an armed robbery. A6 NATIONAL A15-18 Gore and Kerry Speak At Florida Churches Al Gore, the former vice president, visited six pulpits to exhort African-Americans to avenge his disputed 2000 defeat, while Senator John Kerry hit South Florida, clapping along with the choir at another black church. Black voters are crucial for Democrats, and the party has been seeking to galvanize them in record numbers this year. A1 The nation chose sides early in this contest, and national polls show that just about 5 percent of the likely voters are still not sure about their preference. The undecideds are just a sliver of the electorate, but they very well could shift the outcome of presidential election because the races are so tight in the swing states. A1 Nevada appears to be split in the presidential race. John Kerry visited Reno and plans a big rally in Las Vegas, his sixth and seventh visits to Nevada since last winter, while the Bush campaign has dispatched officials from the Republican National Committee to organize the fight. A16 The two candidates continued a series of bitter exchanges about which would prove tougher on terror -- exchanges that have flared up whenever either has acknowledged that eradicating terrorism altogether is highly unlikely. A17 Bill Clinton has recovered enough from heart surgery to campaign for John Kerry. With just over a week until the election, the former president is headed for two of the swing states, Pennsylvania and Florida. A17 U.S. Oil Independence at Issue Both John Kerry and President Bush have said the country should wean itself from dependence on oil imports. The issue of American dependence on imported oil has come to prominence only occasionally in the campaign. A18 Battle Over Charter Schools While some try to persuade voters in Washington State that charter schools can help invigorate education, others believe equally fiercely that charter schools, which have had a spotty record, will ultimately undermine regular public schools. A15 Little Progress on 9/11 Bill Little progress has been made toward reconciling House and Senate versions of a bill that would sharply limit the power of a new national security director to coordinate the nation's 15 spy agencies. The creation of the job of a powerful national intelligence director was the central recommendation of the independent Sept. 11 commission. A18 SCIENCE/HEALTH Request to Import Flu Vaccine Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois says he has found at least 30,000 doses of flu vaccine in his conversations with overseas drug wholesalers and wants permission from the federal authorities to import to his state. A15 NEW YORK/REGION B1-6 Fatal Brain Disease Has Upstate on Edge The deaths of at least two people from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, commonly known as mad cow disease, have stirred fears in Ulster County, N.Y., despite state officials' assurances that they see no risk to public health. B1 Pattern of Early Release When Jeffrey McDonald, a sheriff's deputy in Livingston County, N.Y., was freed from prison in 1998, two months into his 18-month sentence in a drug case, the resulting furor prompted an inquiry by the governor's office. The case is strikingly similar to the uproar over the release of former State Senator Guy J. Velella in September. B1 SPORTSMONDAY D1-9 Red Sox Take Game 2 Curt Schilling allowed one unearned run over six innings, and Jason Varitek started the Red Sox offense with a two-run triple as Boston beat St. Louis 6- 2 to take a two-games-to-none lead in the World Series. D1 Racing Owner's Plane Crashes A plane owned by the Nascar race team Hendrick Motorsports crashed in Virginia en route to the Subway 500 Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. Eight passengers and two pilots were on board the Beech 200, and a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board told The Associated Press that no one survived. D4 OBITUARIES B7 Cardinal James A. Hickey The former archbishop of Washington who led the Roman Catholic Church in the nation's capital for 20 years until his retirement in 2000. The cardinal was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 1988; he was 84. B7 ARTS E1-8 Election Nears; Talk Heats Up As the presidential campaign shifts into overdrive the week before the election, so are the nation's radio and television talk shows, which plan to leave no political stone unturned and no talking head or celebrity with even slight political credentials uninvited. E1 BUSINESS DAY C1-12 Investigation of Aon Investigators for the New York attorney general have discovered evidence of deceptive and coercive practices at Aon, the world's second-largest broker of insurance, a person close to the inquiry said. C1 Marsh & McLennan, the world's largest insurance broker, may survive its criminal investigation as long as its outside directors understand that the resignation of the chief executive, Jeffrey Greenberg, will be the first of many changes they will have to make. News Analysis. C1 Safeguards at Newspapers The recent acknowledgments of circulation inflation by three newspaper companies have prompted other chains to install safeguards intended to bolster confidence in their circulation figures. C1 Hedge Fund Rules Likely The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to approve rules requiring all but the smallest hedge funds to register with the S.E.C. and make their records available for examination. C1 Home Web Security Falls Short The nation's Internet users are confused about computer security, 80 percent of their computers are infected with spyware and almost 20 percent of the machines have viruses, according to a study to be issued by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance. C4 Business Digest C1 EDITORIAL A20-21 Editorials: Nourishing the Muslim world; true intelligence reform, or none; Rocky Mountain politics; Brent Staples on needle exchange programs. Columns: William Safire and Bob Herbert. Autos D9 Metro Diary B2 Bridge E6 TV Listings E8 Crossword E6 Weather B5
Date: 24 October 2004
By Laura M. Holson
Laura
Article on prospects of Walt Disney Co president Robert A Iger succeeding Michael D Eisner as chief executive of company; holds Iger may be hurt by his performance when he was overseeing ABC, where he had his ups and downs; but more important, friends, analysts and associates say, is whether he has differentiated himself enough from Eisner, who has become lightning rod for many of Disney's troubles; says Iger cannot be seen as disloyal to Eisner, but at same time he does not want to be too closely associated with him, either, since disgruntled investors voted 45 percent of their shares earlier this year against keeping Eisner on board; photos (M)
Date: 24 October 2004
By Gretchen Morgenson
Gretchen Morgenson
Aaron M Feuerstein, Polartec inventor who became corporate folk hero for treatment of workers after disastrous 1995 fire, is rebuffed in effort to buy back Malden Mills from current board and GE Capital, which became largest shareholder after he was forced into bankruptcy; Feuerstein, now 78, would keep 1,000 jobs in Merrimac Valley of Mass and provide low-cost local housing; photo; he has two years left on option to buy back company his grandfather founded in 1906, and Malden has not performed well under turnaround team, deepening mystery of offer's rejection (M)
Date: 25 October 2004
By Doreen Carvajal
Doreen Carvajal
Britain's major soccer leagues and daily newspapers are battling each other over game photos; leagues' demand for more control over sports photos posted on newspaper Web sites is delaying renewal of accord with newspaper publishers governing access and accreditation for journalists; newspapers have responded by generally shunning game pictures with logos and brands of advertisers; league photo control is already well established in Germany, but is just emerging as issue in other parts of Europe; photos (M)