Bloody siege at Pakistan army HQ ends with 20 dead

Pakistani commandos freed dozens of hostages held by militants at the army's own headquarters Sunday, ending a bloody, 22-hour drama that embarrassed the nation's military as it plans a new offensive against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

The standoff killed 20 people, including three captives and nine militants, who wore army fatigues in the audacious assault. The rescue operation began before dawn Sunday, ultimately freeing 42 hostages, the military said.

One attacker, described as the militants' ringleader, was captured.

The attack on Pakistan's "Pentagon," home to the nation's most powerful institution, showed the continued strength of …

Lanterns Light Tribute to Victims

HIROSHIMA, Japan With tears and prayers for the dead whosecorpses filled the rivers of Hiroshima 50 years ago, thousands ofpeople set glowing lanterns afloat Sunday night, capping a day oftributes to victims of the world's first atomic attack.

"People were crying for water after the bomb was dropped," saidEiko Dangame, 50. "So we send the lanterns out onto the water toconsole them."

Dangame was a baby when the bomb exploded. Her father died 25years later of complications from radiation poisoning, and every yearsince, she has come to send out a paper lantern with her father'sname written on it.

People gathered on bridges and river banks to watch the …

Today in History

Today is Thursday, Nov. 3, the 307th day of 2011. There are 58 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 3, 1911, the Chevrolet Motor Car Co. was founded in Detroit by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant. (The company was acquired by General Motors in 1918.)

On this date:

In 1839, the first Opium War between China and Britain broke out.

In 1900, the first major U.S. automobile show opened at New York's Madison Square Garden under the auspices of the Automobile Club of America.

In 1903, Panama proclaimed its independence from Colombia.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt won a landslide election victory over …

Options exchange CBOE to test shaky IPO market

The most anticipated IPO so far this year, CBOE Holdings Inc., is expected this week, but worries about its high price compared to other exchanges may weigh on its shares in the current lackluster environment.

The Chicago Board Options Exchange is the country's largest options exchange and the last major U.S. exchange to go public. The initial public offerings of other …

Simple solution will help keep your Christmas tree healthy

Buy your Christmas tree as soon as possible so you can give itthe "water treatment," a tried-and-true process that will make yourtree last a lot longer.

Ask the seller to cut a slice off the bottom off the bottom ofthe trunk. When you bring the tree home, plunge it into a pail ofwater and add a cup of sugar. The fresh cut will allow the tree todrink up the water.

Keep the tree outdoors, if possible. Don't worry if we have afreeze. The tree is used to that.Add water and sugar for two weeks. You'll be surprised to seehow much water your tree will drink, and you'll be amazed how longyour tree will last. It makes all that decorating and devotionworthwhile.TRAVEL …

Appeal to combined functions and diversified uses

Fuji Spinning Intensifying Marketing Spandex Overseas

With the opening of its liaison representative office in Hong Kong in October 2000, Fuji Spinning Co., Ltd. has begun to launch the global marketing of spandex. In March 2001 the company held an exhibition at a hotel in Hong Kong in order to introduce the start of this office and to give wider publicity to its spandex as well. Toru Hirano, General Manager of Spandex Sales Dept. is confident of the progress of overseas marketing in the future based on his conclusions that the holding of this exhibition has enhanced the awareness of the company's spandex.

As for the company's spandex sales, the weight of yarn sales is …

Second Mexican government jet crashes in a month

A Mexican official says a second federal government Learjet has crashed in just over a month, killing two pilots.

Tlaxcala state government spokesman Fernandez Ahuatzi says the Learjet 23 lost contact with controllers shortly before plunging into a lake east of Mexico City.

Rescuers recovered the body of the pilot and were trying to extract the copilot's body …