Iran proposes nuclear plants with Arab countries

The head of Iran's nuclear power agency said Sunday the country is willing to help neighboring Arab countries build joint light-water nuclear power plants if they are interested.

There was no immediate reaction from Arab countries, many of whom are deeply suspicious of the Islamic Republic's intentions regarding its controversial nuclear program.

Several Arab countries have announced plans to develop their own civilian nuclear programs for electricity generation in recent years, motivated in part by a feeling they need to keep up with Iran to blunt its growing regional influence.

It was unclear why Iran made the offer to help, but it may be …

Handicapped teachers push to transcend limitations

When the University of Illinois at Chicago opened its newcollege resource center, it naturally sent an invitation to DrewBrowning, assistant professor in the School of Art and Design.

But Browning did not go - he couldn't.

The center is located on the third floor of a building withoutan elevator, and Browning is confined to a wheelchair.

"It's as if the university is designed specifically to thwartaccessibility," said Browning, who recalls a time when he could notgo to the departmental office to pick up his mail. "Though there'sgoodwill on the part of the administration, it takes a long time tomake changes happen."

Browning's biggest …

Kennedy Leaves Hospital After Surgery

BOSTON - U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was released from the Massachusetts General Hospital on Saturday, a day after surgery to clear a blockage in a major neck artery.

Kennedy, 75, plans to rest for a few days at the family's Hyannis Port compound before returning to work in the Senate, according to a statement from his office.

The blockage in Kennedy's left carotid artery, which supplies blood to the face and brain, was discovered Oct. 4 after a routine physical examination and MRI on his back.

Kennedy hurt his …

Homeland secretary to kill spy satellite program

A government official says Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano plans to kill a controversial program begun by the former Bush administration to use U.S. spy satellites for domestic security and law enforcement missions.

The program was announced in 2007 and was to have been run by Homeland Security. It has been delayed because of privacy and civil liberty …

'Life is great'

Jaime Baltazar was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Eight years ago, the 6-foot-3-inch jock was driving through his rough Back-of-the-Yards neighborhood when a gang-banger's bullet changed his world forever.

The shooter was never found. Baltazar was left a paraplegic, his days of varsity basketball and cross-country ended.

Baltazar, now 25, isn't bitter. In fact, he says, "Life is great."

A sophomore student-athlete at the University of Illinois, he plays varsity wheelchair basketball on a team that won this year's national championship.

And, on Thursday, he flew to Colorado Springs, Colo., to try to live out a dream: He's there to try out for the …

TARA Toronto Completes Expansion

*To further enhance its students' exposure to the audio recording industry. The Audio Recording Academy (TARA) Toronto has designed and built a new studio to deepen student skills in recording for film and television. Supporting the latest in hardware and software, as well as connecting to the academy's 1 ,000 sq. ti. hve space, the studio has been integrated into the facility in such a …

Army chief briefs new Pakistan PM, coalition leaders on war on terror

Pakistan's army chief briefed its new civilian leaders on Wednesday before they review the U.S.-backed policies of President Pervez Musharraf in fighting Islamic militancy.

Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, key Cabinet ministers and leaders of parties in the ruling coalition. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said Kayani gave a detailed briefing on security issues and the war on terror.

Among those attending were Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted as premier in Musharraf's 1999 coup, and Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Security analyst Nasim Zehra says the meeting reflected …

Fire-hit ne nightclub shut down

A Nightclub will close for several weeks after a blaze rippedthrough the building.

The roof of the Seafield club in Banff was destroyed by the fire.

Three fire crews battled the blaze using breathing apparatus andtwo water jets to bring it under control. …

Ricky Martin: "Yo he vendido mas discos que cualquier otro"

Ricky Martin: "Yo he vendido mas discos que cualquier otro"

El cantante puertorriqueno Ricky Martin aseguro, durante una visita a Mexico, que nadie ha difundido la musica latina como el, al tiempo que califico a sus detractores de "retrogrados".

Durante una breve rueda de prensa, el interprete de "Livin' la vida loca" sostuvo que hasta el momento "nadie ha logrado darle la difusion y popularidad a la musica latina como yo lo he hecho".

Afirmo que su trabajo musical tiene un caracter particular "que no se parece al de ningun otro musico" debido a que "siempre estoy en busca de sonidos nuevos y unicos, ademas de realizar fusiones de ritmos".

El ex integrante …

German, Italian ex-hostages back home from Egypt

Five Germans and five Italians who were part of a 19-member tourist group kidnapped in Egypt and taken by their abductors on a dash through the Sahara Desert returned to their home countries Tuesday.

The Italian tourists arrived at Turin's Caselle airport, and the Germans and a Romanian woman who lives in southwestern Germany touched down several hours later at Berlin's Tegel airport.

The tourists and their eight Egyptian drivers were rescued by troops in helicopters from a barren wilderness just inside Chad, Egyptian officials have said, but details of the operation were not clear.

The Italians said they had been robbed at gunpoint, but were …

Pick up a precinct penguin

These two penguins were snapped while apparently on a walkaboutthrough the Gauntlet shopping centre in Glastonbury last week.

The reader who sent in the photograph swears that the birds arereal, and she spotted them walking through the precinct.

"I still can't believe it," she said. "Is it proof of globalwarming?"

Do you know …

Harry Potter Theme Park Headed to Fla.

LONDON - Universal Studios is opening up a Harry Potter theme park in Florida - complete with the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade village.

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," will open in late 2009 in Orlando, officials said Thursday.

"The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," said author J.K. Rowling, who has been working with a creative team to make sure the park resembles the books and films.

More than a dozen artists and designers lead by Stuart Craig, the production designer of the movies, have set up house in the studio where the movies are being filmed to make sure every detail is considered, according to Scott Trowbridge of Universal.

"We're really going to the people who know this world best to ensure that level of authenticity," he said.

The Potter park will allow visitors to view the iconic locations in Rowling's magical world, like Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts and the shops in Hogsmeade. Some locations may be in upcoming books, Trowbridge said.

Trowbridge said while there would not be any character lookalikes at the park, fans wanting to see Harry Potter and his magical friends wouldn't leave disappointed.

"This is Harry's world," said Trowbridge. "Most every fan wants to have an encounter with the star of the show."

The Harry Potter book series has been translated into 65 languages with more than 325 million copies sold in over 200 territories around the world.

The fifth film in the series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," will be released in theatres on 13 July. The seventh and final book of the series will be released on 21 July.

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On the Net:

http://media.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

Police chief who dressed as bin Laden says sorry

A senior British police officer says he is sorry for attending a community festival dressed as Osama bin Laden.

Chief Superintendent Colin Terry has apologized for what he called his "error of judgment."

A police watchdog is investigating the incident at the Grampound Carnival in southwest England on Saturday. Terry's employer, Devon and Cornwall Police, said his behavior was unacceptable.

British newspapers on Thursday ran pictures of Terry at the parade, wearing robes and a bin Laden mask.

Terry said the costume was meant to be a clue to his current work. He has been serving with a European Union team helping to train police in Afghanistan.

Japanese Media: NKorea Fires Missiles

TOKYO - North Korea fired several short-range missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Friday, Japanese media reported. Japanese Defense and Foreign Ministry officials said they could not immediately confirm the reports.

Japan's public broadcaster and other media, citing Japanese and U.S. sources, reported that the missiles were surface-to-ship.

NHK said the short-range missiles were fired on the east and west coast of the Korean Peninsula earlier Friday. Officials were investigating further details, including the number of missiles fired, the report said. NHK said the missiles were shorter-range, and were not North Korea's existing Rodong or Taepodong I ballistic missiles.

Japan's NTV network reported that the missiles were surface-to-ship.

The broadcaster suggested that the North's test was in response to South Korea's launch of its first destroyer equipped with high-tech Aegis radar technology on Friday.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was checking the report. The Defense Ministry had no comment.

But Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified military source, reported that the South had confirmed the launches and was trying to identify the types and the number of missiles fired.

North Korea's missile development has been a constant concern to the region, along with its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

The hard-line regime test-fired a series of missiles in July last year, including its latest long-range model, known abroad as the Taepodong-2, which experts believe could reach parts of the United States.

The North rattled the world again in October by conducting its first-ever test of a nuclear device. However, experts believe it does not have a bomb design advanced enough to be placed on a missile.

Obama: US 'making real progress' fighting terror

President Barack Obama says the United States is making real progress in its efforts to fight terrorism.

Obama visited the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday and told officials that their work is keeping the United States safe and more united than at any other time in the nation's history. He said the country and the military need their work now more than ever to disrupt, dismantle and defeat terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida.

Obama said he uses the center's "product" every day to make national security decisions and that officials' achievements are found in attacks that never happen.

UK woman convicted in Laos could be freed soon

A human rights group says a British woman convicted of drug smuggling in Laos could be freed on parole within months.

Samantha Orobator was jailed in Laos for heroin trafficking in August 2008 but was transferred to a British prison following an agreement between U.K. and Lao officials.

Heroin trafficking is a capital offense in Laos, but Orobator managed to dodge the death penalty by getting pregnant in prison. She was sentenced to life instead.

A British court ruled Wednesday that Orobator must serve at least 18 months of that sentence before being eligible for release.

Rights group Reprieve says that since Orobator has already served that amount of time she could be freed on parole within months.

Entertainment in Brief

CASH, CONSTRUCTION TO BLAME

PEGASUS DROPS CURTAIN BEFORE 'MUSICAL' RUN

A combination of cash-flow problems attached to its recent production of "The Gimmick" and a seemingly never-ending garage construction project at its Truman College home on West Wilson has resulted in the postponement of Pegasus Players' final show of the season. "Musical of Musicals (the Musical!)," the Off-Broadway hit by Eric Rockwell and Joanna Bogart, was set to run May 6 to June 10 -- but now will become part of the theater's 2010-11 season. That season might, in fact, only begin in January with the celebration of the company's 25th edition of its Young Playwrights Festival. Ticketholders for "Musical of Musicals"' are being contacted, and their tickets will be honored for a later date. Call (773) 878-9761.

CONDON TO HELM 'TWILIGHT' FINALE

'MONSTERS' TO VAMPIRES

Director Bill Condon, who knows a little something about gods and monsters, is set to direct the fourth and final film in the "Twilight" series, "Breaking Dawn." Summit Entertainment, which is releasing the wildly popular vampire franchise, said Wednesday that Condon would take the helm for the latest installment. The script is being written now, with stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner returning. Condon won an Oscar for the screenplay of his 1999 film "Gods and Monsters." He also directed "Dreamgirls" and "Kinsey." The third film in the series based on Stephenie Meyer's books, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," is set to come out June 30.

SATURDAY AT SHOP IN CHICAGO

HANDBAGS, GLAD RAGS ON SALE

Local designers and boutiques will offer hefty discounts at the Shop in Chicago event from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Park Hyatt Chicago, 800 N. Michigan. The free shopping party will feature sales on clothing, jewelry and accessories -- all from local designers and boutiques. Designers at the event will include Zamrie, a collection of romantic blouses and tunics from Chicago native Ashley Zygmunt; Mili Sataniello, offering one-of-a-kind handbags made of recycled materials, and Sid & Lucille, whose playful accessories -- pink cupcake aprons, anyone? -- are fun and vintage-inspired. Dior will offer complimentary samples from its professional makeup artists for all shoppers. RSVP is required: www.raymiproductions.com.

'Z' deal remains on hold

More than a week after the sale of the Cubs' parent company putcontract talks with pitcher Carlos Zambrano in limbo, team presidentJohn McDonough still would not clarify the issues holding up theprocess nor say how concerned the organization is about possiblylosing Zambrano because of the delay.

"We're not jumping to any conclusions whatsoever," McDonough saidTuesday.

"Anything right now is just speculation. There's a process thatneeds to take place. That process will play itself out, period."

Until the sale of Tribune Co. was announced on Opening Day,general manager Jim Hendry and Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, wereclosing in on a five-year extension believed to be worth $80 millionto $85 million. But after the Cubs spent a record $300 million forplayers and a new manager in the offseason, the brakes suddenly wereslammed on the Zambrano extension when an agreement was struck withSam Zell to buy Tribune Co.

Team officials, including McDonough, say Tribune Co. willcontinue to run the team until selling it after the season. Butunless a handshake deal has been struck privately with Zambrano andPraver pending the dust settling on the Zell sale, the same companythat broke the bank over the winter seems willing to lose perhapsits most valuable on-field asset to free agency.

Hendry said Monday he hoped a deal could be finalized andapproved in "the near future" and said he wasn't worried about it.

But McDonough said he couldn't say whether it might be a matterof days or months.

"I don't know what the timetable is going to be, and out ofrespect for the player and ... Jim and Barry Praver, it's just aprocess that's going to play itself out," he said. "There's notreally a timetable right now. I don't want to go into specifics, butthere's some issues at hand here."

Zambrano has made it clear he wants to remain a Cub, and Hendryhas made it clear he wants to keep the ace pitcher. And Hendry andPraver remain in touch.

"Jim has done a great job of appraising Barry Praver and Carloswhere we're at," McDonough said, "and they're aware of that."

CUB KILLER: Astros starter Chris Sampson ran his streak ofshutout innings against the Cubs to 12 before leaving after thefifth with a pulled calf muscle.

Sampson made his first major-league start against the Cubs lastJune 7 in Houston and got his first victory, allowing three hits inseven innings. On Tuesday, in his fourth big-league start, he gaveup three hits -- all singles -- with a walk, a hit batter and threestrikeouts.

"I don't know what it is," said Sampson, who tweaked his calfrunning out a ground ball in the fourth. "I just go out and pitch mygame, throw strikes and let the defense help. Other teams could havemy number. It's just one of those things."

"He had a good sinker going, but his confidence grew as the gamewent on,"

said Cubs left fielder Cliff Floyd, who had one of the singles."A young guy, you have to rattle those guys. If you let these guysget their confidence, it could be a tough day."

SHORT HOPS: Ten of the Astros' 16 hits in the first two games ofthe series have been for extra bases, including nine doubles.

- First baseman Derrek Lee remains a bright spot during the Cubs'struggles. He had two more hits Tuesday, his fourth multihitperformance in five games, and has hit safely in all eight games.

- Atencion, entusiastas de los Cubs: MLB.com and the Cubs havestarted a Spanish-language version of the team's Web site. Go towww.loscubs.com.

gwittenmyer@suntimes.com

Austria: Social Democrats expected to win election

Initial projections from Austria's parliamentary elections Sunday indicate the Social Democrats are poised for victory, though the real winners may turn out to be the country's two far-right parties.

The SORA Institute for Social Analysis and Research said the Social Democrats had 29.8 percent of the vote, according to its preliminary projections after 82.7 percent of ballots had been counted.

In second place was the People's Party, with a projected 25.6 percent of the vote, followed by the country's two right-wing groups _ the Freedom Party with 18 percent, and the Alliance for the Future of Austria with 11 percent.

The institute said the margin of error for its projection so far was plus or minus 0.5 percent _ putting the combined results for the two right-wing parties close to the count for the Social Democrats.

At this point, the two right-wing parties were not expected to join forces due to resistance from Freedom Party chief Heinz-Christian Strache. However, Joerg Haider, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Austria, has suggested it is something worth thinking about. And Strache on Sunday suggested he was interested in becoming chancellor.

The right's resurgence had been predicted by analysts, but they said it would not necessarily mean Austrians were becoming more extremist in their views. Instead, they said, voters were likely disenchanted with the governing coalition parties.

The so-called grand coalition between the Social Democrats and People's Party collapsed in July after months of squabbling.

"We don't have more right-oriented voters than in 2006, when they gained 15 percent together," political commentator Peter Filzmaier said in an pre-election interview. "It's because of a negative mood of frustration, of political mistrust of the grand coalition."

With no party projected to win an outright majority, a coalition would need to be formed.

Social Democrat leader Werner Faymann has rejected the possibility of joining forces with either right-wing party.

It was immediately unclear how many of the 6.3 million eligible voters turned out to cast ballots Sunday. The voters included 16- and 17-year-olds, after a new law lowered the minimum voting age. In total, 183 seats in parliament are up for grabs.

In 1999 elections, the Freedom Party _ then headed by Joerg Haider _ achieved 27 percent of the votes and was included in the government, leading to months of European Union sanctions.

Somali pirates hijack chemical tanker with 22 crew

Somali pirates armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic guns hijacked a chemical tanker off East Africa with 22 crew members on board, the European Union Naval force said Saturday.

Spokesman Cmdr. John Harbour said there is little chance that military forces can storm the ship because officials don't believe the crew all made it to a safe room before the pirates boarded. The crew consists of 19 Indians, 2 Bangladeshis and 1 Ukrainian, he said. The ship _ the Marida Marguerite _ was heading from India to Belgium.

Also Saturday, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said a Taiwanese fishing boat was hijacked off the Somali coast by pirates who demanded a ransom for the crew.

The ship's Taiwanese owner lost contact with Tai Yuan 227 two days ago as it headed for the Maldives. When the owner resumed contact with the vessel a day later, he was told by hijackers to pay a ransom for the crew, the ministry said.

"The boat has since changed direction to sail toward Somalia, so this may very well have been done by the Somali pirates," the ministry said in a statement. "We hope that the many other boats sailing in the area can stay alert and avoid the pirates from launching an attack at other boats from the Tai Yuan 227."

It wasn't immediately clear how many crew were aboard the trawler.

Foreign Ministry officials refused to provide contact information for the boat's owner, saying he wanted to remain anonymous until the crew was released.

Pirate attacks have continued to climb despite the presence of about 35 international warships patrolling the waters off the lawless Somalia coast.

Pirates currently hold more than 300 hostages taken from ships attacked off East Africa in the last several months. Eleven suspected Somali pirates were indicted in U.S. federal court late last month, but the international community has had problems formulating an accepted policy to try and jail pirate suspects.

Pirates boarded the Russian tanker Moscow University off the coast of Somalia on Wednesday. They were arrested Thursday after special forces from a Russian warship stormed the tanker. A gunbattle ensued in which one pirate was killed, and 10 others were detained.

The pirates seized were released because of "imperfections" in international law, Russia's Defense Ministry said Friday, a claim that sparked skepticism _ and even suspicion the pirates might have been killed.

Anarchy has reigned in Somalia since 1991, when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other. The weak Somali government controls only a small bit of the capital, Mogadishu, and is battling Islamic insurgents. The lawlessness has allowed the piracy trade to flourish off Somalia's coastline.