Bush Speech Comes Amid High Anxiety

The state of the union is anxious.

In the eighth and final year of George Bush's presidency, Americans have stomach-clenching worries about a recession, soaring fuel costs, huge budget deficits, the war in Iraq, fighting in Afghanistan, a showdown with Iran, global terrorism _ the list goes on and on.

It's a far different world from the one in which Bush first took the oath of office in January 2001. Then the U.S. had a budget surplus, its armed forces were not in active combat and the new president's approval rating stood above 60 percent.

Now, his approval ratings are near the lowest of his presidency, in the low 30s.

Bush is seldom …

Glow for it! ; The streets of North-east communities were lit up with Christmas magic at the weekend.

The streets of North-east communities were lit up with Christmasmagic at the weekend.

The big festive switch-on attracted crowds in Ellon, Inverurie,Banff and, for the first time ever, Aberdeen's Kincorth.

Members of Ellon Community Council staged their outdoor event onSaturday.

Christmas huts, live music and a Santa's grotto delightedchildren of all ages at Neil Ross Square.

Two bands from Ellon's Young People's Project provided music.

Singers from the Haddo Choral Operatic Society and the Ellon PipeBand also added to the special Christmas atmosphere.

Festive prince and princess this year were Katie Stein and JordanRose.

Pupils …

Reduction of Al-induced oxidative damage in wheat

Abstract

Aluminum stress inhibited root growth and caused serious oxidative damage in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Under Al stress, added Ca significantly improved root growth, decreased Al, H2O2 and TBARS content and increased O2- generation, Ca content, improved CAT activity, and decreased OXO and FA-POX activity. Interestingly, Ca levels did not have any significant effect on SOD activity under Al stressed condition. Histochemical data also showed that added Ca decreased the accumulation of phenolic compounds synchronously with the reduction of Al and H2O2 content in the Al-stressed roots. Both biochemical and histochemical data revealed that added Ca reduced …

Nigerian militants report more sabotaged oil pipelines

Nigeria's main militant group sabotaged two more oil pipelines Monday during its two-year campaign of attacks on the country's oil industry, a leader of the group told The Associated Press.

The overnight attack in southern Rivers State was against two pipelines believed to be owned by a unit of Royal Dutch Shell PLC, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta leader said on condition of anonymity to avoid capture by authorities.

Shell said in a statement to The AP that its local joint venture had been informed of an "incident" on a pipeline. It said it had no more details pending an investigation.

The militants' campaign …

NHL Scoring Leaders

…

Through Feb. 28
	GP	G	A	PTS
Daniel Sedin, Van	63	32	47	79
Steven Stamkos, TB	62	41	37	78
Martin St. Louis, TB	62	24	51	75
Henrik Sedin, Van	63	15	59	74
Henrik Zetterberg, Det	63

Marcia Miller, researcher, writer, artist

Marcia E. "Marcy" Miller, 23, of Glenview, a research assistanton an African elephant study, died Monday when a small plane carryingher and two other researchers crashed in northern Botswana, killingall aboard.

Ms. Miller had been working for the Okavango Delta ElephantProject, which was led by her fiance, South African Alistair Torr,who was piloting the plane when it went down.

Torr, a doctoral student, was studying how elephants change theecosystem in the Okavango Delta and was also mapping safariconcessions for the Botswanan government.

Born in Evanston, Ms. Miller was a graduate of St. IgnatiusCollege Prep. She received a degree in museum studies …

Spain OKs extradition of ex-Guatemala minister

MADRID (AP) — A Spanish judge has agreed to extradite to Guatemala a former interior minister charged in the killing of 10 prison inmates.

The final decision on whether to extradite Carlos Vielmann lies with the Spanish government. He holds dual nationality and lives in Madrid.

Vielmann is charged with ordering the execution of 10 inmates — seven in an uprising in 2006 and …

Slum standoff in Jamaica over don's US extradition

In a gritty slum, they are preparing for war. They are building barricades of junked cars and sandbags, making Molotov cocktails and pitching barbed wire over power lines.

They are waiting for the police, who they believe will come for Christopher "Dudus" Coke, a 5-foot-4-inch neighborhood boss that the U.S. Justice Department calls one of the world's most dangerous drug lords.

Kingston has been jittery since Prime Minister Bruce Golding this week reversed his long-standing refusal to extradite Coke to the United States on drugs and arms-trafficking charges.

The U.S., Canada and Britain have issued travel alerts, warning of possible …

Fear, scars remain, Pizza deliveryman: recounts night; of his shooting

BEFORE, a bad night for Allen Townsend was a shift with no tips.

His perspective changed Jan. 19 when he almost lost his life whiledelivering a pizza.

Four men called in an order they were supposed to pick up outsidethe Martin Luther King Center: Two pizzas with pepperoni, sausage,mushrooms and extra cheese, along with 20 chicken wings.

Townsend, a 40-year-old evening delivery driver earning $5.15 anhour, went out to meet them.

He said he still was seated in the car when they crept up frombehind, demanded money, punched him in the face, shot out the rearwindow and then got nervous and shot him in the back.

"I knew I was shot," he said. "My …

Emmy Countdown: Fans wait to see stars

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Those who glide down the Emmy Awards' red carpet are in designer dresses, designer jewelry and designer shoes, or tuxedos.

But in the bleachers, it's a different story. There, the dress code is flip flops, shorts and sun screen.

Lucky fans with bleachers' tickets checked in near the Nokia Theatre at 10 a.m. PDT Sunday, to wait it out in the hot southern California sun until the stars come out.

Their wait was rewarded when Jimmy Fallon flew down the red carpet, and stopped to take a photo with Sherri Brown, 46, of New Orleans and Sharon Banfield, 38, of Los Angeles.

"He's so great," Brown squealed. "It's so nice that he appreciates his …

MARSHALL PLAN

Six years of "total war" in Europe, 1939–1945, brought destruction and economic ruin to both victors and vanquished. Only the United States emerged from World War II without domestic damage and stronger economically than before the war. The armadas of huge bombers that night and day had blasted every industrial area and transportation center in Europe had done a thorough job; recovery was painfully slow. Economic output in 1948 was 13 percent below 1938 levels; in Germany it was 55 percent lower. American output, in startling contrast, was 65 percent higher. Signs of permanent stagnation were pervasive throughout Europe, coupled with growing frustration and pessimism about the future. Millions of refugees lived in squalid camps. Britain had won the war and had received billions of dollars in postwar loans, but its economy was shattered; bread had to be rationed. Winston Churchill said Europe was "a rubble-heap, a charnel house, a breeding ground of pestilence and …

Second Micheaux installment looks at editing techniques during African American Auteurs Series at the Gene Siskel Center

Dr. Jacqueline Stewart, associate professor of radio/television/film at Northwestern University leads the unique Auteurs Series as lecturer. Before and after the showing, Stewart guides the mixed group of students and members of the general public in a discussion about the film and the life of the filmmaker.

The African American film scholar also takes questions from the audience after the screening. The African American Auteur's Series, which debuted on the eve of Black History Month, provides a rare opportunity for audiences to celebrate and review the historical and current black experience in a context captured through film.

Most of these treasure films haven't been …

5 UAE convicted reform activists freed from jail

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Five United Arab Emirates political activists received presidential pardons on Monday and were released after eight months in prison, just a day after they were convicted of anti-state crimes.

The activists, including a prominent blogger and an economics professor, were convicted on Sunday of insulting the UAE's top leadership, endangering national security and inciting people to protest at time when uprisings against authoritarian rulers raged across the Middle East.

The UAE has not been hit by the Arab Spring unrest that has spread across much of the rest of the Middle East, including neighboring Bahrain. Authorities moved aggressively against any signs of dissent that could pose a challenge to the tight political controls in country.

Ahmed Mansour, a prominent blogger was sentenced to three years in prison. The other four activists, including an economics professor who has lectured at Paris' Sorbonne university in Abu Dhabi, Nasser bin Gaith, received two-year jail terms on Sunday in the Gulf country's security court in the capital Abu Dhabi.

On Monday, they were pardoned and released.

"I feel happy because I am back with my family, but I also feel ashamed and have deep sorrow for my country," bin Gaith told The Associated Press in an interview after his release. "All I can say is that it's a sad moment for our homeland, a beginning of a police state that has tarnished the image of the UAE forever," bin Gaith said.

The UAE state news agency said in a brief report that the five were ordered released by the Gulf union's president, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The presidential pardon was issued "on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the UAE national day," the WAM report said.

Presidential pardons for convicted criminals and others offenders before major national or religious holidays are part of governance in the traditional and deeply conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Their legal system is deeply rooted in tribal laws of the Arabian Peninsula.

Defense attorney Mohammed al-Roken said the charges against all five remain, despite the pardon.

Bin Gaith told the AP that the five would continue the struggle to clear their names.

"We have just spent eight months in jail for crimes we have not committed. This is not the end. It's a beginning," bin Gaith said.

In addition to teaching at the Sorbonne in Abu Dhabi, bin Ghaith is a decorated air force pilot and has served as a legal adviser to the UAE armed forces until he was taken into custody by federal security agents from his Dubai home in April.

The five were arrested in April after signing an online petition demanding political reforms, including free elections for parliament. UAE's current parliament serves as an advisory body, and its 40 members are either directly appointed by the ruling sheiks or elected by voters hand-picked by the rulers.

The charges against the five also included urging a boycott of the existing, limited form of elections. The last vote, held in September, was only the second election since the founding of the UAE 40 years ago.

The UAE has faced an outcry from rights groups over the trials, which were held in the country's highest court that normally tries terrorism suspects and has no recourse for appeal.

Political activity is severely restricted in the UAE, an oil-rich alliance of seven semiautonomous states, each ruled by a hereditary sheik. There are no official opposition groups in the country and political parties are banned.

In an unprecedented move for the politically quiescent country, 130 people in March signed a petition demanding constitutional and parliamentary changes, free elections and a more equitable distribution of the country's oil wealth.

The five activists in custody were among those who signed the petition.

New board member for MDS

Toronto - Kathleen O'Neill has joined the MDS Inc. Board of Directors. She was an Executive VicePr�sident with BMO Bank of Montreal until January 2005. Her most recent position at the bank was Executive Vice-Pr�sident, Personal and Commercial Development, and Head of Small Business Banking. Prior to joining the bank in 1994, Ms. O'Neill's work experience included 19 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she was a partner in the Corporate Taxation Practice.

Stylists have their way with contestants

When Fox's "American Idol" finalists were first showcased March14, they were more dressed up than usual. That's because the show'sstylists -- wardrobe master Miles Siggins, his assistant and a teamof hair and makeup artists -- had stepped in.

Some looks fared well with the judges, others not so well.Contestants "know what they don't like, which is a good thing,"Siggins says. "They just don't know what they do like."

Here's the lowdown on the final eight's fashion sensibilities:

Kellie Pickler, 19

Simon Cowell compared the North Carolina resident to Dolly Partonwhen Pickler donned a dress and poufed-up locks. That comparison senther stylistically "backward" to denim and T-shirts, sighs Siggins."She needs to step out of the safety of jeans and a tank top. Peopleare going to get bored," he says.

Taylor Hicks, 29

"Every week we go over budget" investing in well-tailored suitsfor Hicks, Siggins says. A natural stage showman from Alabama, Hicksrealizes that he needs to dress it up a bit to showcase his talent. Asurprise leather jacket earned him comparisons to Clay Aiken.

Paris Bennett, 17

The Georgia singer "runs with her own thing," says Siggins, whocalls her "eclectic" and "very easy to work with." A plus: "She canchange it up, and a lot of people aren't comfortable with that."

Bucky Covington, 28

No "massive changes," Siggins says, for the "complete Southerngent," also from North Carolina. Siggins credits the hairdepartment's "obsession with curlers" for the skewering he took fromCowell over his lengthy locks.

Chris Daughtry, 26

Siggins introduced the North Carolina contestant to Lords Men, aMelrose Avenue boutique that caters to the heavy rock scene.

Katharine McPhee, 21

Stylists worked to "make her a little more feminine," saysSiggins, who hopes the Los Angeles singer will wear more dresses.

Elliott Yamin, 27

"He's very open to letting me do whatever I want to do," saysSiggins, who expects to see the Virginia singer in more ties andjackets.

Ace Young, 25

He's realizing "he'll need an edge" to stand out." We're going tomake him look like he belongs in front of 3 million people," Sigginssays.

Bartoli, 3 other seeds advance

Defending champion Marion Bartoli of France was one of four seeds to advance in the Bank of the West Classic, beating American Ashley Harkleroad 6-1, 6-4 Tuesday.

The fourth-seeded Bartoli, ranked 14th, beat Harkleroad for the first time in three meetings, though it was their first meeting in six years.

Bartoli, who faces wildcard Ana Ivanovic in the second round, won 81 percent of her first serve points to overwhelm the American, who played her second match on the WTA Tour in two years.

In other first-round matches, sixth-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel beat Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova, 0-6, 6-4, 6-3; No. 7 Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium downed Taiwan's Chan Yung-jan 6-3, 6-4; Belarus' Victoria Azarenka, the eighth seed, topped Japan's Ayumi Morita, 6-0, 6-2; Ukrainian qualifier Olga Savchuk knocked off American Jill Craybas, 6-3, 6-3; Christina McHale of the United States defeated Taiwan's Chang Kai-chen 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, in a match featuring a pair of qualifiers; and Russian Maria Kirilenko beat qualifier Mirjana Lucic of Croatia, 6-1, 6-4.

National League

East Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Philadelphia	83	44	.654	—
Atlanta	78	52	.600	6 1/2
Washington	62	65	.488	21
New York	60	68	.469	23 1/2
Florida	57	71	.445	26 1/2
Central Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Milwaukee	78	53	.595	—
St. Louis	67	62	.519	10
Cincinnati	63	65	.492	13 1/2
Pittsburgh	60	68	.469	16 1/2
Chicago	56	73	.434	21
Houston	42	87	.326	35
West Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Arizona	70	59	.543	—
San Francisco	68	61	.527	2
Colorado	62	68	.477	8 1/2
San Diego	60	70	.462	10 1/2
Los Angeles	59	69	.461	10 1/2

___

Tuesday's Games

Arizona 2, Washington 0

Milwaukee 11, Pittsburgh 4

Philadelphia 9, N.Y. Mets 4

Cincinnati 8, Florida 6

Atlanta 5, Chicago Cubs 4

L.A. Dodgers 13, St. Louis 2

Colorado 8, Houston 6

San Diego 7, San Francisco 5

Wednesday's Games

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh

N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia

L.A. Dodgers at St. Louis

Houston at Colorado

Cincinnati at Florida, 2 games

Arizona at Washington

Atlanta at Chicago Cubs

San Diego at San Francisco

Panathinaikos beats Aris 4-0

Giorgos Karagounis scored two goals Sunday to lead Panathinaikos over visiting Aris 4-0 in Greek league.

Ante Rukavina and Cleyton also scored for Panathinaikos, which has 36 points from 18 games and trails defending champion Olympiakos by nine.

PAOK Thessaloniki also has 36 points after its 2-0 win over Panthrakikos.

Panathinaikos controlled play at the Olympic stadium from kickoff, but the Athenians had to wait until the 23rd minute to have their first scoring chance when a hard shot by Vangelis Mantzios from inside the area was stopped by Mario Rogueiro.

Six minutes later, it was Aris' turn to squander a chance when a shot by midfielder Vitolo forced goalkeeper Mario Galinovic to fly for a decisive save.

Karagounis put the hosts ahead with a penalty in the 47th, and he then stretched the lead to 2-0 with a powerful shot from outside the area in the 56th.

Three minutes later, Sotiris Ninis crossed to Rukavina, who easily made it 3-0 with his fifth goal of the season. Seconds after replacing Karagounis in the 71st, Cleyton scored from close range.

Also Sunday, it was: Levadiakos 4, Ergotelis 0; OFI 2, Panionios 0; and Larissa 1, Xanthi 1.

Gas prices climb 19 cents over 2 weeks

The U.S. price of gasoline jumped 19 cents a gallon during the past two weeks, but remains well below prices from a year ago.

That's according to the national Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday.

Analyst Trilby Lundberg says the average price of regular gasoline was $2.49 a gallon Friday, when the survey was completed.

That's up 54 cents from ten weeks ago, with most of the rise occurring during May.

The average price for a gallon of mid-grade was $2.62. Premium was at $2.73.

Tucson had the country's lowest price _ $2.22 for a gallon of regular. The highest was in Chicago, at $2.76.

The lowest price in California was $2.65 a gallon in Fresno and Bakersfield, and the highest was $2.72 in San Francisco.

Lakers May Make Magic Jump Ship

For all the good Earvin "Magic" Johnson has brought the LosAngeles Lakers by coming out of retirement to play again, his two topteammates have been trying very hard to nullify it and give him everyreason to go to another team, maybe even the Bulls, when he becomes afree agent this summer.

Magic, who wants dearly to win his sixth NBA championship,already has said he would love to play for either former Laker coachPat Riley, now Miami Heat coach, or with Bulls star Michael Jordan.

He has to question his chances of winning a championshipwith a Laker team led by immature, hot-headed and selfish youngstars.What I'd like to know now is, who is the captain of the LosAngeles Lakers?"I am," joked Los Angeles Times beat writer ScottHoward-Cooper. "Right now, they are a rudderless ship."Three weeks ago, it became half-rudderless when smallforward Cedric Ceballos, the team's top scorer and one of the twoco-captains, was busted of his stripes for deserting the team inanger over his team-high playing minutes being shaved.Ceballos was fined and suspended by the team.Then on Tuesday night, after starting point guard Nick VanExel, the remaining co-captain, was ejected from the contest againstthe host Denver Nuggets, he retaliated by throwing a punch at, andthen forearming, referee Ronnie Garretson onto the scorer's table.On Wednesday, NBA operations chief Rod Thorn fined Van Exel$25,000 and suspended him without pay for the last seven games of theregular season, costing him about $162,000 in pay.The hypocritical irony of all this is that when Ceballospulled his disappearing act, Van Exel joined the majority incriticizing Ceballos. He said Ceballos showed bad leadership andadded, "I wouldn't do that to the team."Well, as it turns out, what Van Exel did was worse. Hethrew a punch at, and physically assaulted, the son of the chief ofthe NBA officials, of all people.Surely, he had an idea of the severity of his actions.What he did was much worse than what Bulls star Dennis Rodmandid a month ago in head-butting referee Ted Bernhardt, who ejectedRodman from a game in New Jersey.Rodman was fined $20,000 and suspended for six games.Rodman's absence wasn't as costly to the Bulls, despite theabsence of injured star Scottie Pippen, because they still hadMichael Jordan, the best player in the game, and the league-leadingBulls already had a handy lead over everybody.But with the Lakers fighting to beat out the two-time,defending-champion Houston Rockets for home-court advantage in theirdestined best-of-five, first-round series in the playoffs, the Lakerscould ill afford his absence.He and the Lakers were lucky that he was not suspended forthe playoffs, too.Meanwhile, although Van Exel's actions were shocking andawful, and although they may have been the worst in the NBA, theywere not the worst in pro basketball history.I remember the March 7, 1980, game I covered in DePaul'sAlumni Hall, where coach Doug Bruno, coach of the old Chicago Hustleof the Women's Pro Basketball League, ran onto the court and punchedand fought veteran referee Mark Mano.Bruno already had been reprimanded for violent outbursts onprevious occasions.In one game, he slammed a folding chair to the court, in BobbyKnight-style, after being ejected for repeatedly coming out on thecourt to criticize the officials.In another game, after being ejected, he threw a folding chair30 feet across the playing floor at an official, almost hitting acouple of players.WPBL Commissioner Bill Byrne fined Bruno $1,000 (a lot ofmoney in that low-budget league) and suspended him for the remainderof the season.Bruno did apologize publicly to Mano and everybody else, rightedhis ways and resumed what continues to be a successful career.

Suspect has history of violence, drug crimes Records show he threatened mother, beat girlfriend

Police call him a notorious gang member with a two-page rap sheetthat includes threatening his mother and beating his girlfriend.

Aloysius Oliver, accused of killing Chicago police officer EricLee, has been in and out of trouble most of his adult life, courtrecords show.

Oct. 12, 1992: Police charge Oliver with possession of acontrolled substance and delivery of a controlled substance.

He pleads not guilty, but in January a judge finds him guilty andsentences him to a year of probation.

On June 14, court officials ask a judge to issue a warrant forOliver because he violated his probation.

He's caught and placed on a home-monitoring device.

June 13, 1993: Oliver is charged with aggravated battery androbbery.

Bail is set at $50,000 and Oliver stays in jail until July 6, whenhe pleads not guilty.

After numerous delays in the case, Oliver is found guilty Nov. 15.He is sentenced to three years in prison and sent to Joliet.

He is paroled from Big Muddy River Corrections Center on Sept. 11,1994.

July 14, 1995: Police arrest Oliver and charge him with possessionof cocaine.

Police said they saw Oliver toss a plastic bag on the ground neara parking lot in the 1500 block of West 13th Street. Inside the bagwere smaller baggies, each containing a rock of crack cocaine, policesaid.

Oliver posts bond.

Dec. 20, 1995: Oliver is arrested for disorderly conduct along the400 block of West Oak.

Police said they were conducting surveillance near his CHAapartment. They asked Oliver to leave, but police said he wouldn'tbudge.

"He became loud and disruptive in an attempt to interrupt aninvestigation," police wrote in their report.

Sept. 25, 1998: Oliver's mother calls police and says her son isthreatening her.

When police arrive, Lillian Oliver tells officers he threatenedher and told her he was "gonna whip her ass."

He is charged with assault.

Nov. 30, 1998: Oliver is caught in Milwaukee County, Wis., with agun. Because he is a felon, he is charged with possession of afirearm by a felon and is found guilty.

Oliver is sentenced to two years at Dodge Correctional Center inWisconsin. He serves about 14 months.

Nov. 11, 2000: Oliver is charged with domestic battery after hisgirlfriend, Chantle Thomas, tells police he punched her in the face.

When police arrive, they report finding Thomas with a welt on theright side of her face.

A restraining order is ordered against Oliver.

A few weeks later he pleads guilty and is released with timeserved.

Munich Re 4Q profit shrinks six-fold

Reinsurer Munich Re AG reported Wednesday a euro100 million ($129 million) profit for the fourth quarter, just a sixth of its earnings a year earlier, but enough to post a full-year profit the company described as "satisfactory" in view of the financial crisis.

Munich Re said the profit for the October-December period fell from euro600 million a year earlier.

For the full year 2008, profit was euro1.5 billion ($1.9 billion), down sharply from euro3.9 billion in the previous year, although the 2007 figure was boosted by one-time tax gains.

Gross premiums written by Munich Re rose by 1.5 percent to euro38 billion. The company said it plans to pay an unchanged dividend of euro5.50 per share.

"In view of the financial crisis, the result for 2008 is satisfactory," Chief Financial Officer Joerg Schneider said in a statement. "Thanks to our pronounced risk management and a diversified investment portfolio, we have come through the crisis relatively well so far."

Reinsurers sell backup coverage to other insurers, spreading risk so the system can handle large or widespread losses.

The company said income from life insurance showed a marked decrease due to the financial market crisis.

It also pointed to claims burdens last year both from natural catastrophes and from man-made losses. The company's reinsurance combined ratio, a key measure of profitability, worsened to 99.5 percent from 96.4 percent in 2007; a lower number is healthier.

Munich Re said it saw stable or increased prices for coverage.

The company said it booked "large losses" last year on investments in light of the financial market crisis, and that it continued to write down the value of equity portfolios in the fourth quarter "owing to the continuing market turbulence."

Those were cushioned by write-ups of derivatives, it said.

"We have reduced our equity exposure further and have invested strongly in secure government bonds, but have increasingly also taken selective advantage of good return opportunities especially from corporate bonds," Schneider said.

Shares of Munich Re were down 3 percent at euro104.42 in Frankfurt trading.

Collins Stewart analyst Ben Cohen still has a "buy" rating on the stock, with a target price of euro135.

"We think these results will look increasingly credible as its peers report, and, notwithstanding the strong relative performance, see the stock likely to continue to outperform," said Cohen in a research note.

___

On the Net:

http://www.munichre.com

Preseason NBA Standings

All Times EDT
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Boston	7	1	.875	—
Toronto	4	4	.500	3
New Jersey	2	5	.286	4½
New York	2	5	.286	4½
Philadelphia	2	5	.286	4½
Southeast Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Orlando	7	0 1.000	—
Charlotte	4	4	.500	3½
Washington	3	4	.429	4
Miami	2	4	.333	4½
Atlanta	2	5	.286	5
Central Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Cleveland	6	1	.857	—
Chicago	4	4	.500	2½
Indiana	3	4	.429	3
Detroit	3	5	.375	3½
Milwaukee	3	5	.375	3½
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Memphis	7	0 1.000	—
Dallas	4	4	.500	3½
Houston	4	4	.500	3½
San Antonio	3	3	.500	3½
New Orleans	1	7	.125	6½
Northwest Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Utah	8	0 1.000	—
Minnesota	5	2	.714	2½
Denver	5	3	.625	3
Oklahoma City	3	3	.500	4
Portland	3	4	.429	4½
Pacific Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
L.A. Lakers	4	2	.667	—
Sacramento	3	4	.429	1½
Golden State	3	5	.375	2
Phoenix	2	6	.250	3
L.A. Clippers	1	7	.125	4

___

Friday's Games

Toronto 108, New York 103

Charlotte 99, Atlanta 66

Memphis 106, Detroit 103

Chicago 102, Indiana 74

Minnesota 119, Milwaukee 118, OT

Dallas 97, Houston 96

Utah 82, Sacramento 71

Denver 144, Phoenix 106

L.A. Lakers 105, Golden State 102, OT

Orlando vs. Miami at St. Petersburg, Fla., 7:30 p.m.

Saturday's Games

No games scheduled

Sunday's Games

No games scheduled<

US officials: Al-Qaida ops chief killed by CIA

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say a top al-Qaida operative was killed earlier this week in Pakistan's tribal areas, landing another blow against the besieged terrorist network.

The man killed was Abu Hafs al-Shahri, whom two U.S. officials described as al-Qaida's chief of operations in Pakistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe classified counterterrorist operations.

The officials say al-Shahri worked closely with the Pakistani Taliban to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, and was also a contender to assume some duties of al-Qaida's second in command, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman.

Al-Rahman was killed by a CIA drone strike in late August, which is apparently how Al-Shahri was also killed, though U.S. officials refused to confirm the method since the drone program is classified.

The killing was first reported by NBC News.

'He's the real deal': Adam shines again on 'Idol'

Theatrical front-runner Adam Lambert again dominated "American Idol" Tuesday night, rocking a revved-up "Born to Be Wild" with simulated pyrotechnics in the background.

Quentin Tarantino, an "AI" obsessive, mentored for "Songs From the Movies" night. Of Adam, he gushed, "He's the real deal."

In an effort to speed up the show, just two judges commented at a time. The visibly overwhelmed Paula Abdul spoke to Adam in a series of motivational posters ("You dare to dance in the path of greatness"; "Fortune rewards the brave"). Simon Cowell still found the glass half empty, saying, "It was like watching 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' at parts."

Lil Rounds disappointed Simon with her gospel-infused "The Rose," taking a few frustrated moments to defend herself. Allison Iraheta, considered the only female hope for the competition, let loose on Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." (Paula suggested that Allison shares Adam's "special sauce.")

Both Anoop Desai and Matt Giraud sang Bryan Adams covers, with only Kris Allen drawing inspiration from a recent movie ("Falling Slowly" from "Once"). And Danny Gokey's unfortunate "Miami Vice" blazer distracted from his rendition of "Endless Love."

Join in tonight for live "American Idol" chatter at 7:30 p.m. at blogs.suntimes.com/tv.

�Over on "Dancing With the Stars," the rhumba proved the undoing of Steve-O. "You have charmed this ballroom," said host Tom Bergeron to the occasionally injured "Jackass" star. Steve-O's parting words were in gratitude to partner Lacey Schwimmer for her patience.

"Sometimes I tend to 'manstruate,'" he admitted.

Photo: "You dare to dance in the path of greatness," Paula Abdul told Adam Lambert (above) Tuesday night. ;

AP: Pa. music church settles suit, bans concerts

The leader of a western Pennsylvania church is settling a federal lawsuit by pulling the plug on jam band concerts he says were religious services.

William Pritts sued Fayette County in 2006, saying zoning restrictions that stopped the concerts years before violated the religious freedom of his Church of Universal Love and Music.

The church agreed in a March settlement not to tolerate drug law violations in return for permission to hold 12 concerts a year. But a federal judge temporarily banned the concerts after 22 people were arrested on drug charges at an August concert on Pritts' farm, about 35 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

The court agreement to permanently ban the concerts was filed late Monday.

Pritts has said he plans to move the church to another county.

Franken pushes to toss Coleman's Minn. Senate suit

Democrat Al Franken called Thursday for dismissal of Republican Norm Coleman's lawsuit challenging the Minnesota Senate recount, saying the fight had gone on long enough and Coleman hadn't proved his case.

The motion for dismissal filed by his lawyers could be argued before a three-judge panel on Friday. It contends that Coleman has failed to meet his burden of proof that would enable him to overcome Franken's 225-vote lead.

Short of full dismissal, the motion said, portions of the case should be tossed.

"Having permitted contestants five weeks to put on their case, the court should now effectuate the state's long-standing, declared commitment to expedient election contests," Franklin's motion said.

The motion goes point-by-point through Coleman's lawsuit and disputes the validity of the former senator's claims on double-counted ballots and other vote-counting irregularities.

The filing also said Coleman failed to show the vast majority of rejected absentee ballots it included were properly cast.

Coleman rested his case on Monday. Coleman had argued for the inclusion of nearly 3,700 ballots, but his lawyers have acknowledged that the actual number he wants counted has dwindled to 2,000 or so. Franken argued Thursday that only nine of those are potentially worth counting _ a tiny fraction of the 225 Coleman needs to pick up.

"In filing their motion to dismiss, they are back to the old 'Let's just count some of the votes and not all of the votes,'" said Coleman attorney Ben Ginsberg. "Motions to dismiss at this stage are kind of what lawyers do. They did what lawyers do."

Should the judges rule against Franken's motion, his attorneys are prepared to continue presenting evidence. That could take another few weeks.

Ginsberg has argued that his side is highlighting inconsistencies across counties in handling absentee ballots, problems with the main state voter database and other flaws in the election that deserve to be seen through to a verdict.

OECD nations press for action on tax fraud

A group of some 20 nations agreed Tuesday that countries that drag their heels on fighting tax fraud should face sanctions that might include higher taxes and the termination of treaties.

Officials at a meeting convened by Germany and France hailed progress made in clamping down on tax havens over recent months, particularly since the Group of 20 summit in April paved the way for a black list of uncooperative countries.

However, they said much remains to be done to ensure countries' compliance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's information-exchange standards, and called for a new monitoring system to be developed.

A communique issued by ministers and officials from countries including Italy, Japan, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain and Mexico _ as well as Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg, which have in the past faced criticism for their record on tax _ called for "defensive measures" to encourage quick action.

Those measures, which it would be up to individual countries to take, could include increased withholding taxes on payments to uncooperative countries and "termination of treaties with countries and territories which refuse effective exchange of information," it added.

The countries said they would also consider coordinated action, which could include asking international financial institutions to review their investment policy with uncooperative countries.

"Retaliatory measures are very important, otherwise there is no credibility," French Budget Minister Eric Woerth told reporters. "They are absolutely necessary."

OECD head Angel Gurria said that all the 84 territories his group monitors have now at least committed to its information-sharing standard, although there is "a lot of work ahead" to implement it fully.

Since the G-20 summit, "we've had a lot of signings, and I think we've made more progress in the last three months than we had made in the 10 years before that," he said.

German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck, whose sharp criticism of neighbors such as Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg over tax evasion has caused friction in the past, offered a "compliment" to those three countries Tuesday and said they had been "notably cooperative and constructive."

Kanye heads Lollapalooza slate

The full roster of bands for the Lollapalooza music festival in Grant Park on Aug. 1-3 was scheduled to be announced by Austin-based promoters C3 presents this morning. (The Sun-Times reported the headliners and many of the other acts last week.)

Set to perform in the prime slots are: Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Wilco, the Raconteurs, glam-rockers Louis XIV, the reunited Love and Rockets, trip-hoppers Gnarls Barkley, dance-rockers Bloc Party, garage-rockers the Black Keys, the power-pop supergroups Broken Social Scene and Irish rockers Flogging Molly.

Also on the bill: Mark Ronson, Cat Power, the National, G. Love & Special Sauce, …

Youngsters' strength in the field helps seal opening-day triumph

CARMARTHEN Wanderers Under-13s got their season off to animpressive start, proving too strong for Kilgetty in their openingmatch of the season at a sun-drenched Trinity St David's Field.

Lewis Byng won the toss and put Kilgetty into bat knowing therewas a fast outfield, but also that most of his team had been putthrough their paces in recent rigorous fielding practice by theWanderers' coaches.

Kilgetty, though, got off to an absolute flyer with Kurtis Marshdispatching some loose deliveries to the boundary in the first fourovers.

He raced to 31, but then had to retire and after his exit sometighter bowling from Alex Brown and Fraser Robertson managed …

Rio Tinto Alcan.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)

Dick Evans, chief executive of Rio Tinto Alcan, has given notice of his intention to retire and step down from the boards of Rio Tinto on April 20, 2009, at the conclusion of the company's annual general meetings. Jacynthe Cote, currently president and chief …

THE MIDEAST CAULDRON.(MAIN)

The recent violence in the Mideast has now claimed its first American casualties: 17 sailors aboard the USS Cole, a Navy destroyer that was the target of terrorists as it pulled in for refueling in Yemen. President Clinton has vowed to identify and punish those responsible for the murders, as he should. But the grim reality is that tracking down terrorist masterminds can be an agonizingly slow process, often with little to show for results. But a hasty response can be the worst option of all, as it was when the Clinton administration ordered a missile attack on a pharmaceutical factory in the Sudan.

Even now, it is difficult to determine if the attack on the Cole was …

Top properties.(real estate)(commercial property sales in Chelan and Douglas counties)

The following is a list of commercial property sales in Chelan and Douglas counties compiled by Chet Haney, owner of Cornerstone Realty Services. Haney publishes the list once a month from his office in Tonasket.

Chelan County

Seller: Ian G. Martin and Deborah A. Martin

Buyer: Brandon D. Tveten and Sharon L. Tveten

Description: 0.13 acre with a 1906 house that has been converted to drapery shop and a 288-square-foot detached garage. The house has 830 square feet of space on the main floor, 496 square feet of space on the upper floor.

Address: 246 N. Chelan St., Wenatchee

Price: $102,500

Date: June 2, 2003

Seller: Craig T. Homchick et al

Buyer: Center Investments Inc. et al

Description: A masonry building with 4,340 square feet of space on the main floor and 4,340 square feet of space on the upper floor and another 995 square feet of space in the basement. The structure was built in 1965, 1967 and 1979. It sits on a 0.37-acre lot.

Address: 517 N. Mission, Wenatchee

Price: $600,000

Date: June 11, 2003

Seller: Kyle E. Younker Estate …

MURDER IN THE GROVE; A mystery conference to thrill writers and fans alike

The genre may have begun with "a dark and stormy night," but the majority of modern-day mystery writing has long since surpassed the traditional clich�s embedded in the archetypical mysteries of the 1950s. Authors specializing in the field today, whether prescribing to traditional or non-traditional plot formulas, constantly venture into new territory to keep the spontaneity in mystery fiction alive. Arguably one of the most influential and popular literary genres--as household names like Janet Evanovich and even Dan Brown might attest--it seems that every other American loves a good mystery.

Like any art form, writers are aided in their craft by conversing and working with fellow …

Pharma intermediates players predict consolidation. (United States/Americas).

Leading pharmaceutical intermediates manufacturers meeting at Socma's Informex trade show in New Orleans last week say further consolidation in the sector is imminent. Many senior executives from custom fine chemical firms predict a tough year ahead for 2003, with below 10% annual sales growth.

Dow Chemical's business group presidenr/performance chemicals Andrew Liveris, who gave the show's opening keynote presentation, said that the "traditional small-molecule side" of the custom manufacturing business is maturing, with growth at 6%-8%/year. Supplying the biopharmaceuticals sector offers higher growth, but also requires more financial resources than many smaller …

1999 NUANCES: REFINEMENTS INCLUDE NEW V-6 ENGINES, SEAT MASSAGES, SIDE AIRBAGS.(new technological features of 1999 automobile models)(Industry Overview)

Evolution, not revolution, best describes the technical changes automakers are making to their cars for 1999.

The gadget parade this year will pass largely unnoticed by drivers unless they are involved in a bad crash or spend an afternoon pulling their engine apart. But dealers struggling to devise a sales pitch for something that cannot be seen or touched can take comfort: Though these refinements are under the skin, they help make 1999 cars smoother, safer and plusher.

That much buyers certainly will notice.

Engines of change

General Motors will equip the 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue with the first double-overhead-camshaft V-6 that is a serious challenge to Japanese competitors. In terms of refinement and technical credentials, this all-aluminum, 3.5-liter, 24-valve V-6 dwarfs GM's previous effort, the 3.4-liter Dual Twin Cam V-6 available from 1991-97 in Chevrolet Lumina/Monte Carlo Z34 and Pontiac Grand Prix GTP models.

The new, 90-degree …

SPA CHAMBER OPPOSES TRASH-BURNING SITES.(Local)

Byline: Marc Carey Staff writer

The Southern Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is formally opposing locating a county trash-burning facility in either Malta or Ballston.

But the chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors said Monday the opposition is too little and too late.

The chamber has forwarded to the Board of Supervisors a resolution recommending the proposed facility be located either outside the county or in a "less visible" area, according to chamber President Stephen Vinciguerra.

He said the proposed plan is "totally out of character with the rural nature of both locations."

The supervisors have selected a …

CEO NEEDS TO KNOW HIS TROOPS.(BUSINESS)

Byline: Harvey Mackay

A few weeks ago, the day that John Walter was named the new CEO at AT&T, the stock dropped 2 points. It was the corporate equivalent of the traditional bone-jarring sack that greets rookie quarterbacks.

``Welcome to the NFL, kid.'' Welcome to the corporate big leagues, John.

Leading the corps of business blitzers was ``Chainsaw Al'' Dunlap, who got his nickname by sacking 11,200 employees when he headed Scott Paper. According to Dunlap, John Walter was not what ``suffering shareholders are looking for.''

Well, neither was Walter's predecessor, Bob Allen, another job-slasher, who pared 40,000 employees at AT&T. This …

Urban legend.(Between the lines: the inside scoop on what's happening in the publishing industry)(www.usps.com/shop)(Brief Article)

An e-mail has been making the rounds suggesting that the Black Heritage Series stamps issued by the United States Postal Service was about to be discontinued and all the inventory destroyed. Don't believe it. A'Lelia Bundles, author of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker (Scribner, 2001/Atria, 2002), who led the successful campaign to get Walker's image on one of the stamps, says: "Trust me: it is an urban myth. Every time I see this e-mail I forward it to friends at the USPS who confirm that it is a myth."

The Postal Service has publicly responded, saying the rumors "are totally untrue, as is the allegation that the Postal Service has directed …

US stocks fall ahead of Thanksgiving amid worries about the mortgage market, record-high oil

Wall Street resumed its slide Wednesday as unease about the wilting mortgage market and the broader economy triggered selling ahead of the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. The Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Dow Jones industrial average each fell by more than 1.5 percent, with the Dow giving up more than 210 points.

The decline in the S&P 500 left the index in negative territory for the year. Many investments such as mutual funds either track or are measured against the S&P.

The worries over the economy sent investors rushing to the safety of government securities. The yield on the Treasury's 10-year note for a time fell …

Treatment on the house

((PHOTO …

SAINT ROSE RALLIES, LOSES IN 2OTS.(Sports)

After rallying from a 12-point second half deficit, the College of Saint Rose women's basketball team lost 78-69 in double overtime to Bridgeport in a non-conference contest Saturday at Nolan Gymnasium.

Trailing 49-37 with seven minutes remaining in the second half, the Golden Knights (4-5) rallied to send the game into overtime. Sophomore guard Ola Shajuyigbe scored 15 points in the final minutes to give Saint Rose a 57-56 lead. After junior guard Lynsey Timbrouck knocked down two free throws to extend the advantage to three (59-56), Bridgeport hit a clutch shot of its own when junior Meghan Lewis buried a 3-pointer with two seconds left to force overtime.

…

62 SPANISH TROOPS ABOARD CRASHED JET.(MAIN)

Byline: Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey -- A plane carrying 74 people, most of them Spanish peacekeeping forces, from Afghanistan to Madrid crashed early today while trying to refuel in northwest Turkey, news reports said.

The Ukrainian-operated plane was flying from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to Zaragoza, Spain, with a refueling stop in Trabzon, private NTV television reported, quoting unnamed Turkish aviation officials.

It went down near the mountainous town of Macka, 30 miles south of the Black Sea port of Trabzon, NTV said. The plane carried 62 passengers -- all Spanish peacekeeping forces -- and 12 crew members, the television station said, quoting …

Network upfront active but may fall below last year's level.

The prime time upfront market is heating up with modest cost-per-thousand increases, but total dollars are expected to fall flat or slightly short last year's $3.6 billion.

If the prime time market does not hit $3.6 billion, it would be the third time since 1989 that it has fallen below the previous year's level. An ABC spokesman predicted that the total market would add up to $3.6 billion, while an NBC executive believes upfront revenues will reach $3.4 billion.

More than $2 billion has already been spent on prime time inventory, according to some estimates. But the market is not expected to close until mid-August, as advertisers are taking a closer look at …

Spain's borrowing rates drop in bond sale

MADRID (AP) — Spain has successfully raised €3.5 billion ($4.83 billion) at a debt auction, with lower interest rates reflecting easing market fears over the country's ability to manage its debt.

The Treaury raised €1.89 billion in three-year bonds with the average interest rate down to 3.25 percent from 3.72 percent in the last such auction on Dec. 2.

It sold €1.61 billion in five-year …

news digest.

Visteon strategy

Visteon is targeting Europe for growth as it looks to reduce its dependence on the US market and on Ford, its former owner.

Ford accounts for 80 percent of the supplier's European business, said Heinz Pfannschmidt, recently appointed Visteon president for Europe and Latin America. "We want this to fall to two-thirds by 2005 and hope for a 50-50 split in due course," said the former TRW executive.

Visteon's annual European sales are about E3 billion compared with E15 billion in the USA.

In Europe, Visteon is aiming for growth in cockpits, engine cooling systems, chassis products, telematics and infortainment.

…

Chase ends in robbery charges: Apartment burns after occupants evacuated by police seeking gunman.

Byline: Anne Miller

Mar. 2--ALBANY -- Rice, beans and pork chops cooked while Blanca Alvarado watched her infant nephew when police, weapons drawn, banged on the door of her Ontario Street apartment Thursday afternoon. She said officers told her an armed gunman was hiding upstairs. They hustled her and the baby out of the house so fast, she didn't have time to turn off the stove -- and the house caught fire, according to the woman and police. This morning two men are expected to be arraigned on charges that they robbed a man on Western Avenue, then led police on a foot chase through the neighborhood that included one of them running through Alvarado's …

Bush proposes expansion of health savings accounts as funding tool for retirees.(News)

Byline: JERRY GEISEL

WASHINGTON-Health savings accounts would be expanded to serve as a tax-effective retiree health care funding vehicle under a proposal unveiled last week by President Bush.

The proposal would allow employees and employers to increase HSA contributions significantly, creating a much bigger pot of money to draw on for retiree health care expenses.

Under current law, the maximum permitted contributions are so low that there is limited ability for employees-after paying for uncovered current year medical expenses-to build up balances in their HSAs.

"The reality is that the maximum contribution permitted is so low as to constrain those who are serious about saving'' to meet future retiree health care expenses, said Randy Abbott, a consultant in the …

MassBay president sets record straight

It was like any other Wednesday night for Massachusetts Bay Community College President Carole Berotte Joseph. She was up late, as she is most weeknights, working on college matters. But on this particular night, she anxiously awaited an investigative report airing on a local television station.

The report blasted Joseph for spending more than $100,000 on a weeklong inauguration celebration at a time when the school has a scarce budget, outdated equipment and overdue facility improvements to the Wellesley, Framingham and Ashland campuses.

During the segment, Joseph appeared angry and her tone was firm and passionate. She defended her spending, saying her celebration was a …

Viacom bids bye-bye to cable.

At a glance

Viacom Cable Inc.'s holdings, which Viacom is looking to divest, are concentrated in the West. Here are the systems (called Viacom Cable, unless otherwise noted) and their subscribers:

California

* San Francisco: 160,000

* San Rafael (Viacom Cablevision of Marin County): 61,600

* Dublin (Viacom Cablevision): 57,000

* Pittsburgh: 39,700

* Redding (Viacom Cablevision Inc.): 35,400

* Oroville: 25,000

* Petalurna: 24,800

* Napa (Viacom Cablevision of Napa): 22,900

* Healdsburg: 16,400

Ohio

* Dayton (Viacom Cablevision of Dayton Inc.): 52,000 Oregon …