Irish vote on budget, EU says crisis pot is enough

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union insisted its bailout pot has enough money to handle the continent's government debt crisis — but conceded its earlier bank stress tests were not tough enough and that Greece will need more time to repay its bailout loans.

While EU officials in Brussels sought to calm markets by stressing that their anti-crisis measures were enough to support the euro's credibility, the government in bailed-out Ireland announced a brutally tight budget and more taxes for next year as protesters banged drums and blew whistles outside parliament's gates.

The budget cleared a first hurdle by an 82-77 vote. The measures proposed by the Irish government are the …

Afghanistan slips in corruption index despite aid

Afghanistan has slipped three places to become the world's second most-corrupt country despite billions in aid meant to bolster the government against a rising insurgency, according to an annual survey of perceived levels of corruption.

Only lawless Somalia, whose weak U.N.-backed government controls just a few blocks of the capital, was perceived as more corrupt than Afghanistan in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

Iraq saw some improvement, rising to 176 of 180 countries, up two places up from last year. Singapore, Denmark and New Zealand were seen as the least corrupt countries in the list based on surveys of businesses and …

Brazilians boost Barcelona

Are two Brazilians better than one? That's the question that will beanswered this season by Barcelona, which lost Ronaldo to Italy'sInter but added Sonny Anderson from France's Monaco and most recentlyRivaldo from Deportivo La Coruna.

Anderson is a forward who has been a prolific goal scorer in theFrench League, but the coup for Barcelona was landing Rivaldo, 25, anoffensive midfielder who scored 21 goals last season for Deportivo.He was named to most All-Spanish League teams last season. His gametook off once Deportivo fired John Toshack and hired BrazilianCarlos Alberto Silva as coach.

Deportivo president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro was incensed withBarcelona's …

Cam Cavasso wins Republican nomination to challenge Inouye for Hawaii Senate seat

HONOLULU (AP) — Cam Cavasso wins Republican …

Betancourt: Rescue in Colombia was 'impeccable'

Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors Wednesday in a daring helicopter rescue so successful that not a single shot was fired.

Betancourt, who was seized on the campaign trail six long years ago, appeared thin but surprisingly healthy as she strode down the stairs of a military plane and held her mother in a long embrace. The Americans _ Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell _ also appeared well as they arrived in Texas to undergo tests and reunite with their families.

"God, this is a miracle," Betancourt said. "Such a perfect …

Peter is star of his own show

At the age of 85, most people would expect to sit back and beentertained on their birthday.

But when Peter Finnigan celebrated his big day at Saltford GolfClub on Saturday, he was the one putting on a show.

Peter, who has always loved to dance, performed with his groupStardust, which entertains in care homes. More than 70 friends andfamily enjoyed the occasion.

Peter, whose friends helped him organise the party along with hisfamily, said: "It was a wonderful day and the show went down very,very well.

"Everybody got up and sang, which was fantastic, and the food wasbrilliant. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves and I was sopleased …

2004 HIGHLIGHTS

A Review of the 10-Year Vision Study: How are we doing?

The 10-Year Vision Study was formally adopted in January 1999. As the Society neared the half-way point on this road map, the Council set up a Mid-Term Review Committee to review the Society's progress in implementing the Study and suggest any actions the Society should take to better achieve this Vision. This Review Committee comprised of five subcommittees aligned to the five areas of the Vision - multidisciplinarity, inclusiveness, outreach, technology, and finance and development. This Annual Report is organized according to activities and accomplishments in each of these areas in 2004. The complete summary of the Mid-Term …

Deans trying to rebuild Australia to face England

Robbie Deans' task as Australia coach is as much about rebuilding his team's mental strength as it is getting things right on the field against England on Saturday.

Despite being the more talented team for most of the past five years, Australia has lost on four of its last five visits to Twickenham. Those losses have been characterized by an inability to compete up front in the scrum, which was also the case when England shocked the Wallabies in last year's World Cup quarterfinal in Marseille.

Both teams are now under new leadership, with Deans and former England captain Martin Johnson, now installed as his country's manager, in charge for their first …

Pontyberem RUGBY referee Nigel Owens [...] [Edition 2]

RUGBY referee Nigel Owens has thanked the Cwm for their supportafter he …

Thousands of GIs Cope With Brain Damage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The war in Iraq is not over, but one legacy is already here in this city and others across America: an epidemic of brain-damaged soldiers.

Thousands of troops have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, or TBI. These blast-caused head injuries are so different from the ones doctors are used to seeing from falls and car crashes that treating them is as much faith as it is science.

"I've been in the field for 20-plus years dealing with TBI. I have a very experienced staff. And they're saying to me, 'We're seeing things we've never seen before,'" said Sandy Schneider, director of Vanderbilt University's brain injury rehabilitation program.

…

Top Sunni lawmaker killed outside Baghdad mosque

The head of Iraq's main Sunni parliamentary bloc was killed in a bold daylight attack after delivering a sermon during Friday prayers at a mosque in western Baghdad, raising fears that insurgents are trying to rekindle sectarian violence.

A gunman believed to be as young as 15 shot Harith al-Obeidi as he left the mosque and walked toward his nearby home, police said.

There were conflicting accounts about what happened next.

Guards at the scene said the assailant was chased a few hundred yards down the street, then detonated a grenade, killing himself and an undetermined number of pursuers.

But an Interior Ministry official said guards …

Eat less and live longer? It could be, studies say

After more than 50 years of experiments in which laboratoryanimals were able to live longer when given only enough food to stayhealthy, researchers are beginning to give more thought to whetherhumans also can extend their lives by cutting back on how much theyeat.

The 10 percent of Americans that live the longest average 96years. A 10 percent extension of maximum life-span - less than hasbeen achieved in laboratory animals - would make living to age 105 acommon experience.

"The hard evidence in humans isn't there, but major healthstudies keep pointing in that direction," said Dr. Richard Weindruchof the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Md.

Restricted diets have succeeded in prolonging the lives ofanimals from single-celled protozoa to fruit flies, spiders, guppies,mice and rats, and researchers are trying to determine if low-caloriediets keep monkeys alive longer.

It was Weindruch who produced the longest living mice on record- 53 months, about 35 percent longer than the mice would typicallylive. He did it with the kind of restricted diet typical inlongevity experiments - his animals got less than half the totalcalories they would consume if allowed to eat as much as they wanted.

In more typical experiments, animals' calorie intake is reducedby 30 percent to 50 percent. The resulting life-span is lessdramatic than Weindruch's mice, but consistently the animals livelonger than their free-eating peers.

The life-extending restricted diets are based solely on totalcalories, regardless of whether those calories come in the form offat, protein or carbohydrates.

George Roth of the National Institute on Aging's Baltimorelaboratories, has been studying 90 rhesus and squirrel monkeys forabout three years. The monkeys on restricted diets get about 30percent less food than their unrestricted eating partners - "That'sless severe than what you'd get if you went to Weight Watchers or oneof those diet programs," he said.

Most current dietary recommendations for Americans emphasizebalancing calorie intake with exercise and restricting fat to 30percent of total calories. Dietary fat has been linked to heartdisease and several forms of cancer, according to recent reports fromthe U.S. surgeon general and the National Academy of Sciences.

Experiments with restricted-calorie diets in different animalspecies have consistently produced good effects: They develop fewer cancers and develop them later in life than theirfree-eating peers. Researchers have found that mice and rats on restricted diets madeless of a natural body chemical called a prostaglandin thatsuppresses the immune system. By allowing the immune system to staymore active, the animals were better able to fight off infections andnip cancers before they got established. In rats and mice, there was less cross-linking of collagenmolecules, a process that causes wrinkled skin. In one study, mice on restricted diets showed fewer age-relateddeclines in coordination, learning and ability to stay active. The life-extending benefits are greatest if the restricted diet isbegun in infancy, but even starting later in life produces some gainsin longevity.

Other researchers are trying to determine just how a lifetime ofeating fewer calories adds years to the normal life-span.

The theory that intrigues many scientists is that it lessens thedamage done by the toxic waste that builds up in cells as a result ofnormal energy production.

Arlen Richardson, a chemist at Illinois State University,accidentally came upon another process that may be involved inkeeping animals on restricted diets alive longer.

When the air conditioning in his laboratory failed one weekend,the rising temperatures killed three-fourths of his free-eatinganimals, but only one fourth of the animals on restricted diets.

Richardson said this may be a sign that animals on restricteddiets are better able to cope with many kinds of stress, includinginjuries, which become increasingly deadly with advanced age.

Like many of the other researchers studying the effects oflow-calorie diets on aging, Richardson said he tries to restrict hisown calorie intake on the assumption that dietary restriction worksin humans as well as rats and mice.

"In the scientific community, there is a gut feeling that itwill work in all organisms," he said.

AFL-CIO head flexible on taxing high-value plans

The head of the AFL-CIO says he's willing to consider a tax on high-value health insurance plans _ something labor has vehemently opposed _ if middle-class workers aren't hurt.

The comments by AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka indicated new flexibility on the issue from a powerful Democratic constituency as the House and Senate are on the verge of debating sweeping health care legislation.

The insurance plan tax is the Senate's preferred method to pay for covering the uninsured. But the tax has run into trouble with organized labor. Labor leaders worry that workers would be affected even though lawmakers aimed the proposed tax at insurance plans offering the richest benefits.

Homeless man's nap damages church organ pipes

The restoration of a 130-year-old Massachusetts church organ was dealt a setback when a homeless man took a nap on four of its pipes. Officials at First Churches in Northampton said the man's weight severely damaged the delicate, 18-foot pipes, that were among about 50 stored in the basement during a $2 million restoration of the historic sanctuary.

The man, who had been there for a job counseling meeting, apparently mistook them for rolled up rugs.

The Rev. Peter Ives said the untimely snooze Tuesday occurred one day before contractors were to begin putting the pipes back in operation. Ives estimates the damage at close to $15,000, but says the organ can still be played without the pipes.

He says the church will not press charges.

The congregation traces its history to the 17th century, and was home to the famous 18th century preacher Jonathan Edwards.

Italy's Eni receives OK to develop oil field in area administered by East Timor and Australia

Italian energy company Eni SpA said Monday that it has received approval from East Timor and Australian authorities to develop the Kitan oil field off the coast of East Timor.

Eni, Italy's biggest oil and natural gas company, previously announced the discovery of oil in the Kitan-1 well, which tests indicated a flow rate of 6,100 barrels of oil a day. It said Monday it has also confirmed a potential commercial flow in a second well, Kitan-2.

Eni said it will submit its development plan to the Timor Sea Designated Authority within 12 months.

Eni is the operator in the development area jointly administered by East Timor and Australia. The site is in the Timor Sea 170 kilometers (105 miles) off the East Timor coast and 500 kilometers (310 miles) off the Australian coast.

Eni has been operating in Australia since 2000 and in East Timor since 2006.

Eni shares were trading up 1.39 percent at euro25.56 (US$39.87)on the Milan Stock Exchange.

Bonnie Pointer arrested during LA traffic stop

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say singer Patricia "Bonnie" Pointer of the Pointer Sisters has been arrested for investigation of possessing rock cocaine.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore says the 61-year-old singer was arrested Friday in South Los Angeles after the car she was riding in was pulled over for a mechanical malfunction.

Deputies say she was released after posting $10,000 bail.

In a statement issued through her manager Robert Watson, Pointer thanked the public for their support and prayers.

Watson declined comment on the arrest.

The Pointer Sisters grew up singing in church. Patricia and June formed a duo and were singing in clubs when Anita and Ruth joined them.

The sisters released their first album in 1973 and won a Grammy in 1974. Bonnie left in 1977 for a solo career.

She is due in court on Jan. 17.

David Mamet to debut a new play in London

NEW YORK (AP) — A new play by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Mamet will make its world debut in London this fall.

Producers said Friday that Mamet will team up with director Rupert Goold on "The Anarchist." No theater, dates or casting were announced.

Mamet won the Pulitzer Prize for his 1984 play, "Glengarry Glen Ross." He received Tony nominations for both "Glengarry" and "Speed-the-Plow." A revival of his "A Life in the Theater" was seen on Broadway last year.

His other plays include "Race," ''Oleanna" and "American Buffalo," and he is a two-time Academy Award nominee for "The Verdict" and "Wag the Dog."

Goold is the artistic director of London's Headlong Theatre and an associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

FIFA to study report before deciding Suarez ban

Luis Suarez's intentional handball to save a goal could earn him more than a one-game suspension.

FIFA will study reports from the Uruguay-Ghana World Cup quarterfinal before deciding how long to suspend Suarez for his handball that denied the Africans victory. The Uruguay striker could be suspended for the World Cup final should Uruguay beat the Netherlands in their semifinal Tuesday _ a match Suarez must sit out for a mandatory ban.

"The disciplinary committee will be looking at that incident," FIFA spokesman Pekka Odriozola said Saturday. "We don't have any timing on when they will meet to take that decision."

Should Uruguay lose to the Dutch, it will play in the third-place game, and Suarez also could be suspended for that match next Saturday.

FIFA rules call for suspensions of "at least one match" if the panel finds a player guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct toward an opponent.

Suarez swatted away a header by Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah at the very end of extra time with the score 1-1. Ghana's Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty with the final kick of the match, hitting the crossbar, as Suarez looked on from the entrance to the players' tunnel.

Uruguay won the ensuing shootout 4-2.

Suarez, who has three goals in the tournament, said it was "complicated" to be sent off at a World Cup.

"But the way in which I was sent off _ truth is, it was worth it," Suarez said.

Coach Oscar Tabarez said Suarez should be allowed to play in the World Cup final if Uruguay gets there.

"It's not my business. The disciplinary committee will look at it," Tabarez said Saturday. "But I think it (a two-match ban) would be extremely exaggerated."

The handball has also ignited a debate about fair play, but Tabarez defended the Ajax striker.

"I think (calling him a cheat) would be too far-fetched and too twisted," Tabarez said, recalling that Ghana had already gone through a similar situation.

"In this World Cup, Ghana has already been given a penalty because a player stopped the ball on the goal line," Tabarez said. "The only difference is that that goal was to equalize against Australia. This time they missed, but that's not our fault."

Tabarez said Suarez's action was a natural reflex.

"To think that Suarez, when he committed the handball, knew what was going to happen afterward would be something superhuman," the coach said. "The hand of Suarez is the hand of God and the Virgin Mary _ that's how Uruguayans see it."

Defender Jorge Fucile received his second yellow card against Ghana and is also suspended for the semifinal.

Houston's body taken to airport for trip home

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police say Whitney Houston's body has been taken to a Los Angeles-area airport for a flight to New Jersey.

Houston was born in Newark, and her family raised the possibility of holding a funeral there Friday at an arena that seats about 18,000 people.

The 48-year-old pop star was found dead Saturday in a bathtub in her suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, hours before she was supposed to appear at a pre-Grammy Awards gala.

An autopsy was performed Sunday but a cause of death was pending toxicology results.

Police said her body was taken to Van Nuys Airport on Monday. The flight was expected to arrive in New Jersey in the evening.

Key dates in life of Binyam Mohamed

Key dates in the life of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed, who returned to Britain on Monday:

_July 24, 1978: Born in Ethiopia.

_March 9, 1994: Comes to the U.K.; asks for political asylum because family opposed Ethiopian government. Asylum is rejected but he is allowed to remain; he studies electrical engineering and works as a janitor in London.

_June 2001: Travels to Pakistan and then to Afghanistan. He says he made the trip to kick a drug habit and to see for himself the Taliban's version of Islamic rule. The U.S. military alleges he went to an al-Qaida training camp, fought for the Taliban and planned to detonate a bomb in the United States_ all of which he denies. Returns to Pakistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

_April 2002: Arrested at Karachi airport while trying to fly back to Britain on a false passport. During three months of detention in Pakistan, he is allegedly tortured by Pakistani agents.

_May 17, 2002: Interrogated by officer of British security service in Pakistan.

_July 22, 2002: Mohamed says he was handed over to U.S. personnel and taken to Morocco on a secret CIA rendition flight. He claims he is tortured during 18 months in Morocco, including having his penis cut. Most of the interrogators are Moroccan but at least one is likely to have been a CIA agent, his legal team says.

_Jan. 21 or 22, 2004: Taken to a prison in Afghanistan. He alleges he undergoes almost constant interrogation by the CIA and is again tortured.

_May 2004: Taken to the U.S. prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, where he signs a confession he later claims was extracted under duress.

_Sept. 20, 2004: Flown to the U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

_November 2005: Charged with conspiracy to plan terror attacks in the U.S.

_Oct. 20, 2008: U.S. military prosecutors drop all charges.

_January 2009: Goes on hunger strike until guards start force feeding; President Barack Obama issues an executive order establishing a review of all cases at Guantanamo.

_Feb. 23, 2009: Arrives in Britain.

Shelby easily wins Ala. GOP Senate primary

Four-term Republican Sen. Richard Shelby has emerged the lopsided favorite to win a fifth term in the fall against Democrat Bill Barnes.

Shelby and Barnes won their party primaries Tuesday, but Shelby's longtime role in Washington and massive campaign treasury make odds long for Barnes, a Birmingham lawyer.

Barnes had about 60 percent of the vote in the unofficial count Tuesday to beat out Mobile school teacher Simone De Moore.

Shelby easily beat his primary challenger, tea party activist N.C. "Clint" Moser.

Shelby, 76, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 as a Democrat and re-elected in 1992. He switched to the GOP in 1994 when Republicans took control of Congress and won re-election in 1998 and 2004 by 2-to-1 margins against Democrats.

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

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) _ Four-term Alabama Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby easily beat his primary challenger, tea party activist N.C. "Clint" Moser.

Shelby was drawing more than 80 percent of the votes in the unofficial count Tuesday evening.

Two first-time candidates, Bill Barnes of Birmingham and Simone De Moore of Mobile, are running to become the Democratic nominee. Shelby is favored over either one.

Shelby, 76, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 as a Democrat and re-elected in 1992. He switched to the GOP in 1994 when Republicans took control of Congress and won re-election in 1998 and 2004 by 2-to-1 margins against Democrats.

Iranian President Derides U.S. Threats

TEHRAN, Iran - The United States is incapable of inflicting "serious damage" on Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday, as a second U.S. aircraft carrier group steamed toward the Gulf as a warning from Washington for Iran to back down in its attempts to dominate the region.

In an interview with Iranian state television, Ahmadinejad said Washington had not stepped up its campaign against Tehran, despite the standoff with the West over Iran's defiance of U.N. demands to halt uranium enrichment. The U.N. Security Council imposed limited sanctions on Iran last month.

"U.S. rhetoric against Iran has not increased," Ahmadinejad said. "In 2003, they openly threatened to attack Iran. Now they have indirectly made such threats."

He spoke with confidence over Iran's ability to withstand a strike. "The United States is unable to inflict serious damage on Iran," the president said. He also noted, "They (U.S.) are not really in a position to carry out this action (of attacking Iran). I believe there are many wise people in the United States who would not let it happen."

Iran says its atomic program is aimed solely at generating energy, but the United States and some of its allies suspect it is geared toward making nuclear weapons.

Ahmadinejad, during a meeting Tuesday with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, accused the U.S. of stirring up conflict between rival Muslim sects to maintain influence in the Middle East.

"The U.S. intends to cause insecurity and dispute and weaken independent governments in the region to continue with its dominance over the Middle East and achieve its arrogant goals," Ahmadinejad said, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, or IRNA.

Opinion-makers from both ends of Iran's political spectrum have recently criticized Ahmadinejad, accusing him of stirring opposition to Iran by taking a hard line on the nuclear dispute and employing fiery anti-Western rhetoric.

But Ahmadinejad said his goals were peaceful. "Iran is not seeking confrontation with anybody," he told the state television interviewers.

U.S. officials have long refused to rule out any options in the faceoff with Tehran, but say military action would be a last resort.

Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, ruled out direct negotiations with Iran and said a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran was "not possible" until Iran halts uranium enrichment.

"The Middle East isn't a region to be dominated by Iran. The Gulf isn't a body of water to be controlled by Iran. That's why we've seen the United States station two carrier battle groups in the region," Burns said Tuesday in an address to influential think-tank Gulf Research Center, based in the United Arab Emirates.

"Iran is going to have to understand that the United States will protect its interests if Iran seeks to confront us," Burns continued.

Some among the audience of Dubai-based diplomats and analysts complained that American wars in the Middle East were already threatening the region's stability and asked Burns to sort out Iraq and the Israel-Palestinian conflict before turning attention to Iran.

"What we are not interested in is another war in the region," Mohammed al-Naqbi, who heads the Gulf Negotiations Center, told Burns. "Iraq is your problem, not the problem of the Arabs. You destroyed a country that had institutions. You handed that country to Iran. Now you are crying to Europe and the Arabs to help you out of this mess."

The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis and accompanying warships have been sent to the Gulf as part of a buildup of forces that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said is aimed to impress on Iran that the four-year war in Iraq has not made America vulnerable.

The Stennis, which is expected to arrive in late February, will join an aircraft carrier group already in the region, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The Stennis's arrival in the Middle East will mark the first time since the U.S.-led Iraq invasion in 2003 that the United States has had two carrier battle groups in the region.

Iran conducted missile tests on Monday, the first of five days of military maneuvers. The Islamic republic also barred 38 inspectors from the U.N. nuclear watchdog - the International Atomic Energy Agency, prompting fears that it was seeking to restrict access to its facilities.

"This is obviously not a sign of goodwill, nor a sign of willingness to cooperate with the international community," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told reporters.

But Ali Larijani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, said Tuesday that the decision had been misinterpreted and that there had been no change in Iran's cooperation with the IAEA.

---

Associated Press Writer Jim Krane in Dubai contributed to this report.

Labor department officials to review Web site

WASHINGTON - The labor department agency that prematurelyreleasedemployment data said Friday it will temporarily and partiallycurtailits use of the Internet while it conducts a review.

In a statement, Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner KatharineG. Abraham acknowledged "some data users may be inconvenienced"during the review, which will take "a minimum of two weeks andlikelylonger."

Abraham attributed the error, which resulted in the release oftheOctober employment report a day early, to "a serious failure ofmanagement control."

North Korea urges US to end 'hostile policy'

North Korea renewed its long-standing demand Wednesday that Washington abandon its "hostile policy" toward Pyongyang as the U.S. and South Korea held a fourth day of joint military drills.

The exercises, led by the USS George Washington supercarrier and involving hundreds of South Korean and U.S. ships and aircraft, were staged as a response to the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.

Forty-six sailors died in the sinking of the Cheonan off the Koreas' west coast. A five-nation team of investigators traced it back to a North Korean torpedo, and South Korea called it the worst attack on its military since the 1950-53 Korean War.

This week's drills were intended to warn Pyongyang that Seoul and Washington will not tolerate further acts of aggression, military officials said.

Pyongyang, which denies attacking the Cheonan, sees the naval maneuvers as proof that Washington is preparing to invade North Korea _ which the U.S. denies.

Calling the drills "reckless," North Korea's main newspaper warned Wednesday the exercises threatened to trigger war and reiterated its call for a peace treaty.

"The U.S. should stop at once its criminal hostile policy that escalates the military confrontation and tension on the peninsula," the Rodong Sinmun said in commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

The Korean peninsula technically remains in a state of war because the Koreas' three-year conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Despite the North Korean threats of retaliation, there was no sign of unusual North Korean military activity, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The final day of joint exercises in international waters off South Korea's east coast included dropping bombs on targets and conducting computer-simulated anti-submarine drills, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The allies also plan to hold another annual military drill next month.

Meanwhile, South Korea's presidential office said officials were on alert for a possible North Korean cyberattack.

The National Cyber Security Center has obtained intelligence that North Korean hackers may stage a cyberattack, presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung told reporters.

A year ago, cyberattacks paralyzed government websites in South Korea and the U.S.

Kiwanis gives hero awards to men who rescued children

MORGANTOWN - Men who rescued three children from the burningremains of their house after a gas explosion leveled it havereceived a Kiwanis international award for heroism. The five menreceived the Robert P. Connelly Medal in a ceremony Saturday.

Gene Tritchler, Tom Konchesky, Camille Mikalik were on their wayhome from work at Mylan Pharmaceuticals when the explosion occurredon Nov. 7. Bill Brown stopped on his way to vote and Alan Fortneysped from his work at Morgantown Transmissions nearby to pull outthe children.

The children saved were 9-year-old twins Robert and Rachel, and 6-year-old Shannon.

Their mother, Theresa Halbritter, said, "I thank God every day,"she said, pausing to compose herself, "for allowing me to keep mymost precious gifts, my children, Rachel, Robert and Shannon. Idon't know if I could stand up here today except for the love andthe strength my children have given me through all of this.

"I'd like to thank the guardian angels sent by God to protect myangels," Halbritter said. "I want to thank them for their bravery,their heroism and their act of kindness. It would have been so easyfor them to just walk by."

The explosion was caused by leaking furnace gas.

The five men from Morgantown were one of 10 internationalrecipients of the award this year.

Showdown Looms Over Fired Prosecutors

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration says the president's immediate advisers are absolutely immune from having to appear before Congress, but legal scholars say the issue isn't that clear cut.

The question grew more pressing Wednesday as President Bush ordered former White House counsel Harriet Miers to defy a congressional summons in the controversy over the administration's dismissals of federal prosecutors.

The Democratic chairmen of the Senate and House judiciary committees have said they would consider introducing contempt of Congress citations against any subpoena recipients who resist.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., could begin that process as early as Thursday if Miers ignores her subpoena and skips his hearing, based upon the White House's assertion of executive privilege.

An argument that Miers has to testify "is certainly as tenable as that she doesn't," University of Texas law professor Sanford Levinson says.

"If I were advising the congressional committees, what I would want to argue is that they have evidence that she was involved in what might have been criminal acts; that is, subordination of civil service hiring to unlawful considerations," Levinson said.

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said the White House "could not have picked worse ground" on which to fight executive privilege.

Many of the communications involve political operatives outside the White House; the White House already has offered to disclose the information and simply refused to do so under oath or with a transcript, and the issue is not in the sensitive areas of national security or diplomacy.

Legal scholars say it's unlikely the White House and Congress are bound for a head-on collision.

"We've been here many, many times before. This is not out of the ordinary," said Viet Dinh, the former assistant attorney general for legal policy during Bush's first term. "For me, the only surprising thing is he's waited this long to finally exert executive privilege."

No president has gone as far as mounting a court fight to keep his aides from testifying on Capitol Hill, but court is just where the battle could end up absent the usual negotiated agreements of the past.

President Ford testified on Capitol Hill about his pardon of former President Nixon.

President Clinton's aides testified in the Whitewater investigations launched by congressional Republicans.

This dispute over Democratic claims that the firings were politically motivated has been simmering for months but the issue of executive privilege - how much information lawmakers can force presidents to disclose - is as old as the nation. Ever since George Washington refused to release his War Department correspondence, the executive and legislative branches have tussled over their authority.

"Ms. Miers has absolute immunity from compelled congressional testimony as to matters occurring while she was a senior adviser to the president," White House Counsel Fred Fielding wrote in a letter to Miers' lawyer, George T. Manning.

On Wednesday, another former White House aide under subpoena, onetime political director Sara Taylor, tried to answer some questions before the Senate Judiciary Committee but not others without breaching either the subpoena or Bush's claim of executive privilege.

Both Taylor and Miers still face possible contempt citations.

Fielding based his advice to Bush on a Justice Department memo this week that quoted former officials - from former Attorney General Janet Reno to the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, writing as an assistant attorney general - as saying the president and his immediate advisers are absolutely immune from congressional subpoenas.

The Democrats shot back that those documents referred only to White House advisers currently serving. Miers and Taylor left the White House earlier this year.

Contempt citations are rare. Since 1975, 10 senior administration officials have been cited but the disputes were all resolved before getting to court.

The political resolution of such disputes has sometimes favored the White House, such as when President Eisenhower kept officials from testifying at Sen. Joe McCarthy's hearings. Other times, Congress wins, such when Nixon reluctantly let aides testify about the Watergate break-in.

Louis Fisher, a Library of Congress expert on presidential powers, has said the dispute over the fired prosecutors is not one that's likely bound for the federal courthouse.

The law is unsettled in the area. A 1974 Supreme Court decision held the president could not withhold the Watergate tapes from federal prosecutors. But the high court made it clear it wasn't getting into whether presidents may refuse demands from Congress.

Both sides benefit from such uncertainty because it forces political concessions.

Yankees 5, Rays 4

New York			Tampa Bay
ab r h bi		ab r h bi
Jeter ss	5 0 1 0		Damon dh	4 1 1 0
Grndrs cf	3 2 2 0		Zobrist rf	3 1 1 0
Teixeir 1b	5 0 1 1		Longori 3b	3 1 1 2
Cano 2b	5 1 1 1		Ktchm 1b	4 0 2 1
Swisher rf	3 1 1 0		BUpton cf	5 0 0 0
Dickrsn rf	0 0 0 0		SRdrgz 2b	5 0 1 0
Posada dh	2 0 0 0		Ruggin lf	3 0 1 0
AnJons ph-dh	1 0 0 0		Fuld ph-lf	1 0 1 0
Martin c	4 0 1 1		Chirins c	3 1 1 0
Gardnr lf	3 1 1 1		EJhnsn ss	4 0 0 0
ENunez 3b	4 0 0 1
Totals	35 5 8 5		Totals	35 4 9 3

New York	100	010	021—5
Tampa Bay	310	000	000—4

E_A.J.Burnett (4), S.Rodriguez (7). DP_New York 1, Tampa Bay 1. LOB_New York 12, Tampa Bay 11. 2B_Longoria (17), Ruggiano (4), Chirinos (1). SB_Granderson 2 (17), Gardner (27). CS_S.Rodriguez (4).

	IP	H	R ER BB SO
New York
A.J.Burnett	5 1-3	8	4	3	6	4
Noesi	1 2-3	1	0	0	1	2
Robertson W,3-0	1	0	0	0	0	2
Ma.Rivera S,24-28	1	0	0	0	0	1
Tampa Bay
Cobb	6	3	2	1	4	3
Jo.Peralta H,13	2-3	1	0	0	0	0
C.Ramos H,3	2-3	1	2	2	2	1
Farnsworth BS,3-21	2-3	2	0	0	0	1
Al.Torres L,0-1	1	1	1	1	3	1

WP_Cobb.

Umpires_Home, Ed Hickox; First, Ed Rapuano; Second, Dan Iassogna; Third, Alfonso Marquez.

T_4:01 (Rain delay: 0:18). A_22,471 (34,078).

Rivals Step Up Criticism of Clinton

NEW YORK - Hillary Rodham Clinton is finding herself in her rivals' cross-hairs.

Barack Obama and John Edwards try to paint her as a candidate of the Washington establishment and beholden to special interests. Chris Dodd questioned the former first lady's competence on health care reform. They have hinted she's too divisive to govern effectively as president.

The shift in tone was perhaps inevitable, coming nine months into a largely cordial primary campaign that has left the New York senator the undisputed front-runner for the Democratic nomination. In criticizing Clinton, they acknowledge she's a formidable candidate and accept that she's unlikely to stumble badly to give others an opening.

"Her opponents are starting to worry that she is consolidating her position, and that's potentially fatal for them," said Raphael Sonenshein, a political science professor at California State University, Fullerton. "A lot of people watching her campaign are surprised by the fact that it's strengthening and could be starting to break away."

The new dynamic is also a clear expression of frustration by Clinton's rivals, who were forced to the sidelines this week when she released her new health care plan. The rollout drew extensive media coverage.

Republicans are criticizing Clinton as though she's already the Democratic nominee. Rudy Giuliani has relied on newspaper and Web ads to assail her on the Iraq war.

To remain in the game, Democrats are starting to point out Clinton's potential vulnerabilities and question her electability.

At a seniors' forum in Iowa on Thursday, rival Joe Biden suggested congressional Republicans would refuse to work with Clinton to accomplish health care reform.

"Let's be frank about this," Biden said. "What's changed to make you think Hillary is going to be able to put together the 15 percent of Republicans" who will be needed to enact any overhaul of the health care system?

In an interview with The Associated Press, Dodd said Clinton had mismanaged her effort to reshape the nation's health care system during her husband's presidency and questioned why she touted that experience as evidence she should be allowed to try again.

Biden and Dodd are both polling in single digits and have had little impact on the overall dynamic of the field. But their criticisms come amid new efforts by Clinton's lead rivals, Obama and Edwards, to portray her as part of the status quo.

Edwards has been particularly aggressive, claiming Clinton lifted his health care plan and criticizing her ties to lobbyists and other special interests.

His top campaign strategist, Joe Trippi, even sent an e-mail to supporters this week blasting her for attending a fundraising lunch with lobbyists. Clinton, he wrote, is the "poster child" for what's wrong in Washington.

Obama faces his own set of risks and complications. He has pledged to run a positive campaign without the personal attacks or negativity that would cast him as a "conventional" politician. That pledge has come with a downside: Clinton strategists pounce each time Obama utters any sort of critique.

So in a new television ad campaign released this week, Obama tiptoes around Clinton's vulnerabilities without addressing them head on.

In an ad about health care, he laments the "bickering" that defined past attempts to reform the system. "For the last 20 years, Washington has talked about health care reform but reformed nothing," he says.

Is he talking about Clinton? Obama doesn't say.

And without naming names, Obama's new campaign speech includes a warning about a return to political polarization.

"George Bush and Dick Cheney may have turned divisive, special interest politics into an art form, but it was there before they got to Washington," he said.

For her part, Clinton hasn't taken the bait and has largely ignored the potshots from fellow Democrats.

"Voters can see through politically motivated attacks," said her spokesman Howard Wolfson. "Other candidates are clearly frustrated with their falling poll numbers."

Clinton is already training her sights on the GOP. She referred to Cheney this week as Darth Vader, and a top Clinton campaign adviser, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, said Giuliani's rocky personal life would be fair game in a general election.

But longtime Democratic strategist Erik Smith said that despite Clinton's clear strengths, there was still opportunity for her rivals to make headway. Their critiques could have particular resonance in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, where voters are closely following the contest, he said.

"If you are running behind a front-runner, you have to do something to change the dynamics of the race," Smith said. "You really have no choice - you can't rest on your laurels and hopes that she trips."

ALPINE SKIING TODAY & TOMORROW. FIS Men's World Cup, Wengen,... [Derived headline]

ALPINE SKIING

TODAY & TOMORROW. FIS Men's World Cup, Wengen, Switzerland.Downhill (today) & Slalom (tomorrow). FIS Women's, Maribor,Slovenia. Giant slalom (today) & Slalom (tomorrow). IPC WorldCh'ships, Sestriere (to Jan 23)

ARCHERY

TOMORROW. UKRS Eastern Scotland Area Open Indoor PortsmouthCh'ships, Lasswade, Midlothian

ATHLETICS

TODAY & TOMORROW. IPC World Ch'ships, Christchurch (to Feb 1)

TODAY. Cross Country: Scottish Athletics East District Ch'ships(all age groups ; inc postponed East District League Rd 3 match),Livingston; Speyside Runner North District League Series (all agegroups), Dornoch, East Sutherland. Trail Running: Annan & DistrictBrownmoor 4 3/4-mile, Ecclefechan (10.30). Road Running. 5k Parkruns(9.30): Glasgow, Pollok Park; Edinburgh , Silverknowes Promenade,Cramond; Strathclyde Park, Motherwell

TOMORROW. Cross Country: Scottish Athletics West DistrictCh'ships (all age groups), Royal High School, Irvine; McCain UKChallenge Series, Cardiff. Hill Running: Lochaber Winter LeagueVitrified Fort 5-mile/350ft, Fort William. Road Running: JogScotlandNew Year Canter 5k, Strathclyde Park, Motherwell

BADMINTON

TODAY & TOMORROW. European Mixed Team Ch'ships, Groningen (to Jan20)

TODAY. SSBU Scottish Schools U15 Singles Ch'ships, Wishaw

TOMORROW. Midland Scotland U13/U17 Tournament, Dundee ISC

BASKETBALL

TODAY. BBL Ch'ship (7.30) Essex Pirates v Glasgow Rocks,Leicester Riders v Worcester Wolves, Worthing Thunder v GuildfordHeat

Scottish League. Men Dunfermline Reign v Glasgow Rocks (3.30),Glasgow Uni v St Mirren Reid Kerr Coll (3.35)

Women City of Edinburgh Kool Kats v Grampian Lady Flyers (1pm)

TOMORROW. BBL Cup Final Mersey Tigers v Sheffield Sharks (NIA,Birmingham, 3.30)

Scottish League. Men Glasgow Storm v Stirling Knights (4.30)

Women Glasgow Rocks v Clark Eriksson Fury (4.20)

BOWLS

TODAY & TOMORROW. British Women's U25 International IndoorSeries, Arbroath. WBT World Indoor Ch'ships, Potters LR, Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk (to Jan 23)

CRICKET

TODAY & TOMORROW. Second Test New Zealand v Pakistan, Wellington

TODAY. Second one-day international South Africa v India,Johannesburg

TOMORROW. First one-day international Australia v England,Melbourne

CURLING

TODAY & TOMORROW. Scottish Junior Ch'ship Finals, Dewar's IR,Perth. Continental International Cup, St Albert, Canada

CYCLING

TODAY. Revolution International Indoor Track Series, Manchester

TOMORROW. Tour Down Under (to Jan 23)

Duathlon

TODAY. Edinburgh RC Winter Duathlon Series (2 1/2-mile run, 10-mile cyclie, 2 1/2-mile run), Kirkliston (10am). Winter FeastDuathlon, Glencoe

TOMORROW. MPH/Aberdeenshire Council Winter Duathlon Series,Westhill, Aberdeen. Glentress Forest Short Duathlon, Peebles

FENCING

TODAY & TOMORROW. Cambridge Winter 6W Tournament. NorthernIreland Open 6W Ch'ships, Belfast

HANDBALL

TODAY & TOMORROW. Men's World Ch'ships, Sweden (to Jan 30)

TODAY. Scottish Women's National League, Week 7, Blackburn SC,West Lothian

HOCKEY

TODAY. Men. EuroHockey Indoor Junior Ch'ship (Prague, CzechRepublic)

Pool A Poland v Belarus, Sweden v Russia

Pool B Austria v Scotland, Czech Rep v Switzerland

Subway Eat Fresh Indoor National League

Div 2 (Forthbank, Stirling) Aberdeen Asset Management vWatsonians, Harris Acad FP v Falkirk GHG, CALA Edinburgh v AberdeenAsset Management, Watsonians v Stepps, Aberdeen Asset Management vHarris Acad FP, VWS Dundee Wndrs A v Watsonians, Harris Acad FP vGrove Menzieshill A

Div 3 (Glasgow Caledonian) Waverley Inveresk Trinity v InverleithA, Glynhill Kelburne A v East Kilbride, Waverley Inveresk Trinity vQuasar, East Kilbride v Inverleith A, Glynhill Kelburne A v WaverleyInveresk Trinity, Quasar v East Kilbride

Div 4 (Dundee Uni) ADTI Aberdeen Uni v AMN Hillhead A, ADTIAberdeen Uni v FMGM Monarchs, Alpha Data Carnegie v AMN Hillhead A,ADTI Aberdeen Uni v Alpha Data Carnegie, AMN Hillhead A v FMGMMonarchs

TOMORROW. Women. Subway Eat Fresh Indoor National League

Div 1 (Forthbank, Stirling) Grove Menzieshill v Waverley InvereskTrinity, Milne Craig Western v CALA Edinburgh, Reid Kerr Kelburne vVWS Dundee Wndrs, Milne Craig Clydesdale v Grove Menzieshill A,Grove Menzieshill v CALA Edinburgh, Western v Waverley InvereskTrinity, Kelburne v Grove Menzieshill A, Clydesdale v VWS DundeeWndrs, Waverley Inveresk Trinity v Kelburne, Grove Menzieshill vClydesdale

Div 3 (Dundee Uni) Grange EL v Watsonians, VWS Dundee Wndrs A vHaddington, Alpha Data Dunfermline v Erskine Stewart's-Melville

ICE HOCKEY

TODAY. Elite League (7pm) Belfast Giants v Nottingham Panthers,Braehead Clan v Newcastle Vipers, Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze,Sheffield Steelers v Edinburgh Capitals

Northern League Fife Flyers v Solway Sharks (7.15)

TOMORROW. Elite League Coventry v Sheffield (6pm), Dundee CCSStars v Cardiff (6.30), Hull Stingrays v Edinburgh (6pm), Newcastlev Braehead (5.30)

JUDO

TODAY & TOMORROW. World Masters Ch'ships, Baku

Karate

TODAY & TOMORROW. Paris Open, France

ORIENTEERING

TODAY. ECKO winter event, Benmore. ESOC local event, Ravelston,Edinburgh. MOR Saturday League, Quarrelwood

TOMORROW. STAG Glasgow Three Parks in One Ch'ships

SNOOKER

TODAY & TOMORROW. LadbrokesMobile Masters, Wembley Arena, London

SQUASH

TODAY. ATCO PSA World Series Finals, Queen's Club, London

TOMORROW. Scottish League, Rd 8, Inverness

SWIMMING

TODAY & TOMORROW. Burns International Meet, Sheffield

TABLE TENNIS

TOMORROW. Scottish Veterans' Assessment Tournament No 3, BathgateSC, West Lothian. British Men's League, Rd 3, various venues

TENNIS

TODAY & TOMORROW. AEGON LTA British Pro Series, Scotstoun LC,Glasgow

TODAY. AEGON LTA British Tour, Stirling Uni

Volleyball

TODAY. Scottish Cup. Round 4

Men Bellshill Cardinals v South Ayrshire, Bon Accord v GlasgowMets, Dundee v City of Edinburgh II, Dundee II v City of GlasgowRagazzi, Edinburgh Jets v City of Edinburgh

Women City of Edinburgh v South Ayrshire II, City of Edinburgh IIv North Grampian, Glasgow International v Edinburgh Jets, NorthLanarkshire v Su Ragazzi, Troon PA v Dundee Uni

ALPINE SKIING TODAY & TOMORROW. FIS Men's World Cup, Wengen,... [Derived headline]

ALPINE SKIING

TODAY & TOMORROW. FIS Men's World Cup, Wengen, Switzerland.Downhill (today) & Slalom (tomorrow). FIS Women's, Maribor,Slovenia. Giant slalom (today) & Slalom (tomorrow). IPC WorldCh'ships, Sestriere (to Jan 23)

ARCHERY

TOMORROW. UKRS Eastern Scotland Area Open Indoor PortsmouthCh'ships, Lasswade, Midlothian

ATHLETICS

TODAY & TOMORROW. IPC World Ch'ships, Christchurch (to Feb 1)

TODAY. Cross Country: Scottish Athletics East District Ch'ships(all age groups ; inc postponed East District League Rd 3 match),Livingston; Speyside Runner North District League Series (all agegroups), Dornoch, East Sutherland. Trail Running: Annan & DistrictBrownmoor 4 3/4-mile, Ecclefechan (10.30). Road Running. 5k Parkruns(9.30): Glasgow, Pollok Park; Edinburgh , Silverknowes Promenade,Cramond; Strathclyde Park, Motherwell

TOMORROW. Cross Country: Scottish Athletics West DistrictCh'ships (all age groups), Royal High School, Irvine; McCain UKChallenge Series, Cardiff. Hill Running: Lochaber Winter LeagueVitrified Fort 5-mile/350ft, Fort William. Road Running: JogScotlandNew Year Canter 5k, Strathclyde Park, Motherwell

BADMINTON

TODAY & TOMORROW. European Mixed Team Ch'ships, Groningen (to Jan20)

TODAY. SSBU Scottish Schools U15 Singles Ch'ships, Wishaw

TOMORROW. Midland Scotland U13/U17 Tournament, Dundee ISC

BASKETBALL

TODAY. BBL Ch'ship (7.30) Essex Pirates v Glasgow Rocks,Leicester Riders v Worcester Wolves, Worthing Thunder v GuildfordHeat

Scottish League. Men Dunfermline Reign v Glasgow Rocks (3.30),Glasgow Uni v St Mirren Reid Kerr Coll (3.35)

Women City of Edinburgh Kool Kats v Grampian Lady Flyers (1pm)

TOMORROW. BBL Cup Final Mersey Tigers v Sheffield Sharks (NIA,Birmingham, 3.30)

Scottish League. Men Glasgow Storm v Stirling Knights (4.30)

Women Glasgow Rocks v Clark Eriksson Fury (4.20)

BOWLS

TODAY & TOMORROW. British Women's U25 International IndoorSeries, Arbroath. WBT World Indoor Ch'ships, Potters LR, Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk (to Jan 23)

CRICKET

TODAY & TOMORROW. Second Test New Zealand v Pakistan, Wellington

TODAY. Second one-day international South Africa v India,Johannesburg

TOMORROW. First one-day international Australia v England,Melbourne

CURLING

TODAY & TOMORROW. Scottish Junior Ch'ship Finals, Dewar's IR,Perth. Continental International Cup, St Albert, Canada

CYCLING

TODAY. Revolution International Indoor Track Series, Manchester

TOMORROW. Tour Down Under (to Jan 23)

Duathlon

TODAY. Edinburgh RC Winter Duathlon Series (2 1/2-mile run, 10-mile cyclie, 2 1/2-mile run), Kirkliston (10am). Winter FeastDuathlon, Glencoe

TOMORROW. MPH/Aberdeenshire Council Winter Duathlon Series,Westhill, Aberdeen. Glentress Forest Short Duathlon, Peebles

FENCING

TODAY & TOMORROW. Cambridge Winter 6W Tournament. NorthernIreland Open 6W Ch'ships, Belfast

HANDBALL

TODAY & TOMORROW. Men's World Ch'ships, Sweden (to Jan 30)

TODAY. Scottish Women's National League, Week 7, Blackburn SC,West Lothian

HOCKEY

TODAY. Men. EuroHockey Indoor Junior Ch'ship (Prague, CzechRepublic)

Pool A Poland v Belarus, Sweden v Russia

Pool B Austria v Scotland, Czech Rep v Switzerland

Subway Eat Fresh Indoor National League

Div 2 (Forthbank, Stirling) Aberdeen Asset Management vWatsonians, Harris Acad FP v Falkirk GHG, CALA Edinburgh v AberdeenAsset Management, Watsonians v Stepps, Aberdeen Asset Management vHarris Acad FP, VWS Dundee Wndrs A v Watsonians, Harris Acad FP vGrove Menzieshill A

Div 3 (Glasgow Caledonian) Waverley Inveresk Trinity v InverleithA, Glynhill Kelburne A v East Kilbride, Waverley Inveresk Trinity vQuasar, East Kilbride v Inverleith A, Glynhill Kelburne A v WaverleyInveresk Trinity, Quasar v East Kilbride

Div 4 (Dundee Uni) ADTI Aberdeen Uni v AMN Hillhead A, ADTIAberdeen Uni v FMGM Monarchs, Alpha Data Carnegie v AMN Hillhead A,ADTI Aberdeen Uni v Alpha Data Carnegie, AMN Hillhead A v FMGMMonarchs

TOMORROW. Women. Subway Eat Fresh Indoor National League

Div 1 (Forthbank, Stirling) Grove Menzieshill v Waverley InvereskTrinity, Milne Craig Western v CALA Edinburgh, Reid Kerr Kelburne vVWS Dundee Wndrs, Milne Craig Clydesdale v Grove Menzieshill A,Grove Menzieshill v CALA Edinburgh, Western v Waverley InvereskTrinity, Kelburne v Grove Menzieshill A, Clydesdale v VWS DundeeWndrs, Waverley Inveresk Trinity v Kelburne, Grove Menzieshill vClydesdale

Div 3 (Dundee Uni) Grange EL v Watsonians, VWS Dundee Wndrs A vHaddington, Alpha Data Dunfermline v Erskine Stewart's-Melville

ICE HOCKEY

TODAY. Elite League (7pm) Belfast Giants v Nottingham Panthers,Braehead Clan v Newcastle Vipers, Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze,Sheffield Steelers v Edinburgh Capitals

Northern League Fife Flyers v Solway Sharks (7.15)

TOMORROW. Elite League Coventry v Sheffield (6pm), Dundee CCSStars v Cardiff (6.30), Hull Stingrays v Edinburgh (6pm), Newcastlev Braehead (5.30)

JUDO

TODAY & TOMORROW. World Masters Ch'ships, Baku

Karate

TODAY & TOMORROW. Paris Open, France

ORIENTEERING

TODAY. ECKO winter event, Benmore. ESOC local event, Ravelston,Edinburgh. MOR Saturday League, Quarrelwood

TOMORROW. STAG Glasgow Three Parks in One Ch'ships

SNOOKER

TODAY & TOMORROW. LadbrokesMobile Masters, Wembley Arena, London

SQUASH

TODAY. ATCO PSA World Series Finals, Queen's Club, London

TOMORROW. Scottish League, Rd 8, Inverness

SWIMMING

TODAY & TOMORROW. Burns International Meet, Sheffield

TABLE TENNIS

TOMORROW. Scottish Veterans' Assessment Tournament No 3, BathgateSC, West Lothian. British Men's League, Rd 3, various venues

TENNIS

TODAY & TOMORROW. AEGON LTA British Pro Series, Scotstoun LC,Glasgow

TODAY. AEGON LTA British Tour, Stirling Uni

Volleyball

TODAY. Scottish Cup. Round 4

Men Bellshill Cardinals v South Ayrshire, Bon Accord v GlasgowMets, Dundee v City of Edinburgh II, Dundee II v City of GlasgowRagazzi, Edinburgh Jets v City of Edinburgh

Women City of Edinburgh v South Ayrshire II, City of Edinburgh IIv North Grampian, Glasgow International v Edinburgh Jets, NorthLanarkshire v Su Ragazzi, Troon PA v Dundee Uni

Ramirez told to have no direct contact with wife

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Former World Series MVP Manny Ramirez made his first court appearance Tuesday after authorities arrested him over a domestic dispute at his South Florida home and was ordered to have no direct contact with his wife.

Broward Circuit Judge Jon Hurley set bail at $2,500 on the domestic battery charge, but it wasn't immediately clear when Ramirez would leave Broward County Jail.

Broward sheriff's officials say 39-year-old Ramirez was arguing with his wife, Juliana, Monday afternoon when he slapped her face, causing her to hit her head on their bed's headboard. She told the deputy she was afraid the situation would escalate.

Authorities say …

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? REFLECTING ON THE CONDITION OF THE U.S. BANKING SYSTEM

There has been increasing interest in the Asian continent regarding the U.S. banking system. Recently I was interviewed by a reporter for The Asian Banker (no relation to Bank Director magazine or the American Banker) about the state of this nation's banking industry, which gave me some time to reflect on just how far we've come-and what we have to conquer ahead.

I was first asked to evaluate the current condition of the U.S. banking system. This was a pleasure, as we are currently experiencing some of the most favorable conditions we've seen in years, including low rates, a relatively steep yield curve, and high investor interest. The impact on the nation's banks has been remarkable, as we now have record capital; record profits; a record number of total assets (10 trillion); the lowest number of problem banks; and the lowest percentage of nonperforming loans (NPLs). Given this scenario, one might be tempted to say the U.S. banking system looks so strong, it's almost too good to be true.

However, given the cyclical nature of economics, I was asked whether I thought the problems of the 1980s and 1990s were likely to emerge again. For several reasons, I responded, it is unlikely the problems of the 1980s will be reappear in the next economy. Why?

For one thing, bank construction lending activity is much lower than it was 20 years ago. This was the genesis of a great deal of commercial lending deterioration in bank's assets portfolios.

Also, today adjustable rate mortgages are available so banks can't get locked into a losing proposition when inflation raises their cost of funds. Hard to believe today, but adjustable rate mortgages were illegal in the 1970s.

There is little to no inflation squeeze of profits like that seen in the 1980s when so many savings and loans were struggling to stay afloat.

And finally, and probably most important, today the quality of leadership and staffing at U.S. banks has risen dramatically. Bank directors and CEOs learned many tough lessons the hard way in the 1980s and 1990s, but the result has been improved management across the board in all areas.

In summary, the principal conditions that caused almost 2,000 banks and S&Ls to fail two decades ago do not appear to be present today. Nor are they likely to reemerge tomorrow.

So, they asked, "Things can't be perfect. What worries you and the U.S. banking regulators today?" I responded with the following:

Monster banks- These include Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Chase, Miszho, and others. These institutions are extremely difficult to supervise and nearly impossible to take over if they fail because of their business complexity and scale.

Home equity lending-This is the fastest-growing item on banks' balance sheets). Such loans put the borrower at risk of losing his home if he can't repay, yet we are seeing more of a trend to refinance creditcard debt with home equity loans, which drastically increases the risk of bankruptcy for consumers.

Derivatives-Huge amounts of these alternative instruments are concentrated in our largest banks. However, they are untested in a real economic downturn. One real concern: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are substantial users of derivatives and their securities represent large investments by banks.

Consumer savings- The current low consumer saving rates will provide little cushion if or when a slowdown in the economy occurs over an extended period of time.

The current "good" conditions themselves-I've seen this over and over again: Bad loans are made in good times. Bank leadership should never get complacent even though the current tide is high.

All in all, we are enjoying an unprecedented run of high performance for the U.S. banking industry. We've learned a lot from past mistakes, both community and large banks are standing up to national and global market competition, and directors understand their responsibilities and duties better than ever before. As long as we keep our eyes open and our ethics high, banking's past will not become prologue.

[Sidebar]

For several reasons, it is unlikely the problems of the 1980s will reappear in the next economy.

[Author Affiliation]

L.William Seidman is a former chairman of the FDIC and RTC, chief commentator of CNBC Cable News, and publisher of Bank Director.

Area experts talk Internet strategy, costs

The Central Penn Business Journal recently held a roundtable discussion with six local Internet experts to discuss the use and growth of the Internet in Central Pennsylvania. Participating in the roundtable were Wes Ball, president and creative director of The Ball Group, Lancaster; K. Robert Bertram, an attorney with Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, Harrisburg; Rod Lefever, president of Red Rose SuperNet, Ephrata; Gregory J. Royer, president of Royer's Flower Shops and FlowerLink, Lebanon; Adam J. Viener, president of Cyberia Communications Inc., York; and Jeffrey L. Weber, president of VestNet Technologies, Harrisburg.

CPBJ: Is it really possible to make a profit selling on …

Investigators at University of Florida release new data on agronomy.

"Several techniques to control for spatial heterogeneity in breeding trials were compared through the use of simulated data for a field site with 256 genotypes (i.e., treatments). Various experimental designs, error structures, and polynomial functions were modeled," scientists in the United States report.

"The error structures studied included first-order autoregressive with and without measurement error (or nugget) and independent errors. Also, several nearest neighbor methods (Papadakis [PAP] and moving average [MA]) were used. The results indicated that, of models with independent errors, row-column designs gave the best correlation between the predicted and true treatment …

Rock junkie finds amusement in the morbid.(Preview)

Byline: MICHAEL KNOOP San Antonio Express-News

Why does death elevate a musician to icon status? How does dying young equal credibility? Is it really better to burn out than fade away? Chuck Klosterman purports to answer these questions in his third book, "Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story" (Scribner, $23).

The book expands on an article that Klosterman wrote for Spin , where he is a senior writer. The original assignment was an examination of "famous" rock 'n' roll death sites, from the 2003 fire that killed 98 people at a Great White concert to the crash sites of Buddy Holly and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The journey begins in New York City with …

Make positive images of aging pay off for you.

When a new senior customer joins your bank, a cash register rings in the accounting department. Given the financial strength of the American senior, it is easy to see why.

The financial clout of the 50-plus population in the United States is absolutely staggering, with customers over 50 accounting for a minimum of 60 percent of commercial banking deposits nationwide. They also control:

* 80 percent of all money in S&Ls

* 77 percent of all assets in the U.S.

* 68 percent of MMIA balances

* 66 percent of all investment portfolios $25,000 and larger

* 50 percent of all corporate stocks

* 42 percent of all after-tax income.

Given these figures, it is obvious that serving seniors is a crucial aspect of successful banking.

The question is: How do you strengthen or expand your senior market share? To find the answer, try a bit of creative visualization.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself at 65 plus in front of a contemporary television set. What would you see? Probably about 80 percent of the time you'd see happy young people doing happy young things in a happy young way--at a beach party in Santa Barbara, completing a marathon in the Rockies, or on a scuba trip in the Caribbean.

Well, how do you feel? You might feel out-of-the-loop, or as though you are no longer wanted, no longer capable of keeping up, no longer interesting, no longer a valued member of society. And if you think about it long enough and hard enough you might get a bit depressed.

In a society that dotes on young images it's tough to grow old. Aging in America is viewed as a form of leprosy, a kind illness to be avoided at all costs. One recent TV commercial went so far as to advertise a facial cream guaranteed to "remove the ugly aging wrinkles."

The point is simply this: If you want to market products to seniors, you had better learn to understand them, respect them, praise them, and recognize that much of our culture is constantly working against them. Anything your bank can do to increase the joys and raise the hopes of its senior customers will not only be a great service to society, but will dramatically increase your assets. This has been proven over and over again by banks that have invested heavily in high quality, expertly managed senior programs that …

18 killed in violence in troubled central Nigeria

JOS, Nigeria (AP) — Eighteen people have been killed in central Nigeria, a region beset by religious and ethnic fighting, an official said Monday.

Pam Ayuba, an adviser to the governor of Plateau state, said the 18 were killed Sunday night and that 10 people were wounded, all near the city of Jos. He said the government is working to restore law and order.

Plateau state police commissioner Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni confirmed the attacks but did not confirm the casualty figure.

Nigeria, an oil-rich country of 150 million people, is split between Muslims in the north and the predominantly Christian south. Plateau state is in the "middle belt," where dozens of ethnic groups vie …

Police say 4 robbed by Marshall athlete: ; Wide receiver accused of demanding students' wallets at gunpoint

Police say a Marshall football player was behind a string ofarmed robberies over the weekend in Huntington.

Troy Evans, 21, of Seventh Avenue was arrested Tuesday afterfootball practice.

Evans, who is from Oakland, Calif., was suspended indefinitelyfrom the team. A senior, he was a starting wide receiver and was onthe punt and kick return teams.

Victims identified Evans as the attacker using a photo array,Huntington Cpl. Cass McMillian said. He said Evans also wasidentified on surveillance video from the Speedway convenience storeat the corner of Sixth Avenue and Hal Greer Boulevard.

Four men, all said to be Marshall University students, …

Vestibule mats provide valuable service: vestibule matting systems are the first line of defense in protecting your building's floors.(Interiors)

Winter's blustery weather is around the corner, and so are the snow, sand, and salt that go along with it. One of the most effective ways to keep these substances from affecting your floors is to implement a matting system for your building's vestibule or entrance area.

The trafficking of dry soils across flooring is the main cause of floor wear and the associated maintenance. "The primary advantage of a vestibule matting system is that of dry soil removal and containment, as well as migrating moisture from pedestrian footware," explains Russell Kendzior, founder of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). "By removing and containing dry soil at the point of entry, building …

African brews.(THE FINER THINGS)

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Forget coffee shops--true connoisseurs brew their own java. Dubbed the "Cabernet of coffee" by The New York Times, the Sweet Unity Farms blend mixes Arabica and Peaberry beans from the southern highlands of Tanzania and …

SCREEN QUIZ.(PREVIEW)

The summer blockbuster as we know it today, like ``The Phantom Menace,'' wasn't always around. The first real one was ``Jaws'' in 1975. But there were many to follow. 1. In ``Speed,'' how fast did the bus have to be going to remain intact? 2. The first Indiana Jones film was what? 3. In which city does ``Die Hard 2'' take place? 4. Who played the heroine in the first ``Terminator''? 5. What was Madonna's name in ``Dick Tracy''? 6. In which ``Star Wars'' film does Luke Skywalker find out who Darth Vader really is? 7. …

With a passion. (management consultant and Performance House President Lloyd Field) (Profile)

Lloyd Field likes leaving an imprint. In his work as a consultant, author, and conference leader, he wants to feel he's touching someone's life, that he's helping unleash the best in those around him.

"It's the missionary side of me," says Lloyd, President of Performance House, a management consulting firm specializing in HR management and strategic organization development. "When I get into an organization and talk about unleashing potential and self-esteem in people, things that ultimately show productivity and quality gains, what I think I really contribute is that someone will live better. Ideally, people then take those positives and use them to enhance their lives outside of work as well."

For most of this consulting and corporate life he's been responsible for implementing recommendations in organizations here and abroad. But what sets him apart as a consultant, says Lloyd, is that he personally has implemented virtually every strategy he has ever recommended. Any of his clients will tell you his consulting style is pro-active and highly participative, but he's clear on how he sees his role. "I don't want to live with a client. I should be totally behind the scenes, helping my clients learn how to manage their people and guiding them through the experience, helping them succeed, letting them shine."

His teaching style in seminars is characteristically participative, with seating assembled in a U-shape to encourage discussion. One of the first things he tells his audience is: "If you want to get the best out of me, ask questions. Push me. If …