The Israeli cabinet did, however, approve call-ups for reserve soldiers, which suggested that Israel was gearing up for the possibility of a protracted conflict.
Floyd Landis, the third American cyclist to win the tour, failed the test after winning Stage 17. If a second test confirms the results, Landis may be stripped of his championship.
Sales of new homes fell 3 percent in June, the biggest decline in four months and 11 percent below the same period a year ago, the Commerce Department reported today in the latest sign that the market has turned in favor of buyers. Sales for May were also revised downward.
AP - Israel's government decided Thursday not to expand its battle with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon for now, but authorized the army to call up 30,000 reserve soldiers in case the fighting intensifies. Lebanese officials estimated a civilian death toll as high as 600.
AP - President Bush declined Thursday to criticize Israel's tactics in its continuing offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon, and gave a sharp condemnation of Iran's role in the bloody fighting.
AP - American cyclist Floyd Landis denied that he cheated to win the Tour de France, but said Thursday that his career will forever be stained by his positive test for high testosterone during the sport's premiere event.
Israeli offensive will "change reality," minister says Reserves being called up to support Israeli troopsHeavy fighting at three towns near Lebanon borderMore than 150 rockets hit Israel in 24 hoursU.N. "distressed" by peacekeepers' deaths
Floyd Landis says he didn't do it -- didn't inject testosterone, didn't apply a testosterone patch to any part of his body. Floyd Landis just returned my call, and I asked him straight up: "Did you do it, bro?"
Profits at Exxon Mobil surged 36 percent to a near record $10.4 billion in the second quarter as surging oil prices helped the world's largest publicly traded company soundly beat Wall Street forecasts.