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 …

Pope to motorists: Drive sober and careful

Pope Benedict XVI is praying for the victims of traffic accidents and urging drivers, passengers and pedestrians to stay "sober and alert" on the road.

Benedict told faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square that the third Sunday of November is dedicated to those who died in …

Hawk victory would clinch first

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. The Black Hawks can clinch the Norris Divisiontitle outright by beating Minnesota in tonight's rematch at theStadium.

With St. Louis tying Toronto 2-2 last night, the Hawks need twopoints in their last three games to clinch first place and gainhome-ice advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

They also can eliminate Minnesota with a tie tonight. But theHawks cannot afford to end the season in a first-place tie.

The first tie-breaking factor is victories. The Hawks have twomore victories (38) than both St. Louis and Minnesota (36).

But if the victories are tied the second factor isgoal-differential, the difference between …

Bluetooth Links Up With Rival Technology

NEW YORK - The consortium behind the Bluetooth wireless standard announced Tuesday that Nokia Corp., the world's largest maker of cell phones, is contributing a technology that promises to bring the wireless connections to devices that are too small for regular Bluetooth chips.

The technology, called Wibree, opens up the possibility of a host of small wearable gadgets, like watches, heart rate monitors, pedometers and pill boxes that communicate with Bluetooth-equipped cell phones or computers. A watch could display the user's incoming text messages, for instance, or an action figure toy could sense the presence of other toys.

Wibree has a lower data rate and much less …

GM's China sales surge 50 pct to monthly record

General Motors said Tuesday that sales in China soared 50 percent in April to a monthly record of 151,084 vehicles, thanks to strong demand for Buick brand cars and Wuling minivehicles.

Sales of the Buick Excelle sedan, a staple in GM's Shanghai-produced portfolio, more than doubled from a year ago to 22,078, the company said in a statement.

Overall Buick sales jumped 63.6 percent in April to 38,071 units, it said.

GM's minivehicle joint venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Chinese government policies aimed at encouraging purchases of small cars and minivans. Wuling minivehicle sales surged 60.6 percent from a …

Fire ties for 2nd, earns spot in playoffs

The Fire concluded its regular season in a tie for second placewith Sacramento in the Domino's Pizza Team Tennis League, earning aspot in the playoffs against the Capitals tonight in Sacramento.

The other semifinal match was Tuesday night as the San AntonioRacquets, the regular-season champions, ousted the Corpus ChristiAdvantage …

Bush Speech to Showcase Domestic Issues

WASHINGTON - Delivering his first State of the Union address to a Democratic-controlled Congress, President Bush hopes to balance a rebuke of his Iraq policy already promised by lawmakers with a high-profile invitation to cooperate on vexing domestic problems.

In Tuesday night's speech before a joint session of Congress, Bush plans to dangle ideas - some new, some recycled - on reducing America's oil dependence and making health care more available, among others. Aware that 2008 presidential contenders and new Democratic leaders present fierce competition for headlines, the president has a much-abbreviated topic list in an attempt to capture the public's attention.

In the days ahead of the 9 p.m. EST speech, the White House took great pains to detail its health care portions. The cold reception they received on Capitol Hill offered a striking reminder of the difficulty the president faces in the new political climate.

Bush is proposing to change to how the tax code treats health insurance, by counting employer contributions toward health insurance as taxable income while establishing a standard deduction for anyone with insurance. The White House says it would introduce increased market forces to the health care industry and make coverage more affordable for the uninsured. Aides estimated the plan would represent a tax increase for only about 20 percent of employer-covered workers.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., chairman of a key health subcommittee in the House, said he would not even consider holding hearings on the proposal. He dismissed it as a dead-on-arrival attempt to encourage employers to stop offering health insurance.

With his job approval rating hovering in the mid-30 percent range, Bush's overall agenda for the speech was two-fold: present himself to the public as a leader with a sincere desire to work across party lines on practical solutions, and place pressure onto Democratic leaders to either go along or offer alternatives.

"The presidential season is already upon us. I am personally very skeptical that they will make major progress," said Peter Robinson, a former White House speechwriter for Ronald Reagan who now is a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. "But they must make the attempt; they must make a good-faith effort."

A new AP-AOL News poll found that six in 10 Americans are not convinced the Bush administration and Democrats in Congress can work together to solve the nation's problems. Americans rated health care, the economy and the situation in Iraq as the issues they care about most.

Bush was not expected to rehash the speech he gave less than two weeks ago laying out his revamped plan for Iraq, the centerpiece of which is a 21,500-troop increase in the U.S. military presence. Instead, he was to broadly defend his stand that Iraq is part of a war on terror that will make Americans safer.

On Capitol Hill, the pushback from congressional Republicans to the troop increase grew even on the eve of the president's speech.

Three GOP senators and one moderate Democrat unveiled nonbinding legislation on Monday expressing disagreement with Bush's plan and urging him to consider "all options and alternatives."

"We've had four other surges since we first went into Iraq," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of the sponsors. "None of them produced a long-lasting change in the situation on the ground."

In the House, members of the GOP leadership drafted a series of what they called "strategic benchmarks" and said the White House should submit monthly reports to Congress measuring the Iraqi government's progress in meeting them.

Meanwhile, majority Democrats intend to hold votes within days in the House and Senate on tougher bills declaring that the troop increase is "not in the national interest."

Bush returned to the White House on Monday from a long weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat, flashing a thumbs-up and a big grin to reporters before going inside for more practice sessions.

The White House has promised the president will be bold. But the broad themes - energy, education, health care, immigration - were familiar and there were no hints of dramatic new initiatives, particularly as war costs and huge federal deficits preclude anything too costly.

The president is expected to address:

-Health care. Bush will propose a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families regardless of whether they buy their own health insurance or receive medical coverage at work. He also would subject employer-sponsored health care benefits to taxation, meaning those with more policies worth more than the deduction would see a tax hike. But those who get policies at work worth less than the deduction, the preponderance of workers with employer-provided insurance, would get a tax break. Another proposal would give some federal money now going to hospitals and other facilities to states for programs to reduce the number of uninsured.

-Energy. Bush is expected to call for a sharp escalation in the federal mandate on use of ethanol as a renewable fuel alternative, a goal that may prove difficult to meet. He also may seek the power to raise fuel economy standards for passenger cars, authority he also asked for last year. Some Democrats worried the plan would give transportation officials overly broad authority to change the system.

-Education. Bush will push for Congress to renew his education accountability law, No Child Left Behind, which expires this year. Democrats will expect him to go along with increases in spending to help schools make the required progress under the law.

---

Associated Press writers Ben Feller, Kevin Freking and David Espo contributed to this report.

Italian Leading Scorers

ROME (AP) — Leading scorers after Monday's game in the Serie A (penalties in parentheses):

German Denis, Atalanta, 10 (2)

Antonio Di Natale, Udinese, 9 (2)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, AC Milan, 8 (3)

Edinson Cavani, Napoli, 7

Sebastian Giovinco, Parma, 7 (3)

Stevan Jovetic, Fiorentina, 6 (1)

Miroslav Klose, Lazio, 6

Claudio Marchisio, Juventus, 6

Alessandro Matri, Juventus, 6

Rodrigo Palacio, Genoa, 5 (1)

Antonio Nocerino, AC Milan, 5

Pablo Osvaldo, Roma, 5

Emanuele Calaio, Siena, 5

Pharma Professionals Share Insights at CSSG's West Coast Meeting

The inaugural West Coast meeting for the Clinical Supplies Support Group (CSSG) was held in San Diego on June 8, 2007. CSSG has been hosting meetings on the pharma-rich East Coast to support companies in clinical supplies project management efforts for nearly a decade. The meetings routinely focus on creating a clinical supply plan, securing contract manufacturers, preparing budgets, qualifying timelines, etc., and are highly interactive. This first West Coast meeting opened to a larger than expected crowd of predominantly biopharmaceutical and clinical supply professionals.

The meeting was arranged and coordinated by Jeiven Pharmaceutical Consulting, Inc. (Scotch Plains, NJ). As per tradition, the meeting was kicked off by a networking reception the night before, where presenters and attendees were encouraged to meet in preparation for the upcoming session.

The day-long seminar featured highly qualified and engaging speakers such as Rob Pizzie, senior director of Schering-Plough Global Clinical Supply, Antonia Daniel, associate director of clinical supply at Eisai Medical Research, Inc., and Steven Jacobs, president of Bilcare, Inc. The discussion topics included subjects, such as "Change Management in the Regulated Environment," which focused on methods to ensure improved project management and decreased clinical supplies cycle times and "Communication and Teamwork in Clinical Supplies," which highlighted means to develop and improve partnerships and on-time delivery. An interactive workshop session allowed attendees to apply principles from the earlier sessions in specific applications.

Althea Technologies, Inc. (San Diego, CA), the sponsor of the inaugural meeting, provided transportation to its San Diego cGMP contract manufacturing facilities, an overview of facilities design, clinical manufacturing support activities, and a brief tour of the aseptic fill and finish areas for vials and syringe filling of parenteral products.

-John Cox

Still going swimmingly Scotland's population is living longer than ever.

Scotland's population is living longer than ever.

And these three plucky pensioners are prime examples of thoseenjoying life in their later years.

Over 80s like George Jack and Irene Watt have left behind knittingscarves and playing bingo.

Instead they are scooting around in their motors, surfing the net - and even learning to swim.

Aberdeen's own adventurer George Jack is weeks away from his 88thbirthday but still perfects his breaststroke and butterfly everyweek.

The retired painter hadn't been in the water for more than fourdecades when he joined a city swimming club at Linksfield Pool.

Bridge of Don great-grandfather George said: "When I was a younglad I used to go to the Bon Accord swimming club.

"Then when I went into the army I swam to keep fit.

"But when I came out of the army I didn't swim for 40 years, untilI joined the club."

And George did not take to it like a duck to water.

"When I first got into the pool I sank like a stone," saidGeorge. "I was useless until our coach stepped in and gave me moreconfidence. Now it's something I look forward to every week."

Classmate Betty Johnston was pushed into a stream as a child andhad been scared of water since. Bridge of Don Gran Betty, 77, said:"We used to go down to Persley and I remember once somebody pushed mein the water.

"I was petrified. But when I retired I decided to learn.

"When I first started I had armbands, a ring and everything. Butnow I feel more confident and would recommend it to anyone."

Another groovy granny keeping up with the times is 90-year-oldIrene Watt.

The oldest surviving member of her family, the Blackburn computerwhizz is using her PC to delve into her family history. Her relativesclubbed together to buy her a computer for her Christmas eight yearsago.

She has a special screen to enlarge the print and is happy tosurf for hours.

Irene said: "My family keep telling me I'm a groovy granny - Ido enjoy e-mailing and using the computer.

"I tell them it's nothing - it's just my body that is lettingme down."

The surfer suffered a setback to her family research two monthsago when her computer got wiped - but work is now back on track.

She said: "I am starting to build it up again. I have a lot ofthings stored in my head so it is not too much trouble."

And it isn't just North-east OAPs who are enjoying their old age.

Sheila Thomson may be 105 but she also is also believed to be theoldest driver in the UK.

The granny-racer makes the 15-mile round trip in her Peugeot 106from her home in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, to church inInvergowrie every Sunday.

She has been driving for more than 70 years but has never sat atest - she first got behind the wheel before tests wereintroduced.

lkernan@ajl.co.uk

Call for Papers: Sustainable Engineering Forum Topical Conference, Spring 2006

There is an increasing pressure from consumers and regulatory agencies on companies to develop more sustainable business practices The best sustainable decisions are made with the acknowledgement of health, safety, and the environment (HSE) as a valued component of business.

The 3rd Annual Institute for Sustainability (IfS) Sustainable Engineering Forum, April 23-27,2006, Orlando, FL, will focus on the design, development and practical implementation of sustainability as a key component of HSE and long-range development of business workflows.

Speakers from industry, academia, and regulatory communities will discuss:

* Managers and their response to HSE management systems and sustainability

* Sustainability and universities

* Auditing and how to make a resulting change in performance

* Green engineering

* Business cases for sustainability

Electronic abstracts may be submitted through the AIChE Spring conference website, www.aiche.org/spring. The call for papers will end November 14,2005. For further information, please contact Rebecca Pehler, Webb Murray and Associates, Inc., at rcpehler@kingwoodcable.net or Richard Smith, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, at rismith@tceq.state.tx.us.

Maddux aims to go out on high note

Despite a bumpy first half, Greg Maddux has a solid shot atreaching 15 victories for a major-league-record 16th consecutiveseason.

There was a time when the Atlanta Braves veteran wasn't so surereaching double digits in victories was a realistic goal this season.

Things got so bad that Maddux (11-9) found himself rethinking hiswhole approach on the mound.

"No one was used to seeing me get my [butt] kicked,'' Maddux said."There's no magic formula to follow to have success in this game. Youcan't be afraid to try something different."

Maddux, 37, opened the season 0-3 with an 11.05 ERA. His ERA haddropped to 4.84 by the end of June, but his record was 6-8 and hisshot at another 15-victory season looked out of range.

Maddux thought his mechanics were out of whack and fiddled withevery part of his delivery, from his grip on the ball to where hisfront foot landed.

He went 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in July to rescue his season, but headmits he is a long way from returning to his comfort zone.

When you're doing stuff mechanically wrong but you can't feel it,you don't know what to fix,'' he said. If the ball feels good leavingyour hand but it's not going where you want it to go, now you'reguessing how to fix it."

His string of victories in five consecutive decisions wasinterrupted by a 14-4 loss Tuesday to the San Diego Padres, a teamthat thinks it will land him through free agency this winter.

If this is Maddux's last season with the Braves--and there islittle hope he will return to Atlanta--he plans to go out on top.

Just as soon as he feels like the Maddux of old.

I'm looking like everybody else,'' Maddux said. Sometimes you'researching a little longer than other times. You're always trying topick up where you left off five days ago. I know I'm very satisfiedwith the effort I'm putting into the game. And if I'm pitching in theWorld Series in October, then it's been a great year.''

leading off

"I would love to play the field and run around, but I don't knowif I've got enough gazelle left in me."

Bill Clinton, former president, on what position he would play inbaseball. During a visit to the Giants' clubhouse, Clinton said hewould settle for first base.

clearing the bases

LOST IN A FOGG: Josh Fogg of the Pittsburgh Pirates is relieved hecan put the St. Louis Cardinals in his rearview mirror for the restof the season.

The former White Sox right-hander is 1-5 with a 10.31 ERA in sevencareer starts against the Cardinals. The Pirates and Cardinals captheir season series with three games this week at Busch Stadium, butFogg isn't scheduled to appear in that series.

Fogg's last outing against the Cardinals was simply ugly. Hedidn't retire any of the six batters he faced in his start Tuesday,allowing two three-run home runs that put the Cardinals on the roadto a 10-6 victory.

"It's an awful feeling to know you did as small of a job as youcan possibly do as a starter," Fogg said.

In his previous start, Fogg held the San Francisco Giants to threehits in six scoreless innings. But the pitcher who led the Pirateswith 12 victories last season has been inconsistent in 2003.

Beginning with his start July 13 against the Houston Astros, Fogg(6-7) has allowed 23 earned runs and 35 hits. During that span, hehas lasted four innings or less four times and has lost four of fivedecisions. When he faces the Milwaukee Brewers today, he will bewatched closely.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned," manager LloydMcClendon said. "It's something we're going to have to address andtry to get figured out."

REY OF HOPE: The Seattle Mariners were ripped for doing too littlebefore the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but they are happy withthe minor deal that brought them infielder Rey Sanchez from the NewYork Mets.

Because of his steady glove, Sanchez was supposed to be a backupat shortstop and second base. But he has worked his way into thestarting lineup behind some surprising offense.

The former Cub hit .207 in 56 games with the Mets, but he wasbatting .340 in his first 14 games with the Mariners.

"I didn't come here because of my bat, that's for sure," saidSanchez, 35. "So it's a plus, and it opens doors. It helps the team,and that's what I'm trying to do: anything that's possible."

Manager Bob Melvin says the heat of a pennant race has liftedSanchez out of his New York doldrums. Sanchez credits his escape fromthe National League.

"It's more focused," he said. "I play better in the AmericanLeague, I don't know why. Plus, it's a good team, a winning team, andthat makes a difference."

MITCH IS BACK: Veteran catcher Mitch Meluskey, who already hadworn out one welcome with the Houston Astros, surprisingly is backwith the organization. Meluskey, 30, was signed to a minor-leaguedeal and assigned to Class AA with the idea he will join the Astroswhen rosters expand Sept. 1.

The Astros dealt Meluskey to the Detroit Tigers in the deal thatreturned Brad Ausmus to Houston during the 2000 winter meetings.Astros veterans had grown tired of Meluskey, whom they claimed wasimmature.

But with free agents-to-be Ausmus and Gregg Zaun not expected toreturn to the Astros next season, Meluskey adds a veteran catcher inthe organization. That's one reason general manager Gerry Hunsickerrelented after originally offering a quick no when Meluskey inquiredabout returning.

"Mitch has had many chapters in his career," Hunsicker said. "Buthe's married now, he has a couple of kids, and I feel like he'sturned the page. And given the lack of options that we have,especially offensively, looking ahead to September, it's worth ashot."

BIG-league buzz

*The Texas Rangers plan to cut their payroll from about $100million to $75 million by next season, meaning Rafael Palmeiro likelywon't fit into their plans. Palmeiro, who rejected a trade to theCubs, would have enhanced his chances of returning to Texas in 2004had he come to Chicago. The Rangers won't take the chance of offeringhim arbitration, which would exhaust their limited finances that theyare saving for something more important than an aging first baseman."Any dollars we have at all to spend, it's going to be on pitching,"general manager John Hart said.

*Brian Anderson has exceeded expectations in Cleveland, but theIndians can't promise him a spot in their 2004 rotation, meaning helikely will leave via free agency this winter. The left-hander isbeing shopped by the Indians, who know his long list of incentivesmight slow interest before Aug. 31.

*The New York Yankees are worried about whether they will getanother start out of veteran left-hander David Wells, whose back isacting up again. The 40-year-old Wells, who has been replaced in therotation by Sterling Hitchcock, will test his back again Monday.

numbers game

0-6

Brad Penny's record, to go with a 7.60 ERA, in seven daytimestarts for the Florida Marlins. The right-hander is 11-3 with a 2.81ERA in 18 starts at night.

EX-FACTOR

Keith Foulke

Oakland Athletics

Chicago connection: Foulke spent 51/2 seasons with the White Soxand was their closer in 2000, when they won the AL Central title, in2001 and for part of 2002.

Catching up: Foulke has been the A's closer all season, but he didsome of his best work during a wild-card showdown Tuesday against theBoston Red Sox in Oakland, Calif.

After being summoned with runners on second and third and no outsin the eighth inning, Foulke was perfect, retiring six consecutivebatters to preserve the A's 5-3 victory.

"When I went [to the mound], I said, 'Look, we can still hit acouple of times, so don't try to be too fine. Minimize the damage,"'A's manager Ken Macha said. "That's as minimized as it can be."

Said Foulke: "Hopefully they had the confidence in me already togo in and do my job. And if not, yeah, hopefully this puts us in theright direction."

In his next outing, Foulke blew his fifth save chance.

For the record

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there were no bankruptcypetitions, marriage license applications, divorce petitions, orproperty transfers filed in Kanawha County on Nov. 25, 2004.

* Calendar of events

Friday

AL-ANON: Family Group, Alateens, 8 p.m., 1225 Ohio Ave., Dunbar.For information, 342-4315.

AA: Edgewood Group, closed mixed discussion, 7 p.m., St. Luke'sEpiscopal Church, Somerset Drive.

AA: Clendenin Community Center, open big book and discussion, 7:30to 8:30 p.m. Call toll-free (877) 577-6717.

BRIDGE: Kanawha Valley Bridge Association, duplicate bridge, 7:15p.m. at YWCA, Quarrier Street. KVBA members, $2; non-members, $2.50.Free refreshments. Novice section available. Call 766-6203.

CO-DEPENDENTS: Co-Dependents Anonymous, for people who havedifficulty maintaining functional relationships, 5:30 p.m. atSerenity Club, 1225 Ohio Ave., Dunbar. For information, call 744-7472.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: 8 p.m., Village Chapel Presbyterian Church,Kanawha City, open meeting.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: 7:30 p.m., St. Johns United Methodist Church,4013 Teays Valley Rd., open meeting.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: 7:30 p.m., First Christian Church, MainStreet, Logan, open meeting.

REFORMERS UNANIMOUS: Christ-centered support group for those withaddictions, 7 p.m. at Bethany Independent Freewill Baptist Church,134 Jenkins Drive. Call 415-3913 or 344-1996.

If you have a meeting or a special event for publication in thiscolumn, send the information to Calendar of Events, Charleston DailyMail, 1001 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301. Items must bereceived in writing two days before the notice is to be run.

Quality is as quality does

Left to its own devices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will come up with onerous supplement regulations that would (1) favor the pharmaceutical industry, (2) hurt our health-food stores and natural products industry, and (3) reduce consumer access to all-natural supplements.

Fortunately for us, there are a number of programs our industry has developed which are bringing the dietary supplement community together in order to:

implement internal quality control;

fund university research and clinical studies using dietary supplements; and

develop scientifically validated testing methods for herbal products.

Quality control. Since 1990, our industry's main trade association, the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA), has been running what is called its "TruLabel Registration and Random Testing Program." Under this program, supplement makers' products are randomly selected for analysis, to see if the label matches the content.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). Hopefully, by the summer of this year (if not sooner), consumers will be able to look for the NNFAs Good Manufacturing Practices seal of approval. An independent certifying body will inspect supplement makers' manufacturing facilities to see if NNFA-specified (FDA approved) GMP standards are being met.

The main standards are: purity (the product is pure, not watered down or bulked up), safety (not contaminated or toxic), and efficacy (it performs as advertised).

What's in it for me? We all benefit, since a random testing program and GMPs: (a) keep companies honest, (b) help keep products high quality, and (c) provide us two levels of quality-control.

Fund research.1998 saw the birth of the Corporate Alliance for Integrative Medicine, which was formed to "promote the finest research and educational initiatives possible," according to Alliance president, Jennifer Cooper.

Founded by 10 of the industry's most respected supplement companies, the formation of research programs at major universities will provide an ambitious independent platform for science to systematically evaluate supplements.

What's in it for me? The more peer-reviewed research that can be produced on dietary supplements, the stronger our manufacturers and industry will be, and the greater our continued access will be to dietary supplements via health-food stores.

Develop validated testing methods. Last year also witnessed the launch of the Institute for Nutraceutical Advancement (INA) (sponsored by 30 companies) and the INA Methods Validation Program (MVP). This international effort will enable supplement makers to ensure consistency in the quality of herbal ingredients using agreed-upon testing methods.

What's in it for me? This will establish agreed-upon methods to determine the main marker compound for all herbal products, a target concentration at which it should be set, and what should the target ratio be of whole plant to extract. This will establish a level playing field in research, and will make it easier to compare "apples to apples."

Upshot? If we're great at "policing" our industry, then we'll be able to support, protect (and preserve) the products we love, the retailers we trust, and the manufacturers we rely on.

[Author Affiliation]

James Gormley has served as a managing editor for two of the most respected medical journals in the U.S., and as a social sciences/medical editor in book publishing. His award-winning articles cover important issues, keeping readers informed of the latest breakthroughs in nutritional approaches to optimal health and ongoing research into vitamins, botanicals, minerals, and other supplements.

US military: 14 insurgents killed in clashes in eastern Afghanistan

U.S. and Afghan troops fought off coordinated insurgent attacks in eastern Afghanistan, leaving a dozen militants dead and a dozen more wounded, the U.S. military said Monday.

As many as 40 insurgents attacked five military outposts Sunday in the Korangal Valley of volatile eastern Kunar province, using small arms fire, rockets and mortars, the military said in a statement.

The joint force returned fire and called in airstrikes that left 12 militants dead and 12 others wounded, the coalition said. No U.S. or Afghan soldiers were hurt.

The Korangal Valley is one of the most volatile areas in Afghanistan. Korangal's high mountains _ densely wooded and riddled with caves _ are used by militants to launch near-daily attacks on remote U.S. bases.

More than 1,000 people, mostly militants, have been killed in insurgency-related violence in Afghanistan this year, according to an Associated Press tally of figures from Afghan and Western officials.

In neighboring Nangarhar province, a raid targeting a bomb maker sparked a clash that left two militants and an Afghan soldier dead, another coalition statement said.

Four other suspected insurgents were arrested during the operation Sunday in Bati Kot district, it said.

Business briefs

Bank enters

new agreement

City Holding Co. said its City National Bank subsidiary hasentered into a revised, less comprehensive formal agreement with thebank's regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

City National has been operating under an agreement with theregulator since July 2000 that calls for the bank to formalize andbetter document its practices and procedures.

The company said the new agreement, which replaces the original,calls for continued refinement of the process to request and reviewreal estate appraisals for adequacy and compliance; furtherdevelopment and implementation of a written program to improve thebank's loan portfolio management; further development of aneffective, independent and ongoing loan review system; and otherrequirements.

Jerry Francis, City Holding's president and chief executiveofficer, said in a prepared statement that the agreement does notaffect the way the bank conducts business with its customers. Hesaid the company does not anticipate that the agreement will haveany effect on fourth quarter operating results.

At City Holding's annual meeting in June, Francis toldshareholders he hoped to obtain an amended written agreement withthe regulator and, "my object is to have it fully lifted by the endof the year."

Agency cuts back

on paperwork

The state Public Service Commission has begun an effort tostreamline the way it does business.

As of Sept. 21, "anyone filing a case with the agency will needfile only half the copies we had heretofore required," ChairmanJames Williams said in a prepared statement.

More than 2,300 cases were brought before the commission lastyear. Any utility or individual bringing a case before thecommission was previously required to file an original and 12copies. The new requirement is an original and six copies.

"Each filing can run dozens or even hundreds of pages," Williamssaid. "Imagine the savings now that we've cut those figures inhalf."

"We intend to implement a total agency-wide review of all suchrequirements in hopes of finding additional ways we can helpratepayers and the utilities we regulate save time and money whendoing business with the Public Service Commission," Williams said.

Yankee Candle

store opens in mall

The Yankee Candle Co. Inc. has opened a store at Charleston TownCenter.

The store, on the lower level near center court, showcases thecompany's Housewarmer-brand jar candles and many other candle stylesin about 115 fragrances.

The Charleston Town Center outlet is Yankee Candle's firstcompany-owned store in West Virginia.

The Massachusetts-based company has 181 stores in 39 states.

Yankee Candle is a publicly traded company. Its stock trades onthe New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol, "YCC."

New judge wants

to end dispute

WASHINGTON - The new judge in the Microsoft antitrust caseordered both sides to work around the clock to settle the longdispute, citing economic fallout from the terror attacks as onereason for haste.

Besides the case, Microsoft also is dealing with a shaky economyand the coming release of two key products: the Windows XP operatingsystem upgrade and its first major foray into the video gamebusiness, X-Box.

Liberia's Charles Taylor faces judgment after years of mayhem

DAKAR, Senegal - Liberia's former President Charles Taylor, accused of fomenting bloody wars across West Africa, now faces judgment for some of the mayhem wrought during his years in power.

Taylor, taken from exile in Nigeria and presented in handcuffs Wednesday to the U..backed tribunal in Sierra Leone, is charged with 17 counts of crimes against humanity stemming from a brutal rebellion that left many thousands dead or maimed.

His capture and imprisonment seem to bring his blood-stained 16-year odyssey to a close and avert a feared renewal of conflict in Liberia, had he returned there. Instead, he becomes the first African head of state to face an international war crimes tribunal.

Taylor's 1989 insurgency in Liberia, which eventually killed 200,000, helped tilt the region into crisis.

"Taylor for me is a ruthless dictator whose capture and subsequent trial should be welcome for all Liberian people. The mayhem and destruction he brought has to be accounted for. No more delay," said Romeo Snehtie, a 39-year-old student in Liberia.

Liberia, once among the richer countries in West Africa, is now one of its poorest.

Long years of crisis that ended with Taylor's flight to Nigerian exile in 2003 has left the country all but a failed state.

Taylor's 1989 incursion from Ivory Coast had spread chaos across Liberia and into Sierra Leone, whose brutal rebels fought a 1991-2002 civil war.

Taylor helped pioneer the use of child soldiers, often kidnapped from their parents and drugged.

"Beyond the vast damage he has personally inflicted on West Africa, Charles Taylor embodies the misrule and warlord politics that have devastated the region," said Eric Witte, formerly a political adviser at the Sierra Leone court.

Taylor was born into a family of Americo-Liberians, descendants of the freed American slaves that founded Africa's first republic in 1847 and ruled as elites for more than a century.

He lived in the United States during the 1970s, earning an economics degree from Bentley College in Waltham, Mass.

He later joined the government of President Samuel Doe, an illiterate midlevel officer who came to power in 1980 and ordered the execution of 13 ministers who were tied to poles on a beach and shot.

Taylor fled after he was accused in 1983 of embezzling nearly $1 million. He went back to the United States, where he was detained on a Liberian arrest warrant. But he escaped from a Massachusetts jail in 1985 - cutting through bars with a hacksaw and climbing down a knotted sheet - to launch the civil war that ousted Doe.

Taylor won a disputed election in 1997. But many former allies took up arms against him in 2000 and attacked Monrovia in 2003.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo helped broker peace in Liberia by offering Taylor exile in Nigeria, which he accepted.

Obasanjo said he would hand Taylor to Liberia if a democratically elected leader requested it. After Nigerian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf gave the nod, he made good on his word. AP

Cyprus confirms 1st case of swine flu

Cyprus' health minister confirmed the island's first case of swine flu Saturday, in a woman who recently returned from the United States.

Christos Patsalides said the 39-year-old woman, a foreign national who is married to a Cypriot and lives on the island, is in relatively good health.

He said she is being given the appropriate medication at a special unit that was set up to handle such cases at Limassol General Hospital on the island's southern coast.

Patsalides said he considered this an isolated case.

The health minister said the woman developed flu-like symptoms May 29, a day after arriving from New York via London.

She went to Limassol Hospital after being told the children of the family with whom she stayed in the U.S. had been diagnosed with swine flu. Patsalides did not know where in the U.S. the host family lived.

He said authorities have contacted people who have been in close contact with the woman, including passengers who were on the plane with her, and have given them given medication proactively.

He said one other person who was on the aircraft has developed flu-like symptoms which are being investigated.

"There is no reason for unnecessary concern," Patsalides said.

Branson rewards cycle business

A cycling business in Bath is flying up the fast lane afterreceiving an award from Sir Richard Branson in recognition of itsrapid growth.

Directors from Brock Street firm Cyclescheme picked up thefastestgrowing company award at the 13th annual Sunday Times VirginFast Track 100 event.

The celebration of the country's entrepreneurial flair was hostedby Sir Richard at his Oxfordshire home.

Over the past three years, sales at the company have grown nearly350 per cent a year, to Pounds 23m.

Cyclescheme provides bikes for Government-backed cycle-to-workschemes, linking employers with a network of partner bike shops.

Directors Richard Grigsby and Gary Cooper received the award fromMr Branson. Mr Grigsby said: "Receiving our award as the number onegrowing private UK business from Richard Branson at the Fast Track100 was an absolute privilege.

"The whole event was particularly refreshing and a total lack ofmanagement speak, acronyms and corporate bull was a real pleasure towitness. It seems that small to medium-sized businesses don't learnthat stuff until they get bigger."

Mr Cooper was similarly thrilled at landing the award. "Winningthe Fast Track 100 was a very proud moment in our lives and businesscareers," he explained.

"This was a great accolade and acknowledgement for all the hardwork the Cyclescheme team and our partner shops have put in over thelast five years."

Explaining the key to a successful enterprise, Sir Richard toldbusiness people at the event: "If the owner of a business ispassionate, it will ricochet all the way down the organisation."

An after-dinner charity auction at the event benefitingunderprivileged students at the Branson School of Entrepreneurshipin South Africa raised Pounds 210,000.

Advice to help deal with debt

A New debt counselling centre has opened in Aberdeen.

The charity Christians Against Poverty, Kings Community Church and Assemblies of God are behind the new base to get people out ofmounting debt.

Latest statistics reveal that two-thirds of the total Europeancredit card debt is due to the UK.

Centre manager Tracy Laidler said: "We believe we are helping tomeet a real local need, and would encourage those in serious debt tohave the courage to call and use the service."

The centre works with families and negotiates with creditors todraw up a realistic budget to prioritise food and essential bills.

For more information contact (01224) 635389.

Saturday's College Basketball

EAST

Albany, N.Y. 72, Fairleigh Dickinson 46

Albright 105, Penn St.-Abington 67

Arcadia 91, D'Youville 76

Army 76, Bryant 66

Baptist Bible, Pa. 72, Penn St.-Hazleton 56

Bentley 79, Post, Conn. 68

Bradley 64, Southern Cal 63

Brandeis 81, Curry 69

Brooklyn 62, Marymount, Va. 54

Brown 81, Sacred Heart 67

Buffalo 87, Towson 76

Canisius 71, E. Michigan 51

Capital 79, Greensboro 70

Cent. Connecticut St. 82, UMBC 74

Chestnut Hill 88, Bloomsburg 73

Clarion 86, Holy Family 70

Colby 88, Newbury 74

DeSales 77, Alvernia 74

Drexel 77, Penn 56

E. Mennonite 75, S. Virginia 72

Eastern 76, Alfred 68

Framingham St. 73, MIT 70

Franklin & Marshall 96, Elmira 52

Haverford 63, Clark U. 59

La Salle 79, Morgan St. 74

Long Island U. 91, Manhattan 80

Loyola Marymount 78, Dowling 71

Massachusetts 71, New Mexico St. 57

Misericordia 75, Marywood 68

Mount St. Mary's, Md. 68, Savannah St. 62, OT

Muhlenberg 80, Gallaudet 51

New Hampshire 55, Holy Cross 52

Philadelphia 68, Shippensburg 55

Plymouth St. 83, Lyndon St. 69

Providence 78, Prairie View 62

Randolph 85, Penn St.-York 51

Randolph-Macon 56, Gettysburg 42

Rider 76, TCU 61

Saint Joseph's 70, Norfolk St. 65

Scranton 77, Centenary, N.J. 65

Shenandoah 82, Penn St.-Altoona 67

Siena 84, Northeastern 68

St. Francis, Pa. 68, Bucknell 67

St. Michael's 86, Concordia, N.Y. 79

Stevens Tech 63, William Paterson 52

Vermont 79, Quinnipiac 75

Villanova 86, Lafayette 41

Washington & Lee 59, Swarthmore 45

Washington, Md. 71, Goucher 60

Westfield St. 84, N.J. City 65

Wilkes 76, Rosemont 47

Williams 58, Regis, Mass. 48

York, Pa. 84, Elizabethtown 74

SOUTH

Alabama A&M 70, Tuskegee 67

Alabama St. 74, Kennesaw St. 59

American U. 82, Florida Atlantic 72

Apprentice 84, Virginia St. 68

Augusta St. 65, Benedict 59

Barton 79, St. Augustine's 72

Campbell 61, Auburn 54

Chattanooga 69, Marshall 68

Dayton 78, Mississippi 71, OT

ETSU 73, Tennessee Tech 60

Fla. International 65, Utah Valley 62

Florida Gulf Coast 74, Grambling St. 70

Harvard 75, Mercer 69

Jacksonville 87, Florida Tech 75

James Madison 74, The Citadel 67

Kentucky Wesleyan 80, Bryan 52

Lee 69, Spring Hill 58

Lees-McRae 98, Johnson & Wales, N.C. 46

Limestone 78, Wingate 64

Longwood 95, Columbia 76

Louisiana-Monroe 70, SE Oklahoma 59

Louisville 62, Jackson St. 45

Loyola, N.O. 73, Truett McConnell 65

McNeese St. 92, Louisiana College 53

Md.-Eastern Shore 86, Kean 68

Middle Tennessee 68, Samford 55

Mount Olive 84, Mars Hill 80

Murray St. 84, Reinhardt 70

Northwestern St. 103, Tenn.-Martin 94

Presbyterian 67, E. Kentucky 66

Roanoke 88, Warren Wilson 63

S.C.-Aiken 77, Florida Southern 75

South Alabama 82, Cent. Michigan 76, OT

UNC Asheville 116, Va. Intermont 58

Wake Forest 89, Elon 70

MIDWEST

Akron 91, Youngstown St. 84, OT

Anderson, Ind. 78, Kalamazoo 51

Butler 88, Ball St. 55

Central 91, Martin Luther 69

Cincinnati 65, IPFW 59

Coll. of Charleston 78, Ill.-Chicago 66

Concordia, Moor. 64, St. Scholastica 55

E. Illinois 57, Ind.-South Bend 40

Edgewood 59, North Central 43

Ferris St. 64, Lewis 61

Georgia 61, Saint Louis 59

Hamline 71, Elmhurst 67

Loyola of Chicago 82, W. Michigan 64

Marquette 82, South Dakota 69

Mary 75, Chadron St. 69

Miami (Ohio) 59, IUPUI 58

Missouri 96, North Florida 58

Missouri Baptist 79, Culver-Stockton 68

N. Dakota St. 103, Mayville St. 63

N. Michigan 84, Spring Arbor 82

Ohio St. 81, UNC Wilmington 41

Ottawa, Kan. 81, Baker 56

Park 92, William Jewell 77

Quincy 74, Upper Iowa 61

Rhode Island 76, Toledo 65

SIU-Edwardsville 88, MacMurray 73

Saginaw Valley St. 68, Rochester, Mich. 62

San Diego St. 79, Wis.-Green Bay 70

St. Mary's, Minn. 67, Luther 59

UMKC 70, SE Missouri 62

Wis.-Milwaukee 65, N. Iowa 63

Wis.-Stevens Pt. 78, St. John's, Minn. 51

Wis.-Stout 106, Crown, Minn. 61

Wis.-Superior 71, Gustavus 68

SOUTHWEST

Houston 81, NW Oklahoma 58

Indiana St. 74, Oral Roberts 69

Oklahoma Baptist 101, Mid-Am Nazarene 71

Oklahoma City 88, Dallas Christian 58

Portland St. 102, Lamar 98

Texas St. 76, Texas-Pan American 63

Texas-Arlington 74, Houston Baptist 65

UC Riverside 73, SMU 69, OT

UTEP 77, W. Carolina 65

FAR WEST

Air Force 87, Tennessee St. 72

Arizona St. 69, UAB 66

BYU 109, Chicago St. 60

CS Bakersfield 66, Pepperdine 64

CS Northridge 109, Vanguard 66

California 89, New Mexico 64

Louisiana Tech 80, Navy 65

Pacific 70, William Jessup 61

Portland 66, Idaho 53

San Francisco 83, Colorado 81, OT

San Jose St. 75, Oregon 72

UC Irvine 85, Seattle 77

UC Santa Barbara 69, Fresno St. 54

UNLV 68, Wisconsin 65

Utah 90, Weber St. 75

Utah St. 66, S. Utah 53

Wyoming 64, W. Illinois 55

TOURNAMENT

AMC/WHAC Challenge

Second Round

Concordia, Mich. 98, Notre Dame Coll. 74

Malone 90, Siena Heights 67

All-Engineers Classic

First Round

Carnegie-Mellon 70, Merchant Marine 67

Milwaukee Engineering 77, Cal Tech 49

BB&T Classic

Second Round

Pikeville 92, Bluefield 62

Rio Grande 97, Alice Lloyd 78

Calvin Tip-Off Tourney

Championship

Grace Bible 76, Heidelberg 66

Third Place

Calvin 87, Ohio Wesleyan 60

Carroll's Johnson Bank Tipoff

Championship

Carroll, Wis. 80, Concordia, Wis. 75

Third Place

Dubuque 89, Silver Lake 73

Carthage College Tournament

Championship

John Carroll 70, Carthage 69

Third Place

Bethany Lutheran 107, Indiana-Northwest 91

Findlay Tip-Off Classic

Championship

Findlay 71, St. Joseph's, Ind. 54

Third Place

Tiffin 74, Ohio Valley 73

Gabe Miller Tip-Off Classic

Second Round

Wis.-Eau Claire 84, Clarke 63

Wis.-Platteville 64, Washington, Mo. 49

John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic

Second Round

Christian Brothers 84, Cincinnati-Clermont 44

N. Kentucky 69, Charleston, W.Va. 66

Lindsey Wilson Classic

Second Round

Campbellsville 60, Cumberland, Tenn. 58

Lindsey Wilson 70, Trevecca Nazarene 46

NYU Tip-Off Tournament

First Round

Cortland St. 74, Emmanuel, Mass. 63

NYU 84, Moravian 53

Olive Garden Tip-Off Tournament

Second Round

Bethel, Minn. 81, Wis. Lutheran 68

Trinity, Ill. 71, Wis.-La Crosse 64

Red Roof Inn Roundball Classic

Championship

Ohio Dominican 65, Mid-Continent 62

Rinso Marquette Tournament

Championship

Lebanon Valley 78, Delaware Valley 73

Turner Tournament

Championship

Lake Superior St. 79, Albion 69

Tusculum Pioneer Classic

Second Round

Hillsdale 71, Carson-Newman 66

Tusculum 60, Georgia College 57

USVI Paradise Jam

Consolation Bracket

Iowa 55, Alabama 47

Long Beach St. 68, St. Peter's 56

Viterbo Invitational

Second Round

Jamestown 74, Viterbo 62

S. Dakota Tech 84, Cardinal Stritch 48

EXHIBITION

Kenyon 70, Finlandia 58

France's Sarkozy to marry ex-supermodel girlfriend? Report says so

Is French President Nicolas Sarkozy about to get married again?

Under the headline "Marriage Imminent," the weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, citing several unidentified sources, reported Sunday that Sarkozy would marry his girlfriend _ former supermodel Carla Bruni _ on Feb. 8 or 9.

The recently divorced French leader has flaunted their unmarried relationship on recent holidays in Egypt and Jordan, fanning criticism that he is playing too fast and loose with the presidential image _ and reportedly giving protocol planners elsewhere fits.

The newspaper report said that in December _ less than a month after Sarkozy met Bruni _ he gave her a heart-shaped diamond engagement ring.

The presidential palace declined to comment on the report.

Political analyst Dominique Moisi said that a Sarkozy proposal to Bruni could be part of his desire to head off any future controversies, and its speed would fit with his personality as a busy man in a hurry.

"Apparently, he's going to be marry her, so the problem will be behind him," Moisi said. "He will multiply the opportunities to travel with her, (and) to say to the French, 'You see, I must remarry ... You need a first lady.'"

"He's trying to seduce the French," Moisi said.

Sarkozy and his wife of 11 years, Cecilia, divorced in October. Their marital problems became well known in May 2005 when she appeared in public at the side of event organizer Richard Attias.

A marriage to Bruni, a one-time star of the catwalks who is now a singer, would be Sarkozy's third: He divorced his first wife, Marie, in the late '80s _ after he had met and befriended Cecilia.

Bruni, an Italian-born French citizen, has dated other famous men including Rolling Stone Mick Jagger and business tycoon Donald Trump. She has also reportedly been linked to rock guitarist Eric Clapton and actor Vincent Perez.

Sarkozy, a reform-minded conservative with a pro-American slant, has sought to shake France out of what he considers its hidebound ways by trimming bureaucracy and revving up a stalled economy.

But polls suggest the French are less eager to part with a tradition in which their presidents have kept quiet about their private lives and discretion about amorous matters has been the norm.

"The French reproach Nicolas Sarkozy for making his private life too visible _ that he goes a bit too far," said Francois Miquet-Marty, head of political studies at the polling group LH2 Opinion. "But people are able to separate his professional duties from his private life. It does not seem to affect their overall view about him."

The relationship has emerged as polls show many in France are growing increasingly wary about Sarkozy's bold campaign-trail promises for change before his election in May. And it is likely to be on many minds when Sarkozy holds a news conference Tuesday.

A poll published Sunday in the weekly Le Parisien Dimanche found that less than half of the respondents _ 48 percent _ had confidence in Sarkozy to solve the country's biggest problems, down 7 percentage points from December. Forty-five percent did not, with the rest undecided. The telephone poll of 1,010 adults was conducted Thursday and Friday. No margin of error was provided.

Abroad, Sarkozy's relationship with Bruni has drawn both criticism and confusion.

In India, which Sarkozy is reportedly expected to visit in coming weeks, recent news reports say diplomatic officials have been grappling with how to handle protocol if Bruni accompanies him.

Citing unidentified sources at India's Ministry of External Affairs, the newspaper Indian Express reported that Bruni could not receive a reception on a par with that of a president's spouse.

In Delhi, Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna declined to comment.

The relationship became public in mid-December when Sarkozy and Bruni visited a Paris area theme park together, with some photographers in tow.

After the pair turned up in Egypt on Christmas Day, three Egyptian lawmakers said in parliament that it was improper under Islamic law and traditions for the unmarried couple to share a hotel room. Many Egyptians tuned in to coverage of the visit, and some commentators were critical.

On Saturday, Sarkozy was photographed in Petra, Jordan, alongside Bruni while holding a young boy whom the weekly newspaper identified as her son on his shoulders.

___

Associated Press Writers Sam Dolnick in New Delhi and Paul Schemm in Cairo, Egypt, contributed to this report.

Gear Inspection System handles gears up to 650 mm diameter.(Gleason Introduces the 650gms Analytical Gear Inspection System at the 25th Control in Stuttgart)

Equipped with Renishaw SP80H 3-D scanning probe, Gleason 650GMS provides [+ or -]2.5 mm probe travel in Y/Z directions and [+ or -]1.5 mm travel in X axis. System includes fully digital 3D scanning head with 20 nm resolution, kinematic probe mount system, and Automatic Probe Change system. Offering menu-driven HMI, GAMA(TM) 2.0 Windows[R] software features inspection programs for external and internal cylindrical, spiral bevel, and straight bevel gears, as well as worms, rotors, and gear tools.

********************

Rochester, New York, - inspection of gears as large as 650 mm in diameter now can be performed up to 25% faster with the introduction of the Gleason 650GMS Analytical Gear Inspection System, part of a new product series from Gleason Metrology Systems Corporation. The 650GMS will be unveiled for the first time at the 25th Control, May 3-6, 2011 at the Stuttgart Exhibition Center.

Among the many new design features now available on the new 650GMS is the powerful GAMA(TM) 2.0 (Gleason Automated Measurement and Analysis), Windows[R] "object oriented" applications software suite, which offers users not only significantly faster cycle times, but also a highly desirable menu-driven human/machine interface that greatly simplifies day-to-day operation.

GAMA operating software puts a host of features right at the fingertips of the operator in a simple, highly intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). The time it takes to create new part inspection programs and conduct a complete analytical inspection of even the most complex bevel and cylindrical gears is greatly reduced.

In addition, GAMA is a true Windows[R] NET application, making it fully compatible with the latest LAN and WAN networks, so users can easily interface inspection results with their gear design and production resources for corrective actions downstream.

The 650GMS is also equipped with the Renishaw SP80H 3-D scanning probe, available with various stylus sizes, configurations and extension lengths. The digital Renishaw probe provides a high speed, high accuracy measurement capability vastly superior to 3D analog, 1-D & 2-D probe used by other

systems.

Among the most important features of the 650GMS are:

o GAMA 2.0 suite of software with improved cycle times, with inspection programs for external and internal cylindrical, spiral bevel and straight bevel gears, as well as worms, rotors and gear tools.

o Industry-leading probe travel: +/- 2.5 mm in the Y and Z direction, +/- 1.5 mm travel in the X axis.

o A fully digital 3-D scanning head, with 20 nm resolution.

o A kinematic probe mount system, integral to a probe crash protection system.

o Automatic Probe Change (APC) systems for all models.

o With a solid granite base, Meehanite[R] cast-iron slide assemblies, linear drive motors and large-diameter heavy duty rotary table, the 650GMS is also designed and built to deliver exceptional accuracy and reliability for inspection of large workpieces up to 550 kg.

o New Windows[R] based .net architecture controller - IP54 rated cabinet, CE certified, featuring with more intuitive operator feedback and system interaction, and such features as drive indicator lights, feed overrides, fault code indicator and independent locking of any and all axes.

o An ergonomically designed Remote Operator Pendant (patent pending) puts more power and information at the operator's hands, with touch-screen input, built-in camera, voice notes, telephony support for Remote Diagnostics and more.

In addition to more than 1,000 installed analytical gear inspection machines with products available to accommodate gears up to three meters in diameter, Gleason Metrology Systems also offers customers throughout the world's gear production industries a host of other products including functional gages, software, automation, calibration and other services, and an A2LA accredited Gear Lab.

Gleason Corporation's mission is to be The Total Gear Solutions Provider(TM) to its global customer base. Gleason is a world leader in the development, manufacture and sale of gear production machinery and related equipment. The Company's products are used by customers in automotive, truck, aircraft, agriculture, mining, windpower, construction, power tool and marine industries and by a diverse set of customers serving various industrial equipment markets. Gleason has manufacturing operations in Rochester, New York; Rockford, Illinois; Dayton, Ohio; Munich and Ludwigsburg, Germany; Studen, Switzerland; Bangalore; India, and Suzhou, China and has sales and service offices throughout North and South America, Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region.

More information about Gleason Corporation is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.gleason.com.

Gear Inspection System handles gears up to 650 mm diameter.(Gleason Introduces the 650gms Analytical Gear Inspection System at the 25th Control in Stuttgart)

Equipped with Renishaw SP80H 3-D scanning probe, Gleason 650GMS provides [+ or -]2.5 mm probe travel in Y/Z directions and [+ or -]1.5 mm travel in X axis. System includes fully digital 3D scanning head with 20 nm resolution, kinematic probe mount system, and Automatic Probe Change system. Offering menu-driven HMI, GAMA(TM) 2.0 Windows[R] software features inspection programs for external and internal cylindrical, spiral bevel, and straight bevel gears, as well as worms, rotors, and gear tools.

********************

Rochester, New York, - inspection of gears as large as 650 mm in diameter now can be performed up to 25% faster with the introduction of the Gleason 650GMS Analytical Gear Inspection System, part of a new product series from Gleason Metrology Systems Corporation. The 650GMS will be unveiled for the first time at the 25th Control, May 3-6, 2011 at the Stuttgart Exhibition Center.

Among the many new design features now available on the new 650GMS is the powerful GAMA(TM) 2.0 (Gleason Automated Measurement and Analysis), Windows[R] "object oriented" applications software suite, which offers users not only significantly faster cycle times, but also a highly desirable menu-driven human/machine interface that greatly simplifies day-to-day operation.

GAMA operating software puts a host of features right at the fingertips of the operator in a simple, highly intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). The time it takes to create new part inspection programs and conduct a complete analytical inspection of even the most complex bevel and cylindrical gears is greatly reduced.

In addition, GAMA is a true Windows[R] NET application, making it fully compatible with the latest LAN and WAN networks, so users can easily interface inspection results with their gear design and production resources for corrective actions downstream.

The 650GMS is also equipped with the Renishaw SP80H 3-D scanning probe, available with various stylus sizes, configurations and extension lengths. The digital Renishaw probe provides a high speed, high accuracy measurement capability vastly superior to 3D analog, 1-D & 2-D probe used by other

systems.

Among the most important features of the 650GMS are:

o GAMA 2.0 suite of software with improved cycle times, with inspection programs for external and internal cylindrical, spiral bevel and straight bevel gears, as well as worms, rotors and gear tools.

o Industry-leading probe travel: +/- 2.5 mm in the Y and Z direction, +/- 1.5 mm travel in the X axis.

o A fully digital 3-D scanning head, with 20 nm resolution.

o A kinematic probe mount system, integral to a probe crash protection system.

o Automatic Probe Change (APC) systems for all models.

o With a solid granite base, Meehanite[R] cast-iron slide assemblies, linear drive motors and large-diameter heavy duty rotary table, the 650GMS is also designed and built to deliver exceptional accuracy and reliability for inspection of large workpieces up to 550 kg.

o New Windows[R] based .net architecture controller - IP54 rated cabinet, CE certified, featuring with more intuitive operator feedback and system interaction, and such features as drive indicator lights, feed overrides, fault code indicator and independent locking of any and all axes.

o An ergonomically designed Remote Operator Pendant (patent pending) puts more power and information at the operator's hands, with touch-screen input, built-in camera, voice notes, telephony support for Remote Diagnostics and more.

In addition to more than 1,000 installed analytical gear inspection machines with products available to accommodate gears up to three meters in diameter, Gleason Metrology Systems also offers customers throughout the world's gear production industries a host of other products including functional gages, software, automation, calibration and other services, and an A2LA accredited Gear Lab.

Gleason Corporation's mission is to be The Total Gear Solutions Provider(TM) to its global customer base. Gleason is a world leader in the development, manufacture and sale of gear production machinery and related equipment. The Company's products are used by customers in automotive, truck, aircraft, agriculture, mining, windpower, construction, power tool and marine industries and by a diverse set of customers serving various industrial equipment markets. Gleason has manufacturing operations in Rochester, New York; Rockford, Illinois; Dayton, Ohio; Munich and Ludwigsburg, Germany; Studen, Switzerland; Bangalore; India, and Suzhou, China and has sales and service offices throughout North and South America, Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region.

More information about Gleason Corporation is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.gleason.com.

Growth suggests recovery will stick GDP rises at 4.2 percent rate in first quarter

WASHINGTON -- The economy started out the year solidly, growing atan annual rate of 4.2 percent in the first quarter in a performancethat suggests the recovery has staying power.

That is good news for President Bush, who is counting on healthyeconomic activity this summer as he campaigns for re-election.

The increase in gross domestic product from January through Marchwas a slight improvement over the 4.1 percent rate over the finalthree months of last year, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The first quarterly report for 2004 fell short of the 5 percentpace analysts were forecasting. Nonetheless, it indicated the economyis on firm footing, economists …

Walsh.(Obituaries)

In loving memory of Garrett E. Walsh who passed away seven years ago today, December 25, 2001. When someone you love becomes a memory. The memory becomes a treasure. Love never dies. Beverly, Christopher and …

MIGHT AS WELL LOOK GOOD WHILE HAVING SURGERY TAMMY FAYE MESSNER.(MAIN)

, ex-wife of Praise the Lord evangelist Jim Bakker, won't give up her trademark heavy mascara -- not even during cancer surgery.

``They didn't make me take it off. I had wonderful doctors and understanding nurses. I went in fully made up and came out fully made up,'' Messner told ``Entertainment Tonight.''

She underwent surgery for colon cancer on March 7 at Eisenhower …

Man finds $4,800 in pot in auction painting

A Cherokee County man found a hidden treasure in a painting he bought at an auction: four pounds of marijuana. Gordon Clement, 80, discovered the pot stashed inside of the painting, which he bought at a post office auction about five years ago. He found the drugs last weekend when he tried to sell the artwork at another …

Bias alleged in assault case at Medford High

When a high school bully choked Ari Richards-Scott after classes at Medford High last week, he didn't complain to school officials. But when his mother noticed bruises around his neck, she did.

Ari, who is 14 years old and 5' 4" was no match for his tormentor, who is 15 and 6' 2".

"He was holding me up in the air with my feet dangling," Ari said. "I couldn't even speak to tell him to put me down."

Iris Richards-Scott called Medford High School Submaster Daniel Ross to complain. Thursday Ari's attacker had still not faced disciplinary action and Scott's 15-year-old daughter Jayne confronted the student to complain about the attack.

"He told her he'd slice …

Online booksellers: Amazon.com: an author's friend or foe. (book bytes).(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)

Amazon.com offers book buyers the option of buying a new original edition of the book of their choice or a used copy at a discounted price, usually displayed simultaneously, which has the Author's Guild up in arms. The Guild is urging …

Iran frees 140 vote protesters, bans mourning.

Summary: Iranian authorities on Tuesday freed 140 people detained in street protests over last month's disputed election and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he wanted them all released soon.

Iranian authorities on Tuesday freed 140 people detained in street protests over last month's disputed election and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he wanted them all released soon.

In what was seen as a gesture to the opposition campaigning against Ahmadinejad's re-election, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also ordered a jail closed amid allegations of prisoner abuse.

Iranian authorities on Tuesday freed 140 protesters held in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, according …

Secrecy cloaks budget pork; Pact among state finance officials keeps confidential how $200 million of discretionary funds will be spent.(Main)

Byline: JAMES M. ODATO Capitol bureau {FACTBOX} Secret projects with taxpayer money This document, never before made public, was obtained by the Times Union from a source. It is last year's "Memorandum of Understanding" between the governor, Senate majority leader and Assembly speaker establishing separate allotments for $200 million in so-called "member items" -- $85 million for senators, $85 million for Assembly members and $30 million for the governor. The agreement has a secrecy clause requiring each party to "treat information regarding any proposed project as confidential" and to "not share it with any individual or entity, except ... on a confidential basis with the agency or authority proposed to administer the project." Last week, the governor vetoed the Legislature's $200 million member item budget.

ALBANY - When the finance czars of the Senate, Assembly and Gov. George Pataki's budget division divvy up $200 million for pet projects each year, they sign a confidentiality pact barring them from telling the public how the money is going to be spent, according to a document obtained by the Times Union.

The arrangement wraps a shroud of secrecy around a process of choosing who will get taxpayer money from the Legislature's so-called "member …

SPECIAL ED PARENTS CANCEL MEETINGS.(CAPITAL REGION)

BETHLEHEM -- Meetings scheduled for Bethlehem Central Special Education parents at the Bethlehem Public …

Pharmaceutical company files for GM-CSF approval in Canada.

2003 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cangene Corporation (CNJ) announced that it has filed a Canadian New Drug Submission for Leucotropin, a protein known as GM-CSF.

The submission seeks approval from the Biologics and Genetic Therapies directorate for use of the drug in enhancing recovery of certain white blood cells in patients with Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma following stem cell transplantation. Cangene developed Leucotropin with the Apotex Group, which plans to market the product in Canada.

"Leucotropin is the first of our recombinant biopharmaceutical products to be filed for regulatory approval and the filing is a significant step …

Danish Supreme Court deals blow to hippie enclave

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The Danish government on Friday won a legal battle against a freewheeling neighborhood that has remained largely self-governing since its creation by hippie squatters four decades ago.

The Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision from 2009 saying the roughly 900 residents of Christiania have no irrevocable right to use the former naval base as their home.

The decision ends a six-year legal standoff and means the government can go ahead with plans to "normalize" the neighborhood and tear down scores of ramshackle homes built at the site without permits.

Residents say they will resist any attempts to evict them from the neighborhood, which has …