Kyrgyz Leader Poisoned but Toxin Unknown

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Medical officials in the ex-Soviet state of Kyrgyzstan confirmed the prime minister was poisoned after receiving death threats but said they have not yet identified the toxin.

The presidential medical department issued a statement Tuesday diagnosing Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev with an "acute toxic hepatitis of unknown origin," but leaving open the question of whether the poisoning was deliberate or accidental.

Last week Atambayev said he fell unconscious for two days after drinking a cup of water at his office on May 11. He said he had to undergo an extensive detoxification, claiming "some government official" put poison in his water.

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NAPM Workshop to Deal With Scientific, Regulatory Concerns.(Brief Article)

BETHESDA, Md. -- Regulatory and scientific issues facing the generic pharmaceutical industry will be discussed when the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NAPM) holds its fall workshop October 11 through October 13 at the Hyatt Regency here.

The meeting will provide a forum in which NAPM members can meet with representatives of the Food and Drug Administration, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and other organizations, says NAPM president Robert Milanese.

"This workshop will bring regulators and the industry together so that the regulatory approval process for generic drug products is both strengthened and streamlined to ensure timely …

Realities, myths of the gender gap.(Main)

Byline: SUZANNE FIELDS

So many books and surveys, so little time, and many are still wrestling with Freud's simple question, "What do women want?" The books and surveys are so loaded with contradictory opinions that no sociologist's "cohort" is likely to come up with a definitive answer.

Some women insist that the only thing for an educated woman to do is to work outside her home. Others defend the mom whose satisfaction comes from being with her children. Still others insist that mix and match is the best formula, for staying home when the kids are young.

My grandson, age 8, asked me the other day what his great-grandmother - my mother - "did." I …

SENATE VOTES TO CUT B-2, STAR WARS BUSH WAS REAGAN'S IRAQ MIDDLEMAN TYSON ADMITS GUILT TO COUNT OF THREATENING PRISON STAFF U.S. PLANES GET MARKINGS AFTER SHOTS.(Main)

Byline: Associated Press Los Angeles Times Associated Press New York Times

The Senate shrugged off a veto threat from President Bush on Wednesday and approved a bill slashing the B-2 bomber and Star Wars anti-missile programs but rescuing two Seawolf submarines Bush wants scrapped.

Senators approved the legislation on a 61-38 vote. But with the cuts unlikely to be enacted into law, the action showed once again the gridlock between Bush and Congress over how to pare the Pentagon's $290 billion budget with the Cold War ended.

The action now shifts to the House, which plans to vote on its version of the legislation today. The House bill saves one Seawolf from Bush's budget ax, but leaves the B-2 and the anti-missile programs alone.

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Henry rejoins Bengals, could play in Dallas

Receiver Chris Henry rejoined the Cincinnati Bengals in practice Wednesday, an uncomfortable reminder that the owner and the head coach are not on the same page on major decisions.

Both were watching.

Owner Mike Brown crossed a downtown street to the team's practice field _ part of his daily routine _ for Henry's first workout since he served a four-game suspension for misconduct. Brown released Henry after his fifth arrest last April, then made a stunning about-face and brought him back over the objections of coach Marvin Lewis.

They're all together again, trying to get an 0-4 team its first win.

Henry had to sit out the first four games …

Flower garden of your dreams This St. Charles gardener finds beauty in every corner

When Karen Giancana dreams at night, her sleep is filled withvisions of beautiful flowers, winding paths and restful water.

When she wakes up, she heads for the nursery, gets the plants, andbuilds her dream, exactly as she saw it.

"I know exactly what it's going to look like, and it does," shesaid.Karen's garden is her own dream come true - whimsical and filledwith something unusual and unexpected at every turn.It fits her personality, she said, admitting that she gets boredeasily. The constant variety in her garden is soothing to her."Some people don't like a lot of stuff, but for me it's calming;it makes me smile," she said.Karen and husband, Nick Giancana, moved …

Asian Crisis Slices Bayer Sales ...

Bayer hopes to achieve a marginal earnings increase for 1999 but says unpredictable markets could lead to a sales decline. Pretax profit for the first nine months rose by 4%, to DM4.1 billion ($2.5 billion); sales were flat at DM41.4 billion. Bayer blames low global pricing. Sales plunged 13% in Asia but increased by 4% in …