Activist: Ship could near Gaza by late Friday

A cargo ship trying to break the blockade of Gaza could reach Israel's 20-mile (32-kilometer) exclusion zone by Friday afternoon, an activist said, and Israel's prime minister has vowed the ship will not reach land.

Their dueling comments suggest a potential new clash over Israel's three-year-old blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip _ and come only four days after an Israeli commando raid on a larger aid flotilla left nine activists dead.

Greta Berlin, a spokesman for the Free Gaza group, says the 1,200-ton Rachel Corrie is heading directly to Gaza and will not stop in any port on the way. It is trying to deliver hundreds of tons of aid including wheelchairs, …

Americans overseas eye results: Presidential election an important contest for expatriate Americans

MEXICO CITY - Many haven't lived in the United States for years,but Americans around the globe were focused on their home country asit elected a new president.

Some packed U.S. Embassy election bashes, while others opted forsmaller, partisan gatherings. But all agreed they had taken a muchgreater interest in this year's election, citing concern about U.S.foreign policy, terrorism and the role of overseas votes in the lastelection.

In 2000, Bush's victory was certified only after the overseasballots were counted. That fact encouraged a dramatic rise inoverseas registration, embassies and political supporters say.

It remained unclear whether absentee ballots …

Bhutto Released From House Arrest

Police lifted the house arrest of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, officials said Friday, hours before the arrival of a senior U.S. envoy who was expected to urge the country's military leader to end emergency rule.

The move came after Bhutto _ while still confined to a Lahore residence _ urged fellow opposition leaders to join her in forming an alliance to govern until elections.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, meanwhile, pressed ahead with plans for parliamentary elections by swearing in a caretaker administration.

Police said the detention order against Bhutto was withdrawn overnight.

"The house is no longer a sub-jail but …

Dons hit big Shamrock wall

St. Patrick coach Mike Bailey believes his club will be pretty good once it gets its offense untracked.

Until then, the Shamrocks will have to win with tough defense. That was the case Friday as St. Patrick held host Notre Dame scoreless for the final 4:18 in a come-from-behind 44-40 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory in Niles.

Notre Dame (6-3, 1-1), which came in averaging more than 70 points a game, used a 16-4 run in the second quarter to go up 26-15 following a rebound basket by Rodney Prior with 1:27 left in the half. But the visitors rallied behind Julian Reed, who scored nine of his 14 points in the third quarter, as the Shamrocks (4-2, 1-1) clawed their way …

HIGH SCHOOL BITS

Top-ranked New Trier edged No. 2 Deerfield 11-4 yesterday in abadminton dual meet in Deerfield.

New Trier swept five double matches to secure the victory, butDeerfield dominated individual action with victories from three ofits top four singles players, including No. 1 performer CarlaMarshack.

In other action, top-rated singles player Cheryl Pisczcek ofHersey defeated Palatine's Becky Graham 11-4, 3-2.

In softball, there are so many good pitchers in the southsuburbs that postseason all-star selections will disappoint somecoaches.

But when Andrew coach Larry Hedger hears how many coaches say"my pitcher is better than Nancy Roe," his blood …

Stocks Futures Point Slightly Higher

NEW YORK - U.S. stocks pointed toward a modestly higher opening Tuesday as Wall Street moved cautiously ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting on interest rates.

The focus will be the central bank when it issues its decision on rates and accompanying economic statement at 2:15 p.m. EDT. The slumping housing market, tightening credit market and volatile stocks have given investors reason to believe that monetary policy is in need of some loosening.

Most on Wall Street expect either a quarter-point cut in the benchmark federal funds rate or a half-point cut, given last month's decline in jobs and weakening retail sales. Equally important is how the Fed characterizes the …

Magna co-CEO expects Opel takeover by September

Auto parts supplier Magna International Inc. hopes to complete by September a deal to take a majority stake in car maker Opel, Magna's co-CEO said Wednesday.

Magna's Siegfried Wolf visited Adam Opel GmbH's headquarters days after hammering out an agreement with Opel parent General Motors Corp. and the German government to move forward with a rescue plan for the company.

"We should roll up our sleeves now and clear up the last open points," Wolf said after an employee meeting. "Then I think we can very quickly come to a conclusion."

Wolf said a contract could be signed in the next four or five weeks, but it is likely to be the …