What's Next

Palestinian Unity

Coalition hopes to end sanctions

Steps to dismantle the Hamas-led government should begin this week now that Hamas and Fatah have agreed on a Prime Minister. Officials expect to declare a unity government before December.

Tsunami Safety

System to be complete mid-2008

Two years after Indonesia's deadly wave, Thai and U.S. experts are set to install next month the first tsunami-detection buoy -- loaded with seismic and tidal sensors--in the Indian Ocean.

Stubbing Smokers

A California town's pioneering law

The Belmont city council voted unanimously last week to draft a law banning smoking everywhere except inside homes. Expected to be enacted in January, the ban would be the nation's strictest.

YouTube on Ice

Site to offer exclusive game clips

Now you can waste away idle workdays watching hockey goons fight at your desk. This month the NHL will become the first professional sports league to offer official game highlights on YouTube.

Crichton Chronicles

State of Fear author's new thriller

His last novel's global-warming theories earned him a presidential sit-down. Michael Crichton's next book, Next, out--you knew it--next week also tackles a touchy topic: genetic research.