Australia in command of 2nd test vs. Sri Lanka

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Unbeaten half-centuries from debutant Shaun Marsh and veteran Mike Hussey put Australia firmly in control of the second test against Sri Lanka with the tourists extending their lead to 90 runs at stumps on day two Friday.

Australia reached 264 for three when bad light stopped play shortly after tea in reply to Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 174. More than 21 overs of play was lost when umpires called off the day's play when there was no improvement in the light.

Marsh was just 13 runs short of a century on his debut having faced 211 balls in a knock that included 11 boundaries. Hussey remained not out on 76 including eight boundaries off 152 …

Filmmaker: Movie about balloon dad could clear him

Once Richard Heene admitted in court that he wrongly sent authorities on a wild goose chase across Colorado to save the son he thought was aloft in a runaway balloon, friends and supporters seemed to take off just about as fast as that balloon.

All except for one: Steven C. Barber, a 48-year-old filmmaker who says he still believes Heene really thought his son was in the balloon as it spun wildly through the skies on Oct. 15. He plans to prove it, Barber says, when he releases the documentary "Balloon Boy: Guilty Until Proven Innocent" later this year.

Barber has known Heene for more than 10 years and says he has dozens of hours of film of the …

CHA set to lower the boom

U. S. District Judge Marvin Aspen on Thursday denied a request byformer residents of four south lakefront high-rises to stopSaturday's scheduled demolition of the buildings.

Aspen's order clears the way for the $2 million, 24-secondimplosion of the Chicago Housing Authority's Lakefront Propertieshigh-rises.

Former high-rise residents, who were promised in 1985 that thebuildings would be renovated, were seeking to stop the implosionbecause they said the CHA had not completed the replacement housingrequired under a 1995 agreement.Izora Davis, executive director of the Lakefront CommunityOrganization, said she will continue to ensure that the replacementhousing is …

Panthers-Islanders Sums

Florida	2 0 0—2
N.Y. Islanders	0 0 0—0

First Period_1, Florida, Weiss 1 (Campbell, Fleischmann), 16:37. 2, Florida, Garrison 1 (Campbell, Versteeg), 19:45 (pp). Penalties_Mottau, NYI (high-sticking), 13:03; Mottau, NYI (holding), 18:13; Upshall, Fla, major-game misconduct (fighting), 19:24; Hamonic, NYI, served by Parenteau, minor-major (roughing, fighting), 19:24.

Second Period_None. Penalties_Booth, Fla (roughing), 12:13; Mottau, NYI …

Belgium, BNP Paribas reach Fortis Bank sale deal

The Belgian government reached a fire-sale deal Saturday to sell Fortis _ the largest bank in Belgium and the Netherlands until the global financial crisis _ to France's BNP Paribas.

The deal must be approved by Fortis Holding shareholders, possibly April 8 and 9.

The immediate reaction from some shareholders was not good.

The sale of Fortis Bank to Paris-based BNP Paribas _ France's biggest bank _ was first concluded last October at a value of euro14.5 billion ($18.3 billion). But disgruntled shareholders of Fortis Holding won a court ruling voiding the deal saying the government had no right to sell the bank without consulting them.

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Bath extend Puma deal

Bath Rugby have announced an extension to their partnership withPuma with a new three season deal starting from the 2010-11 season.

The deal will continue to see Puma supply playing and trainingkit to the team and replica products to supporters.

Puma UK marketing director Roger Harrison said: "We are delightedto be continuing our relationship with the club as their technicalkit and training wear supplier.

"Bath Rugby are one of the most prestigious clubs in world rugbyand a huge sporting brand in their own right.

"The partnership allows us to profile the brand amongst a loyalgroup of rugby supporters in the South West of England and beyondand …

Alaska to Cut Point Thomson Oil Leases

JUNEAU, Alaska - The state of Alaska plans to strip oil companies of their leases on the Point Thomson oil and gas field after finding the primary lease holder, Exxon Mobil Corp., failed to come up with a viable plan for developing the field's vast reserves.

Gov. Frank Murkowski, alongside Natural Resources Commissioner Mike Menge, announced the decision at a news conference in Anchorage on Monday, just one week shy of the end of his administration.

Murkowski said Exxon Mobil, despite being granted numerous extensions over several decades, failed to make good on its obligations as operator of the field.

Other oil companies being stripped of their leases include …