World Bank raises China growth outlook

BEIJING (AP) — China's rapid growth is easing to a manageable pace and Beijing can do more to reconfigure its economy to promote domestic consumption and reduce reliance on trade, the World Bank said Wednesday.

Inflation that has risen steadily this year should level off and is unlikely to be a serious problem, the bank said in a quarterly China outlook.

The Washington-based bank raised its 2010 growth forecast from 9.5 percent to 10 percent and said the expansion should slow to 8.7 percent next year.

Growth eased to 9.6 percent in the three months ending in September, down from 10.3 percent the previous quarter, as the government imposed lending and investment …

Exile of Guinea junta leader sparks hope back home

After only a year in power, Guinea's hated coup leader is in exile, his departure having breathed surprising new life into a country he had terrorized, and hopes are even stirring that the nation will hold its first democratic elections in half a century.

But true reform may be long way off and his legacy lives on through a military junta with bloody hands that's still in charge.

Guinea's Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara has been reduced to a feeble shell of his former self _ exiled to Burkina Faso after a bullet grazed his skull during a Dec. 3 assassination attempt by one of his own men. No longer are there nightly television shows devoted to the …

Max out ICHIP before seeking new options

Q. In November 1997, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After Ihad a bone marrow transplant, my insurance carrier went out ofbusiness. I enrolled in the Illinois Comprehensive Health InsurancePlan, but it has a lifetime benefit maximum of $1 million.

If I use all of the benefits, what alternatives do I have? If I amcancer-free for a certain amount of time, am I again insurable? Whatare my choices?

A. Before I go into your options, I want to make you aware of howto use your ICHIP plan to its ultimate benefit availability.

Be sure to use managed care providers who are in the Blue CrossBlue Shield PPO network. If you use PPO hospitals and doctors, thereare …

Manning won't play vs Texans, streak ends

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning's streak is over.

The Colts announced Wednesday that Manning will not play Sunday in the season-opener at Houston, bringing an end to his streak of 227 consecutive starts.

The Colts say they will start 38-year-old Kerry Collins against the Texans.

Manning has not been able to …

Mexico captures another 'most-wanted' trafficker

Soldiers captured one of Mexico's most-wanted smugglers, a man accused of controlling the flow of drugs through the northern city of Monterrey for the powerful Beltran-Leyva cartel, the Mexican army said Wednesday.

The announcement came hours before U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Mexico promising to do more to help Mexico crack down on drug violence that is spilling over into the U.S.

Gen. Luis Arturo Oliver said Hector Huerta was detained Tuesday in a Monterrey suburb, along with four men identified as his bodyguards. Soldiers also seized assault rifles and four grenades.

Huerta was arrested on an outstanding homicide warrant; …

Find out about cider and apple-growing

All round the county right now you can see cider apples maturingon trees.

It is that time of year when cider-makers begin to evaluate thecrops, trying to second-guess mother nature's autumnal gift.

And this weekend there will be a chance for everyone to find outa bit more about the cultivation of the apples and the production ofthe county's amber nectar.

The historical background of apples in Somerset will be explainedin a special event at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonburyon Saturday.

The event will go some way to explaining why Somerset has longbeen recognised as the home of farmhouse scrumpy cider and back tothe days when cider …

At 88, Calif. Teacher Keeps Learning Fun

LOS ANGELES - Rose "Mama G" Gilbert dons a red plastic fire helmet and excitedly begins lecturing on George Orwell's novel "1984."

Her Advanced Placement English literature students soon feel the heat as Gilbert connects current events to themes in the book - government surveillance, conformity and sexuality.

With her energy, it's easy to forget that she's old enough to be the great-great-grandmother of her Palisades Charter High School students. Gilbert is 88.

"You can't stop her when she is on a roll," says Elieka Salamipour, a 17-year-old senior.

Gilbert's helmet really isn't necessary. It takes only a minute or two for her to get excited about just …