Peace may be dangerous approach in Colombia

When newly elected Colombian President Andres Pastrana spelledout his peace initiative at the State Department Aug. 3, U.S.diplomats beamed their approval, but President Clinton's narcoticsfighters expressed skepticism. Their doubts were confirmed the nextday in iron and blood 2,000 miles away, with potentially profoundconsequences for the United States.

On Aug. 4, FARC and ELN leftist guerrillas launched a nationwideoffensive. Close to 300 soldiers and policemen were killed, anddestruction of the Miraflores air refueling base ended the country'sability to fight coca cultivation with herbicides.

Pastrana called it a farewell salute to his …

Ahead of the Bell: Google falls on ad pricing

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Internet search engine Google Inc. fell in premarket trading Friday after it revealed that it got less money for each ad in the fourth quarter.

The stock was down $49.46, or 7.7 percent, at $590.11 per share in trading ahead of the market opening. The shares haven't been below $600 in regular trading since Dec. 1.

Investors had expected that the surge of online holiday shopping in the U.S. would let Google charge more for its ads. Instead, the average price fell by 8 percent from the same time in 2010.

The results weren't enough to make analysts change their minds about Google.

Analyst Youssef Squali said the numbers weren't as bad as they …

Spain beats Netherlands 1-0 to win the World Cup

Spain rules the soccer world, winning the World Cup at long, long last. It came after an exhausting 1-0 victory in extra time over the Netherlands on Sunday. Two years after winning the European title, the stylish Spaniards did even better.

This was a physical test of attrition that sometimes turned dirty _ a finals-record 13 yellow cards were handed out and the Dutch finished with 10 men. In the end, it was Andres Iniesta breaking free in the penalty area, taking a pass from Cesc Fabregas and putting a right-footed shot from 8 yards just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

For the Dutch and their legions of orange-clad fans wearing …

Shaw bros. survive, ready for peace

It's time to bury the political hatchet between the Jacksons and the Shaws, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Robert Shaw said Wednesday after he and his brother survived a nasty primary fight.

Reached in Springfield, Sen. Shaw said he agrees with his brother.

"Our focus should not be on each other."

Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-2nd), when reached in Washington, D.C., agreed that they should sit down and discuss ways of taking care of the residents of the south suburban communities.

Jackson thanked both Shaws for the spirited competition and said it has made him "a better servant."

Sen. Shaw agreed, saying they all should walk in lockstep for the …

No. 11 LSU Wins Another Lopsided Game

NEW ORLEANS - Sylvia Fowles had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and LSU rolled to another lopsided victory by beating New Orleans 65-45 on Monday night.

It was the latest dominant performance for the 6-foot-6 center known as Big Syl, who has four double-doubles this season and has scored in double figures in all but one game for the No. 11 Lady Tigers (8-1).

Erica White had 15 points, six assists and five steals for LSU, which has won three straight and has not had a victory margin of less than 20 points this season.

Le'Della English scored 17 for UNO (4-2), and Cookie Johnson added 10 points.

Shooting 50.9 percent, LSU led by as many as 26 points early in …

Jayawardene wants to regain form against India

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene admits he has not contributed much to the team as a batsman lately and says he wants to use the upcoming one-day international series against India to regain his lost form.

"I know I need to contribute to my team with the bat but I failed to be among the runs in the last two series," Jayawardene said Monday. "The challenge ahead of me now is to work hard and correct whatever flaws with my batting.

"I sensed some improvement during the Pakistan series and I hope that I will return to form during the India series."

Jayawardene, who has averaged more than 32 runs in 294 one-day …

S. African actress stages extraordinary double life

Have You Seen Zandile? A play written and directed by Gcina Mhlope. With sets and lightingby Patrick Kerwin and costumes by Glenn Billings. Presented by theChicago Theatre Company, 500 E. 67 St., 493-1305. Through June 5.

Watching South African actress Gcina Mhlope in "Have You SeenZandile?" is like peeking into the bedroom of a young girl. You canhear her talking to herself in the most uninhibited and imaginativeway, as she studies her image in a mirror and puzzles out all thethings she has to know in order to grow up.

There is no literal mirror in this play, but with herbroad-boned doll-like face, the slightly gawky body of an adolescent,and the vitality and …