USA

President Bush heads for a week in Asia Monday, including his first trip to China since being reelected. Later, after stops in Japan and South Korea, he's expected to press Chinese leaders for more currency flexibility and a crackdown on intellectual property piracy. The latter issue also is expected to be a focus for a California delegation led by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), which arrives in Beijing Monday. Eighty business leaders are in the group, which is seeking to promote California industries and products during a six-day visit.

During his weekly radio address, the president encouraged senior citizens and the disabled to take advantage of a new prescription drug benefit offered through Medicare. The program, which begins enrollment Tuesday and starts Jan. 1, will save those enrolled about 50 percent on their medication, federal officials estimate. A survey of seniors shows many claiming to be dubious that they will receive the benefits.

Tornadoes, an uncommon Midwestern sight this time of year, tore across central Iowa Saturday, a week after a deadly twister ripped through southwestern Indiana. Dozens of homes were damaged, but only one death reported. In Ames, tornado sirens sounded, delaying the start of the Iowa State-Colorado football game until the threat had passed.

German-American automaker DaimlerChrysler shed its remaining stake in Mitsubishi Motors Co. late last week by selling its 12.4 percent share to Goldman Sachs for an undisclosed amount. The US investment bank thus becomes the largest shareholder in the troubled Japanese company, with a 13.4 percent stake.

In the first concert linkup to the international space station, Paul McCartney provided a live wakeup call to the crew Sunday morning. During the connection, the touring former Beatle used part of his Saturday concert in Anaheim, Calif., to rouse NASA astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev by singing "Good Morning Sunshine."

Peter F. Drucker, who died Friday in Claremont, Calif., was widely viewed as the father of modern management. Some of the biggest companies in corporate America adopted his principles, which stressed innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Army Corps of Engineers said the 350 miles of levees in the New Orleans area will be secured, but not entirely rebuilt, before the 2006 hurricane season begins in June.

The Brookdale Center mall in Brooklyn Center, Minn., was closed briefly Saturday after 2,000 screaming fans, mostly teenage girls, got out of control, with some rushing the stage at a free concert for the boy band B5. Seventy security officers helped to restore order.