UN peacekeeping chief: More for missions

The head of U.N. peacekeeping pleaded with the international community Thursday to address gaps in support for peacekeeping missions, pointing especially to the shortfall in Darfur.

Speaking on the 60th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno bemoaned the world body's habit of authorizing missions and pushing their deployment before they are fully staffed and equipped.

"A gap between a mandate and resources, it destroys the credibility of the operation," Guehenno said at a news conference.

Guehenno pointed to the death Wednesday of a peacekeeper in Sudan's Darfur region as evidence of the mission's insufficient resources.

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Novelist trapped in post-9/11 tale

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

By Jonathan Safran Foer

Houghton Mifflin. $24.95.

On Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, itturned out that there was one novelist among the confused Americanmilitary that day: James Jones, who used the experience to produceFrom Here to Eternity 10 years later.

On Sept. 11, 2001, when Mohammed Atta and his fellow terroristssmashed into the World Trade Center, the situation was much different-- there are perhaps more novelists per square mile in New York Citythan anywhere else in the world. So it is no surprise that it hastaken merely four years for Jonathan Safran Foer's literaryaccounting of the …

Introduction

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the American Association of Law Schools' 2004 Law and Religion section Meeting and to thank our distinguished panel for being with us to address the topic, "One Nation Under God? Unity, Diversity, and Neutrality Under the Religion Clauses." We meet in interesting times, when questions about the proper place of religion in public life and public support for religious life are matters of deep and spirited national concern. The questions we address today are not esoteric matters of interest only to specialists, although our panelists bring a depth, care, and subtlety of thinking to these issues that is often lacking from the heated political and …

Rangers beat Lightining again

New York's Chris Drury got a hat trick as the Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning for the third time in this NHL season, winning 5-2 on Thursday.

The Lightning got within a goal in the third period, but the Rangers made it 4-2 soon after and Drury capped the scoring with his fifth goal of the season with 27 seconds left.

Tampa Bay lost twice to New York during the season-opening series in the Czech Republic.

Sharks 5, Blues 4, SO

In San Jose, California, Ryane Clowe followed up his two tying goals in the third period by scoring the shootout winner as NHL-leading San Jose edged St. Louis.

San Jose improved to 8-0 at the …

US aid cuts hit Egypt's democracy groups

President Barack Obama has dramatically cut funds to promote democracy in Egypt, a shift that could affect everything from anti-corruption programs to the monitoring of elections.

Washington's cuts over the past year _ amounting to around 50 percent _ have drawn accusations that the Obama administration is easing off reform pressure on the autocratic government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to ensure its support on Mideast policy, including the peace process with Israel.

"Obama wants change that won't make the Egyptian government angry," said Ahmed Samih, head of a Cairo-based organization that in 2005 used U.S. funds to monitor parliament …

Police say robber waited in line for ex-girlfriend bank teller

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - An alleged bank robber waited in line for afriendly face - his former girlfriend, authorities said.

A tearful Andrea Dejesus walked into the police departmentWednesday and told police she had ended a four-month relationshipwith Marco Lugo, 26, about three weeks ago, court documents said.

She alleged that Lugo waited in line on New Year's Eve andapproached her as she worked …

US, Asia deepen security ties amid China challenge

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — When President Barack Obama arrives in Australia on Wednesday to kick off a four-day Asia-Pacific visit, he should receive a warm reception from America's longtime allies in the region.

The U.S. has deepened military ties with Asia in the past year, at once reassuring its partners of its commitment and capitalizing on mutual fears about China's rise. Both sides face a simple truth: They need each other, possibly more than ever.

In Australia, Obama is expected to announce an agreement to allow an expanded U.S. military presence in the country. Earlier this year, the U.S. disclosed plans to deploy military ships to Singapore. And Malaysia has joined two …