World

A dream had carried the boys so far from home, some 5,000 miles across the ocean to a cramped and dingy apartment in Philadelphia: a hope that ice hockey could change their lives. Ivan Pravilov could fulfill that dream, they were told. He could take them from the daily grind of post-communist Ukraine to the gleaming ice of the NHL. He'd done it before. He'd done if for Andrei Zyuzin, who went on to play for six NHL teams. He'd done it for Konstantin Kalmikov, a third-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996.

Revel, Revel, Revel . . . . That's all the noise one hears these days coming from the Jersey Shore - especially when it concerns new prospects for dining. Granted, the gleaming $2.4 billion tower of Atlantic City's latest casino resort is hard to miss. And with more than a dozen restaurant concepts involving some very big names, its spring debut has no doubt been the biggest food news to hit this casino town since the Borgata began A.C.'s high-end remake. Jose Garces should have Philadelphians' attention right off the bat with three restaurants: an outsize version of Amada with ocean views and flamenco; a jumbo Village Whiskey clone for gourmet burgers and booze; plus Nuevo Mex concept with a Distrito Cantina serving margaritas and a replica Guapo's Taco truck.

SYDNEY LEFT HOLDING A BAG Police said a 25-year-old woman was changing her baby's diaper in the backseat of her car in a suburban shopping center parking lot yesterday when she felt someone pulling at the bag of dirty diapers near her leg. A man kicked her and punched her in the face to get the bag, causing bruises and breaking her tooth. The thief got away.

For $39,000 (plus tax and delivery charges), you can own the world. Well, you can own a replica of it. The geophysical globe, six feet in diameter and 500 pounds, was delivered yesterday to the new Rand McNally Map & Travel Store at One Liberty Place in Center City. A crew of six was needed to carry the globe and hoist it, hemisphere by hemisphere, into place, suspended from the ceiling. The store, Rand McNally's fifth, will be open to the public on Aug. 31.

This war is . . . the end of Europe, the end of the United States, the end of Serbia, and the end of Kosovo. But it is the beginning of the world. Why? This illegal war (because it was taken on without the United Nations) confirms the existence of a right in principle to intervene in cases of serious violations of human rights in any country. It is a first step in a process that is leading to the creation of a global police. We are living through the first war of globalization.

Ruairi Ward, 8, enjoys unseasonably warm temperatures while playing with a plastic globe yesterday in Rittenhouse Square. Ruairi, who is from Ireland, is visiting relatives here.

If people choose to buy Allen Iverson's CDs, that's up to them. It's freedom of speech. It's like buying cigarettes or booze. People may be offended, but if people are going to make him richer by buying his CDs, it must be the world accepts it. I don't agree with what he said and it's offensive, but it's like what the President did. Notice: He's still in office. Kelly Hall Richboro Have an opinion on the news or issues of the day? Call Voicebox, The Inquirer's voice opinion line, 24 hours a day at 215-854-4405.

What is it like to don the white toque of a chef? About 30 students from a home economics class at Scott Intermediate School in Coatesville traveled to Clemente's Ristorante in West Chester on Monday to find out for themselves.

IN THE electric-blue state of Pennsylvania, I often find myself defending my limited support for President Bush. I wouldn't describe myself as a red-blooded conservative, though I have been known to strike an extremely conservative pose on some issues. But recently I have tired of defending a man mocked and criticized by blood-thirsty liberals who refuse to see anything but the worst. Perhaps, in one final attempt, someone might listen. It strikes me as odd that so many were ready to crucify Bush after his first term.

ASUMMER SOMETHING to rave about: The gorgeous arrangement of perennial flowers and ornamental grasses has graced the median of Spring Garden Street for nearly a decade, but this year the color is particularly arresting. The arrangement is part of the "public landscape" program of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Philadelphia Green, which since 1987 has worked with corporations, government and ordinary citizens to transform the public areas that mark visitors' entrances into the city.

Al-Qaeda fighters killed in Yemen SANA'A, Yemen - Yemen said Thursday that its troops had killed 35 al-Qaeda militants in an attack on a hideout in the country's south, part of a wider offensive. The attack came four days after al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a military parade ground in the capital, Sana'a, that killed 96 Yemeni soldiers. The Defense Ministry said Thursday that in its attack, the Yemeni military took control of Wadi Banaa Arab, near the town of Jaar, another al-Qaeda stronghold.

When West Chester University opens play Saturday in the Division II College Baseball World Series, senior second baseman Joe Wendle will be key to their hopes of winning the title. West Chester (42-10) will play California State-Chico (40-17) at 1 p.m. at the USA Baseball National Training Center in Cary, N.C. The Golden Rams reached Cary by winning the Atlantic Region with Sunday's 6-0 victory over Kutztown. Chico won the West with a 7-3 win over Dixie State (St. George, Utah)

West Chester is headed to the World Series. Righthander Dylan Porter fired a four-hitter to lead the Golden Rams past Kutztown, 6-0, on Sunday, for the championship of the NCAA Division II Atlantic baseball regional. West Chester (42-10) earned a trip to the D-II College World Series in Cary, N.C. this weekend. The Golden Rams will open against Chico State of California (40-17) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament. Porter (5-1) was masterful right from the first pitch at Owls Field in West Lawn, Pa. The senior from Chesapeake High in Pasadena, Md., scattered four hits over nine innings, walking one and striking out seven.

Jesse Joensuu 's winning goal with nine seconds left lifted Finland past the United States, 3-2, on Thursday for a place in the semifinals of the hockey world championships in Helsinki. Joensuu opened the scoring at 13 minutes, 27 seconds in the second period, before the Anaheim Ducks' Kyle Palmieri scored 20 seconds later. Bobby Ryan added a goal for the U.S. early in the third period. The Minnesota Wild's Mikko Koivu tied it with 6:58 left in the third.