In the news

P resident Barack Obama

extended greetings to Muslims celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month-long fasting time known as Ramadan, and said that even at this festive occasion, Muslims remember the less fortunate, those suffering in poverty, hunger, conflict and disease.

Dick Cook, 59, chairman of Walt Disney Studios since 2002, announced that he was stepping down immediately in a shake-up that follows a string of box-office disappointments for the movie studio.

Pope Benedict XVI

has announced a special meeting of bishops in October 2010 to discuss Middle East peace efforts and the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the region.

Redmond O'Neal, 24, the son of actors Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett, pleaded no contest in Los Angeles to taking drugs to a jail facility and will be sent to a year-long rehabilitation program.

Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr ., 25, of Lakewood, Calif., was sentenced to 15 days in jail and three years of probation for assaulting a security guard who tried to stop him from getting into a car with American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

Cathy Maples

of Huntsville, Ala., owner of a defense contracting company, paid $63,500 in an eBay charity auction for dinner with former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Bob Shoudt, a professional eater from Royersford, Pa., ate 33 1 /2 burritos in 10 minutes, winning the 2009 World Burrito Eating Championship at the New Mexico State Fair.

Vang Pao, 79, an exiled Hmong general accused two years ago of plotting with a band of expatriates to overthrow the communist regime in their homeland of Laos, saw the charges against him dropped by the federal grand jury investigating the case in California.

Malena Brush, who claims she was duped, is suing E! and others involved in Reality Hell, a show that tricks people into thinking they are participating in new reality shows, and is seeking damages on a dozen grounds, including intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and false imprisonment.

Gordon Smith, 57, a Republican who represented Oregon for two terms before losing his Senate seat to Democrat Jeff Merkley last year, was named to lead the National Association of Broadcasters.

Front Section, Pages 1 on 09/20/2009

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