News In Brief

BESIDES, IT'S PEACETIME

If the ability of the armed forces to defend Britain should slip, part of the blame may rest with a rock star. Lawyers for Sting have gone to court to try to stop the Defense Ministry from increasing the takeoffs and landings at Boscombe Down Royal Air Force base in southern England by 5,000 a year. The facility is barely a mile from the singer's $2.9 million country home and he's arguing that his human rights would be infringed. If the legal fight fails, however, Sting has three other houses in which to seek refuge - one of them a $5.7 million beachfront retreat in Malibu, Calif.

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THE PENTHOUSE, PLEASE

Planning a trip to Pusan, South Korea, in November 2005? Then you'll have the option of overnighting in the new world's tallest building. It's projected to soar 1,524 feet into the sky and contain entertainment facilities, shopping, and 1,500 hotel rooms. The cost: $1 billion.

Thanksgiving feast for 10 costs $32.37, survey finds

If Thanksgiving dinner for the family and a few friends is at your house Thursday, you may already have noticed what the American Farm Bureau Federation is reporting: that It will be cheaper to fix this year than last. Its annual survey found the average cost for a 10-person feast is $32.37, down $1.46 from 1999. The drop, the first since 1991, was attributed to declining farm prices. An itemization of the cost of various traditional items, based on visits to supermarkets by 121 shoppers in 30 states:

16-pound turkey $12.52

Whole milk (1 gal.) 2.56

Package of cubed stuffing 2.14

Sweet potatoes (3 lb. bag) 1.94

Can of pumpkin pie mix 1.54

Package of fresh cranberries 1.54

Package of pie shells 1.54

Package of brown-and-serve rolls 1.36

Whipping cream (1/2 pint) 1.11

Frozen green peas 1.06

Celery and carrots for relish tray (1 lb.) 0.75

Miscellaneous items 4.31

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