Republicans salute Bush in convention opener Rudolph Giuliani and Senator John McCain, two Republican Party stars, took centre stage on the opening night of the Republican National Convention to salute George W. Bush’s tough anti-terror stance. 00:58 | Read
US stocks scored mild gains in morning trade, but wary investors kept their powder dry as the Republican National Convention continued in New York. 14:13 | Read
EUROPEAN EQUITIES Bourses fall after Wall Street weakness European bourses were weaker following news Swiss re-insurer Converium needs more to plug its reserves and after a sell-off on Wall Street overnight which undermined the technology sectors. 14:50 | Read
At Frito-Lay's research and development laboratories in Plano, Texas, new versions of the snack giant's Tostitos and Doritos corn chips are rolling off the mini production line for taste testing. Keeping snacks tasting good while cutting unhealthy ingredients involves a kind of culinary alchemy, while persuading consumers to accept smaller portions may not be easy or commercially desirable. Aug 30 2004 | Read
With his vote-winning social welfare policies paid for from an oil price windfall, Venezuela’s president may have signalled the revival of a Latin American populist tradition, writes Richard Lapper. 21:22 | Read
President Obiang Nguema’s quarter-century-old regime is one of sub-Saharan Africa's most enduring and authoritarian, in spite of an alleged plot by mercenaries to overthrow it this year, writes Michael Peel 20:33 | Read
Eli Noam: How to measure media concentration The debate surrounding the FCC’s unsuccessful attempt to loosen restrictions on US media ownership has highlighted the industry’s need for a new antitrust standard. 17:53 | Read
Bruce Wasserstein, head of Lazard, advocated “grace, humour and tolerance” in a letter that was sparked off by a disagreement with Michel David-Weill, his chairman. The firm - and its advisers - will need plenty of the same as Lazard weighs up the prospect of an IPO. 19:14 | Read
