Open House, Day 4: Does America Crave American Tennis Champions?. The Open House team discusses what might happen on Thursday, and whether Americans need an American man to root for.

The Football Laws, From Football Outsiders. Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders has posted a summation of seven years of research at his Web site.

Q.&A.: BlackBerry Out of Sync. Syncing Microsoft Outlook 2010 with a BlackBerry.

Advertising: Scholastic Books Revamps Its Marketing. The company said it wanted to keep better track of teachers who were new or who had departed and use more methods of communication.

The Football Laws, From Football Outsiders. Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders has posted a summation of seven years of research at his Web site.

Review: Venice Festival Opens With Glimpses Into the Pitfalls of Passion. Darren Aronofsky's in-competition movie "Black Swan" and Tran Anh Hung's "Norwegian Wood" tell of the agonies of professional dancing and of triangles within triangles.

Swedish Move Highlights Uneven Europe Recovery. The Swedish central bank raised its benchmark interest rate Thursday to help head off inflation as the country’s economy surges.

Manufacturing Index Rose in August. Analysts said the unexpected increase showed that manufacturing activity is outperforming overall economic growth.

In Ireland, Dangers Still Loom. Ireland's financial stability remains highly uncertain, and its problems could ripple through Europe, two economists warn.

Social Media Are Easier Than You Think. It's really not that hard to win friends and influence people.

Theme at London Festival Is Simply 'Funny'. From Sept. 6 to 12, London's normally regal Old Royal Navy College will be a frenzy of standup comedy, burlesque dancing, go-go girls and stilt-walkers during the second annual Greenwich Comedy Festival.

Swedish Move Highlights Uneven Europe Recovery. The Swedish central bank raised its benchmark interest rate Thursday to help head off inflation as the country’s economy surges.

Lanvin to Make Clothes for H & M. Lanvin, one of the oldest Paris fashion houses, announced today that it will do a collection this fall for H & M.

Independent Lawmaker Supports Australian Leader. In her bid to break a parliamentary deadlock, Prime Minister Julia Gillard won the tentative support of a key independent legislator from Tasmania.

Pakistan Steps Up Security in Lahore After Attacks. Street markets remained closed early on Thursday and police mounted patrols after a suicide attack claimed 31 lives among a procession of Shiite Muslim worshippers.

Independent Lawmaker Supports Australian Leader. In her bid to break a parliamentary deadlock, Prime Minister Julia Gillard won the tentative support of a key independent legislator from Tasmania.

Its Name is Earl. 6 Q's About the News | Where along the East Coast is Hurricane Earl expected to make an impact?

News Quiz | September 2, 2010. See what you know about the news of the day.

Titans Running Back Wants MVP, More NFL History. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The ink starts at Chris Johnson's neck, with wings tattooed just above his collarbone, reminding the world that he is the NFL's most recent member of the very rare club of 2,000-yard rushers. The Tennessee running back also has ''Cause IM A Star'' perched just above a red star in the middle of his chest.

Daily Lexeme: Dogdom. The domain or world of dogs; dogs collectively.

Roethlisberger to Meet With Goodell. NEW YORK (AP) -- Ben Roethlisberger's six-game suspension likely will be shortened to four games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the two meet in New York on Friday.

Preseason NFL Standings. All Times EDT AMERICAN CONFERENCE East

‘Race to Top' Winners Are Mostly in the East. Many educators in states that did not win or even participate in President Obama's Race to the Top competition said the rules favored densely populated eastern states. By By SAM DILLON.

Queens College's Dorm Is Relief From Commuter Life. Queens College's only dorm houses 500 students out of 20,000, and contains full kitchens, cable television, wireless Internet access and private bathrooms. By By FERNANDA SANTOS; REBECCA WHITE CONTRIBUTED REPORTING..

Fate of School Budgets Tied to Age and Race. School budgets fared worse this year in districts with a large number of white voters and a large number of nonwhite students. By By SAM ROBERTS; NATE SCHWEBER CONTRIBUTED REPORTING..

New York Wins Nearly $700 Million for Education. Local officials who pushed for educational changes celebrated a victory in a competition for federal money. By By JENNIFER MEDINA; JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ CONTRIBUTED REPORTING..

In Kate Spade Wedges, Blazing Campaign Trails. Kate Spade wedge heels seem to be the shoes of a circle of younger women aspiring to power or already in it. By By SUSAN DOMINUS.

Fire Cripples Long Island Rail Road. After a near-total shutdown of the Long Island Rail Road, caused when century-old equipment caught fire, some service was restored by evening. By By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM; JULIET LINDERMAN, ANDY NEWMAN and KAREN ZRAICK CONTRIBUTED REPORTING..

For Cuomo as HUD Secretary, a Mixed Score. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Andrew M. Cuomo voiced warnings about subprime loans but could have been more effective. By By DAVID M. HALBFINGER and MICHAEL POWELL.

Term Limits Will Be on November Ballot in New York. In November, New Yorkers will decide on issues including term limits, a commission responsible for recommending changes to the city's charter voted on Monday. By By JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ.

Metropolitan Diary. Opera on a rustic park trail and portraiture in a subway car demonstrate that in New York, art is never very far away. By .

Indian Point Nuclear Plant's Toll on River Stirs Debate. New York State and a utility disagree on how to handle the Indian Point nuclear plant's effect on the Hudson River. By By MATTHEW L. WALD.

Rick Lazio Uses 9/11 and Islamic Center in Ads. Rick A. Lazio is making his opposition to a Muslim center a centerpiece of his candidacy for governor of New York. By By MICHAEL BARBARO.

Long Island Author Tells of a Vanderbilt's Life. The author of a biography on Willie K. Vanderbilt, will be at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum sharing his intimate knowledge of his subject. By By TAMMY LA GORCE.

View Restaurant Lives Up to Name. The View restaurant, which opened in May, was once part of William K. Vanderbilt's "Idle Hour" estate. By By JOANNE STARKEY.

Tomato Researcher's Goal Is Hyper-Productive Seeds. Zachary Lippman, a scientist at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, applies genetics in his quest to radically improve the yield of plants. By By ROBIN FINN.

Netanyahu and Abbas to Begin Direct Mideast Peace Talks. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders were to open direct peace talks on Thursday after gathering at the White House for a moment of diplomatic theater on Wednesday night.

Wiesenthal Worked for Israeli Spy Agency, Book Alleges. Simon Wiesenthal, who ran a one-man Nazi-hunting operation, worked for Israel’s spy agency, a new biography claims.

Fired Education Chief Says New Jersey Governor Defamed Him. Bret D. Schundler, the former education commissioner, emphatically denied misleading anyone in an episode that cost New Jersey a $400 million grant.

Advertising: Scholastic Books Revamps Its Marketing. The company said it wanted to keep better track of teachers who were new or who had departed and use more methods of communication.

New Trophy for Colleges: Capital One Cup. A team of former N.C.A.A. athletes unveiled the Capital One Cup, which will be awarded to the top men’s and women’s Division I programs based on cumulative on-field performance across multiple sports.

Word of the Day | transgression. This word has appeared in 57 Times articles over the past year.

Pakistan Steps Up Security in Lahore After Attacks. Street markets remained closed early on Thursday and police mounted patrols after a suicide attack claimed 31 lives among a procession of Shiite Muslim worshippers.

Sounders Advance to US Open Cup Final. TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) -- Nate Jaqua scored twice, Fredy Montero added a goal and the defending U.S. Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders advanced to the title game with a 3-1 victory over Chivas USA on Wednesday night.

Israeli Peace Effort Rests on Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister believes that only someone like himself, with his hawkish credentials, has the will and support to produce lasting peace with the Palestinians.

Next Stop: An Oasis Off London’s Beaten Path. East London feels light years away from central London, and is totally self-sufficient, thanks to a host of enticing restaurants, shops, markets and hotels.

Ferrari 458 Italia Supercar Is Recalled. A wheel-arch heat shield is too close to an exhaust pipe and causes an adhesive to burst into flame, a Ferrari spokesman said.

Editorial: Katrina, Five Years Later. New Orleans is rebounding well from the devastation wrought by the hurricane and could end up on a stronger economic footing — if the city redevelops in the right way.

Editorial: When Warriors Hurt Themselves. A task force has rightly laid out a mandate for Congress and the Pentagon to address the alarming rise in suicides afflicting the military.

Editorial: The Real Say on Pay. Corporate lawyers say that disclosing the ratio between executives’ pay and that of typical employees would be too difficult. The real difficulty would be justifying large pay gaps.

Editorial: On Course for a Cleaner Hudson. The cleanup of the Hudson River by the General Electric Company turned out to be full of unexpected problems. This does not mean the project should be abandoned.

Letters: A Time for Reflection on Two Wars. Readers respond to articles about the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

Letters: Before the Talk of Peace, Terror in the West Bank. Readers respond to an article about the killing of four settlers on the eve of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Letter: Medical-Tube Errors: A View From the Industry. A reader responds to an article about patient deaths because of medical-tube errors.

Op-Ed Columnist: Sarah’s Amazing Race. As the worlds of Alaska and reality TV collide, maybe the next new program should be entitled “Shooting With the Stars.”

Op-Ed Columnist: Cleaning the Henhouse. The salmonella outbreak underscores that this industrial model of farms as meat and egg factories can be a health hazard.

Op-Ed Contributor: A Dream House After All. The residential market took a hit, but owning a home still makes sense.

My Summer Home. Who needs a country house, with 530 million acres of public land that belong to all of us, year-round.

Seattle’s Jackson to Get Third M.V.P. Award. Lauren Jackson, a forward for the Seattle Storm, will join Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes as the W.N.B.A.’s only three-time winners.

Wiesenthal Worked for Israeli Spy Agency, Book Alleges. Simon Wiesenthal, who ran a one-man Nazi-hunting operation, worked for Israel’s spy agency, a new biography claims.

Dockett Signs $48 Million Extension With Cardinals. TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Darnell Dockett finally has the contract he feels he deserves.

Lawmakers Pass New York State Budget. Lawmakers approved one of the latest budgets in New York State history, passing legislation that will raise roughly $1 billion. By By DANNY HAKIM.

Former Fair Director Abused State Funds, Report Says. An investigation by the inspector general finds that Peter Cappuccilli Jr. misused state resources, including to help pay for his daughters' weddings. By By STEPHEN CEASAR.

Head of Security for Paterson Scrutinized by Ethics Panel. Maj. Charles Day, who is being transferred to a State Police traffic division, is under scrutiny for his actions in a domestic dispute case. By By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE.

Anthony Weiner: Why I Was Angry. Republican obstruction of a 9/11 bill was an occasion for anger, and Democrats should show more of it. By By ANTHONY WEINER.

2 Guyanese Guilty in Plot to Bomb J.F.K. Airport. Russell Defreitas and Abdul Kadir face possible life sentences after being convicted of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism. By By A. G. SULZBERGER.

Channeling Paul Revere to Protect Public Gardens. Cyclists channeling Paul Revere took to the streets to raise the alarm about proposed rules they say threaten the preservation of community gardens in New York City. By By COLIN MOYNIHAN.

In House Ethics Battles, a Partywide Threat. Charles B. Rangel and Maxine Waters face ethics trials that could cause a spectacle as Democrats fight to hold their majority. By By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and CARL HULSE.

A Plan to Recover More Organs for Transplant Runs Into Difficulty. An "organ preservation vehicle" could save lives, but conflicts with the need for law enforcement officials to preserve bodies, with organs intact, for investigations. By By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS.

Eight Million Bodies in the Naked City. With record-breaking heat and humidity in New York, casual nudity is increasingly common. Welcome to the New Naked. By By SLOANE CROSLEY.

That Familiar Play-Along Celebration of Menopause. "Menopause the Musical," which has proved to be a mini-juggernaut since its debut in 2001, is now being staged in Port Washington. By By KARIN LIPSON.

Unlikely Harvest for 2 Young Farmers. An unlikely project by yields a bountiful wheat crop for Amber Waves, a four-acre farm. By By LAUREL BERGER.

New York Spycraft, From Nathan Hale to the Cold War, and Beyond. The city has long served as camouflage for spies and their counterspies, and every generation has its own way of sneaking around. By By JIM DWYER.

New Gifted Testing in New York May Begin at Age 3. The current test is valid only for children 4 and older, but a new test could work for even younger children, allowing the city to speed up the admissions calendar. By By SHARON OTTERMAN.

Albany Has No Plan on Budget Gap, Paterson Says. The governor said lawmakers did not plan to address a $1 billion shortfall, and he threatened to call a session during the fall campaign season. By By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE.

A Calmer Roddick Accepts Call, if Not Explanation. Considering his sustained level of anger on the court after a disputed foot-fault call during his four-set loss to Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia at the United States Open, Andy Roddick was relatively slightly regretful, if not apologetic afterward.

Roddick Slightly More Contrite After the Match. Andy Roddick explains his heated reaction to the foot-fault call of a lineswoman.

A Painting Vanishes, and Questions Mount. An owner of a $1.35 million painting by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot filed suit after the work went missing, then withdrew the lawsuit when the criminal past of the painting’s co-owner surfaced.

Man Accused of Stealing a Bus Is Arraigned. Darius McCollum answered to charges related to his 27th arrest — this one for stealing a Trailways bus from a maintenance facility in Hoboken, N.J.

Seattle’s Jackson to Get Third M.V.P. Award. Lauren Jackson, a forward for the Seattle Storm, will join Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes as the W.N.B.A.’s only three-time winners.

Music Review: Donning Sinatra’s Mystique, From Movie Sailor to Saloon Dandy. The original cast of the revue “Our Sinatra” has reunited to celebrate Ol’ Blue Eyes, at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel.

Netanyahu and Abbas to Begin Direct Mideast Peace Talks. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders were to open direct peace talks on Thursday after gathering at the White House for a moment of diplomatic theater on Wednesday night.

Jacques Demers Facing Third Operation. MONTREAL (AP) -- Jacques Demers, the former NHL coach turned Canadian senator, says he will have a third operation after nearly dying during a botched hernia procedure.

App Smart: How to Get Loyalty Card Prices Without Loyalty Cards. Two apps, Cardstar and Key Ring, serve as repositories for your loyalty shopping card numbers. You just hand your phone to the cashier at checkout.

Home Is Where the Tax Exemption Is. As tax authorities look for cheats, they are finding that many people who are eligible for the benefit fail to apply for it.

Feud With Palin in Background of Alaska Upset. Sarah Palin reveled in the primary upset of Senator Lisa Murkowski, but tensions began well before.

White House Memo: For President and Predecessor, a Chill Returns. Relations are, at best, awkward between President Obama and George W. Bush.

A Celebratory Road Trip for Education Secretary. Arne Duncan’s bus tour from New York to Maine is billed as a way to honor teachers.

U.S. Adds Legal Pressure on Pakistani Taliban. The Pakistani Taliban, an Al Qaeda-linked group, is accused of playing a role in the failed Times Square bombing and an attack on a C.I.A. base in Afghanistan.

Number of Illegal Immigrants in U.S. Fell, Study Says. The decline in 2009, to about 11.1 million, was the first clear drop in two decades, according to a report based on census data.

Financial Crisis Panel Lends Sympathetic Ear to Lehman’s Ex-Chief. Without federal help, Lehman was not able to wind down operations in an orderly manner, which aggravated the global crisis, the former chief executive said.

F.C.C. Seeks More Input on Wireless Internet Rules. The F.C.C.’s decision to seek more comments on preserving an open and competitive Internet precludes any agency action before the midterm elections.

| Midwest: Ohio: Disgraced Ex-Congressman Back on Ballot. James A. Traficant, a former Democratic congressman who served time in prison, will run again for a House seat as an independent.

| South: Louisiana: Judge Refuses to Toss Suit on Drilling Ban. A judge who overturned the six-month moratorium on deepwater oil drilling has rejected the government’s bid to have the challenge thrown out.

California Senate Debate Turns on Economy. A heated forum between Senator Barbara Boxer and her opponent, Carly Fiorina, in what might be their only debate.

Food: The Cheat: A Hot Tomato. The plump and juicy kind.

Shopping With Marc Murphy: Picnic Essentials. The chef Marc Murphy shopped for good things to put in the basket while the weather is still nice.

49ers' Davis, Crabtree in Altercation. SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Mike Singletary had to separate tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree after the players got into a heated discussion at practice Wednesday.

Will Aging Chimps Get to Retire, or Face Medical Research?. A move of some of 186 chimpanzees to a research center in Texas has spurred outrage among animal rights advocates, primate experts and politicians.

Recipes for Health: Grilled Leeks With Romesco Sauce. Steamed and grilled leeks are paired with romesco sauce, a nut-thickened pepper purée.

State of the Art: Your Own Hot Spot, and Cheap. Virgin Mobile’s MiFi is nearly like the ones offered by Sprint and Verizon but with three exceptions: an unlimited data plan, no contract and a $40-a-month service fee.

State Pension Fund Faces Shortfall, Candidate Says. Harry J. Wilson, a Republican running for state comptroller, argues that rosy numbers released annually by Albany are an illusion.

Court Blocks New York Tax on Tribal Cigarette Sales. A state judge effectively expanded a federal order that stopped a new law from applying to two tribes.

After a Cameo on Cable, Jets Hit the Stage. The Jets took in an early private performance of the show “Black Angels Over Tuskegee” on Wednesday in Manhattan.

Lottery Numbers. Lottery numbers for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Our Towns: Blasé About the Weather Channel’s Maps? Remember 1938. During the ’38 hurricane, 50 people on Long Island were killed and 600 killed over all.

North Carolina Suspends Defensive Tackle Indefinitely. North Carolina Coach Butch Davis suspended defensive tackle Marvin Austin indefinitely for violating unspecified team rules.

Five and Five: No. 7, Virginia tech. Virginia Tech, with a reputation built on defense and special teams, will rely on its offense this season.

Yankees 4, Athletics 3: Still Not in Fine Form, Burnett at Least Gives Yankees a Chance to Win. Mark Teixeira ran his series total to 8 for 10 with seven runs batted in as the Yankees maintained their division lead.

Braves 4, Mets 1: Lineup and Card Game Feel Lonely for Wright. David Wright is not blaming anyone for a season that looked promising but continues to show signs of deterioration, the latest being the Mets’ third straight loss to the Braves.

Takahashi, as Free Agent, Could Leave the Mets. The 35-year-old pitcher probably sees himself as a starter and may opt for a club that can assure him he would have that role.

Baseball Roundup: Ramirez, in Debut, Has Good View of Win. Chicago trailed, 4-1, going into the eighth, but the White Sox rallied and beat the Indians 6-4.

Reds' Chapman Blazes Into the Majors. Aroldis Chapman and his 103.9-mile-an-hour fastball have joined the first-place Cincinnati Reds.

Liberty 77, Fever 74: Pondexter Leads Liberty Into Finals in the East. Cappie Pondexter scored 30 points as the Liberty defeated the Indiana Fever in the decisive game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

United States 88, Iran 51: Opponents for a Game, but No Rivalry Here. The United States easily beat Iran at the FIBA world championships in a game that was overshadowed by a political rivalry.

Pondexter, Vaughn Lead Liberty to East Finals. NEW YORK (AP) -- Cappie Pondexter scored 30 points, including a tiebreaking jumper with 28 seconds remaining, to lead the New York Liberty to a 77-74 victory over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

After a Cameo on Cable, Jets Hit the Stage. The Jets took in an early private performance of the show “Black Angels Over Tuskegee” on Wednesday in Manhattan.

49ers' Davis, Crabtree in Altercation. SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Mike Singletary had to separate tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree after the players got into a heated discussion at practice Wednesday.

Bears Claim OL Williams. LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- The Chicago Bears have claimed offensive lineman Edwin Williams off waivers and waived running back Brandon Minor.

Names of the Dead. The Department of Defense has identified 1,246 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations.

Why Labor Day Is Best for Buying a Car. Why Labor Day is traditionally the best time to buy a car and how the deals this holiday compare to last year.

Five and Five: No. 7, Virginia tech. Virginia Tech, with a reputation built on defense and special teams, will rely on its offense this season.

Sabah Leads Monarcas Morelia to SuperLiga Title. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Miguel Sabah scored twice to help Mexico's Monarcas Morelia win the SuperLiga championship with a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Wednesday night.

Sabah Leads Monaracas Morelia to SuperLiga Title. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Miguel Sabah scored twice to help Mexico's Monaracas Morelia win the SuperLiga championship with a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Wednesday night.

France And Italy Take Euro Road to Redemption. LONDON (Reuters) - France and Italy, still raw from their World Cup embarrassments, start afresh Friday when with new coaches they begin qualifying for the 2012 European championship against Belarus and Estonia respectively.

Maker of Botox Settles Inquiry. Allergan agreed to pay $600 million to settle charges that it illegally promoted and sold Botox for unapproved uses.

United States 88, Iran 51: Opponents for a Game, but No Rivalry Here. The United States easily beat Iran at the FIBA world championships in a game that was overshadowed by a political rivalry.

Advertising: Scholastic Books Revamps Its Marketing. The company said it wanted to keep better track of teachers who were new or who had departed and use more methods of communication.

Yankees 4, Athletics 3: Still Not in Fine Form, Burnett at Least Gives Yankees a Chance to Win. Mark Teixeira ran his series total to 8 for 10 with seven runs batted in as the Yankees maintained their division lead.

Braves 4, Mets 1: Lineup and Card Game Feel Lonely for Wright. David Wright is not blaming anyone for a season that looked promising but continues to show signs of deterioration, the latest being the Mets’ third straight loss to the Braves.

After a Cameo on Cable, Jets Hit the Stage. The Jets took in an early private performance of the show “Black Angels Over Tuskegee” on Wednesday in Manhattan.

With Son Missing, Arum Skips Promotion. Bob Arum, the fight promoter, did not attend a news conference for a championship fight so that he could be close to the hunt for his missing son.

Liberty 77, Fever 74: Pondexter Leads Liberty Into Finals in the East. Cappie Pondexter scored 30 points as the Liberty defeated the Indiana Fever in the decisive game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

United States 88, Iran 51: Opponents for a Game, but No Rivalry Here. The United States easily beat Iran at the FIBA world championships in a game that was overshadowed by a political rivalry.

Takahashi, as Free Agent, Could Leave the Mets. The 35-year-old pitcher probably sees himself as a starter and may opt for a club that can assure him he would have that role.

Baseball Roundup: Ramirez, in Debut, Has Good View of Win. Chicago trailed, 4-1, going into the eighth, but the White Sox rallied and beat the Indians 6-4.

Wozniacki Wins With Speed and Ease. After waiting hours to get on court, No. 1 seed Caroline Wozniacki required only 61 minutes to dispatch Chelsea Gullickson 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the second round.

North Carolina Suspends Defensive Tackle Indefinitely. North Carolina Coach Butch Davis suspended defensive tackle Marvin Austin indefinitely for violating unspecified team rules.

N.H.L. Extends Deadline on Kovalchuk Deal. The N.H.L. extended its deadline to Friday for ruling on Ilya Kovalchuk’s 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils.

Sports Briefing | Track and Field: Bolt Banters About Gay. The Olympic champion Usain Bolt said his American sprint rival Tyson Gay “probably just hates my guts” because he has dominated major championships.

A Serve Short of Another Run. Melanie Oudin had a reminiscent rally Wednesday, but she fell to Alona Bondarenko, showing she still has work to do on her serve.

Reds' Chapman Blazes Into the Majors. Aroldis Chapman and his 103.9-mile-an-hour fastball have joined the first-place Cincinnati Reds.

Five and Five: No. 7, Virginia tech. Virginia Tech, with a reputation built on defense and special teams, will rely on its offense this season.

Couples to Join Daly, Norman At Australian Open. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Former Masters champion Fred Couples has been confirmed to play the Australian Open golf tournament.

No. 7 Not So Lucky for John Elway on This Day. DENVER (AP) -- John Elway pulled an Elway on the Elway hole.

Names of the Dead. The Department of Defense has identified 1,246 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations.

Maker of Botox Settles Inquiry. Allergan agreed to pay $600 million to settle charges that it illegally promoted and sold Botox for unapproved uses.

News Analysis: Egg Recall Exposes Flaws in Nation’s Food Safety System. Some consumer advocates say the broader problem in the nation is a food safety system that is complicated and often dysfunctional.

Scantily Clad Dancers Are Nowhere to Be Found When Turkey Plays. Scantily clad dancers were pulled to avoid performing in front of Turkish government officials, but no one can agree as to why.

Burger King Has Suitors From Brazil. Burger King Holdings is in advanced talks to sell itself to 3G Capital, a Brazilian investment firm.

Manufacturing Index Rose in August. Analysts said the unexpected increase showed that manufacturing activity is outperforming overall economic growth.

In Somali Civil War, Both Sides Embrace Pirates. After years of not getting sucked into the messy civil war on land, Somalia’s pirate gangs are taking sides — both sides.

World Briefing | Africa: Mozambique: At Least 4 Are Dead in Protests of High Food Prices. Protests against rising food prices turned deadly in the capital, Maputo, on Wednesday when the police opened fire on demonstrators.

World Briefing | Europe: Britain: Inquest Into Spy’s Death. The body of a British spy, found dead in his apartment in London last month, had been padlocked into a gym bag and put in the bathtub, but how he died is not yet certain.

World Briefing | Europe: Poland: Afghan Costs Crimping Force Modernization, Leader Says. President Bronislaw Komorowski said Wednesday that the rising cost of the war in Afghanistan was hampering a program to modernize the military.

World Briefing | Europe: The Netherlands: 2 Yemenis Freed. The Dutch authorities said that they had freed two Yemeni men held on suspicion of terrorism after no evidence of wrongdoing or traces of explosives were found.

World Briefing | Europe: Germany: Citizen Held by U.S. Is Suspected of Ties to Terrorism. A German citizen has been arrested by United States troops in Afghanistan, the German Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Scantily Clad Dancers Are Nowhere to Be Found When Turkey Plays. Scantily clad dancers were pulled to avoid performing in front of Turkish government officials, but no one can agree as to why.

In Community Service, Celebrity Justice Means the Same Dirty Work. Caroline Giuliani’s court-ordered punishment is likely to be the same kind of humiliating, laborious job that tens of thousands of others are assigned each year.

Fired Education Chief Says New Jersey Governor Defamed Him. Bret D. Schundler, the former education commissioner, emphatically denied misleading anyone in an episode that cost New Jersey a $400 million grant.

Experience Necessary: What’s Worse Than Badly Fitting Shoes?. Linda Becker, who sells 200 sizes of bras at Linda’s Bra Salon in Manhattan, says that most women don’t know their true size.

Officials Deny Misconduct in Sex-Trafficking Inquiry. A dismissal of an indictment involving the Gambino crime family was sought because a witness had been allowed to participate in an operation involving a 15-year-old.

Scantily Clad Dancers Are Nowhere to Be Found When Turkey Plays. Scantily clad dancers were pulled to avoid performing in front of Turkish government officials, but no one can agree as to why.

18-Year-Old Qualifier Upsets No. 15 Ljubicic. Making his United States Open singles debut, the American teenager Ryan Harrison upset the 15th seed.

Scantily Clad Dancers Are Nowhere to Be Found When Turkey Plays. Scantily clad dancers were pulled to avoid performing in front of Turkish government officials, but no one can agree as to why.

Hurricane Earl Attracts Surfers. As tourists and residents fled the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a step ahead of Hurricane Earl, surfers were making a beeline in the opposite direction.

What to Watch on Thursday at the Open. With the woman's game more and more dominated by big-hitting human ball machines, a second-round matchup between Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Patty Schnyder provides a welcome change of pace.

Making Soldiers Fit to Fight, Without the Situps. The goal of a new training program is to reduce injuries and better prepare recruits for the rigors of combat.

Stimulus Averted Depression, Romer Says. Christina D. Romer also gave her most detailed explanation yet for why her original forecast that unemployment would peak at 8 percent “was so far off.”

Burger King Has Suitors From Brazil. Burger King Holdings is in advanced talks to sell itself to 3G Capital, a Brazilian investment firm.

Advertising: Scholastic Books Revamps Its Marketing. The company said it wanted to keep better track of teachers who were new or who had departed and use more methods of communication.

A Phonebook for the 21st Century. Inflection, the start-up behind genealogy site Archives.com, is introducing a people search engine.

Tabloid Hack Attack on Royals, and Beyond. How a London paper listened in on the private voice mail messages of the rich and famous, including Britain’s Prince Harry and Prince William.

Letters: How to Reform the Failing Schools. Readers respond to a column by Thomas L. Friedman about improving public education.

Letters: The Mideast Talks, and the Issue of the Settlements. Readers respond to an article about Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Washington.

Letter: Unaffordable Housing. A reader responds to an article about home ownership.

International Monetary Fund Warns G-7 on Debt Levels. The world’s most-developed economies face record levels of debt as a result of the 2008-9 financial crisis and have little room for maneuver, the I.M.F. warned on Wednesday.

Study Sees Heart Risk in Meridia Diet Pill. A clinical trial found that the controversial drug increased the risks of heart attacks and strokes while doing little to slim their waists.

As Pettitte Progresses, Yankees Move Vazquez Back Into Rotation. Andy Pettitte continued making progress in his recovery from a left groin injury, throwing 55 pitches at a high intensity.

On Baseball: Reds Rookie Keeps All Eyes on Radar Gun. Aroldis Chapman routinely throws harder than 100 miles an hour and could have a significant impact down the stretch.

World Briefing | Africa: South Africa: Sympathy Strike Is Suspended as Talks Continue. Negotiations were continuing on the government’s offer to give more than a million public employees pay raises of 7.5 percent, double the inflation rate.

Golf Roundup: Woods Looks to Make Another Leap in Standings. Tiger Woods’s finish at the Barclays moved him to 65th in the FedEx Cup points list, and he has a chance to vault near the top.

Young Golfer Disqualifies Self, Gives Up Medal. MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Zach Nash was shocked when he discovered he had one too many golf clubs in his bag a couple hours after winning a junior Wisconsin PGA tournament.

International Monetary Fund Warns G-7 on Debt Levels. The world’s most-developed economies face record levels of debt as a result of the 2008-9 financial crisis and have little room for maneuver, the I.M.F. warned on Wednesday.

Design Notebook: The Audacity of Taupe. The Home Section asked decorators, pundits and others for their reactions to the Oval Office makeover.

Home Is Where the Tax Exemption Is. As tax authorities look for cheats, they are finding that many people who are eligible for the benefit fail to apply for it.

On Location: In Switzerland, a Cast-Concrete Mountain Retreat. An art collector builds a nontraditional house in an Alpine village where life hasn’t changed that much in decades.

Shopping With Marc Murphy: Picnic Essentials. The chef Marc Murphy shopped for good things to put in the basket while the weather is still nice.

In the Garden: As Summer Fades, Duties in the Garden Shift. The focus turns to preparing plants for cooler weather, assessing what flowers grew well and what didn’t, and then planning for spring.

Property Values: What You Get for ...$275,000. A one-bedroom condo in Philadelphia, a three-bedroom bungalow in Tennessee and a two-bedroom house in Wisconsin.

Currents | Q&A: How Women Reshaped the Modern Kitchen. Talking with Juliet Kinchin, the curator of the Museum of Modern Art exhibition “Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen.”

Currents | Online: A Web Site for Midcentury Modern Buyers. The new site Townhouse.bz includes rare furniture and decorative accessories like a Knoll armchair.

Currents | Open: Monocle Magazine Opens West Village Shop. The small store, which opened last week, carries a fairly large, well-edited selection of merchandise.

Currents | Décor: A New Tableware Line at Metropolitan Museum Gift Shop. Le Chat Noir, a collection inspired by a 19th-century French poster.

Currents | Furniture: Tables Made With Birch Branches. The three tables in the new Resting Branches Collection have glass tops, acrylic sides and white birch limbs suspended underneath.

Currents | Tableware: Ceramics That Seek a Timeless Look. Eric Bonnin, a French designer, has introduced a ceramics collection, his first in this country.

Currents | Deals: Sales at Intérieurs, Nest Interiors and Desiron. Discounts on sofas, stools and other home furnishings and accessories.

As Pettitte Progresses, Yankees Move Vazquez Back Into Rotation. Andy Pettitte continued making progress in his recovery from a left groin injury, throwing 55 pitches at a high intensity.

Golf Roundup: Woods Looks to Make Another Leap in Standings. Tiger Woods’s finish at the Barclays moved him to 65th in the FedEx Cup points list, and he has a chance to vault near the top.

Michigan-Ohio State Rivalry Will Cross Big Ten Divisions. The teams will still play each other in the last conference game of the season and could conceivably play again in the league title game that starts next year.

On Baseball: Reds Rookie Keeps All Eyes on Radar Gun. Aroldis Chapman routinely throws harder than 100 miles an hour and could have a significant impact down the stretch.

Tech Talk Podcast: New Twists on Old Games. This week's Tech Talk podcast includes Ashlee Vance on efforts to get electronic devices to seamlessly interact, new twists on those old games Monopoly and Scrabble, the tech term "HTML5" and news.

In Search of a Case to Protect the iPad. While none of the iPad cases are perfect, the variety is endless; one even has a 100-year warranty.

Can Privacy Sell Ping?. Mr. Jobs' comments about social network privacy suggest companies are responding to demands that new services come with simple privacy controls.

New Trophy for Colleges: Capital One Cup. A team of former N.C.A.A. athletes unveiled the Capital One Cup, which will be awarded to the top men’s and women’s Division I programs based on cumulative on-field performance across multiple sports.

Michigan-Ohio State Rivalry Will Cross Big Ten Divisions. The teams will still play each other in the last conference game of the season and could conceivably play again in the league title game that starts next year.

Massacre of Migrants Leaves Trail of Anguish Across Latin America. In a startling twist, migrants are apparently dying at the hands of a drug gang seeking money or possibly recruits, officials said, though nobody knows for sure.

N.F.L. Roundup: Cardinals Shop Leinart, but Buyers Appear Scarce. Arizona is trying to gauge the interest in a trade for Matt Leinart, who has repeatedly failed to seize the starting quarterback’s job.

Pirates Take Sides, Both Sides, in Somalia’s War. After years of not getting sucked into the messy civil war on land, Somalia’s heavily armed pirate gangs are taking sides — both sides.

Massacre of Migrants Leaves Trail of Anguish Across Latin America. In a startling twist, migrants are apparently dying at the hands of a drug gang seeking money or possibly recruits, officials said, though nobody knows for sure.

World Briefing | Africa: Mozambique: At Least 4 Are Dead in Protests of High Food Prices. Protests against rising food prices turned deadly in the capital, Maputo, on Wednesday when the police opened fire on demonstrators.

World Briefing | Europe: The Netherlands: 2 Yemenis Freed. The Dutch authorities said that they had freed two Yemeni men held on suspicion of terrorism after no evidence of wrongdoing or traces of explosives were found.

World Briefing | Europe: Poland: Afghan Costs Crimping Force Modernization, Leader Says. President Bronislaw Komorowski said Wednesday that the rising cost of the war in Afghanistan was hampering a program to modernize the military.

World Briefing | Europe: Britain: Inquest Into Spy’s Death. The body of a British spy, found dead in his apartment in London last month, had been padlocked into a gym bag and put in the bathtub, but how he died is not yet certain.

World Briefing | Europe: Germany: Citizen Held by U.S. Is Suspected of Ties to Terrorism. A German citizen has been arrested by United States troops in Afghanistan, the German Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

World Briefing | Africa: South Africa: Sympathy Strike Is Suspended as Talks Continue. Negotiations were continuing on the government’s offer to give more than a million public employees pay raises of 7.5 percent, double the inflation rate.

New Trophy for Colleges: Capital One Cup. A team of former N.C.A.A. athletes unveiled the Capital One Cup, which will be awarded to the top men’s and women’s Division I programs based on cumulative on-field performance across multiple sports.

Design Notebook: The Audacity of Taupe. The Home Section asked decorators, pundits and others for their reactions to the Oval Office makeover.

Home Is Where the Tax Exemption Is. As tax authorities look for cheats, they are finding that many people who are eligible for the benefit fail to apply for it.

On Location: In Switzerland, a Cast-Concrete Mountain Retreat. An art collector builds a nontraditional house in an Alpine village where life hasn’t changed that much in decades.

Shopping With Marc Murphy: Picnic Essentials. The chef Marc Murphy shopped for good things to put in the basket while the weather is still nice.

2 Afghan Aid Workers Killed by Bomb. The two employees, who were both Afghan, were killed in the same region where 10 Western aid workers, including 6 Americans, were shot and killed last month.

At Flea Market, Fear of a Different Insect. Buyers in secondhand stores are concerned about bedbugs coming along with the clothing or furniture.

Remembering Photographer Corinne Day. Kate Moss and Corinne Day, model and photographer, were linked long past Ms. Day's first pictures in the early 90s of the teen-aged Ms. Moss.

Maker of Botox Settles Inquiry on Off-Label Use. Allergan agreed on Wednesday to pay $600 million to settle charges that it illegally promoted and sold the drug through 2005 for unapproved uses like treating headaches and spasms.

Showcasing Graffiti Taggers' Art, Legally. Graffiti taggers who attended an arts program run by the city Probation Department put on a show of their work (on canvas, not a building).

Dancers Won't Perform in Turkey's Games at Worlds. ISTANBUL (AP) -- FIBA's dance team has been benched during Turkey's games.

U.S. Pressures Pakistani Taliban. The Al Qaeda-linked group has been accused of playing a role in the failed Times Square bombing in May and in the suicide-bombing at a C.I.A. base in Afghanistan in December.

Op-Ed Contributor: Google’s Earth. Do we really desire Google to tell us what we should be doing next? Yes, but with some qualifiers.

Dockett Signs Up to New Big - Money Deal With Cardinals. MIAMI (Reuters) - Arizona Cardinals' defensive lineman Darnell Dockett has signed a lucrative four-year contract extension which will keep him with the NFC West team until 2015.

Titans Running Back Wants MVP, More NFL History. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The ink starts at Chris Johnson's neck, with wings tattooed just above his collarbone, reminding the world that he is the NFL's most recent member of the very rare club of 2,000-yard rushers. The Tennessee running back also has ''Cause IM A Star'' perched just above a red star in the middle of his chest.

N.F.L. Roundup: Cardinals Shop Leinart, but Buyers Appear Scarce. Arizona is trying to gauge the interest in a trade for Matt Leinart, who has repeatedly failed to seize the starting quarterback’s job.

New Trophy for Colleges: Capital One Cup. A team of former N.C.A.A. athletes unveiled the Capital One Cup, which will be awarded to the top men’s and women’s Division I programs based on cumulative on-field performance across multiple sports.

Two Men's Upsets, Two Different Causes. Two upsets on the men's side, with different causes: heat in one case, volleys in the other.

Analysis: How Llodra Upset Berdych. Michael Llodra rode his retro serve and volley game to a convincing win over one of the game's power players, Tomas Berdych.

For the A-Cup Crowd, Minimal Assets Are a Plus. Many women these days want to showcase their small chests, not pad them out. Retailers are listening.

Browsing: Framing a Statement. Translucent sunglass frames make a perfect chic-geek statement

Browsing: Scouting Report. Scotch & Soda, an Amsterdam brand, arrives in SoHo; Lutz & Patmos has a breaking-up sale.

In the Garden: Dogs: Not a Gardener’s Best Friend. While a loyal lieutenant in other surroundings, a canine can wreak havoc on a garden.

Music Review: Send in the Heartthrob, Cue the Shrieks. Justin Bieber performed his first headlining show at Madison Square Garden with guests including Usher and Miley Cyrus.

Carrying the Spear (and Dagger) for a Fading Art Form. Beijing opera’s luster has dimmed since its heyday as China’s most popular theatrical entertainment, and this ancient art forms struggles to attract a modern audience.

Music Review: Composers’ Influences, Side by Side. The pianist Ian Hobson explored the Beethoven-Schumann link and the musical contrasts of Ignaz Moscheles and Chopin at the Dicapo Opera Theater on Tuesday evening.

U.S. Turns Up Pressure on Pakistani Taliban. The Al Qaeda-linked group has been accused of playing a role in the failed Times Square bombing in May and in the suicide-bombing at a C.I.A. base in Afghanistan in December.

Cardinal, Who Mediated in Belgian Abuse Case, Says He Was Misled. Cardinal Godfried Danneels is distancing himself from his colleague and friend, Roger Vangheluwe, the former bishop of Bruges who is accused of abusing his own nephew.

Iraqis' Reactions to President Obama's Speech. Stephen Farrell talks with Iraqi citizens on growing frustrations as the United States brings an end to its combat mission.

Music Review: Send in the Heartthrob, Cue the Shrieks. Justin Bieber performed his first headlining show at Madison Square Garden with guests including Usher and Miley Cyrus.

Video Games: Whose Side Are You On? It Might Be the Taliban’s. In Medal of Honor’s multiplayer mode, someone gets to play the role of Taliban fighters, and the outcry has begun.

Carrying the Spear (and Dagger) for a Fading Art Form. Beijing opera’s luster has dimmed since its heyday as China’s most popular theatrical entertainment, and this ancient art forms struggles to attract a modern audience.

Music Review: Composers’ Influences, Side by Side. The pianist Ian Hobson explored the Beethoven-Schumann link and the musical contrasts of Ignaz Moscheles and Chopin at the Dicapo Opera Theater on Tuesday evening.

You Never Forget That Star-Struck Encounter With Your Idol. Actors recall how long-ago backstage encounters with their idols changed their lives.