http://TheState.com/nationwire/index.xml News, sports and entertainment from TheState.com en-us Copyright 2009 TheState.com Top Stories - Wire 60 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:02:48 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench support@TheState.com http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1019064.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1019064.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:38 EST Forty people have died in El Salvador following three days of heavy rains, Interior Minister Humberto Centeno said Sunday.<p/>Centeno told a news conference that the deaths happened in at least five of the 14 provinces of the mountainous Central American country, where it has been raining since Thursday.<p/>Centeno said at least two dozen of the deaths happened in the central San Vicente province. He did not provide details.<p/>Hurricane Ida passed through Nicaragua on Thursday, slamming the country's Atlantic coast, and damaging or destroying about 500 homes, as well as roads and bridges.<p/>The rains in El Salvador were caused by a low pressure system off the country's Pacific coast, and while the presence of Ida in the Caribbean may have played some indirect role in helping steer the system, the deaths are not directly linked to the hurricane, said Dave Roberts, a Navy hurricane specialist at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1019056.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1019056.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:08 EST The Army chief of staff says it's important for the country not to get caught up in speculation about the Muslim faith of the alleged Fort Hood gunman.<p/>Gen. George Casey says he's instructed his commanders to be on the lookout for that reaction to the killings at the Texas post.<p/>He says focusing on the Islamic roots of the suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan (nih-DAHL' mah-LEEK' hah-SAHN'), could "heighten the backlash" against all Muslims in the military.<p/>Casey says diversity in the military "gives us strength."<p/>Casey declined to answer questions about the investigation into the shooting, but said evidence to this point shows that Hasan acted alone. He toured Fort Hood on Friday with Army Secretary John McHugh. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1019049.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1019049.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:43 EST Italy won its second Fed Cup title in four years on Sunday, completing a shutout of a U.S. team playing without Venus and Serena Williams.<p/>Flavia Pennetta beat U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin 7-5, 6-2 to give the experienced Italians an insurmountable 3-0 lead over a young United States team in the best-of-five series on an outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club.<p/>Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci finished the 4-0 victory on Sunday by beating Liezel Huber and Vania King 4-6, 6-3, 11-9 in doubles. The fourth singles match was scrapped after Italy clinched the title.<p/>The Williams sisters opted not to play after meeting in the season-ending tour championships final last weekend.<p/>Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone also scored straight-set singles victories Saturday. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1017479.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1017479.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:59 EST Afghan President Hamid Karzai, under fire from his international partners to clean up his administration, insisted Sunday there's no place for corrupt officials within his government.<p/>Elsewhere, NATO officials said there was still no trace of two American paratroopers who went missing four days ago after trying to retrieve supplies from a river in western Afghanistan.<p/>NATO forces said a U.S. service member was killed Saturday in an insurgent attack in the west. The alliance said in a statement that the death was not related to the search for the missing paratroopers.<p/>President Barack Obama and other international leaders have urged Karzai to crack down on corruption after he won Afghanistan's fraud-marred election by default. Karzai was proclaimed the winner last week after his main challenger pulled out of a runoff, saying he did not expect a fair vote.<p/>"Individuals who are involved in corruption will have no place in the government," Karzai said in an interview with the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service. The presidential press office released comments from the interview. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1019025.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1019025.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:18 EST South Korea's Bo Bae Song won the Mizuno Classic on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, closing with a 4-under 68 for a three-stroke victory over top-ranked Lorena Ochoa, Brittany Lang and Hee Young Park.<p/>"Honestly I couldn't sleep last night because I was so nervous," said Song, the Japan Women's Open winner last month at Abiko. "I went to bed at 11 last night, but woke up around 3. Usually that doesn't happen."<p/>The 23-year-old Song finished at 15-under 201 at Kintetsu Kashikojima and earned $210,000 in the event co-sanctioned by the Japan LPGA.<p/>She's comfortable on the Japanese tour, making it difficult to decide if she'll accept an LPGA Tour exemption.<p/>"I don't know yet," said Song, also the 2008 Daikin Orchid winner in Japan. "I've played in several big tournaments when I lived in Korea, but I felt that Japan suits me more. So I still don't know yet. I've been playing in Japan for three years, and if I were to go to the U.S. tour, it's all a new start for me, so ..." http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1017759.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1017759.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:58 EST China's premier on Sunday pledged $10 billion in low interest loans to African nations over the next three years and said Beijing would cancel the government debts of some of the poorest of those countries.<p/>The announcement by Wen Jiabao looked to deflect criticism that China's investments in the continent were motivated purely by greed. China is one of the largest investors in Africa, along with the United States and Europe.<p/>At a two-day China-Africa summit, Wen Jiabao also said China would build 100 new clean energy projects for Africa over the same period as part of an effort to help the continent deal with climate change issues.<p/>"We will help Africa build up financing capacity," Wen said at the start of the two-day Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit. "We will provide $10 billion in concessional loans to African countries."<p/>Concessional loans are ones that offer generous terms - better than market rates - to poorer countries. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018982.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018982.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:33 EST Britain's Defense Ministry says a British soldier has been killed in southern Afghanistan.<p/>The ministry said Sunday that the soldier from the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed in an explosion Saturday near Sangin in central Helmand province.<p/>Britain is the largest contributor to NATO forces in Afghanistan after the United States with about 9,000 troops in the country and 500 more committed by the government last month.<p/>The latest death brings the total number of British forces who have died in Afghanistan to 231. Last Tuesday, five soldiers were killed by a rogue Afghan policeman who opened fire on them in Helmand's Nad-e-Ali district. Another soldier was killed in an explosion Thursday in northern Helmand. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018977.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018977.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:33 EST A suicide bomber blew himself up Sunday in a crowded market in northwestern Pakistan, killing an anti-Taliban mayor who had formed a militia to fight the militants and 11 other people, officials said.<p/>A purported Taliban commander claimed responsibility for the bombing.<p/>The Taliban have carried out a series of attacks in recent weeks aimed at pressuring the government to abandon an offensive launched in mid-October in South Waziristan, the main Taliban and al-Qaida sanctuary in the country.<p/>The bombing, in the town of Adazai, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the main northwestern city of Peshawar, killed the town's mayor, Abdul Malik, and 11 other people, including a young girl, said Sahibzada Anis, the top official in Peshawar.<p/>The suicide bomber hit as shoppers thronged a market where goats were being sold to celebrate the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018973.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018973.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:38 EST Phil Mickelson won the HSBC Champions on Sunday by rallying against a familiar foe. Only it wasn't Tiger Woods. Mickelson made an 18-footer to save par on the 16th after whiffing on a flop shot, then holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th to close with a 3-under 69 and overcome a late charge by Ernie Els, who was in the lead until hitting into the water and making bogey on the final hole.<p/>Woods was never a factor in the final World Golf Championship of the year, falling six shots behind on the front nine and doing well to stay on the leaderboard the rest of the way. He hit into the water with his third shot on the par-5 18th and had to scramble for bogey to close with a 72 and tie for sixth, five shots behind.<p/>It was the third time in his last four tries that Woods played in the final group without winning.<p/>Mickelson finished at 17-under 271 and earned $1.2 million in winning his second WGC event of the year. It was the first time he won a tournament while playing in the final group with Woods.<p/>As clutch as Mickelson was down the stretch, Els was the opposite. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018886.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018886.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:58 EST Jarome Iginla scored the go-ahead goal and Miikka Kiprusoff made 32 saves as the Calgary Flames beat the New York Rangers 3-1 Saturday night for their third win in a row.<p/>Iginla's eighth goal of the season at 16:47 of the second period came on a power play and broke a 1-1 tie.<p/>Daymond Langkow also scored for Calgary (10-4-1). Home for just one game, the Flames return to the road Tuesday night kicking off a three-game road trip in Montreal.<p/>Dan Girardi scored for New York (10-7-1), which went 1-2 on its trip to Western Canada. The Rangers lost captain Chris Drury less than one minute into the game when Flames forward Curtis Glencross caught the unsuspecting Drury with a shoulder to the head.<p/>Iginla's goal was set up by former Rangers forward Nigel Dawes, who threaded a pass to Iginla in the slot. Iginla quickly snapped a shot inside the post past goalie Steve Valiquette. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018883.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018883.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:43 EST Chris Kaman had 26 points and nine rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 113-110 on Saturday night for their third straight victory - equaling their longest winning streak of last season.<p/>The Grizzlies were without 10-time All-Star point guard Allen Iverson, whose current status as a backup behind Mike Conley - and Iverson's subsequent comments on the matter - have cast a cloud over coach Lionel Hollins' 1-6 club.<p/>The four-time NBA scoring champ, who has played in only three games for his new team after injuring a hamstring, received permission from team owner Michael Heisley to return home to Atlanta and attend to personal business.<p/>Rudy Gay led the Memphis with 33 points.<p/>Marcus Williams jumped up a notch on the depth chart, getting seven points and six assists in 17 minutes. Conley played 31 minutes, finishing with 16 points and six assists. Marc Gasol chipped in with 13 rebounds and 10 points. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018875.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018875.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:58 EST Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist in his first game back from the injured list and Evgeni Nabokov made 27 saves and the San Jose Sharks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins for the seventh straight time at home, 5-0 Saturday night.<p/>Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby was held pointless for a fourth straight game for the fourth time in his career. He hit the post with a shot early in the second period but was unable to convert against Nabokov and the Sharks.<p/>Dan Boyle, Dany Heatley, Jamie McGinn and Manny Malhotra also scored for San Jose, which has eight wins and a tie at home against Pittsburgh since last losing to the Penguins at the Shark Tank 5-2 on Oct. 22, 1997, when Crosby was only 10 years old.<p/>The Sharks played back-to-back games against the Stanley Cup finalists, losing a shootout in Detroit to the runner-up Red Wings on Thursday before dominating champion Pittsburgh. San Jose led 4-0 less than 4 minutes into the second period, outshooting Pittsburgh 17-3 at one point.<p/>The Penguins had tied a team record with seven straight road wins before losing 5-2 to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night. They followed that up with the loss in San Jose, making the first time in 42 regular season games under coach Dan Bylsma that Pittsburgh has gone consecutive games without a point. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018792.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018792.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:18 EST Mike Brown's goal off a faceoff in the third period became a surprising game-winner as the Anaheim Ducks held on for a 4-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night.<p/>After building a 4-0 lead on goals by Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry and Brown, the Ducks surrendered three quick tallies to Phoenix in an 8-minute span of the third period.<p/>Jonas Hiller made several of his 27 saves over the final minutes to secure the victory for the Ducks, who ended a brief three-game homestand with consecutive wins. It was the second time this season Anaheim has won two in a row.<p/>Scott Niedermayer had two assists for Anaheim.<p/>Hiller made 40 saves in a 4-0 win over Nashville on Thursday. He held an identical lead 7 minutes into the final period against Phoenix, but Keith Yandle and Scottie Upshall each scored within a 38-second span to end Hiller's bid for consecutive shutouts. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018787.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018787.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:48 EST The Dalai Lama brushed off Chinese protests and traveled Sunday to a remote Himalayan town near the Tibetan border to lead five days of prayers and teaching sessions for Buddhist pilgrims.<p/>Thousands of poor villagers braved freezing temperatures and icy winds for a rare chance to glimpse the Tibetan spiritual leader.<p/>Monks clanged cymbals and sounded traditional Tibetan horns to greet the Dalai Lama as he arrived at the Tawang monastery from a nearby helipad.<p/>The Dalai Lama smiled and chatted with the gathered crowds. One monk shaded him with a giant yellow silk umbrella, while scores of others bowed before him as he walked into a hall to lead a prayer session.<p/>The trip to Tawang, which has strong ties to Tibet and lies at the heart of a border dispute between India and China, angered Beijing and further heightened already raised tensions between the two nations. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1017354.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1017354.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:58 EST A suicide bomber apparently targeting an anti-Taliban mayor struck a crowded market Sunday in northwest Pakistan, killing the mayor and 11 other people and injuring dozens, police said.<p/>The morning attack took place in the town of Adazai, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the main northwest city of Peshawar. The market was crowded with shoppers and goats being sold to celebrate the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid.<p/>The mayor, Abdul Malik, who was initially reported to have survived, died in the attack, said Sahibzada Anis, the top official in Peshawar.<p/>Malik, who had once been a Taliban supporter, had later switched sides and formed a local militia to help fight the militants.<p/>"Malik had survived several attacks on his life in the recent past, since he turned against the militants," said Anis. "But today the militants have finally killed him." http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1017654.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1017654.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:03 EST A hurricane watch has been issued for coastal Louisiana and Mississippi as Hurricane Ida begins making its way through the Gulf of Mexico toward the U.S.<p/>Ida could reach the northern Gulf Coast by Tuesday.<p/>Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday morning that the watch does not include New Orleans and stretches from Grand Isla, La., to the Mississippi-Alabama state line. The watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours.<p/>A hurricane warning remained in effect for parts of the Yucatan Peninsula meaning hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours.<p/>Ida's winds remained at 90 mph (150 kph), making it a Category 1 storm. It was moving toward the northwest at 10 mph (17 kph) and was centered about 75 miles (120 km) northeast of Cozumel, Mexico. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018744.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018744.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:18 EST Matt O'Hanlon had three of Nebraska's five interceptions against Landry Jones and the Cornhuskers squeezed enough production out of their struggling offense to upset No. 20 Oklahoma 10-3 on Saturday night.<p/>The Sooners (5-4, 3-2 Big 12) failed to score a touchdown for the first time since a 29-0 loss to Texas A&M in 1998.<p/>The Cornhuskers (6-3, 3-2) won despite getting just seven first downs and 180 total yards. They were able to get a yard when they really needed it, after Prince Amukamara returned an interception to the OU 1 in the second quarter. Zac Lee threw a short pass to Ryan Hill for Nebraska's fourth offensive TD in four games.<p/>Oklahoma's last two possessions ended on interceptions, including O'Hanlon's third, which he grabbed at the Nebraska 7 with 27 seconds left.<p/>O'Hanlon ran back his first interception 30 yards to set up Alex Henery's 28-yard field goal. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018743.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018743.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:04 EST Tyreke Evans scored a career-high 32 points and the Sacramento Kings held off the Utah Jazz for a 104-99 victory Saturday night in their first game without high-scoring guard Kevin Martin.<p/>Evans, the fourth overall pick in the June draft, became the focal point of the Kings' offense in place of Martin, who averaged 30.6 points in the first five games. Martin will have surgery Monday to repair a fracture in his left wrist.<p/>The Kings relied on Evans creating off the dribble along with drive-and-kicks to perimeter players standing ready to shoot at the 3-point line. Evans made 16 of 19 free throws as he repeatedly drew fouls on his way to the basket.<p/>The Kings led by 20 points in the fourth quarter before Deron Williams' 3-pointer sparked a comeback attempt. Williams, who had 29 points and 15 assists, found Mehmet Okur for a 3-pointer to trim the lead to five at 97-92 with 58.6 seconds left.<p/>But the Kings grabbed two offensive rebounds in the final minute and the Jazz ran out of time. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018742.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018742.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:18 EST Will Harris returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, Matt Barkley threw a 75-yard pass to Damian Williams for another score, and No. 12 USC held on for a shaky 14-9 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night.<p/>Coming off the worst loss in the Pete Carroll era, the Trojans (7-2, 4-2 Pac-10) barely survived on a night they produced little on offense. The victory kept the Trojans in the hunt for an eighth straight Bowl Championship Series berth.<p/>"We got a good win on the road," a relieved Carroll said. "I'm really proud of the way we played tonight. We played really hard."<p/>With USC's offense sputtering behind Barkley, the Trojans defense forced four turnovers as USC defeated ASU (4-5, 2-4) for the 10th straight time. The last one - an interception by Harris in the end zone - sealed the victory.<p/>Sun Devils freshman Brock Osweiler came off the bench and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Chris McGaha. But he also had his last-gasp pass intercepted. http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018741.html?RSS=untracked http://www.thestate.com/nationwire/story/1018741.html?RSS=untracked Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:02 EST Detroit Red Wings forward Jason Williams could miss two months after fracturing his right fibula in a 5-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.<p/>Williams crashed hard into the boards during the second period.<p/>The 29-year-old right winger was on the ice for several minutes before being helped to the dressing room.<p/>Williams was off to a relatively slow start with two goals and seven points through 14 games, but was still fifth on the team in scoring. He will now likely miss at least two months.<p/>"Losing Willy was a blow to us," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "He's playing more minutes and in more situations than we anticipated. But that's just the way it's gone."