September 6, 2003

Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa bows to public pressure and withdraws proposed internal-security laws that spurred huge protests in July; retreat is startling setback for China, which rarely yields to popular demand (M)

Article in series Re-Examing Medicare focuses on efforts by National Association of Chain Drug Stores to pass legislation on Medicare drug benefit, something association has opposed in past; key rivals to drug store chains are benefit managers such as Medco and AdvancePCS, whose plans cover most workers and can bypass retail chains via mail-order; association's president Craig L Fuller says his group's crucial objective is ensuring that patients can continue to buy drugs at their local pharmacies; photo (M)

Unexpectedly bad employment report for August puts Bush administration on defensive in arguing that tax cuts are best prescription for ailing economy; nearly 2.7 million nonfarm jobs have been lost during Bush's tenure, with August numbers highest since March; many economists believe that economy, while improving, is unlikely to generate significant employment growth in near future; Bush says Congress should make recent tax cuts permanent, speech, Indianapolis; photo (M)

Growing number of health-related lawsuits over industrial use of silica has provoked concern among insurance companies seeking to head off problem before it becomes 'next asbestos' for trial lawyers; insurers charge that lawyers are claiming silicosis on behalf of clients who have already filed asbestosis claims; lawyers counter that trend is result of more widespread screening for silicosis and greater awareness of legal rights; US Silica Co had nearly 15,300 new claims filed against it through June, up from 5,200 for all of 2002 and about 1,400 in 2001; other companies involved in suits include Bechtel, Ingersoll Rand and Lockheed Martin (M)

Boston Red Sox defeat New York Yankees, 9-3; photos (M)