UN chief says sustainable development top priority

GENEVA (AP) — Global development that reduces poverty but preserves the environment for future generations will be the top priority during Ban Ki-moon's second five-year term as U.N. secretary-general, he said Tuesday.

Ban, whose second term at the helm of the United Nations starts Jan. 1, laid out his overarching theme for his next administration during a speech to the World Trade Organization.

He told trade officials and diplomats that "the United Nations' top priority for this year and many years beyond will have to be sustainable development" — lifting people out of poverty while working on environmental concerns.

The 67-year-old South Korean diplomat, who became …

Mangini keeping Browns starting QB a secret

Browns coach Eric Mangini has decided on his starting quarterback, and he's keeping it a secret as long as he can.

Mangini declined to name his starter for Sunday's season opener against Minnesota. Before practice Monday, he said he has not yet told Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson who won the job.

Mangini says he will not publicly announce his starter because as a …

PBS Is Antidote For Sickness of Trashy Television

(Regarding the Personal View, Nov. 28,) there is an alternativeto throwing out the TV. It's called Public Broadcasting Service(WTTW-Channel 11 in Chicago). Whenever I hear people condemn TV, Iknow they're not watching PBS - and I wonder why.

There is no violence on "Sesame Street" or in "Mister Rogers'Neighborhood." If adults are bored by "National GeographicSpecials," they have "Great Performances," "Scientific AmericanFrontiers," "Masterpiece Theatre," Mark Russell and more from whichto choose.

If we really care about high-quality TV, we should question thecredibility of politicians who condemn Hollywood's contribution tomoral and intellectual decay while they …

Tottenham's Redknapp to stand trial in January

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and his former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric will stand trial in January over charges of tax evasion.

Redknapp and Mandaric are jointly accused of two charges of cheating the public revenue.

They were charged in 2010 following an inquiry involving City of London Police and the …

Pending home sales fell 4.6 percent in September

Pending U.S. home sales fell more than expected in September, after posting a big jump in the previous month.

The National Association of Realtors said Friday that its seasonally adjusted index of pending sales for existing homes fell 4.6 percent to a reading of 89.2. That's down from an upwardly revised August reading of 93.5.

Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected a September reading of 90.6.

The index was 1.6 percent above year-ago levels. It sunk to a record low of 83 in March, and stood at 87.8 in September 2007.

The reading should provide a preview of October's existing home sales numbers when the Realtors group releases …

A scoop . . .

. . . of a different kind. Former Republican gubernatorial andSenate candidate Jim "Do You Want an Ice Cream Cone?" Oberweis iscontinuing his six-year quest for political office by challengingKane County GOP chairman Denny Wiggins in the race for centralcommitteeman.

Wiggins is holding firm, reportedly with U.S. Rep. J. DennisHastert's backing.

Hmmm. Sure sounds like ice cream-man Oberweis has too much time onhis hands.

HMMM . . .

A riff whiff? Sneed hears radio maven Gary Meier riffed radiowhile dining on a Riff Raff salad at the posh RL eatery Thursday withmoney manager Bill Brigden and an executive from WLS radio, home ofMeier's former …

Menorahs, no Jews

NEAR KRAK�W, POLES BUILT AN ATHEIST MODEL WHERE MENORASH ARE NOW MADE

KRAK�W, Poland, Nov. 28 -- The model suburb of Nowa Huta was built here under a Communist philosophy of atheism.

Now it houses a workshop that manufactures menorahs -- popular with both Poles and tourists.

Metalodlew, a private company that was started 10 years ago, rents space from the Nowa Huta steelworks, a factory that is part of a complex established in the 1950s on the outskirts of Krak�w.

In the workshop, menorahs are produced alongside plaques for Catholic cemetery plots and life-size bronze figures of Pope John Paul II.

The menorahs were originally designed by an artist; now …