Troops, armored vehicles in Bangkok for 'D-Day'

Thai troops and armored vehicles gathered early Wednesday at the edges of the barricaded encampment of anti-government protesters in downtown Bangkok and fired tear gas in what appeared to be the start of a final crackdown to disperse them.

"This is D-Day," said one soldier when asked if this was the final push.

Sporadic gunfire was heard at daybreak after overnight rumors of a military push to clear the thousands of protesters. Soldiers extended their blockades around the protest site and used loudspeakers to tell all people to return to their homes. Smoke billowed above the city skyline as a government building was on fire in another part of …

For Hopkins - is third time too much?: Some think this reprise of Hannibal is overdoing it

NEW YORK - Sometimes, the third time's the harm.

As "The Godfather Part III" showed, a revered franchise can getsneered at. Prequels and remakes are disappointing most of the time.

So could it be that "Red Dragon" - go-round No. 3 for AnthonyHopkins as Hannibal Lecter, a film that shows how Lecter got started,and a re-do of 1986's "Manhunter" - is one serving too many of theCannibal?

When "Red Dragon" director Brett Ratner approached Hopkins aboutit, he remembers Hopkins telling him: '"I can't do this joke again.I've done it already.'"

"I was mildly reticent about playing it again," Hopkins concededin a separate interview. "And then my agent said to me, …

Average price of oil so far in 2007 is just 1 percent higher than last year as economy adjusts

As oil prices climb toward the once unthinkable $100 a barrel level, fears that the U.S. economy could tip into recession are also rising.

To spur spending and borrowing, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut a key short-term interest rate for the second time in two months. This, even after the economy grew at a respectable 3.9 percent annual rate in the third quarter and fuel demand continues to rise. So what gives?

Anxiety-inducing headlines can cloud reality, analysts said, especially when it comes to a critical commodity such as oil, whose economic impacts are best measured over time. Through October, the average per-barrel cost of oil is only 1.3 …

Bears nurtured a winner at QB, may regret one who got away

Dan, the Bears did the unthinkable. They brought along a quarterback, nurtured him, and after a few years, they let him go.

Jay Cutler threw twice as many passes as Kyle Orton for twice as many yards, but I say, big deal! Cutler needed to win one of three remaining games to get Denver into the playoffs. You will argue he threw for 1,200 yards in his last three games, but I will say he didn't get it done. The Broncos had no defense or running game, so Cutler had to throw.

Orton had a running game and a better defense. But if that defense holds on for 11 seconds against Atlanta, the Bears go 10-6 and make the playoffs, and Jay Cutler is playing for someone else.

Now, …

Bell stuck on hold

((PHOTO …

Georgia Processor Expands Meat Recall

WASHINGTON - A Georgia meat processor on Saturday expanded its recall of canned meat products that may be connected to a botulism outbreak.

Castleberry's Food Co. of Augusta recalled more than 80 types of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash and other meat products in addition to the 10 brands it had recalled Thursday.

Cans of chili sauce made at the Castleberry's plant were found in the homes of an Indiana couple and two children in Texas who had been hospitalized with botulism. All four are expected to survive.

Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a toxin made by a bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. Such bacteria are commonly found in soil. …

A star flips to become the new `Dancing' champ

Shawn Johnson is adding a mirrorball trophy to her collection of Olympic medals. After all, the two glittering prizes seem to go very well together. The 17-year-old gymnast was named "Dancing With the Stars" champion Tuesday during the season finale of the hit ABC show, the third Olympian in eight seasons to win.

Johnson and her professional partner, Mark Ballas, held the mirrorball trophy aloft as the rest of the contestants rushed out to greet them, hoisting the couple on their shoulders as sparkling confetti flew.

"This has been the best experience ever," Johnson said after her victory. "I've grown so much."

Johnson …

Inmates stage Thanksgiving riot in Georgia

CORDELE, Ga. Thirty inmates upset because they were held onThanksgiving staged a riot at the Crisp County Jail, setting fires,smashing windows and cutting water and electrical lines, the sheriffsaid Friday.

"The bottom line was they just didn't want to be in jail onThanksgiving," Sheriff Donnie Haralson said.

He said the inmates in a dormitory went on a rampage Thursdayevening and were brought under control about three hours later whenabout 40 members of the State Department of Corrections riot squadsarrived.

No injuries or …

Leaked documents reveal Mideast talks' human side

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Leaked documents from years of Mideast peace talks reveal a rarely seen human side of high-level diplomacy, showing Israeli and Palestinian negotiators joking, teasing, losing their tempers and even sympathizing with one another on thorny issues that have divided them for decades.

Released on the website of Al-Jazeera TV this week, the documents also disclose that the sides made significant progress on the conflict's toughest disputes before the talks broke down around the time of Israel's war in Hamas-ruled Gaza in early 2009.

"We were very close, more than ever before, to concluding an agreement of principles that would have led to an end of the …

Wisniewski scores winner in shootout

Defenseman James Wisniewski scored in regulation and added the winner in a shootout in the Anaheim Ducks' 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.

Ryan Getzlaf also scored in the shootout for Anaheim, 2-3 on a six-game trip.

Martin St. Louis scored for Tampa Bay. The Lightning entered the game with a three-game winning streak, their longest since January 2009.

St. Louis put the Lightning up 1-0 during a 2-on-1 at 9:47 of the first. Steven Stamkos assisted on the goal for his 100th career point, which came in his 132nd game. Stamkos had Tampa Bay's lone shootout goal.

Wisniewski tied it from the left circle on a power play …

Original `Raisin' had big-name cast

Ruby Dee (Ruth Younger)

THEN: 34 years old. Had been acting in Broadway and Off-Broadwayproductions since her professional stage debut in 1946. Married toactor Ossie Davis.

NOW: Continues to pursue the stage and film. Was in Davis' 1961Broadway hit "Purlie Victorious" and film version of "Raisin."Appeared in Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" (1989) and "JungleFever" (1991). She and Davis, still married, have been inducted intothe NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame and are involved in charity andcivil rights causes.

Glynn Turman (Travis Younger)

THEN: 13 years old. "Raisin" was his acting debut.

NOW: Continues to act in TV and film features. Recent movie …

Utility E.On bounces back to profit in Q3

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German gas and electricity company E.On AG says it bounced back to profitability in the third quarter despite the impact of Germany's nuclear shutdown and a new fuel tax.

Its net profit of €196 million compares with a loss of €388 million in the same quarter a year ago.

Sales rose 24 percent to €24.88 billion and the company reaffirmed it would pay a dividend …

Feds recall more kid jewelry due to toxic cadmium

Federal regulators said Wednesday they have found high levels of the toxic metal cadmium in trinkets that were distributed for free to children at some doctor and dentist offices over the past five years.

The news came as the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of nearly 70,000 charm bracelets and rings _ the fourth time this year that the federal government has said cheap Chinese-made jewelry was being pulled from shelves because of cadmium, a known carcinogen.

What stood out about this recall was that kids got the items in places where they are taken to stay healthy or get better.

Cadmium is a naturally occurring metal that, if ingested, can weaken bones and kidneys. The concern from federal regulators is that kids could be exposed if they bite and suck on _ and in rare cases, even swallow _ jewelry containing cadmium.

The commission said parents should immediately throw away the approximately 66,200 "Children's Happy Charm Bracelets" bracelets and 2,200 rings that have a metal football-shaped charm attached to an adjustable band. The charm bracelets have colored beads and a single metal charm shaped like a butterfly, moon or sun.

The agency has not received any reports of incidents or injuries involving either product. The items were distributed at doctor and dentist offices nationwide between June 2005 and March 2010, the agency said.

The system of rewarding kids with a toy or trinket has been commonplace for years among children's dentists.

Mary J. Hayes, a pediatric dentist in Chicago and a spokeswoman for the American Dental Association, suggested that parents who are worried about the safety of items their kids might get from a visit should speak with office staff.

"Any kind of worry like this, parents need to discuss that with the office and decide how they pick out their toys and what kinds of things they look for," Hayes said, adding that she didn't think the recalled items had been in the goodie drawer at her office.

The purchasing manager at the firm that imported the charms _ Toy Network LLC of Indianola, Iowa _ said that testing the company did earlier this year showed cadmium.

Toy Network stopped importing the items "because of testing," purchasing manager Jessica Dickinson said in a brief interview Wednesday. She would not elaborate.

While there are no federal requirements for testing cadmium in children's jewelry, some firms have started voluntarily looking for it in response to an ongoing investigation by The Associated Press that reported some Chinese manufacturers substituted cadmium when a 2008 federal law effectively banned lead from children's jewelry. Testing published by AP in January showed some jewelry was as much as 91 percent cadmium by weight, and that high levels can leach out when items were run through a test that mimics what would happen if a kid swallowed one.

In response, federal regulators have recalled Disney-branded jewelry sold at Walmart; "Best Friends" charm bracelets sold at the international jewelry and accessories chain Claire's; and in early June, 12 million "Shrek" movie-themed drinking glasses being given away by McDonald's that had cadmium pigment in their decoration.

A spokeswoman for the ring importer identified by the CPSC in Wednesday's recall _ Fun Express Oriental Trading Company, of Omaha, Neb. _ did not return calls or and e-mail seeking comment. The Carlyle Group, a private investment firm that owns Oriental Trading Company, referred a request for comment to the company.

The CPSC said it was orchestrating the recall with the distributor of the items, which it identified as SmileMakers Inc., of Spartanburg, S.C. Calls and e-mails to SmileMakers requesting comment were not returned. According to the company's website, SmileMakers is a wholly owned subsidiary of Staples, Inc.

___

Online: http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10287.html

Liverpool ousted by Barnsley in FA Cup shock

Seven-time champion Liverpool was knocked out of the FA Cup in a shock 2-1 fifth-round loss to lower-league team Barnsley on Saturday.

Brian Howard scored the winner in the 90th minute in front of Liverpool's most fervent supporters at Anfield. Dirk Kuyt had put the Reds ahead, before Stephen Foster equalized for Barnsley, which is mid-table in the second-tier League Championship.

"It's a fairytale, it's what dreams are made of _ he's scored the winner in an FA Cup tie at the Kop end," Barnsley manager Simon Davey said.

Manchester United easily defeated Arsenal 4-0 at Old Trafford, with the Gunners finishing with 10 men after Emmanuel Eboue was sent off in the 49th.

Darren Fletcher scored twice, with Wayne Rooney and Luis Nani adding a goal each.

"We showed great verve and tenacity," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "The passing was terrific and the players should be proud of themselves ... it was a marvelous performance."

Arsenal leads Man United by five points in the Premier League and manager Arsene Wenger was disappointed with his side's performance.

"It's difficult to find some positives in our game today, the only one I can see is that we haven't got more injuries than we had before the game," Wenger said.

Chelsea, Bristol Rovers, Cardiff and West Bromwich Albion also booked quarterfinal berths.

Chelsea, the defending champion, beat League One club Huddersfield 3-1, with Frank Lampard scoring in the 18th and 60th minutes and Salomon Kalou adding the other goal in the 70th.

Bristol Rovers reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 50 years by upsetting Southampton 1-0. Roman Bednar scored twice for West Brom in a 5-0 win over Coventry, and Cardiff beat Wolves 2-0 in another all-League Championship matchup.

On Sunday, Sheffield United hosts Middlesbrough and Portsmouth travels to Preston.

Kuyt scored for the first time for the Reds in 13 matches in all competitions in the 32nd minute, after receiving a pass from Ryan Babel. But Barnsley leveled in the 57th through Foster, whose powerful header beat Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje.

Liverpool responded quickly, with Yossi Benayoun and Peter Crouch having shots cleared off the line.

The Reds brought on England midfielder Steven Gerrard, but couldn't score largely due to a standout performance from goalkeeper Luke Steele, who was making his debut for Barnsley after moving this week from West Brom on a month's loan.

"It's been a couple of months since I played last, so obviously I was just so happy to be out there and at Anfield," said Steele, who admitted he didn't know the names of all his teammates.

Liverpool is now out of both cup competitions and out of contention for the English title. Its only chance of a trophy is the Champions League _ it hosts Inter Milan in the round of 16 on Tuesday _ but manager Rafa Benitez is still trying to work out what went wrong Saturday.

"Frankly I am stunned and bitterly frustrated," Benitez said. "The team are very upset.

"We had a lot of chances but it was the same situation as in other games, we cannot take our chances to finish games," Benitez added. "I am really, really disappointed. It is difficult to explain, but it is the reality."

Barnsley has won the FA Cup once _ in 1912 _ and was runner-up two years before that.

At Stamford Bridge, Lampard was the key to Chelsea's win in just his second game since returning from six weeks out with a thigh injury.

He scored first goal with a low shot after taking a cross from Scott Sinclair. He then notched his 101st goal for Chelsea, scoring on a rebound after his initial shot was stopped by goalkeeper Matthew Glennon before setting up Kalou.

Huddersfield, which plays two divisions below Chelsea in League One, leveled in the 45th through Michael Collins, who slipped the ball underneath goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

Lampard was the only player remaining from the team which drew 0-0 with Liverpool in the Premier League last week. The Blues welcomed back captain John Terry, who played for the first time since Dec. 16 after recovering from a foot injury.

Bristol Rovers striker Richard Lambert scored with a deflected free kick in the 84th minute to equal its best-ever FA Cup performances, in 1951 and '58.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," Lambert said. "We were lucky with the goal, but we deserved to win that game."

West Brom led in the 12th through a header from Chris Brunt. Roman Bednar added two more goals_ in the 59th and converting a penalty kick in the 69th. Ishmael Miller added a fourth in the 76th before Zolton Gera finished the rout in the 78th.

Coventry midfielder Michael Doyle was sent off in the 48th for a foul on Zoltan Gera.

Cardiff leads Wolves on goal difference in the League Championship, and the Welsh side went 2-0 up inside 11 minutes at Ninian Park. Peter Whittingham beat the offside trap to race onto a pass from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and score in the second minute.

Whittingham then set up Hasselbaink to make it 2-0 in the 11th minute.

Cardiff last reached the quarterfinals in 1927 when it went on to win the title. That is the only time the FA Cup has been won by a club outside England.

`No pass, no play' school bill voted

SPRINGFIELD An Illinois Senate judiciary committee yesterdaynarrowly endorsed "no pass, no play" legislation for high schoolstudents.

The panel's 8-to-6 vote came after its sponsor, Sen. William A.Marovitz (D-Chicago), revised the measure to include in its scopeother extracurricular activities as well as athletics.

Under its terms, students who are failing a required course at theend of a grading period could not compete in sports or take part ininter-school activities for four weeks. During the suspension,students could continue to practice.

The measure was opposed by David Fry, associate executivesecretary for the Illinois High School Association, which governsscholastic eligibility for student athletes.

The Marovitz proposal contained "the seeds of many good ideas,"but "takes away the motivational factor of scholastic eligibilitystandards," Fry said.

Stocks surge on manufacturing, housing data

Stocks are surging after better-than-expected reports on manufacturing and housing.

The Institute for Supply Management says its manufacturing index came in at 55.7 in October, much better than the reading of 53 economists had expected. A reading above 50 indicates growth. It was the third straight month of growth, and the strongest reading since April 2006.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors says pending home sales rose 6.1 percent in September, the eighth straight month of gains. The rise was more than analysts had been expecting.

The Dow Jones industrials are up 114 at 9,827. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up 11 at 1,047, and the Nasdaq composite index is up 11 at 2,056.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Stocks are mostly higher early Monday as investors await key reports on manufacturing and housing, looking for reassurance that the economic recovery will be sustainable.

A surprise profit from Ford Motor Co. helped support the early gains. Ford said deep cost cuts and the government's Cash for Clunkers rebates helped it earn nearly $1 billion in the third quarter. Its shares soared nearly 10 percent in early trading.

Investors are hoping a report on U.S. manufacturing activity shows continued improvement in the industry. The market will also get reports on pending home sales and construction spending Monday morning.

The market appeared to take in stride news that commercial lender CIT Group Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection on Sunday after a debt-exchange offer to bondholders failed. The filing, one of the biggest in U.S. corporate history, did not come as a surprise, as the lender has been struggling for months to restructure its debt.

Stocks are coming off a volatile week, having posted their biggest losses in four months on Friday after rising sharply a day earlier on stronger-than-expected economic growth in the third quarter. Friday's losses helped send the Standard & Poor's 500 index into the red for the month of October, breaking a seven-month streak of gains.

The 3.5 percent growth in the U.S. economy in the third quarter was largely driven by government stimulus efforts. Investors are worried that once those measures run out, high unemployment and weak consumer spending will put a strain on the economy.

As the market heads into the final months of the year, investors are trying to determine whether the bets they've been placing on an economic rebound over the past several months have been warranted. Even with the S&P 500's 2 percent loss in October, the index is still up 53.2 percent from a 12-year low in March.

In morning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 15.34, or 0.2 percent, at 9,728.07. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 1.86, or 0.2 percent, at 1,038.05, and the Nasdaq composite index was down 8.57, or 0.5 percent, to 1,658.56.

Sharks Beat Strugging Stars in SO

Rookie Devin Setoguchi and Patrick Marleau connected in the shootout after scoring regulation goals, and the San Jose Sharks beat Dallas 4-3 Wednesday night in the Stars' first game since a major front office shake-up.

Owner Tom Hicks made several management changes Tuesday and Wednesday, hoping to jump-start his struggling team. Dallas was able to rally from a two-goal third-period deficit to send the game to overtime before losing its fourth in a row at home.

Sergei Zubov missed on the Stars' first shootout attempt, then Setoguchi connected on San Jose's leadoff shot.

Jussi Jokinen shot wide in the second round for the Stars and Marleau beat goalie Marty Turco from the slot to give San Jose its third straight victory.

Hicks fired general manager Doug Armstrong on Tuesday, replacing him with former star Brett Hull and assistant GM Les Jackson as co-interim general managers. Hicks moved team president Jim Lites into a full-time role in his sports marketing firm Wednesday, giving the team president's job to Jeff Cogen, who had filled the same position for Hicks' baseball franchise, the Texas Rangers.

Setoguchi's first-period goal gave him six in his first eight NHL games, and Marleau added a goal 59 seconds later to help the Sharks build a 3-1 lead.

Torrey Mitchell also scored for San Jose.

Turco got a break with 2:45 left in overtime when Marc-Edouard Vlasic's attempt hit the goal post, the best scoring chance for either team in the extra session.

The Stars got third-period goals from Brenden Morrow and Niklas Hagman to tie it at 3.

Morrow's power-play rebound at 5:33 of the third pulled Dallas within 3-2. It was his eighth of the season and also extended his goal-scoring streak to three games.

Hagman connected for his eighth goal 58 seconds after Morrow's tally.

Jere Lehtinen also scored for Dallas, which has lost six of its last eight.

A puck-handling blunder by Turco handed the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 9:33 of the first period.

Turco went behind the net to play the puck, but his blind pass ended up on the stick of Jeremy Roenick, who passed to a wide-open Mitchell for his third goal.

Lehtinen's fifth goal on a rebound tied it at 1 at 15:49 of the first period. Mike Modano got an assist, extending his points record for U.S.-born players to 1,236.

San Jose went back in front 2-1 at 18:05 of the second on Setoguchi's shot from the right circle that got through Turco's pads.

A turnover by Dallas' Stu Barnes on an attempted clearing pass set up Marleau's fourth goal at 19:03 of the first period to extend the Sharks' lead to 3-1.

Notes:@ The Stars will honor Modano on Nov. 21 in ceremonies prior to a home game against Anaheim for breaking Phil Housley's points record of 1,232 for U.S.-born players. Modano set the mark during a four-game road trip. ... LW Milan Michalek was out of the Sharks lineup after missing most of Monday night's win over Phoenix with a strained elbow. ... San Jose also was without D Rob Davison (finger), FW Ryane Clowe (knee), D Brad Norton (back) and C Tomas Plihal (shoulder). ... LW Brad Winchester was back in Dallas' lineup after missing four games with an abdominal strain, but D Mattias Norstrom (facial laceration) remains out. ... The Stars recognized Roenick reaching the 500-goal mark with a video clip during a timeout in the first period.

4 passenger ferries stuck in ice off Swedish coast

Sweden's sea rescue service says four passenger ferries with more than 1,000 people on board are trapped in ice in the Baltic Sea.

The Swedish Maritime Administration says that there are 1,133 passengers and crew on the four ships, which have been stuck for hours just off the Swedish coast.

Rescue spokesman Peter Lindquist says no one is hurt and there are currently no plans to evacuate, but rescue helicopters and military hovercraft are on standby in case people need to be brought off the ships.

Two other ferries that were previously stuck in the ice were able to break free earlier Thursday.

Geoffrey Mutai wins NYC Marathon in course record

NEW YORK (AP) — Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya has won the New York City Marathon in a course record time.

Mutai finished in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 6 seconds Sunday, crushing the previous mark of 2:07:43 set by Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia a decade earlier.

The 30-year-old has established himself as the favorite at next summer's Olympics after two landmark performances this year.

In April, Mutai ran the fastest 26.2 miles in history: 2:03:02 in Boston. It didn't count as a world record because the course is considered too straight and too downhill.

The second- and third-place finishers Sunday also broke the old course record. Fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai (no relation), the London Marathon champ, was 1:22 back. Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia was third.

Mayor sees cameras as potential crime deterrent

DAILY MAIL STAFF

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones envisions walls of computer monitorswhere police officers could observe images from dozens ofsurveillance cameras to fight crime.

"My vision is to have this (surveillance cameras) everywhere andto have a lot of police patrols done from the building," Jones said.

"If people know when they're committing a crime it might be onvideo, they might look for another place to do the crime."

Jones compared the use of surveillance cameras for local lawenforcement to the way such cameras are used to patrol casinos forcheaters.

The mayor and Charleston Police Department officials weredemonstrating one of the two surveillance cameras already installedby the city.

There is one camera at the old Roosevelt Junior High on the EastEnd. Seven others have been purchased. Officials are still gettingthem working. The city is considering even more to monitor other citybuildings and some high crime zones.

Although the cameras already have received criticism for theirpossible intrusion into citizens' privacy, Jones says they will be aninvaluable law enforcement tool because of their ability to see farand wide and at all times.

"All the things you do in a city are irrelevant if it's not safe,"he said. "I'm not ready to concede one city block. Cameras canprevent things from happening."

Police officials want to get their units out on the streetoutfitted with laptops to use the surveillance. They see a day whenan officer could use a tip to monitor or stop a crime about to occura couple of blocks away.

Or, a camera could capture images to help detectives successfullyconclude the investigation of a crime, Police Chief Brent Webstersaid.

"Let's say you had a crime in the area tonight," Webster said. "Wecould come back and take a look. Maybe it would be useful and maybeit wouldn't. Maybe you'd see someone's face and be able to identifyit."

Each camera cost about $1,300, police said. The cameras wereobtained through a federal Project Safe Neighborhoods grant. Buyingsuch a camera online would cost a member of the public from $1,200 to$1,400, according to recent listings.

The city has programmed the camera into its Internet network sothat anyone with a password and a computer monitor can look at whatthe camera is seeing.

Jones, Webster and a few others gathered last week and looked at acomputer monitor inside the city's police station at the oldRoosevelt Junior High on the East End.

It's sort of a testing ground for one of the two surveillancecameras the city has already installed. To drive past RooseveltJunior High, you'd never know there's an electronic eye watching you.

The camera is high above the front entrance to the old school andlooks like a white lamp.

But it lets officers see up close or far away with exceptionalclarity. Officers can rotate the camera with a mouse or joystick. Thecamera also can be set up to patrol pre-set zones.

In this case, Lt. Don Peal of the Charleston Police Departmentfocused well into the distance at the Vista View apartments, the newname for the former Spring Hill complex.

"You can see people walking," Peal commented. "Of course, youcan't see their faces."

Webster then joked, "Right behind that is Clay County."

The mayor stood behind them and looked at the computer images of awintry scene outside. The mayor was impressed.

"This is really amazing," Jones said. "It'll focus literally onthe snow."

Contact staff writer Brad McElhinny at bradmc@dailymail.com or 348-5129.

Plans for flood wall at library

PLANS to construct a flood defence wall at St Clears library havebeen submitted to county planners.

The application, by Arfon Edwards of Environment Agency Wales,are for a 10-metre long defence wall at the back of the Pentre Roadlibrary.

The application for the property -- owned by CarmarthenshireCounty Council -- was opened on Christmas Eve.

The plans for the 1.2-metre wall in the library's rear gardenwill be considered at a future meeting of Carmarthenshire Council'splanning committee.

Kolzig finally crosses Stars off his list

Olaf Kolzig erased a pesky zero from his career stat sheet.

Kolzig made 35 saves and withstood a third-period rally to defeatthe only NHL franchise he had never beaten when the Capitals posteda 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night in Washington.

"I think that rounds off the NHL, doesn't it?" Kolzig said. "Itmight be the last time I ever play them, too. You never know -- wedon't play them next year."

Richard Zednik, Chris Clark, Matt Pettinger and Alexander Seminscored for the Capitals, who won their second straight after sixlosses.

Kolzig, who won his 255th career game, had been 0-9-1 against theMinnesota/Dallas franchise before handing the Stars their thirdconsecutive loss. Dallas had beaten the Capitals five straight.

Jussi Jokinen had two goals and Stu Barnes also scored forDallas, which dropped its fourth consecutive road game.

flying glass: Two children attending the Ottawa Senators' 6-0victory over the Florida Panthers were sent to a hospital forprecautionary reasons after plexiglass shattered in front of themwhen Chris Phillips checked Florida's Stephen Weiss into the boards.

The two children, a brother and sister sitting in front-rowseats, and their parents were showered with broken glass as the paneexploded into pieces when the Ottawa defenseman drove Weiss into theboards in the Senators' zone 3:12 into the first period.

Dany Heatley had two goals and an assist, and Ray Emery made 31saves for Ottawa's first shutout of the season.

leclair on waivers: John LeClair was placed on waivers by thePittsburgh Penguins, a move designed to try to move the two-time 50-goal scorer to another team.

If LeClair clears waivers, the Penguins must decide whether torelease him and be responsible for his $1.5 million salary or keephim and try to work out a trade.

LeClair, 37, a healthy scratch for two of Pittsburgh's last sixgames, has two goals and five assists in 21 games.

Substance abuse recovery program targets neglected critical demographic

DETROIT - It's a program for a population that is often dismissed and disenfranchised. Since 2006, Guiding Light Sober Living has been providing recovery services for MSMs who are HIV-positive or at risk for HIV.

MSM is abroad-based clinical term used to describe men who sleep with men. These men may identify as gay, bisexual, curious, down low or even straight. At Guiding Light, they are not required to choose or conform to a label. And the program does include some men who are heterosexual and HIV-positive or at risk for the disease.

"When we opened, people were concerned that this wouldn't work, that people wouldn't come to the center and be tagged MSM," said Cornelius Wilson, GLSL's program director. "But the first week we opened the doors, we had 15 people."

At present, there are 24 people participating in-house at the large three-story building that houses the MSM program on Detroit's West Side. GLSL also has several houses around the city as part of their transitional living program and other buildings where the agency's women's program is run.

"The model we use is recovery management, which is commutative socialization," said GLSL CEO Darryl Dewberry.

There are three phases to the program, including residential treatment, outpatient treatment and transitional living, and independent living. As part of the final phase, GLSL has also implemented a new component called recovery industries, which helps members of the program with in-house employment.

"We found that one of the greatest hindrances for the success of our clients was employment," said Dewberry. "We find that they have almost no work experience and most have felony or misdemeanor records, which makes obtaining employment nearly impossible."

So the agency identified some employment avenues they could establish for their clients, including a catering team and landscaping service among others.

"They gain the work experience that can be added to their resume, and in the process we eliminate some of the barriers to long-term recovery," Dewberry said.

A different kind of treatment program

If GLSL sounds like a different kind of treatment program, it's because it is.

"We are a much more relaxed environment from the traditional treatment program," said Wilson. "It's almost boutique-style treatment. We're smaller and often times, much less restrictive. I agree that there needs to be some parameters and rules. But we have to respect where these men are. In a lot of instances some of these guys really don't have anywhere else to turn."

Steven, a 32-year-old man who identifies as gay, has been with the program for about six months. For him, it's the fact that the program caters specifically to MSMs that makes him so comfortable.

"It's been good not having to hide the fact that I'm homosexual and HTV- positive," he said. "It means being able to get the root of why I want to use drugs, to be able to tell the truth about it and knowing that the drugs and sex are connected. Andnot having to say 'a girl' when I'm talking a guy (in therapy sessions), not having to hide that, I've been able to be more truthful."

Darrell, 45, has also been in the program for about six months.

"Right now, I'm really just focusing on the need for validation, the need for purpose of self," he said. "I think that people give you that. And it doesn't take a certain type of person to give you that. It takes all people."

Identifying as straight, Darrell was unsure at first if the program was for him.

"It's given me an opportunity to grow. I have learned how to come together and bond, and it doesn't necessarily have to do with a person's gender identity or sexual orientation," he said. "Those are the restrictions that society has implanted in us. I had to undo what society had done to me. I had to refocus, stay more connected, and stop judging people."

Like Steven, 40-year-oldPatrick Stephens identifies as gay. He had only been sober for 14 days when he transferred into GLSL from another program in June 2008. By November he had finished and was volunteering for the agency. And since January, he has been GLSL's administrative assistant.

"I went through the program quickly because I was very focused," said Stephens. "My background is in community health. I went to school for it. It was just a problem with addiction that kept me from continuing my career."

At Guiding Light, Stephens embraced the culture of inclusiveness and it helped him reclaim his calling.

"I was free to address the issues that were affecting me as a gay man," he said. "And we addressed those issues without my feeling alienated or targeted. So I don't feel that there's another program like this in the city at all."

[Sidebar]

"It's been good not having to hide the fact that I'm homosexual and HIV-positive* It means being able to get the root of why I want to use drugs, to be able to tell the truth about it and knowing that the drugs and sex are connected. And not having to say 'a girl' when I'm talking a guy (in therapy sessions), not having to hide that, I've been able to be more truthful,"

- Steven, 32, who has been in the Guiding Light Sober Living program for six months

China shares gain on bargain-hunting, shrug off interest rate hike

Chinese stocks rose Friday, though property developers declined after the central bank announced an interest rate hike, the country's sixth for this year.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.2 percent, or 58.24 points, to 5,101.77. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 1.4 percent to 1,375.89.

The announcement late Thursday of a hike in the benchmark one-year loan rate, by 0.18 percentage point to 7.47 percent, was expected and property developers' losses were limited because they had fallen in anticipation of the move, analysts said.

China Vanke dropped 0.3 percent to 28.30 yuan after shedding 14 percent over the past two weeks, while Poly Real Estate Group fell 1.6 percent to 60.52 yuan after having lost 13 percent over the same period.

Mutual funds were bargain-hunting after resuming selling to new subscribers after a two-month suspension, analysts said.

"Notice that blue chips are up today. This is because large mutual funds ... are buying blue chips," said United Securities analyst Yang Weicong.

Bank of Communications gained 1.2 percent to 14.92 yuan, Air China rose 3.7 percent to 25.99 yuan and Aluminum Corp. of China jumped 3.4 percent to 38.98 yuan.

PetroChina was virtually flat, edging up 0.1 percent to 30.53 yuan.

"The consensus is generally that the stock should be priced at 30 yuan," said CSC International Holdings strategist Amy Lin.

In currency dealings, the U.S. dollar was at 7.3624 around 0730 GMT on the over-the-counter market, down from Thursday's close of 7.3694.

During the day, it dipped to 7.3550, its lowest level since the current trading system was set up in 2005.

AIG downgraded as it struggles to shore up books

American International Group Inc., the world's largest insurer, was hit by a wave of downgrades by credit-rating agencies worried that the deteriorating housing market is further undermining the company's battered finances.

All three major agencies _ Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Services and Fitch Ratings _ dropped AIG's ratings at least two notches late Monday. While the new ratings are all still considered investment grade, the downgrades add to the pressure on AIG as it seeks billions of dollars to strengthen its balance sheet.

AIG spokesmen did not return calls seeking comment on the impact of the downgrades. But last month, the company estimated in a regulatory filing that a one-notch downgrade of its long-term senior debt ratings by both S&P and Moody's would force it to post $13.3 billion in extra collateral.

The need for that extra capital would put a constraint on AIG's day-to-day liquidity position, which is why the company has been seeking new financing or capital investments.

AIG is in a precarious position, in part, because of concerns about its credit ratings and how that would affect its portfolio of financial instruments known as credit default swaps. The swaps are essentially insurance coverage to protect investors against defaulting bonds or debt.

Moody's said it downgraded AIG "in light of the continuing deterioration in the U.S. housing market and the consequent impact on the group's liquidity and capital position due to its related investment and derivative exposures."

AIG has been battered over the past year by billions of dollars of losses tied to deterioration in the mortgage and credit markets. On Monday its shares fell $7.38, or 60.8 percent, to close at $4.76.

The Federal Reserve has asked Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to work with JPMorgan Chase & Co. about a possible short-term loan to keep AIG in business, according to a person familiar with the request who could not speak publicly because talks were still ongoing. The loan could be for about $70 billion, the person said.

JPMorgan is a financial adviser for AIG. Calls to Goldman Sachs were not immediately returned. Treasury spokeswoman Brookly McLaughlin declined to comment when asked about the possible financing efforts.

New York Gov. David Paterson, meanwhile, stepped to the company's aid by saying the state will allow AIG to use $20 billion of assets held by its subsidiaries to provide cash needed to stay in business.

Paterson asked New York state insurance regulators to essentially allow New York-based AIG to provide a bridge loan to itself. The governor has also asked the head of New York's insurance department to talk with federal regulators about providing an additional bridge loan to AIG.

"AIG still remains financially sound," Paterson said.

The move will allow AIG to use those assets as collateral to borrow cash to fund its day-to-day operations, Paterson explained.

It also helps AIG by "giving them what they need most, which is time," said Keefe Bruyette & Woods analyst Cliff Gallant, who added that the relaxation of insurance regulations is "unprecedented."

Typically, a state insurance commissioner's priority is to protect the policyholder, and that includes making it very difficult for an insurer to access the funds that are used to pay claims.

AIG's chief executive, Robert Willumstad, who has been CEO since June, has indicated he is willing to shed some assets, saying about a month ago that a "less complex AIG would be a better competitor."

_____

AP Business Writer Stephen Bernard reported from New York. AP Business Writers Josh Funk and Marty Crutsinger contributed to this story.

Analysis: Al-Qaida ties obstacle to Afghan peace

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is using old friends and new allies to try to bring some of the fiercest Taliban to the negotiating table, although their links to al-Qaida might scuttle any deal.

Pakistan is trying to broker a deal between the Afghan government and the Haqqani group, one of the most violent Taliban factions led by veteran rebel leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, according to Afghan parliamentarians and Pakistani analysts.

Haqqani was a legendary commander in the war against the Soviets who had close ties to the Reagan administration. Now, he and his son Sirajuddin command hundreds _ perhaps thousands _ of fighters blamed for some of the most audacious attacks in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan. Their network is based in the North Waziristan tribal area along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

"The president is trying to use old friendships with Jalaluddin Haqqani and his sons to make them participate in the reconciliation process," said Khaled Pashtun, an Afghan lawmaker from the Taliban heartland of southern Kandahar. "Pakistan is also pressurizing the government to bring this person (Haqqani) in the government."

Yet Haqqani's ties to al-Qaida run deep. His friendship with Osama bin Laden dates back to the war against the Soviets in the 1980s. Haqqani allowed bin Laden to set up a base on his territory in Khost province of eastern Afghanistan. The United States fired cruise missiles at the base in 1998 in a bid to kill bin Laden.

Haqqani also ensured safe passage for foreign fighters, including senior al-Qaida figures, when they fled into Pakistan after the collapse of Taliban rule in the 2001 U.S. invasion, according to Taliban officials in Kabul at the time.

Since President Barack Obama announced the start of a U.S. withdrawal in July 2011, Karzai has sought to improve relations with Pakistan and reach out to the insurgents. Last month he told a national peace conference in Kabul he would talk with any militant leader.

As a sign of good faith, he pledged to seek the release of detainees and lobby the United Nations to remove some of the insurgent leaders from a blacklist that froze their bank accounts and prevents them from traveling abroad.

He also signed a reintegration decree this week offering amnesty and economic incentives to Taliban fighters who want to leave the battlefield, if they accept the Afghan constitution and break ties with al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.

Obama has said the July 2011 date does not herald a rapid American withdrawal from Afghanistan and Washington is committed to a long-term relationship with the Afghans.

Nonetheless, Obama's deadline has prompted Pakistan to review its own strategy in neighboring Afghanistan. The Pakistani military and the country's spy service _ the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI _ believes the Haqqani group is an important force to protect Pakistani interests in Afghanistan.

Retired Pakistani Gen. Talat Masood said Pakistan's military believes that bringing insurgents _ including the Haqqani group _ into the Afghan government is the only way of stabilizing the country once America and its allies leave.

But the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, describes Haqqani as "irreconcilable," saying negotiations with his network would strengthen al-Qaida, undermine regional stability and threaten U.S. security.

In a study released this week, the Institute cited a statement released in April by Sirajuddin Haqqani, describing cooperation with al-Qaida as "at its highest level."

"Any negotiated settlement with the Haqqanis threatens to undermine the raison d'etre for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan over the past decade," the study said.

The Haqqani group trains, lives and works with a list of deadly international terrorist groups, including Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Islamic Jihad Union, whose ranks include Kurdish, Uzbek, Azerbaijani, Turkish and German fighters, it said.

The Haqqani group's headquarters is believed to be in the mountains of Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area. The U.S. has repeatedly urged Pakistan to launch ground operations there. Pakistan has so far refused, saying its forces are spread too thin.

With 120,000 soldiers deployed to the tribal region, the Pakistan military is fighting a series of deadly wars along the length of the border area with Afghanistan.

Brian Cloughley, South Asia defense analyst for Jane's Sentinel, Country Risk, said it's clear that Pakistan has leverage with Haqqani and other extremist groups.

But he added Haqqani's tight links to al-Qaida "may be just a shade too deep for the Americans to accept."

___

EDITOR'S NOTE _ Kathy Gannon has written about Afghanistan and Pakistan for The Associated Press for more than two decades.

Freestyle World Cup Results

Results Sunday from a freestyle World Cup event at Canada Olympic Park:

Men

Aerials

1. Jia Zongyang, China, 253.40 points. 2. Anton Kushnir, Belarus, 244.60. 3. Alexei Grishin, Belarus, 230.73. 4. Timofei Slivets, Belarus, 224.17. 5. Stanislav Kravchuk, Ukraine, 213.22. 6. Warren Shouldice, Calgary, 210.43. 7. Dylan Ferguson, United States, 206.27. 8. Dmitry Marushchak, Russia, 186.59. 9. Thomas Lambert, Switzerland, 178.03. 10. Andreas Isoz, Switzerland, 173.44.

Overall World Cup Standings

(After 3 Events)

1. Anton Kushnir, Belarus, 240 points. 2. Jia Zongyang, China, 236. 3. Timofei Slivets, Belarus, 112. 4. Liu Zhongqing, China, 107. 5. Qi Guangpu, China, 105. 6. Wu Chao, China, 99. 7. Steve Omischl, Canada, 95. 8. Jeret Peterson, United States, 80. 9. Dylan Ferguson, United States, 67. 10. Li Ke, China, 64.

Women

Aerials

1. Li Nina, China, 195.63 points. 2. Evelyne Leu, Switzerland, 178.99. 3. Guo Xinxin, China, 167.73. 4. Zhang Xin, China, 165.14. 5. Lydia Lassila, Australia, 164.81. 6. Emily Cook, United States, 157.91. 7. Assoli Slivets, Belarus, 156.72. 8. Olga Volkova, Ukraine, 155.29. 9. Xu Mengtao, China, 146.70. 10. Genevieve Tougas, Canada, 144.88.

Overall World Cup Standings

(After 3 Events)

1. Guo Xinxin, China, 240 points. 2. Li Nina , China, 196. 3. Mengtao Xu, China, 189. 4. Xin Zhang, China, 128. 5. Evelyne Leu, Switzerland, 116. 6. Emily Cook, United States, 94. 7. Nadiya Didenko, Ukraine, 88. 8. Assoli Slivets, Belarus, 83. 9. Tanja Schaerer, Switzerland, 81. 10 (tie), Cheng Shuang, China, and Amber Peterson, Canada, 76.

BP's Alaskan oil pipeline shutdown brilliantly profitable

BRITISH PETROLEUM'S "SMART PIG"

Is the Alaska pipeline corroded? You bet it is. Has been for more than a decade. Did British Petroleum shut the pipe last month to turn a quick buck on its negligence, to profit off the disaster it created? Just ask the "smart pig."

Years ago, I had the unhappy job of leading an investigation of British Petroleum's management of the Alaska pipeline system. I was working for the Chugach Alaskan natives who own the shoreline slimed by the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker grounding.

Even then, courageous government inspectors and pipeline workers were screaming about corrosion all through the pipeline. I say "courageous" because BP, which owns 46% …

Murcia fires coach Javier Clemente

Spanish second-division club Murcia fired coach Javier Clemente and replaced him with Jose Miguel Campos.

Campos led the team's training session Thursday. Murcia is in 20th place in the 22-team second division.

Clemente joined Murcia in March, but was unable to save the club …

Bangladesh to Hold National Elections

DHAKA, Bangladesh - Bangladesh is sticking to plans to hold national elections this month, the Election Commission said Thursday, despite a boycott that eliminates many of the candidates and threatens the credibility of the vote.

Nineteen parties led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pulled their candidates out of the race on Wednesday, alleging the interim government charged with organizing the Jan. 22 elections favors their opponents.

That leaves the contest mainly in the hands of a four-party alliance led by her rival Khaleda Zia, also a former prime minister. But despite the limited field, a top Election Commission official said the elections will be held as …

The S&C PureWave UPS System.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

The S&C PureWave UPS System provides enhanced service continuity to facilities served by a single power source, where momentary disruptions are of concern. Available in ratings from 380 volts to 34.5 kV, it provides back-up power to the entire facility for up to 30 seconds -- eliminating up to 98 percent of the voltage disturbances commonly encountered on users' distribution systems. It switches from the utility source to the stored-energy source in 1/4-cycle, fast enough for …

Sampras to face Buzz: July 18 WTT match first visit to Schenectady since 1988.

Byline: Mark Singelais

Jul. 4--Pete Sampras will take his rightful place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in an induction ceremony July 14.

Four days later, Sampras will return to where his brilliant career began to take off -- Schenectady's Central Park.

Sampras will play against the New York Buzz in World TeamTennis, his first trip back to the courts where he reached the semifinals of the now-defunct OTB Open as a 16-year-old in July 1988.

That was the first time Sampras advanced to the semis of an ATP event. He would go on to win a record 14 Grand Slam singles titles, including seven Wimbledon championships.

"I was just …

Tisco cuts SET forecast as stars portend crisis in 2008.

Byline: Darana Chudasri

Dec. 22--Tisco Securities has cut its target for the Stock Exchange of Thailand index to 780 points at the end of 2007, down from 840 in its previous forecast.

Tom Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn, a managing director at Tisco Securities, said the market was expected to be weak next year due to poor foreign investor confidence in government policy.

Foreign investment in the capital market would weaken through 2007 due to the new 30 percent reserve requirement for bond and money market inflows.

While policymakers have exempted stock and direct investments after Tuesday's market crash, analysts said investors remained shaken …

Tropical Storm Edouard heads for Texas, Louisiana

Residents along the Texas and Louisiana coasts prepared Monday for Tropical Storm Edouard, which was rolling through the warm waters of the Gulf and threatening to reach near-hurricane strength before making landfall.

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a statewide emergency, and two communities in the western part of the state, Vermilion Parish and Cameron Parish, asked thousands of residents to evacuate low-lying coastal areas that are prone to flooding. The storm was expected to hit Tuesday morning anywhere from western Louisiana to Port O'Connor, Texas.

For vacationers, the timing of the storm couldn't be worse: The Texas coast banks on tourism at this …

Tax cap could force layoffs, cuts in McHenry

Over budget and facing tax caps, McHenry County officials haveordered 15.9 percent budget cuts in all departments.

Sheriff Keith Nygren said Wednesday that if the proposedreductions stand, he will have to cut 66 employees, including sevenof eight female patrol officers.

Coroner Marlene Lantz said the cuts would be disastrous to heroffice. She left a budget meeting in tears on Monday."Because of the tax cap, we can't raise taxes unless we go to areferendum," said Dianne Klemm, chairman of the McHenry County Board."We are going to try to trim our services back instead. It will bepainful but necessary."The property tax cap limits how much local governments …

Discovery of a package of cocaine

Discovery of a package of cocaine on a November 6 BWIA flight to New York from Barbados has forced U.S. authorities to use police dogs to sniff luggage from the Trinidad-based airline. The security check went into effect following the discovery of 30 kilos of cocaine when the flight arrived at JFK International; the drug had been transported as cargo. The shipment could land the airline a fine of about $3 …

Options wide open; Curlin's trainer: plan for colt to work in Saratoga.(Sports)

Byline: TIM WILKIN - Staff Writer

ELMONT - Summer vacation started for Curlin early Sunday morning when he was led out of his stall at Belmont Park and loaded onto a horse van.

That truck's destination was the Oklahoma Training Track in Saratoga Springs, and that is where Curlin will spend some down time.

A day after finishing second in his first try on the grass, there were no answers given as to what might have went wrong in the $500,000 Man o' War Stakes. And trainer Steve Asmussen would not even approach the subject of what, where or when Curlin's next start might be.

"All options are open," Asmussen said.

When asked if he …

DEFREESTVILLE AND WYNANTSKILL BUSY WITH EMERGENCIES.(CAPITAL REGION)

The Defreestville Fire Department answered 49 emergency alarms in July, received a donation of a laptop computer from the MapInfo Corporation and had three members complete emergency medical re-certification training. The 49 calls in July brought the DFD total for alarms for 2002 to 283.

The July calls included 20 emergency medical service responses in cooperation with the North Greenbush Ambulance Association, nine rescue calls, nine alarm system activations, four structure fires, three hazardous condition alarms, two vehicle fires and two good intent false alarms. Department volunteers worked more than 318 hours at emergencies in July.

Chief Michael …

CIBRO PULLS BACK ON PLANS FOR FUNDING NEW PORT WORK.(Business)

Byline: Elizabeth Lesly and James Denn Business writers

A day before it was to launch a $75 million public offering to finance expansion at the Port of Albany, Cibro Terminals Inc. on Thursday said it has pulled back on its attempt to raise the funds.

The company and its lead underwriter, PaineWebber Inc., blamed the postponement on a souring financial climate which has dampened the reception of new public issues on Wall Street.

The company insisted that the $90 million upgrading project has only been postponed and not cancelled, but it could not say when it would go forward with its attempt to raise funds on the open market.

"The offer has …

Fraport signs agreement to operate Russian airport

Airport manager Fraport AG said Friday it signed an agreement to form a public-private partnership to develop, rebuild and operate the Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Fraport, based in Frankfurt, is taking on the agreement as part of the Northern Capital Gateway consortium, of which it holds a 35.5 percent stake.

The consortium, which includes Russia's VTB Bank with 57.5 percent and the Greek Copelouzos Group with 7 …

Gunmen Abduct Dozens at Baghdad Office

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Suspected Shiite militiamen dressed as Interior Ministry commandos stormed a Higher Education Ministry office Tuesday and kidnapped dozens of people after clearing the area under the guise of providing security for what they claimed would be a visit by the U.S. ambassador.

Witnesses and authorities said the gunmen raced through all four stories of the building, forced men and women into separate rooms, handcuffed the men and loaded them aboard about 20 pickup trucks.

Shortly afterward, authorities arrested six senior police officers in connection with the abductions - the police chief and five top subordinates in the Karradah district, the central Baghdad …

'Our target customers are mature adults'.(Brief Article)

ST. LOUIS--While executives at drug chains across the country are constantly looking for ways to bring in a younger clientele, their counterparts at Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) focus on attracting older shoppers, who most often have serious illnesses.

"Our target customers are mature adults and people with chronic conditions," says vice president of marketing Nancy Schwartz. "Besides these being the folks with the greatest need for pharmacy care, these are the people who are the most interested in having a personal relationship with their pharmacist."

To let consumers know that Medicine Shoppe pharmacies are serious about their health care needs, …

Whatcom Community Foundation receives $1 million grant.(Nonprofit Notebook)

Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF), a not-for-profit with the mission of connecting people who care with causes that matter, has received a $I million grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The Packard Foundation granted this award in recognition of the impact WCF has made on the Whatcom County community in its n-year history and its confidence …

TEACHER ON CAMERA WITH COSBY.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: BECHETTA JACKSON Staff writer

A sticker on the front of Cohoes High School teacher Maria Russo's desk reads: ``Science teachers make a world of difference.''

Russo is trying to do her part.

She recently taped a 30-second public service TV spot in New York City with actor Bill Cosby, 13 students and adults from seven states. Russo, who has taught at the school for 20 years, was the only teacher selected for the TV ad. It emphasizes the importance of integrating workplace skills into the school curriculum and will air throughout the state later this year.

Russo was picked for the project by a representative of the state School to …

Pulte pares 1Q loss and now expects profit in 2010

PulteGroup Inc., the nation's largest homebuilder, said Wednesday it slashed its loss in the first quarter and forecast it would be profitable this year.

That would mark a major turning point for the builder, which has posted a loss now for 14 consecutive quarters as the worst housing downturn in decades unfolded.

But management struck a confident tone Wednesday, saying it expects its sales to continue improving this year and the write-downs that have eaten away at its profits should ease.

"Assuming market conditions for the housing industry remain stable, we expect PulteGroup to remain profitable in 2010," PulteGroup CEO Richard Dugas …

The USSR's Past Anti-Satellite Testing

The Soviet Union pursued anti-satellite (ASAT) programs for decades but apparently never smashed a satellite into bits as China did recently and the United States did in 1985. Still, Washington assessed Moscow's capabilities as a viable threat to U.S. satellites.

Before instituting a moratorium on ASAT test launches in August 1983, the Kremlin conducted at least 20 ASAT tests beginning in 1968. The Soviet tests involved the use of interceptor vehicles with explosives designed to detonate near their intended target.

None of the Soviet tests resulted in a target's complete destruction. Indeed, Nicholas Johnson, NASA's chief expert on orbital debris, told Arms Control Tmlay …

Mug Shots: Mug Shots: An Archive of the Famous, Infamous, and Most Wanted.(Brief article)(Book review)

Mug Shots

Mug Shots: An Archive of the Famous, Infamous, and Most Wanted. Raynal Pellicer. New York: Abrams, 2009. 288 pp. $35.00.

"[M]ug shots can be fascinating, particularly those of the same person …

ELIZABETH M. WRIGHTER.(CAPITAL REGION)

BALLSTON LAKE -- Elizabeth M. `Betty` Wrighter, wife of the lateLouis Wrighter, died July 6, 1999. Survived by a son, John `Jack` Wrighter; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Wrighter; granddaughters, …

Israel releases senior Hamas lawmaker

Israel on Tuesday freed the most senior of dozens of Hamas politicians in custody, prompting speculation it was a prelude to a deal for the release of an Israeli soldier held by Palestinians for three years.

However, Israeli officials insisted the Palestinian parliament speaker, Abdel Aziz Duaik, was let go because his three-year sentence was nearly at an end and that his release was not related to a swap involving the Israeli soldier, Sgt. Gilad Schalit. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no steps had been taken.

Since Hamas-allied militants in Gaza captured Schalit in June 2006, Egypt has been trying to arrange an Israel-Hamas swap that …

Study Data from University of Lyon Provide New Insights into Cardiology.

Researchers detail in 'Sudden death due to a cystic atrio-ventricular node tumour,' new data in Cardiology. According to a study from , "Sudden cardiac deaths constitute a major health problem. Most cases are attributed to cardiomyopathies, coronary artery diseases and functional dysregulations."

"Sudden death in an adult due to a primitive cardiac tumor is a rare occurrence. In the following, we present a case of an adult male who died from an undiagnosed cystic atrio-ventricular node tumor six years after having a pace maker fitted," wrote G. Maujean and colleagues, University of Lyon (see also Cardiology).

The researchers concluded: "We focus on the postmortem …