NATIONAL
Summit seen as risk for Blair
British Prime Minister Tony Blair's two-day summit with President Bush carries enormous political risk for him if he returns to London empty-handed, analysts say. Blair wants Bush to commit to finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in the wake of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death and to taking a gentler approach to European allies like France and Germany, which opposed the Iraq war. [Page 3a]
Smallpox experiments suggested
An influential World Health Organization committee is sending shock waves through the scientific community with its recommendation that researchers be permitted to conduct genetic-engineering experiments with the smallpox virus. The idea is to be able to better combat a disease that is considered a leading bioterrorism threat although it was publicly eradicated 25 years ago. [Page 3a]
WORLD
Palestinian leaders sworn in
Palestinians swiftly swore in new leadership as the body of Yasser Arafat was flown to Cairo, Egypt, for his funeral. Arafat is to be buried at his presidential compound in the West Bank. [Page 1a]
Troops go into southern Fallujah
American troops and Iraqi government forces pushed into southern Fallujah yesterday, while a car bomb in Baghdad killed 17 people and attackers in the northern city of Mosul stormed six police stations. [Page 1a]
MARYLAND
Teen jailed, loses seat
Less than a month after an 18-year-old pleaded guilty to first-degree assault for running down a boy over a dispute about $20 of marijuana, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. appointed the teenager to a state juvenile justice advisory council. Moshe Khaver was sentenced this week to five years in adult prison for the assault. After becoming aware of the conviction, state officials removed Khaver from the panel, and an Ehrlich spokesman said the governor had not known of Khaver's past. [Page 1a]
Ehrlich defends plan to sell land
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said yesterday that he sees no need for an investigation into his administration's plans to sell a protected Southern Maryland forest to a politically connected construction company owner at a cut-rate price, and said none of his aides face punishment for pushing the deal. [Page 1b]
TODAY
Channels refuse to air movie
Sinclair, the Maryland-based television company, and Baltimore's WMAR-TV joined ABC affiliates who refused to air Saving Private Ryan last night because of ambiguities in the FCC's new indecency rules. [Page 1c]
`Bridget Jones' opens today
The sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, with Renee Zellweger, opens at theaters today. Other movies opening include After the Sunset with Salma Hayek and Pierce Brosnan, and Enduring Love, starring Daniel Craig, Rhys Ifans and Samantha Morton. [Page 1c]
Eminem's familiar formula
Eminem has been using the same formula since he arrived on the scene in 1999, making millions by exploiting his dysfunctional past. And on his new CD, Encore, in stores today, the Grammy-winning artist gives us more of the same, critic Rashod D. Ollison writes. [Page 1c]
BUSINESS
BSO seeks diverse audience
With a series of shows beginning tomorrow by an all-black troupe called Soulful Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is embarking on an campaign to attract a more diverse audience. With orchestras around the country facing budget deficits, bankruptcies, and audiences that are aging and dwindling, several are finding ways to cultivate crowds that long have been ignored. [Page 1a]
Coke forecasts slower earnings
The Coca-Cola Co. told investors to expect slower earnings and sales growth from the world's biggest soft drink company but said it is beefing up spending on marketing its core brands and on innovation as it tries to catch up with consumer's growing thirst for alternatives to soda pop. [Page 1d]
Information sought from Aegon
Investigators probing allegations of bid rigging and kickbacks in the insurance industry have requested information from Aegon NV, the Dutch insurance giant whose U.S. operations are based in Baltimore, the top official of the company said. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal confirmed that his office sent Aegon a subpoena. [Page 1d]
SPORTS
Santana wins AL Cy Young Award
Minnesota Twins left-handed pitcher Johan Santana was a unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young Award, becoming the first Venezuelan to win the award. Santana was 20-6 with a league-best 2.61 ERA this year. The Boston Red Sox's Curt Schilling finished second in the voting. [Page 7e]
Heap could return in 3 weeks
The Ravens are expecting Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap to return to the lineup within the next three weeks. Heap has missed all but one game this season with a sprained ankle. [Page 4e]
Baseball won't pursue replay
Major league baseball general managers split 15-15 on whether to keep exploring the subject of instant replay, meaning it's unlikely the sport will pursue the issue in the next year. [Page 6e]
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Recent events are likely to constitute a turning point in Middle Eastern history."
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, commenting on the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (Article, Page 14A)
TODAY ONLINE
HEALTH & SCIENCE
See a video clip of Sun family life writer Kate Shatzkin discussing the aches and pains of older parents. www.baltimoresun.com/healthscience
SRAGOW'S BACK
Sun film critic Michael Sragow has returned from hiatus. Read his reviews of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and After the Sunset, plus search our database of theaters and show times. www.baltimoresun.com/movies
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