Hong Kong's unpopular Chief Executive TUNG CHEE-HWA bet the farm-and about $2.9 billion-that building a Disney theme park would revive his city's moribund economy. But news that Disney may be planning another park in the former colony's archrival Shanghai has Hong Kongers feeling that Scrooge McDuck has picked their pocket
Verbatim
"I'm constantly amazed that anybody cares what I do."
PAUL H. O'NEILL,
U.S. Treasury Secretary and chief economic spokesman for the Bush administration, defending his plans for extensive foreign travel while the markets fluctuate wildly
"You're talking to the wrong guy about what stocks to buy."
GEORGE W. BUSH,
U.S. President, speaking on the same day the Dow plunged 234 points
"We will make every effort to hold the international community to their promises."
ABDULLAH ABDULLAH,
Afghan Foreign Minister, discussing recent U.S. efforts to encourage other nations to provide Afghanistan with billions in promised aid
"They're totally mindless killing machines."
RICHARD L. HOFFMAN,
entomologist, talking about centipedes after the recent discovery of an entirely new species in Central Park
$34 million is the amount the U.S. decided to withhold from U.N. family planning programs, claiming that the money would have been partially used to support abortions in China
77,000 child deaths could have been prevented if the U.S. paid the dues it owed to the U.N. Population Fund, according to the U.N.
$107 billion is the size of WorldCom's assets stated in its bankruptcy filing, marking the biggest corporate bust in U.S. history-the amount is almost double that of bankrupt Enron's
48 bullet-proof security cars were purchased in 2000 and 2001 by Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga costing $25 million
90 young Kabul boys were circumcised by Turkish army doctors on July 23rd as a goodwill gesture towards local Muslim families unable to finance the religious procedure
9 is the number of fetuses a Sudanese woman is pregnant with after undergoing lengthy infertility treatment at a Saudi hospital
Omen
A group of overweight Americans is suing four leading fast-food chains, including McDonald's, over weight-related health problems blamed on the high fat and salt content of cheap, habit-forming fare
Winners
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Movie hero is rumored to be eyeing California governorship. To improve his chances, he'll take speech lessons from Jesse Ventura
ALFONSO CUARÓN
Mexican director of Y Tu Mamá También gets third Potter film. Early changes: Hermione will develop Spanish accent, precocious sexuality
SNOOP DOGGY DOGG
Rapper inks deal to produce an action figure in his own likeness. Cute, but what child has the patience to braid all those itty-bitty cornrows?
Losers
ELIZABETH HURLEY
Fab femme is edited out of new Austin Powers movie because she's not funny. If that's the criteria-then when is Beyoncé getting the boot?
TINA BROWN
Former Talk editor's contract bought out early by Miramax for $1 million. That should about cover her lunch tab at the Royalton Hotel
JEFFREY ARCHER
British novelist loses bid to shorten a four-year jail term for perverting justice. Much more time behind bars and justice will be perverting him