By The Associated Press

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today:

1. WHY BLACK FRIDAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

Americans’ growing comfort with online shopping puts more pressure on brick mortar stores, which depend so heavily on the holiday season.

2. WHAT BLACK LEADERS WANT FROM OBAMA

They say they don’t want the middle and working class to bear the brunt of the looming “fiscal cliff” of tax increases and spending cuts.

3. D.C. ON RECORD PACE FOR FEWEST HOMICIDES

The number of murders in the nation’s capital is on pace to finish lower than 100 for the first time since 1963.

4. EGYPTIANS SET TO PROTEST AGAINST MORSI

Decrees concerning the judiciary and a new constitution are seen as the latest power grab by the leader of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood.

5. WHAT ISRAELIS THINK ABOUT THE CEASE-FIRE WITH HAMAS

A poll finds about half believe the government should have continued its military offensive against the Palestinian militants.

6. ALL ABOARD A PARTY TRAIN TO VEGAS

The long trip from Southern California to Sin City is about to get bigger, better and boozier.

7. 140 CARS AND TRUCKS IN TEXAS HOLIDAY PILEUP

A big crash in extremely dense fog near Beaumont kills two

United Airlines bears no responsibility for suspected security lapses at a Maine airport, which allowed hijackers to board the American Airlines plane that crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001, a federal judge ruled.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein granted a request by United and its parent United Continental Holdings Inc. on Nov. 21 to dismiss negligence claims brought by Larry Silverstein, the leaseholder of the World Trade Center property.

Lawyers for United and Silverstein weren’t immediately available for comment.

The decision concerned the destruction of 7 World Trade Center, which collapsed hours after being pierced by debris from the crash of AMR Corp.’s American Airlines Flight 11 into 1 World Trade Center.

Two of the hijackers on Flight 11, Mohammed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari, had begun their trip to New York at the Portland International Jetport. There, they boarded a flight by US Airways carrier Colgan Air to Boston’s Logan Airport, from where they connected onto the American plane.

Silverstein argued that because United was among the carriers that operated Portland’s only security checkpoint, it was legally responsible for the screening of all passengers, and had missed a “clear chance” to prevent the hijacking.

The judge,

1:00 AM

Sports Digest

GOLF

Donald leads McIlroy by one stroke in season-ending tournament in Dubai

Luke Donald shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to lead Rory McIlroy and two others by one stroke after the opening round of the season-ending Dubai World Championship at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Donald saved par on Nos. 1 and 4 with precise putting, and some accurate up-and-down play helped him make four birdies in a stretch of six holes.

McIlroy, who has already clinched the European and PGA tour money titles, surged into contention with a string of three birdies on the back nine. The PGA Championship winner could have matched Donald, but his tee shot on the 18th went into a creek.

SOCCER

FAN VIOLENCE: Rome police say dozens of fans of Italian team Lazio wielding cobblestones, knives and metal rods attacked Tottenham supporters out drinking before their Europa League match.

At least one person was stabbed and seven were hospitalized. The brawl took on anti-Semitic overtones, witnesses reported.

ON THE VERGE: The San Diego Sockers indoor team will set a U.S. professional team record if they win their 41st straight game Friday night.

BEAUMONT, Texas — Two people died and more than 80 people were hurt Thursday when at least 140 vehicles collided in Southeast Texas in a pileup that left trucks twisted on top of each other and authorities rushing to pull survivors from the wreckage.

The collision occurred in extremely foggy conditions at about 8:45 a.m. Thanksgiving Day on Interstate 10 southwest of Beaumont, a Gulf Coast city about 80 miles east of Houston.

A man and a woman were killed in a Chevy Suburban SUV crushed by a tractor trailer, the Texas Department of Public Safety told KFDM-TV.

Jefferson County sheriff’s Deputy Rod Carroll said in a news release that 80 to 90 people were transported to hospitals with 10 to 12 of those in serious to critical condition. He said 140 to 150 vehicles were involved in the pileup.

According to DPS, a crash on the eastbound side of the highway led to other accidents in a dangerous chain reaction. There were multiple crashes on the other side of the highway as well.

Carroll told The Associated Press the fog was so thick that deputies didn’t immediately realize they were dealing with multiple accidents.

“It is catastrophic,” Carroll said. “I’ve got cars on top of

NEW YORK (Reuters) – United Airlines bears no responsibility for suspected security lapses at a Maine airport, which allowed hijackers to board the American Airlines plane that crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, a federal judge ruled.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein granted a request by United and its parent United Continental Holdings Inc on Wednesday to dismiss negligence claims brought by Larry Silverstein , the leaseholder of the World Trade Center property.

Lawyers for United and Silverstein weren’t immediately available for comment.

The decision concerned the destruction of 7 World Trade Center , which collapsed hours after being pierced by debris from the crash of AMR Corp’s American Airlines Flight 11 into 1 World Trade Center .

Two of the hijackers on Flight 11, Mohammed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari, had begun their trip to New York at the Portland International Jetport . There, they boarded a flight by US Airways carrier Colgan Air to Boston’s Logan Airport, from where they connected onto the American plane.

Silverstein argued that because United was among the carriers that operated Portland’s only security

By Jonathan Stempel and Basil Katz

NEW YORK |
Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:00am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) – United Airlines bears no responsibility for the collapse of a third World Trade Center building on September 11, 2001, stemming from suspected airport security lapses that allowed hijackers to crash an American Airlines plane into the complex, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein granted a request by United and its parent, United Continental Holdings Inc (UAL.N), to dismiss negligence claims by Larry Silverstein, the leaseholder of the World Trade Center property, over the destruction of 7 World Trade Center.

Tower 7 collapsed several hours after being pierced by debris from the crash of AMR Corp’s (AAMRQ.PK) American Airlines Flight 11 into the nearby 1 World Trade Center, one of the Twin Towers.

Two of the Flight 11 hijackers, Mohammed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari, had begun their trip to New York at the Portland International Jetport, in Maine. There, they boarded a flight by US Airways carrier Colgan Air to

The classic schooner Kelpie of Falmouth has arrived at her new home port for renovation after a staggering 9,000-mile trip that started on the west coast of the USA.

The 84-year-old record breaker, which won the title the fastest schooner in the west, completed the trip to Cornwall almost completely under sail during frequent tempest-like conditions in the Atlantic.

1. ​

   The schooner was previously known in America as simply Kelpie

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   Charlie Wroe, right, of Asgard Yachts, onboard Kelpie of Falmouth with delivery skipper Trevor Murphy, left

She is now settling in for a major refurbishment project and will undergo works at Gweek Quay Boatyard on the River Helford.

The lovely vessel is known on the west coast of America after smashing a 54-year racing record. She also put in sterling service as a US Coastguard vessel during the Second World War. The schooner was previously known in America as simply Kelpie and she arrived in Cornwall after a scenic journey which saw her call into eight countries.

Charlie Wroe, director of Asgard Yachts, is managing the restoration scheme and said making her

The airline was not responsible for the collapse of 7 World Trade Centre because it had no connection to American Airlines Flight 11 or its hijackers, except that it had shared responsibility for a security checkpoint in Portland, Maine, that screened two of the terrorists, US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said on Wednesday.

Regardless of their air carrier, all passengers at the time passed through the checkpoint.

Terrorists flew two commercial jets into the trade centre towers on September 11. Among them were Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari, who had passed through the Portland airport on their way to Boston, where they boarded Flight 11.

Some debris from that jet’s crash into the north tower pierced the facade of 7 World Trade Centre, starting fires that caused the 47-storey building, erected in 1987, to fall seven hours later.

The corporation that owns 7 World Trade Centre sued various aviation defendants, including United, saying their negligence led to the building’s destruction.

The judge said United could not have foreseen the chain of events that led to the building’s collapse and bore no responsibility for ticketing, passenger check-in and boarding for the flight Atta and al Omari took to Boston, much less responsibility for the