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Sure it's bizarre - it's economics

To say that economics is not as exact a discipline as physics isonly stating the obvious. But I maintain there are some physics-likeprinciples involved in the dismal science. If some of the effects ofOsgoodian economics seem bizarre and appear not to make a whole lotof sense, all I can say is that Einstein's relativity seems to fly inthe face of logic and experience, too.

Einstein's constant (C for short) is the speed of light, whichis always exactly the same, 186,000 miles per second. That is aspeed limit, by the way. No object can move faster than that withoutlosing its mass and disappearing completely. If you were travelingat 186,000 miles per second, I'll bet you …

Clinton pushes Afghan reconciliation

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday encouraged Afghanistan's wary leadership and civic leaders to keep up Taliban reconciliation efforts and boost counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan as the Obama administration presses ahead with troop withdrawal plans.

On an unannounced visit to Kabul, Clinton told civic leaders the U.S. would not abandon Afghanistan and pledged that reconciliation would not come at the expense of women's and minority rights. Later she was to see President Hamid Karzai and other top Afghan officials to repeat that message.

Clinton assured women's rights activists, educators and politicians that their …

Violence erupts on Greek riot anniversary

Masked youths hurled firebombs and chunks of marble at police during a march in Athens to mark the first anniversary of the police shooting of a teenager whose death sparked massive riots.

Police fired volleys of tear gas to disperse the youths in running street battles Sunday in the center of the capital as several thousand demonstrators commemorated the death of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos. The teenager's death sent youths rampaging through cities for two weeks last December.

On Sunday, the rioters smashed bank windows, overturned trash bins and set them alight as they hurled rocks and fire crackers at riot police. Authorities said 177 people were …

To find a good travel agent, do your homework

Check this spot every Wednesday for quick getaway ideas, traveltips and more.Finding a good travel agent can seem daunting, but he or she can bethe difference between the trip of a lifetime and the trip from hell.

Start by asking friends, relatives and colleagues for arecommendation, says Steve Loucks, spokesman for the American Societyof Travel Agents, which has 27,000 members nationwide. "Find outwhat kind of travel that person helps them with. Is it leisure?Business?"

"If you have time, stop by and check it out. Is this the kindof place you want to give your business to?"Check the agent's professional affiliations. For example,Alexandria, Va.-based ASTA is …

[When the romance ended: leaders of the Chilean left, 1968-1998]

Katherine Hite

New York: Columbia University Press, 2000. xxii + 246 pp.

Alejandro Rojas, University of British Columbia

This is an important, caring and respectful book documenting the evolution of ideological perspectives and political attitudes within the Chilean left during the period 1968-1998. It describes both the elements of continuity and change in the ideological landscape and political attitudes of a group of carefully chosen left-wing political leaders. Positioned within the study of identity politics, the book explores how historical events, organizational and social structures and biographies interact in forming the identity of "political thinkers," …

ECB head says inflation will linger

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet warned Wednesday that euro nations are already seeing the first signs of an inflation price spiral, calling on governments to take care not to grant wage hikes that could fuel further price rises.

The ECB's governing council "is strongly concerned that price and wage-setting behavior could add to inflationary pressures," Trichet told the European Parliament. "First signs are already emerging in some regions of the euro area."

He said current inflation levels were "worrying" and warned they were set to stay high before cooling gradually next year.

He said indexation …

Dreams for India ; The potential to become a far more powerful and prosperous nation existed back then, and it exists now. What it requires, as management guru C.K. Prahalad writes so eloquently in our cover story, is not analysis but imagination.

Something profound happened to India over the past few years. Itcaught a glimpse of the greatness it could achieve. It was in therise of IT triumvirate (TCS, Infosys and Wipro) as the world'spreferred vendors, Tata Steel's acquisition of Corus, BhartiAirtel's radical new model in telecoms, ICICI Bank's success inretail banking and, perhaps, even in Lakshmi Niwas Mittal'sspectacular emergence as the world's unquestioned steel czar.Suddenly, a lumbering India gathered pace, the world took itseriously and, most importantly, Indians took themselves seriously.

Therefore, it's a little sad to see the pace at which India's new-found confidence is giving way. Since January this …

Technology

Wireless tech with a quickness by Michele D. Thomas

Attention handheld-lovers! Motorola's new Accompli 009 two-way messenger is the talk of the town-even before it's release. Send and receive e-mails, check your calendar, take notes, save your addresses and more, with 8MB of Flash memory, 1 MB of RAM, wireless messaging, high-speed Internet access, phone and …

Massa returns after losing F1 title

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa failed to make an impact Wednesday in his return to the track for the first time since losing the Formula One title.

Massa finished 10th out of 11 drivers at the Jerez circuit with a best lap of 1 minute, 20.490 seconds. The Brazilian driver was more than two seconds slower than Sebastien Buemi, who topped testing for the second straight day with Toro Rosso.

Massa won the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix but was then forced into an agonizing wait as the title came down to the cars behind him, as Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock to finish fifth and become Formula One's youngest champion by one point.

Massa and …

Memories returning to Historical Society

Chicago's memory is partly back in business at Clark and North.

The Chicago Historical Society, recovering from a recent flood,opened its third-floor research facilities to the public yesterdayfor the first time since July 11.

The third floor houses the library, archives, manuscripts andprints and photography collection.

Librarian Janice McNeill said that her staff continued answeringwritten queries during the shutdown, but that some people checkingtheir family histories may have shifted their delving to the NewberryLibrary, 60 W. Walton.

The rest of the floors will reopen Aug. 30, and the nextexhibit, "Louis Sullivan: The Function of Ornament," …

Beijing Appoints New Bishop

BEIJING - China's state-controlled Catholic Church installed a cleric well-regarded by the Vatican as bishop of Beijing on Friday in a move that officials say should help ease their tense relations.

Joseph Li Shan was appointed to the influential post in China's capital at a ceremony at the city's 400-year-old Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception attended by several hundred priests, nuns, officials and ordinary Chinese …

Musharraf resists calls to quit, but says he won't accept ceremonial role

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf held out Saturday against rising calls for his resignation, but indicated he would quit if a hostile parliament slashes his powers and leaves him feeling like a "useless vegetable."

Musharraf has clung to power and retained the support of U.S. President George W. Bush despite his plummeting popularity and the defeat of his supporters in February elections. Recent media reports have suggested he was ready to go into exile.

The former army strongman, a stalwart ally in Washington's war on terror, insisted Saturday that he would not quit under pressure. His arch-foes are calling for him to be impeached and tried …

Ya, Sweden; For one of New York City's culinary stars, Scandinavian cuisine is just good homecooking.

In the rarefied world of haute cuisine, a black executive chef is indeed an anomaly. Rarer still is Marcus Samuelsson, one who is not only the co-owner of an acclaimed Scandinavian restaurant in New York City, but also author of a definitive cookbook: Aquavit and the New Scandinavian Cuisine (Houghton Mifflin Company, $45.00, October 2003, ISBN 0-618-10941-2).

Not since the heyday of Tavern on the Green's celebrated Patrick Clark has a black chef captured the accolades and esteem of the culinary community. Under Samuelsson's direction, Restaurant Aquavit has earned three-star reviews from the New York Times, and he has garnered Rising Star Chef and Best Chef awards from the prestigious James Beard Foundation. He also recently opened a second Big Apple eatery, Riingo.

Samuelsson, at 32, is a master of a style of cuisine largely unfamiliar to many Americans. "I was raised around this type of food, so it's not unusual to me," Samuelsson explains. "But, one of the great things about New York City is that it's an incredible melting pot of different cultures and cuisines, and it gives you a real opportunity to experiment."

When he was three years old, Samuelsson's birth parents died in a tuberculosis epidemic in his native Ethiopia. He and his sister were adopted by a Swedish couple and raised on the west coast of Sweden, where Samuelsson learned the basic principles of cooking from his adopted grandmother, who worked as a private cook for a wealthy family.

"We'd do things like go hunting for mushrooms, or go out fishing on our own when I was nine," Samuelsson recalls. "By spending time with her and being raised around food and nature, I didn't just learn how to cook, I learned where food comes from, how to identify different things and combine ingredients to create unique flavors."

A summer job in a bakery as a teenager led to a formal education at a Swedish culinary school by day and stints in restaurants at night. After completing apprenticeships in Switzerland and Austria, then working as a chef aboard a cruise ship, Samuelsson was selected by the owner of Aquavit for an eight-month apprenticeship in 1991.

Then he left the States and worked as a chef in France before being asked, in 1994, to return to Aquavit and work under Jan Sandel, then executive chef. When Sandel died unexpectedly, the 24-year-old Samuelsson took charge. "I was ready," he says. "New York is a tough town, and I worked hard to get where I am. No one handed anything to me on a silver platter. I've been cooking professionally since I was a teenager, so I feel that I earned my success.

"I wanted to keep the identity of Aquavit in the book, but the recipes are different from what we do in the restaurant," explains Samuelsson. "They're more adaptable to cooking at home, and I reworked many of the recipes with the American palate in mind."

Apart from the use of an occasional exotic ingredient, the recipes are short, manageable and accompanied by large, lush photographs. He offers more than 100 recipes, ranging from his interpretations of Swedish meatballs and Gl�gg (a spiced wine) to creative twists on roasted red snapper with lemongrass and crispy potatoes coated in Japanese breadcrumbs.

Samuelsson's new restaurant, Riingo, features Japanese-American cuisine. Says Samuelsson, "The book took three years to complete, the new restaurant took many years to get going, so I don't have plans to start any other projects in the near future. Creatively, I'm where I want to be."

Photograph (Marcus Samuelsson)

EU approves Renault taking 25 percent of Avtovaz, Russia's largest automaker

The European Union on Wednesday approved a US$1 billion (euro640 million) deal which gives Renault SA a 25 percent stake in the producer of Russia's Lada cars.

The European Commission says the agreement with Russia's OAO Avtovaz company, will not threaten open competition in the European car market. The EU clearance on Wednesday gives the French care manufacturer breakthrough access to one of the world's fastest growing markets through a well-established brand.

The Commission said in a statement the deal "would not give rise to competition concerns" in the EU and would hardly influence Renault's share outside Russia.

Renault beat out General Motors and Italy's Fiat for the stake of Avtovaz.

Under the deal, Renault gets three of the 12 seats on the Avtovaz board and will share engines and technologies with the Russian company as it develops a new generation of Ladas. The Lada trademark will be preserved.

Despite a 6 percent increase in domestic sales for Avtovaz last year, there is a growing concern that the company won't be able to keep pace with Russian demand for automobiles, as foreign competition tries carves out market share in a booming economy. Renault has emphasized that Lada would remain a distinctly Russian brand.

Worries about pets, poison, warts and all The only thing we have to fear is just about everything

The sun is shining like a clever simile in the sky, spunky tulipsare nudging their way out of the dirt, animated bluebirds are singingin my ear, and quite frankly, it's distracting me from all the miseryin the world.

This is not a good thing. It's nature's flashy way of saying,``Look! A butterfly! Pay no attention to the eroding soil thatthreatens the future of our planet.''

Every minute we spend frolicking with bunnies is a minute thatwould have been better spent worrying about all the awful tragediesthat might-but probably won't-befall us.

Many people will tell you it's pointless to worry. They make upquotable sayings about how worrying accomplishes nothing. But thoseof us who fear say, smallpox, on a regular basis will simply bebetter prepared when the disease strikes us. It's those grinning``Don't worry, be happy'' fools who are going to be caught shortwithout a vaccine handy. And if the smallpox doesn't kill them, theshock of us triumphantly screeching ``I knew it!'' will.

Besides, don't the people telling us not to waste time worryingworry about wasting their time on us? Ponder that, and ponder theseconcerns of mine. Apply them to your own life where possible:

If the globe is warming, why are Chicago winters still somiserable?

Should I have this mole

removed?

What if I'm drafted to fight in a country I think is near Turkeybut I'm not sure?

What if somebody miscalculated the Y2K bug and the nation'scomputers crash on the Fourth of July?

Can I get cancer of the big toe?

What if I'm not gaining weight-what if I'm just swollen?

How will the decline in male sperm count affect me?

Am I exploiting my cleaning woman?

Is it too late to be discovered by a Hollywood agent?

Should I have started lying about my age five years ago?

Am I pro-genetically modified crops or anti-genetically modifiedcrops?

Is it wrong to enjoy the smell of

gasoline?

Are fisheries being exhausted? If so, where is my dad going to geta new hobby?

Have I been mispronouncing my name?

Where are you supposed to recycle batteries again?

What if they discontinue my favorite lipstick?

What if I'm not as smart as I think I am? Or worse, what if I'msmarter than I think I am, and I've been squandering my genius?

How long does it take second-hand cigar smoke to kill you?

In a crisis situation, I'll be the stereotypical whimperingcoward, won't I?

Did my new teak endtable contribute to the demise of therainforest?

Can you get lead poisoning from No. 2 pencils?

What if I missed my true calling-to be a dancer?

Are our pets just patronizing us?

Is ketchup considered a natural resource, and are we almost out ofit?

How can you tell if pesticides are in your food? And what ifscientists discover Cool-Ranch Doritos are bad for you?

What if I've lost my mind and I just don't realize it?

Can I really get warts from worrying?

Wittels and FIU heading to Miami for NCAA regional

When the NCAA baseball tournament begins this weekend, the Coral Gables Regional will be streak central.

Miami will be in the national field for the 38th consecutive year, extending its record. And Florida International's Garrett Wittels _ with his 54-game hitting streak, now four shy of matching Robin Ventura's Division I record _ is making the short trip there as well.

FIU was sent Monday to Coral Gables for the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament. The third-seeded Golden Panthers (36-23) will face second-seeded Texas A&M (40-19-1) on Friday, and top-seeded Miami (40-17) meets fourth-seeded Dartmouth (26-17).

"When we have a chance to put teams in a location where they can hop on a bus and avoid the hassles of time zones and whatnot, we try to do that," NCAA tournament committee chairman Tim Weiser said.

Forget the bus. FIU could practically jog back and forth this weekend. The Golden Panthers' campus is just 8 miles away from Alex Rodriguez Park _ the stadium the Hurricanes call home.

"Late in the year you're always matched up with everyone else's best," Wittels said. "It's win or go home basically. I know it's two-game elimination, but every game really counts."

And there's a chance FIU and Miami _ longtime rivals _ could meet before the weekend is over. The teams played at least once in every season from 1973 through 2008, before deciding not to continue the series in either the 2009 or 2010 regular seasons for a variety of reasons.

"I'm glad we are a host and I'm looking forward to this weekend," said Miami catcher Yasmani Grandal, widely expected to be among the first picks in this year's major league draft. "We need to take full advantage of the opportunity we have of playing in front of our fans at our home park."

For its part, Miami is thinking more about Dartmouth, not FIU, since it's no guarantee the neighbors will play each other.

"We need to build a good game plan around all three teams," Grandal said. "It's a clean slate now for everyone."

Miami leads the all-time series 91-24, but FIU won the last game the schools played in 2008. The Golden Panthers have been coached the last two seasons by Turtle Thomas, a former member of Jim Morris' staff at Miami. Thomas was at Miami from 1988 through 1999, helping the Hurricanes reach the College World Series nine times in those 12 years.

Thomas didn't mind the nearby regional, of course. FIU secured an automatic berth in the field by winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Sunday, then needed nearly 18 hours for the bus ride back to Miami.

"We knew we were going to be on the road, no question about it and no matter where you play, you are on the road," Thomas said. "I don't care if it's 15-20 minutes from here or if it's at Florida or UCLA. That's the bottom line, we are going to be on the visiting team."

___

AP freelance writer Christopher Stock in Miami contributed to this story.

The ties that bind

On July 26, 161 years ago, a colony in West Africa founded by freed American slaves declared its independence. It would take the name Liberia, meaning "Land of the Free."

But after decades of bloody coups and civil wars, the Republic of Liberia is finally throwing off tyranny's iron shackles.

Under the dictatorial rule of Charles Taylor, the seaside African country was shattered, sinking into chaos and cruelty. In the grip of this warlord's wrath, more than 200,000 Liberians died. About half of the population-1.5 mil-lion-were displaced. Almost all of the country's infrastructure was destroyed.

Taylor's ambitious plot for territory and riches was drawn with blades and bullets, and thickened by blood. He stirred rebellion and exported evil to neighboring Sierra Leone, plundering the region's hot diamonds to finance cold-hearted mass murder.

Now, five years later, the long night's darkness is lifting. And, Liberia is rising again.

Today, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the President of Liberia, winning a free and fair election in 2005 to become the first woman elected to lead an African nation. Her groundbreaking inauguration ushered in a period of hope, change and renewal. In a country where so many parents lost their children and so many children lost their childhood, the Harvard-educated economist is known by many simply as "Ma."

The Sirleaf Administration has moved with the determination and diligence and dispatch of a government that knows the hour's urgency. President Sirleaf established initiatives to investigate human rights abuses during the war; to root out widespread corruption; to provide free, compulsory primary education for all children; and to cancel more than a billion dollars of international debt, much of which was accumulated under previous, corrupt and repressive regimes.

While U.N. Peacekeepers continue to patrol Liberia's streets, former fighters have put down their guns. Charles Taylor sits in prison, standing trial in the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

More than 100,000 refugees have returned home. Men and women are finding work and wages in upstart enterprises and restarted industries. Children are once again going to school, toting books instead of guns. The steady rhythms of normal life are slowly returning.

But, Liberia is still a fragile and forming democracy, where small cracks may lead to a big collapse. Such a breakdown would be catastrophic: as failing states become breeding grounds for hatred and violence; training camps for crime and terror. Their dangers soon spin out of control, spilling over natural boundaries and man-made borders.

At this critical moment, the United States is as necessary and vital as ever in helping Liberia to sustain and solidify peace and progress. So, I'm introducing today the Liberia Stabilization, Economic Empowerment, Development and Security Act, the "Liberia SEEDS Act," to provide the Liberian government with critical assistance in responding to critical challenges. It is a component of principled, proactive and preventive foreign policy.

In a country with no running water and no electricity anywhere-except from private generators-the bill authorizes assistance to rebuild Liberia's fallen infrastructure. The Development Assistance funds will be used to reconstruct roads and bridges; to restore water and sanitation systems; and to rehabilitate the electricity grid to high-priority areas and institutions. These funds also will support efforts to retrain and employ former combatants and war-affected youth, enabling them to pick up tools to rebuild the country, rather than weapons to destroy it.

In addition, the bill authorizes assistance to establish a new training institute for public-sector employees. The Economic Support Fund will be used to enhance the Liberian government's capacity, transparency and operational effectiveness, making it more accountable, more responsive and more attractive to private and international investment.

Furthermore, the bill authorizes assistance to strengthen law and order. The International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement funds will be used to enhance the Liberian National Police Academy; to improve police operational capabilities; to provide vital police equipment and training; and to promote human rights and the rule of law.

This bill makes a modest and prudent investment, authorizing $225 million in aid to Liberia over five years, from fiscal year 2009 to 2013. It's a hand up - not a hand out - to an ally hurrying to her feet, reaching for the future.

What better way to honor our shared values, reinforce our deep, historic ties and help the Liberian people celebrate Independence.

[Author Affiliation]

by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

Cong. Jesse Jackson Jr. represents Illinois' 2nd Congressional District.

Summary Box: EBay holiday forecast disappoints

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — THE OUTLOOK: EBay disappointed investors Wednesday with its fourth-quarter forecast. CEO John Donahoe said in a conference call with analysts that the company expects an "OK to solid" holiday season.

THE CONCERN: EBay has reported good holiday quarters for the past two years, even as the economy has been weak overall. Its expectations may indicate this holiday season won't be great for retailers in general.

THE RESULTS: The operator of online marketplace eBay.com and online payment service PayPal also said third-quarter net income rose 14 percent, helped by people increasingly shopping and transferring funds with its mobile apps.

Amid more protests over Tibet, Chinese president visits Japan

President Hu Jintao, on the first visit to Japan by a Chinese leader in 10 years, called Tuesday for the Asian giants to improve their often strained relations and _ as a show of goodwill _ reportedly offered to loan Tokyo a pair of pandas.

But the protests that have dogged China on the international stage ahead of this summer's Olympic Games continued as hundreds of protesters marched against China's policy in Tibet and thousands of riot police were mobilized to ensure Hu's safety.

Hu and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, hoping to underscore the positive during his five-day stay, were to use pingpong and pandas to take the edge off more contentious problems like border disputes, historical animosity and concerns over China's rule in Tibet.

"We stand at a new starting point," Hu said after his arrival. "We must develop our strategic partnership."

Hu _ the first Chinese president to come to Tokyo since Jiang Zemin in 1998 _ was to be given the full state guest treatment.

After a private dinner Tuesday night with Fukuda, he was to meet Emperor Akihito early Wednesday and then launch into a morning-long summit meeting. Later in the day, the Chinese leader was to meet business leaders and the heads of Japan's main political parties.

Officials said Hu and Fukuda were expected to discuss climate change, contested gas fields in the East China Sea, Chinese food safety rules and perhaps Tibet. But, to set a friendly tone, the two leaders were also expected to play pingpong.

The trip is intended to build on a recent warming in relations after years of friction over disputed borders, Japan's treatment of its wartime invasion of China, anti-Japanese protests in China, and general Japanese unease over Beijing's rapidly growing diplomatic, military and economic power.

Hu is hoping that the visit will project China as a friendly, good neighbor after weeks of protests over Tibet and human rights issues that marred China's worldwide Olympic torch relay.

But ahead of his arrival, about 500 people protested in Tokyo, many carrying banners calling for a "Free Tibet." There were no reports of arrests. More protesters scuffled with police outside the French restaurant where Hu and Fukuda dined.

Japanese reports said up to 7,000 police had been mobilized to secure Hu's visit.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said China will agree in an expected joint statement on global climate change to consider ways to help halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Both countries will also pledge to actively participate in U.N.-led talks on producing a new international agreement on climate change.

One of the top items on the agenda was pandas, however.

Ling Ling, a 22-year-old giant panda at Tokyo's largest zoo and a symbol of friendship with China, died last week of heart failure. "It would be nice if we have a panda there again," Fukuda told reporters last week.

Tokyo is hoping to get one on loan from China and Japan's Kyodo News said Hu, during Tuesday's dinner, expressed his willingness for China to send a couple of pandas to Japan.

Foreign Ministry officials could not confirm the report.

"There are a wide range of issues to talk about, not only Japan-China relations but also peace and stability and economy in the region, and I hope we can exchange views from a broad perspective," Fukuda told Japanese reporters.

Ties began unraveling in 1998 when Jiang traveled to Tokyo expecting _ but not receiving _ an apology over Japan's often brutal 1931-1945 occupation of much of China.

Relations chilled as a more assertive Japanese government charted a more aggressive defense and foreign policy course, even as other countries in the region began to accommodate China's rising clout.

But both countries have good reason to keep cordial relations.

Economic ties between the two have thrived, with Japanese businesses finding China a huge new market. Trade reached US$237 billion (euro170 billion) last year, according to Chinese statistics.

Socks Aid N.M Woman's Jail Break Attempt

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - A woman tried to escape from jail guards using baby powder, cocoa butter and lots of socks, deputies said.

Anita Rachel Thomas, 20, was able to wriggle out of leg irons because she was wearing six pairs of socks, authorities said. She used cocoa butter as a lubricant to slide the leg irons and handcuffs from around her ankles and wrists, officials said.

Thomas, freed from restraints in a jail transport van outside Las Cruces Magistrate Court on Tuesday, threw baby powder at an officer, pushed him out of the way and tried to run past him, Dona Ana County sheriff's officers said.

She made it about two feet past the officer when he grabbed her, they said.

She struggled, but stopped when his partner drew his pistol and demanded she show him both her hands, authorities said. She then was put back in leg irons and handcuffs.

A grand jury will be presented Thursday with charges of battery against a peace officer and attempted escape against Thomas, said Bo Nevarez, Dona Ana County sheriff's investigator.

Nevarez said he did not know what charges she originally faced. A jail spokesman could not immediately be reached Wednesday for comment and it was not clear whether Thomas had an attorney.

India's benchmark stock index slides 6.5 percent in provisional close

India's benchmark stock index has tumbled 6.5 percent Monday amid worries of deepening weakness in the global financial system.

The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Sensex, fell 1,020 points to provisionally close at 14,740 points.

On the rival National Stock Exchange, the 50-share S&P Nifty index has dropped 261 points, or 5.5 percent, to 4,484 points.

India's markets were reacting to news that JPMorgan Chase is buying troubled U.S. investment bank Bear Stearns, fanning worries about a credit crisis in the global financial markets.

Banks were among the big losers.

Mexican federation bans stadium, suspends coach after violent promotion semis

The Mexican soccer federation on Tuesday announced that it has temporarily banned the use of a stadium and suspended an assistant coach six months following violence that erupted during the second-division promotion semifinals.

In a statement on its Web site, the federation said it was banning the Nou Camp de Leon stadium in the northern state of Leon, home of the "Panzas Verdes," for three games and was suspending Correcominos assistant coach Narciso Ramirez for beating up the coach of rival team Dorados, of Culiacan, Sinaloa.

Leon fans angered at their team's loss to Ciudad Juarez on Sunday ran onto the field in search of the players and began to set nets on fire as well as toppling a retention wall.

More than 30 police officers intervened, but four people were injured after the fans began fighting amongst themselves, according to local media reports.

In Saturday's promotion semifinal, the federation said it had determined that Ramirez was responsible for starting the fight with Dorados coach Hugo Enrique Fernandez after Correcominos lost. Fernandez was suspended for six games.

Correcominos players Angel Raul Sosa and Gerardo Alejandro Hernandez, and team doctor Fernando Robles also were suspended for six games.

Stronger ties

Barclaycard strengthened its ties with Manchester United bylaunching a new branded credit card in South Africa.

Premiership-sponsor Barclaycard and South Africa's Standard Bankare offering fans of Sir Alex Ferguson's team the chance to useManchester United credit cards as part of a wider joint operation inthe country, where there are an estimated 3.4 million United fans.

Barclaycard, part of the Barclays banking group, bought globalrights to use the Manchester United brand on credit cards in April ofthis year and has already signed a deal with MBNA to launch a similarproduct in the United States.

UN committee approves resolution calling for nuclear weapons to be removed from high alert

The U.N. General Assembly's disarmament committee approved a resolution Thursday calling for all nuclear weapons to be taken off high alert over objections from the United States, Britain and France.

The resolution calls for taking steps to decrease the readiness of nuclear weapons systems by "ensuring that all nuclear weapons are removed from high alert status."

The vote was 124-3 with the three Western nuclear powers voting "no." There were 34 abstentions, mainly from NATO and Western countries as well as China. Russia did not vote.

John Duncan, Britain's ambassador for multilateral arms control and disarmament, said Thursday that his country voted against the resolution because there are more pressing issues to create a "nuclear-free world."

"We think a lot of de-alerting has been done. We have done a lot of de-alerting," he said. "We think the emphasis should be on other things, the numbers of nuclear weapons, not the operational readiness, and also the concerns of proliferation."

The resolution, co-sponsored by Chile, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden and Switzerland, now goes to the 192-nation General Assembly for a final vote. Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they do reflect world opinion.

Richard Grenell, spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, said: "While we are thankful to the sponsors for making important changes to the original draft, the United States has an obligation to manage its military forces to ensure we remain able to protect our security and fulfill our commitments to our allies."

New Zealand's Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Goff said in late August that his anti-nuclear government was going to introduce the resolution because it wanted to lower the risk posed by the arsenals of nuclear weapons states.

"Thousands of nuclear weapons currently are on high-alert status, ready for instant launch," Goff said. "This presents a major threat to global security."

Hans Blix, the veteran Swedish diplomat and arms expert who now chairs Sweden's Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission and was visiting New Zealand at the time said it is essential that greater efforts be made to eliminate nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction.

The resolution recalls that maintaining nuclear weapons on high alert was a feature of the Cold War and welcomed "the increased confidence and transparency" since it ended in the early 1990s. But it expresses concern that despite the end of the Cold War, "several thousand nuclear weapons remain on high alert, ready to be launched within minutes."

The high level of readiness "increases the risk of the use of such weapons, including the unintentional or accidental us, which would have catastrophic consequences," the resolution says.

Reducing the deployment of nuclear weapons and lowering their alert status, it says, "contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as to the process of nuclear disarmament."

Iran girls' football team may miss Singapore event

Iran may not send its girls' football team to the Youth Olympics in Singapore next month because of a dispute over the players' Islamic attire.

The deputy head of Iran's physical education department, Marzieh Akbarabadi, was quoted by Iranian media on Thursday as saying the newly designed dress was "inappropriate."

She said the outfit isn't what was agreed on and Iran doesn't "need to send its team to Singapore at any cost."

The outfit was supposed to be a compromise with football governing body FIFA, which has banned traditional hijab headscarves.

The outfit consists of a cap similar to what swimmers wear, long-sleeved thick tops, below-knee trousers and long stockings.

The new white dress has red-and-green details in Iranian flag colors and was created by Iranian designers. It was unveiled during a practice session on Wednesday, which Akbarabadi left in protest.

Iran is due to play in the six-nation football tournament in Singapore. About 3,600 athletes, ages 14-18, will compete Aug. 12-25 in 26 sports at the inaugural Youth Games.

TWA Deal Pushes Out Icahn

NEW YORK Trans World Airlines chairman Carl Icahn is negotiatinga deal to turn control of troubled TWA over to employees andcreditors in exchange for concessions, spokesmen confirmed today.

TWA has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protectionsince January and reportedly has been losing $1 million a day.

The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that union leadersand TWA executives met on Sunday to work out details of a plan inwhich employees would get 45 percent of the company's stock inexchange for a 15 percent wage cut and work-rule concessions.

Tim Connolly, spokesman for the Machinists union, and DonFleming, TWA spokesman, confirmed the details of the Journal storyand said talks continued this afternoon.

TWA's creditors would forgive about $1 billion of the $1.5billion in debt in exchange for the remaining 55 percent of thestock.

Icahn, one of the biggest corporate takeover strategists of the1980s, would step down as chairman and remain involved with TWA as aninvestor only.

Connolly said the union's 15,000 members at TWA have alreadyagreed to the plan in principle.

"Somebody has to make a move, so we figured we'd do it," he toldthe Journal. "We're sitting like an ice cube waiting to melt. Wehave to do something."

TWA, based in Mount Kisco, N.Y., has suffered from a weakdomestic route network, the recession-induced travel slump, and thedebt incurred when Icahn took it over in 1986.

Hot property on the board

Almondsbury building services consultancy Property Solutions has anew line-up on its board.

Edmund Costelloe, former head of professional property services atBT, has been named chairman, while personnel and business developmentspecialist Clive Poulton joins as a non-executive director.

Property Solutions specialises in refurbishing buildings as wellas mechanical and electrical installation.

Women's Health Q&A

Women's Health Q&A

Is the environment having an effect on puberty in girls?

Menarche, the first menstrual period, normally occurs between ages ten and sixteen, generally several years after the first signs of puberty appear. These include widening of the hips, breast development and body hair growth. By the time menarche takes place, most young women have nearly completed their growth spurt and are within a few centimetres of their adult height. Precocious -- or early -- puberty occurs in girls who show signs of sexual development before age eight.

A study published in the American journal Pediatrics in 1997 found that the initial signs of puberty (breast …

Confident Kim in good position at US Women's Open

Christina Kim recently co-authored a funny and insightful book about her LPGA career and the inner workings of women's golf.

Perhaps she was a bit premature in writing it, because she possibly left out the best part. The one that details her winning the U.S. Women's Open.

On a day when the elements managed to do something the 156-golfer field couldn't accomplish by getting the better of Oakmont Country Club, Kim was one of the fortunate golfers who managed to finish the second round on Friday.

Kim, who hadn't been on her game until a week ago, came up with a second successive 1-over 72 before rain shut down play for the day in mid-afternoon. That was …

Top cover -- air defence turrets: the low-flying strike aircraft and assault helicopter constitute the mechanised land forces' main enemies. Both present potentially lethal, fast-moving and fleeting targets that are difficult to engage other than by dedicated air defence vehicles with rapid response weapons. (Air Defence).

Until recently, coping with such unpredictable targets meant that specialised, complex and bulky systems with powered turrets, requiring large vehicle chassis to carry them, had to be made available to mechanised formations. These days that task can be assumed by smaller, lighter and handier systems based around turrets mounting both guns and missile launchers.

Guns

Automatic guns still predominate for low-level air defence. The fast and fleeting nature of aircraft targets means that putting more projectiles into the air in the brief time available makes the possibility of a hit more certain. In addition, many low-flying aircraft and attack helicopters now have considerable armoured protection for the crews and vital components so the more armour-penetrating projectile strikes that can be made the better the chances of inflicting a kill. For such requirements the fast-firing gun still scores over the guided missile. There is also the topic of cost. Missiles, even small ones, can be expensive and once launched they cannot be reused. Missiles also typically have a shelf life of between ten and fifteen years. By contrast, guns remain always ready for action.

It goes without saying that modern gun turret systems rely on electronic computers for their fire control and subsequent turret drive controls, to the point of target selection, tracking and firing at the optimum instant.

Air defence turret guns vary in calibre from 76.2 mm down to 20 mm, but we will plumb the bottom end at 23 mm. Under that calibre air defence guns are close range and nearly all visual engagement-only types.

Big Guns

The sole example of 76.2 mm is the Otomatic from Otobreda of Italy. The formidable gun used in this single-gun system has a cyclic fire rate of 120 rds/min, the gun and associated surveillance and tracking radars being carried in a turret on a Leopard 1 tank chassis. In common with just about every other turret system mentioned in this summary, the Otomatic turret can be transferred to many other similar chassis with a minimum of modification.

The hydraulically loaded gun is a derivative of the widely used Otobreda 76/62 naval gun. It can tackle aircraft targets up to 6000 metres distant, although the usual surveillance radar has an operational range of about 15,000 metres. A single five-round burst is stated to be sufficient to bring down any aerial target. The turret interior is relatively spacious for the crew of just two, and there is stowage for 64 rounds, some of which can be a specially developed armour-piercing APFSDS for engaging land targets.

Despite having been around since the late 1980s, the potent Otomatic has yet to attract any orders.

Further down the calibre chain come a few 57 mm air defence gun turret systems. The passing from fashion of the relatively slow-firing 57 mm guns is largely due to most extant examples dating from a previous generation that relied on visual target engagements in daylight only. They were without benefit of …

Police arrest suspected copper syndicate kingpins.(News)

BYLINE: Graeme Hosken

PRETORIA: An international copper theft syndicate operating out of the city has been dealt a severe blow with police seizing millions of rand worth of the metal along with hijacked and stolen vehicles.

The gang, which apparently includes scrap metal dealers, hijackers for rent, former police officers, armed robbers and specialised drivers, …

STOCKS CONTINUE RELENTLESS MOVE UP.(BUSINESS)

Byline: RICK GLADSTONE Associated Press -

NEW YORK The Dow Jones industrial average sprinted to within 31 points of 5,000 Thursday, an advance underscoring the investor ebullience that has pushed the best-known stock index up nearly 30 percent this year.

It was the 59th record close of 1995 and came one day after the average of 30 big-name stocks like GM, GE and IBM vaulted past 4,900 for the first time even in the face of budget gridlock, government shutdown and new signs of economic malaise that were considered bad news everywhere but Wall Street.

The average traversed 4,000 only nine months ago and has risen nearly 1,200 points since January. …

Pro beach volleyball star Holly McPeak retires

Pro beach volleyball star Holly McPeak is hanging up her bikini for good.

McPeak is retiring from the AVP tour immediately, it was announced Wednesday. Her decision comes a month after her husband, Leonard Armato, resigned as AVP commissioner.

McPeak, a three-time Olympian, finished ninth in her final tournament last weekend in San Diego, partnering with …

Hyde Park set for new conference

Sometimes being successful means gaining more responsibility. Such is the case this season for the Hyde Park baseball team.

After dominating the Public League's Josh Gibson Conference last season, the Thunderbirds will be playing in the much tougher Jackie Robinson Conference this time around.

"We're more than ready for the Robinson Conference," Hyde Park head coach Ernest Radcliffe told the Defender. "We felt we were ready last year."

Hyde Park, which finished 26-8 last season, went unbeaten (12-0) in the Gibson Conference.

Radcliffe knows playing in the Robinson Conference, featuring the likes of perennial Public League powerhouses Simeon, Lane Tech, Harlan, …

[O] Business Insurance directory of surplus lines insurers.(Brief Article)(Directory)(Illustration)

Old Lyme Insurance Co. of Rhode Island Inc. 175 Metro Blvd., Route 10, Warwick, R.I. 02886; 401-732-4684; fax: 401-732-4634 www.kayegroup.com

1999 1998 Premiums written $27,382,384 $23,051,633 Non-admitted $12,097,980 $11,547,639 Commercial risk 44.2% 50% Net premiums $26,414,576 $22,796,885 Paid-in capital $3,000,000 $3,000,000 Surplus

$31,100,087 $27,866,597 Employees 4 4 Combined …

TURKEY TO STEP UP ITS EFFORTS TO SOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT.

Baku, 12 November (AzerTAc) - Turkey will step up its efforts towards resolution of Armenia Azerbaijan conflict, Foreign Minister of Turkey Ali Babacan told a press conference held on Wednesday jointly with his Algerian counterpart Mourad Medelci Ali Babacan said he would travel to Baku to speed up talks to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Moreover, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian is also expected to visit Ankara. Turkish Minister added official Ankara supports the declaration signed by Azerbaijani and Armenian …

FITTING CARS FOR OLDER DRIVERS.(BUSINESS)

Byline: ANITA LIENERT The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Why does the accelerator have to be made for your right foot? What happens if you've had a stroke that affects your right side and you still want to drive?

These are the questions General Motors Corp. engineers are asking as they work on innovative products like a left-foot throttle and remote-control throttle, steering and brakes.

Those features may be a few years away, but in the meantime, there are several other new features that may make driving easier for aging buyers.

Toyota is studying whether swiveling front seats for driver and passenger -- for sale in Japan for about $600 each -- …

DRESDEN OFFICIAL PORTRAYS FREE TRIP AS PART OF JOB.(Capital Region)

Byline: PETER WEHRWEIN Staff writer

A Washington County official who accepted Christmas presents from indicted incinerator developer Robert Barber said "at the time, I never gave it any consideration."

The official, Joseph Rota, who was chairman of the Washington County Board of Supervisors when Barber's project got some key approvals, also said Thursday that he considered a free trip to Belgium in November 1984 to look at burn plants there part of his job as a public official.

"It was just another responsibility of being chairman, of being on the solid waste committee, that really should have been done," said Rota.

Rota also said the …

Stocks extend gains on signs of European growth

Stocks extended their climb to a third day Monday following signs that Europe's economy might not be badly hurt by its debt crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 80 points in morning trading after rising 312 points in the past two days.

Major European markets rose following a report that industrial production in the 16 countries that use the euro grew more than expected in April. The euro also rose, climbing back above $1.22 for the first time since June 4.

The production report was encouraging because investors have been concerned that government spending cuts aimed at slashing debt would hurt Europe and slow a global recovery.

…

FAA won't punish pilot in NJ toilet paper drop

WESTWOOD, N.J. (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration won't take any action against a New Jersey pilot who tossed rolls of toilet paper from a small plane onto an athletic field as a test run for a streamer drop at an upcoming high school football game.

FAA spokesman Jim Peters told The Record of Woodland Park Friday that the agency investigated but found no grounds for further action against pilot Warren Saunders of …

BASF. (Key Changes).(Brief Article)

Donald J. McGrath has been elected v.p./corporate communications, North America …

NHTSA launches investigation after airbag hurls metal part. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

WASHINGTON - Federal safety officials opened an investigation into driver-side airbag inflators made by TRW Inc. after reports that an inflator part blew a hole in the cab of a Dodge pickup.

Although the investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is in an early stage, it could lead to the recall of millions of vehicles if a fundamental flaw is found in TRW inflators.

TRW's share of the driver-side airbag inflator market in calendar 1995 was 25 to 30 percent, according to Tier One, an automotive electronics market research company in Mountain View, Calif.

"We are working with NHTSA regarding what they termed an 'unusual incident' involving a 1994 Dodge Ram pickup truck fire and the deployment of the …

AUDITORY WORKSHOP SCHEDULED AT SCHOOL.(CAPITAL REGION)

EAST GREENBUSH -- The East Greenbush Central School District along with the Special Education Training Resource Center, Wildwood, Catholic Charities and the East Greenbush Susse Chalet will co-sponsor an auditory integration training workshop for parents and professionals from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday at Columbia High School.

The practice, developed 30 years ago in France by ear, nose and throat specialist Guy Berard, involves filtering specially modulated music through headphones to autistic …

IRS probes Seagram's DuPont disposal.(Brief Article)

Vivendi Universal says it has received notification that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is challenging Seagram's tax treatment of the redemption of 156 million DuPont shares held by Seagram In 1996. …

New work force needs training

Allison Ranck dreams of managing or owning a restaurant. Her high-school studies help her work toward that goal.

Ranck, 18, is a student in the culinary-arts program at the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center. The high-school senior spends five days a week at the center's Mount Joy campus learning skills such as cutting meat and catering.

Ranck feels that teaming these skills in high school will make her more attractive to employers.

"I think that, with this program, I can go (to an employer) and say that I can do things," she said.

Business, education and community leaders gathered in Lancaster County Nov. 5 to discuss how to extend the same …

Killens, Sharyn: The Inconvenient Child.(Brief article)(Book review)

Killens, Sharyn The Inconvenient Child. Sharyn Killens and Lindsay Lewis. Sydney: Miracle, 2010. 416 pp. $Au24.95.

"In The Inconvenient Child... [veteran entertainer] Killens ... relates a wrenching and finally satisfying story of abject misery and triumphant emotion ... She was the product of a two-week fling between a blond good-time girl ... and an African American Marine who visited Sydney following World War II ... 'Princess Mummy' gave the child away: first to friends, then to a convent where she was beaten by a psychopathic nun, and finally ... to the infamous Parramatta Girls' Home ... She ended up in the even more terrifying Hay Institution, which was little short ofa …

THE LINE THIS YEAR IS ``IT DEPENDS''.(SPORTS)

Byline: ALAN HART Staff writer

Another fall, another football season at Shenendehowa High.

This will be the 35th campaign for Brent Steuerwald -- the founder and only coach the Plainsmen have ever had since the proud team began play in 1968. It could be a darn good season, too.

``I've got great kids. This could be a special season,'' Steuerwald hinted before a recent practice session. ``We have some outstanding juniors, and the seniors are just a solid group of kids -- and they all like each other and work together well. We have some outstanding skill players on offense.''

If there is a soft underbelly to the Plainsmen, it is in the area …

Chevron 4th quarter profit down 3 percent

NEW YORK (AP) — Chevron Corp. said Friday that its profit slipped by 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter as its refineries struggled to pass on the higher cost of crude oil.

The San Ramon, California, oil giant reported net income of $5.12 billion, or $2.58 per share, in the final three months of 2011. That compared with $5.3 billion, or $2.64 per share, in the same part of 2010. Revenue increased 11.9 percent to $60 billion.

The net income fell short of Wall Street forecasts of $2.86 per share, according to FactSet. Shares dropped $3.26, or 3.1 percent, to $103.33 in morning trading.

Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company behind Exxon Mobil Corp., said that oil and …

Plastic art. (Film/TV).(Vermilion Pleasure Night)(Review)

ON JAPANESE TV, the later the hour, the weirder the programming. After midnight (when station directors and major sponsors check out), things really get interesting. Anything goes--from violent cartoons to chat shows hosted by nubile young things in the altogether. In the US, the Bible Belters would have a field day--these aren't even pay channels--but no one in Japan seems to lose much sleep over the tawdry stuff.

Not, that is, unless they stay up late enough to catch Vermilion Pleasure Night, a wee-hours variety show directed by Yoshimasa Ishibashi, a member of the performance and video collective Kyupi Kyupi. During his show's first six-month run (new installments …

SNOWMAKERS KEEP U.S. RACE IN THE STATES.(Sports)

Byline: Buzz Gray

Thanks to a lot of hard work, the U.S. Cross-Country Championships at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid have been salvaged. They'll go on as planned this weekend at the famous nordic center in the Adirondack Mountains.

"Crews from the Olympic Regional Development Authority have been making snow around the clock and laying it on a five-kilometer loop at Mount Van Hoevenberg," said Tom Kelly of U.S. Skiing. "They've done a heck of a job, too. We owe it all to them."

The decision to retain the championships at Placid wasn't made until Monday night. Mont St. Anne in Quebec was being eyed as the backup site.

Unseasonably warm rains and a lack …

FORM 8-K: IDACORP FILES CURRENT REPORT

WASHINGTON, May 28 -- IDACORP Inc., Boise, Idaho, files Form 8-K (current report) with Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26.

State or other jurisdiction of incorporation: Idaho

Regulation FD Disclosure

On May 26, 2011, IDACORP, Inc. (the "Company") will make a presentation at a meeting hosted by D.

A. Davidson & Co. Furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K are the slides IDACORP will be using during the presentation. The Company is also making the slides to be used in the presentation available in advance of the meeting on its website, www.idacorpinc.com.

The information in this report, including the presentation slides furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto, shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. Any reference to the Company's Internet address shall not, under any circumstances, be deemed to incorporate the information available at such Internet address into this report.

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are being furnished as part of this report.

Exhibit Number - Description

99.1 - IDACORP, Inc. presentation dated May 26, 2011

More information can be viewed at: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/49648/000105787711000143/a8-kmay262011.htm For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

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