Boston

Combination therapy shows promise for prostate cancer

Doctors were able to cut the death rate of prostate cancer patients nearly in half and spare them several serious drug side effects by combining radiation therapy with a limited course of hormone therapy, according to a new study.

The finding could have a significant impact for men whose cancer is thought to be localized but who are at higher risk because of higher prostate lab test scores. About half of all newly diagnosed cases each year fall into that category.

Men getting the combined therapy had an overall five-year survival rate of 88 percent, compared with 78 percent for those who got just radiation.

The study appears in today’s Journal of the American Medical Assn.

Jerusalem

Israel plans to add 1,001 homes in West Bank

The Israeli Housing Ministry on Tuesday invited bids to build 1,001 homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved the move despite a U.S.-backed peace plan that requires a freeze on settlement construction.

Raanan Gissin, a spokesman for Sharon, said the new construction was in keeping with understandings reached between Sharon and President Bush during a meeting in April. Bush said then that it was “unrealistic” to expect Israel to give up large settlement blocs in the West Bank.

London

8 al-Qaida suspects charged

British authorities Tuesday charged eight al-Qaida suspects with conspiracy to murder and other counts in connection with a reported plot to attack financial centers in the United States.

One of those charged was Dhiren Barot, who is suspected of conducting surveillance of U.S. financial buildings that was detailed in computer files seized recently in Pakistan. The discovery of the documents led the U.S. government on Aug. 1 to raise the terrorism alert to orange, or “high risk,” for the financial sectors in Washington, D.C, New York and New Jersey.

Washington, D.C.

Google IPO still on hold

Google’s initial public offering of stock stalled Tuesday after the Securities and Exchange Commission delayed final approval of the prospectus describing the $3 billion IPO.

Google had hoped to begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market as early as today. Both SEC and Google officials declined to elaborate on the possible reasons for the delay.