Fighting in Sri Lanka kills 22 as panel submits power-sharing proposals

Government troops fought separate gunbattles with Tamil Tiger rebels in the north and east of Sri Lanka, leaving 21 guerrillas and one soldier dead, the military said Thursday.

The fighting on Wednesday came as the All Party Representative Committee, comprising government and opposition politicians, submitted an interim proposal for power sharing with minority Tamils to bring an end to the decades-long civil war with the Tamil rebels.

The proposal looks at ways to implement power-sharing provisions already contained in the constitution, said Tissa Witharana, a Cabinet minister and chairman of the Committee.

The committee says that the government …

Computing and disabillity charity launched

A NATIONAL computing and disability charity has been officiallylaunched by Alistair Hignell, the former Bristol and England rugbyplayer.

AbilityNet's newest facility, AbilityNet West at Hewlett PackardLaboratories, has been set up in Bristol to provide advice andinformation on computer access for disabled people. Like otherAbilityNet centres, AbilityNet West assesses people's needs at home,school or in the workplace, and as part of the UK-wide AbilityNetorganisation, also provides a free helpline, adapted computerequipment, training, technical support and awareness education forcarers, professionals and employers.

Alistair, pictured above right, …

Interpretation of fluorescence decays using a power-like model

ABSTRACT A power-like decay function, characterized by the mean excited-state lifetime and relative variance of lifetime fluctuation around the mean value, was applied in analysis of fluorescence decays measured with the aid of time-correlated single photon counting. We have examined the fluorescence decay, in neutral aqueous medium, of tyrosine (L-tyrosine and N-acetyl-L-tyrosinamide), and of the tyrosine residues in a tryptophan-free protein, the enzyme purine nucleoside phosphorylase from Escherichia coli in a complex with formycin A (an inhibitor), and orthophosphate (a co-substrate). Tryptophan fluorescence decay was examined in neutral aqueous medium for L-tryptophan, …

Bulgarian triple jumper Marinova retires

Former Olympic champion triple jumper Tereza Marinova of Bulgaria retired weeks before the Beijing Games because of an Achilles' tendon injury that worsened the past six months.

The 30-year-old Marinova won the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, leaping 49 feet, 10 1/2 inches on her first attempt. She has also captured world …

Vatican makes it easier for Anglicans to convert

The Vatican announced surprise plans Tuesday to make it easier for Anglicans to convert, reaching out to those who are disaffected by the election of female and gay bishops to join the Catholic Church's conservative ranks.

Pope Benedict XVI approved a new church provision that will allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while maintaining many of their distinctive spiritual and liturgical traditions, including married priests, Cardinal William Levada, the Vatican's chief doctrinal official, told a news conference.

In the past, such exemptions had only been granted in a few cases in certain countries. The new church provision is designed to allow Anglicans …

Colorado resumes rout // Roy blanks Hawks to set record

Avalanche 7 Hawks 0

DENVER As soon as Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy tires ofcollecting Stanley Cup championship rings, he should considerbecoming a stockbroker. He proved Thursday he knows whenblue-chippers are going to rebound.

"I'm here to say I'm going to bring my best to the ice in thisgame," Roy predicted. "And I think everyone else will on this team,too."And bounce back the Avalanche did.Colorado crushed the Blackhawks 7-0 Thursday in Game 5 of thisbest-of-seven first-round series. Colorado now leads the series 3-2.With the victory, Roy set the league record for career playoffvictories (89), breaking former New York Islanders goalie BillySmith's …

Earnings roundup: Sears, Staples

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, Nov. 18, from The Associated Press:

— Sears Holdings Corp.'s third-quarter loss nearly doubled, dragged down by weak revenue at its long-suffering Sears chain, hurt by poor sales of appliances and clothing.

— Staples Inc. reported its third-quarter net income rose 7 percent despite only a small increase in revenue as the company gained new small-business customers and clamped down on expenses.

— Stein Mart Inc. reported a slight nudge up in its net income up for the third quarter as more shoppers came to its stores and it kept its costs down.

— Shares of DryShips Inc. headed higher …