One by one, they checked into George Mason’s lopsided victory over Delaware last week: the former team manager, the Marine corporal and, finally, the aspiring singer. Those who had stuck around Patriot Center roared their approval, saluting the exiting regulars and supporting the end-of-the-benchers making rare appearances. Read full article > >

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George Mason basketball walk-ons took varied routes to Fairfax

Sarah Burke, a Canadian freestyle skiing pioneer and champion, has died from injuries she suffered in a fall after a training run last week in Park City, Utah. Burke, 29, suffered “irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest,” her publicist said in a statement. Read full article > >

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Freestyle skier Sarah Burke died ‘peacefully surrounded by those she loved’

When President Obama detailed proposals to reorganize and streamline certain government functions last week, some folks wanted to know why it took nearly a year to develop the plan. One reason is the involvement of federal employees. Read full article > >

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Federal Diary: Federal workers contribute ideas for streamlining government

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner did not have thyroid cancer as feared, her operation last week has proved, the presidential spokesman says.

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Fernandez ‘did not have cancer’

The MoD names two servicemen who died following an explosion in Afghanistan last week, including one who died of his injuries in a UK hospital.

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MoD names Afghan blast servicemen

For 40 years, art enthusiasts admired a 7-foot-tall modern bronze sculpture in a leafy park in south London close to a boating lake. But it seems others had their eyes on it, too. “ Two Forms (Divided Circle) ,” by the well-known British sculptor Barbara Hepworth , was stolen last week, and the widespread speculation here is that it will be melted down for cash. Read full article > >

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Metal theft ravages Britain’s infrastructure

WASHINGTON — The number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week to its lowest level since April 2008, extending a downward trend that shows the job market strengthening. First-time applications for unemployment benefits fell 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 364,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. It was the third straight weekly drop. Read full article > >

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Unemployment applications drop to lowest since April ‘08 as job market continues to strengthen

After generating a brief but surprising amount of controversy, legislation to honor federal civilians with a flag if they died in the line of duty now awaits President Obama’s signature. The Civilian Service Recognition Act was sent to the White House on Tuesday after the Senate passed it last week without opposition and the House gave it unanimous approval in November. Read full article > >

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Flag bill to honor federal workers headed to Obama’s desk

A top aide to Newt Gingrich is out of a job after he made disparaging comments about the Mormon faith. Craig Bergman, Gingrich’s political director for Iowa, said in a focus group last week that many Christian conservatives were uncomfortable with Mormonism — GOP presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. are both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Read full article > >

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Gingrich aide out after Mormon comments

A former police inspector found fatally injured with his wife and six-year-old daughter had been sacked last week, it is confirmed.

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Death family officer just sacked

A funny thing happened on the way to federal workers’ comp reform. It’s a right-is-left-and-left-is-right situation that confuses partisan stereotypes. The House, controlled by Republicans not known for their cuddly-wuddly approach to federal employee issues, last week approved workers’ comp legislation that is hailed by federal labor organizations. Read full article > >

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Workers’ comp reform has lawmakers crisscrossing partisan lines

The Washington Redskins couldn’t find a way to carry last week’s strong showing into a second straight game and fumbled away a 34-19 loss to the New York Jets at FedEx Field Sunday. The Redskins teased the mostly burgundy-clad crowd of 74,121 by opening the game with an authoritative drive and holding a lead until late in the fourth quarter. Read full article > >

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Redskins vs. Jets: Washington gives up three fourth-quarter touchdowns in 34-19 loss

Rachel Donadio on the Greek government’s potential collapse, and Graham Bowley on the market reaction to worries that last week’s debt deal may be a casualty.

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TIMESCAST: TimesCast | November 1, 2011

HONG KONG — When Hollywood’s Relativity Media started filming a “hilarious comedy” in eastern China last week, it trumpeted its delight at “shooting in China, especially in a place as amazing as Linyi.” Instead of hilarity, though, the film has so far produced mostly howls of outrage over the choice of location: a Chinese district notorious for its brutal mistreatment of a blind, self-taught lawyer who enraged Communist Party officials by demanding that they obey the law. Read full article > >

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Hollywood stirs outrage with comedy filmed in notorious Chinese city

We may be reaching an inflection point, the moment when the terms of the political argument change decisively. Three indicators: an important speech last week by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the increasingly sharp tone of President Obama’s rhetoric and the success of Occupy Wall Street in resisting attempts to marginalize the movement. Read full article > >

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Paul Ryan’s frown should make Democrats smile