Mavs Send Sonics to 10th Straight Loss

Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points, Devin Harris keyed a game-breaking run, and the Dallas Mavericks beat Seattle 111-96 Saturday night to hand the reeling SuperSonics their 10th straight loss.

Seattle, which last won Dec. 29 against Minnesota, trailed 39-34 with 7:09 left in the first half before the Mavericks used a 27-10 run to build a 22-point halftime lead.

Harris scored nine in the spurt and finished with 17 points.

Josh Howard added 17 points, Jason Terry scored 15 and Jerry Stackhouse chipped in with 10 for Dallas, which has won eight of nine.

Seattle's 10 losses in a row matches the single-season franchise record. The Sonics (9-31) …

Baker, Howard Henry, Jr.

Baker, Howard Henry, Jr. (b. Huntsville, Tennessee, 15 Nov. 1925) US; US Senator 1967–85, Senator majority leader 1981–5 Baker came from a family long involved in politics. His father, Howard H. Baker, Sr., served in the US House of Representatives 1951–64, and on his death was succeeded by Baker's mother, Ira Baker, 1964–5. Baker married the daughter of Senator Everett Dirksen. Following service in the Navy in the Second World War, he took a BA at Tulane University in New Orleans and studied law at the University of Tennessee. He practised law in Tennessee and in 1966 was elected to …

Fastest growing NH companies: EPE Corporation

A five-year plan to diversify its customer base, market more aggressively to the aerospace defense industry and earn key certifications including AS910 (a quality standard for the defense industry) has meant booming business for this small, veteran-owned electronics manufacturing services company.

Thanks in large part to more defense contracts, this third-generation family business not only grew sales during the recession, but was the fastest growing company on this year's Top 100 Private Companies list. The company specializes in ISO 9001/AS9100 certified printed circuit board, backplane, electromechanical and system assembly as well as logistics products.

It is also ITAR …

China still plays down its chances with Beijing Olympics 2 1/2 weeks away

China is still playing down its gold-medal chances at the Beijing Olympics, which open in 2 1/2 weeks.

Zhang Haifeng, a spokesman for the General Administration of Sport, made the most conservative prediction possible on Tuesday, saying China would surpass the 32 gold medals it won four years ago in Athens, when it was second only to the United States.

"We will strive to do better than 32 gold medals this year," Zhang said. "But it will be extremely challenging as our competitors are very strong."

In the last year, China and the United States have made a game out of playing down their medal prospects in Beijing. Many expect …

Bank of Japan holds emergency policy meeting

The Bank of Japan is holding an emergency meeting Monday as political pressure mounts for the central bank to ease monetary policy in the face of a surging yen.

In a statement on its website, the bank said the meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Tokyo (0000 GMT; 8 p.m. EDT Sunday). The bank had been expected to convene Sept. 6 at a scheduled two-day policy board meeting.

The news sent Japanese stocks soaring. The Nikkei 225 stock average finished the morning session up 3.1 percent at 9,265.39.

The Japanese government has not intervened in foreign exchange markets since 2004, but Japan's export-driven economy faces growing uncertainty due to a …

Karl's Coaching Future Depends On the Playoffs

SEATTLE When the Seattle SuperSonics open their playoff season,they'll be playing for the future as well as the here and now.

If the Sonics collapse in the playoffs for the third straightyear, coach George Karl knows he could be fired and the team with thesecond-best record in the NBA dismantled.

"I'm very proud of the job I've done here," Karl said. "I knowit's been first class. If they want to change it, they have thatright. Then I have to live with it."Despite the Sonics' 64-17 record after a victory Friday nightagainst Minnesota in Seattle, Karl has not been offered a newcontract. General manager Wally Walker has told Karl that decisionwill be made this …

Guatemala judge postpones ex-general's hearing

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — A Guatemalan judge has again postponed a hearing to decide if a former general should stand trial for alleged involvement in dozens of massacres of indigenous people during the Central American nation's civil war.

Prosecutors say the 81-year-old Hector Mario Lopez Fuentes was brought to Friday's hearing sedated, prompting …