Presley names twin girls

People

Lisa Marie Presley, 40, and husband Michael Lockwood say their twin girls, who were born Oct. 7, have been named Finley and Harper. Presley also has a 19-year-old daughter, Riley, a model, and a 15-year-old son, Benjamin, with ex-hub Danny Keough.

Ringing out

After 45 years of stardom, Ringo Starr says he doesn't want to spend any more time answering mail or sending signed photos back to fans. The fan fatigue led the 68-year-old former Beatles drummer to post a sometimes angry-sounding short video clip on his Web site telling fans that any mail sent to him after Oct. 20 will "be tossed." He said on the video: "I'm warning you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more fan mail."

Vandals halt film

Officials say that a John Travolta movie "From Paris With Love" has suspended filming in one of the Paris area's toughest housing projects after 10 cars to be used in the movie were burned. Cars are regularly burned in French housing projects, most famously during rioting that raged for three weeks in 2005 in poor neighborhoods across the country.

Games

Chess ends in draw

Defending champion Viswanathan Anand's precise defense neutralized a small advantage for challenger Vladimir Kramnik in the opening game of the world chess championship in Bonn, Germany, on Tuesday, and the game ended in a draw after 32 moves. The 12-game match is scheduled to continue through Oct. 31.

Book shelf

Poet's papers

The British Library said Wednesday it has paid $880,000 to the writer's estate for a major archive of materials by poet Ted Hughes. Hughes, poet laureate from 1984 until his death in 1998 at age 68, is considered one of Britain's most significant 20th-century poets and remains one of the best-selling. His personal life also continues to fascinate. Hughes' first wife was fellow writer Sylvia Plath, who committed suicide in 1963.

Novelist honored

Aravind Adiga, 33, won the 40th Man Booker prize on Tuesday night for his debut novel, "The White Tiger," a vivid exploration of India's class struggle told through the story of a village boy who becomes the chauffeur to a rich man. The $86,000 prize is given annually to a novel written by an author from Britain, Ireland or the Commonwealth nations.

Critters

Last request

Five veterinary clinics in eastern Alabama received 32 surprises in the last week: healthy cats in containers and carriers, along with notes from "Miss R" saying she is dying from cancer. The notes beg the vets to find her pets new homes. "My time is very, very short," the donor wrote.

Passages

Neal Hefti, 85, a former big-band trumpeter, arranger and composer who worked with Count Basie and Woody Herman and later composed the memorable themes for the movie "The Odd Couple" and the campy hit TV series "Batman," died Saturday in suburban Los Angeles.

Today in History

1858: The seventh and final debate between senatorial candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas took place in Alton, Ill.

1917: Dutch dancer Mata Hari, convicted of spying for the Germans, was executed by a French firing squad outside Paris.

1946: Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering fatally poisoned himself hours before he was to have been executed.

1964: It was announced that Soviet leader Nikita S. Khrushchev had been removed from office.

Today's Birthdays

Jazz musician Freddy Cole, 77. Singer Barry McGuire, 73. Actress Linda Lavin, 71. Actress-director Penny Marshall, 66. Singer-musician Richard Carpenter, 62. Singer Tito Jackson, 55. Britain's Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, 49. Chef Emeril Lagasse, 49. Actor Dominic West, 39. Singer Eric Benet, 38. R&B singer Ginuwine, 38. Christian singer-actress Jaci Velasquez, 29. R&B singer Keyshia Cole, 27. Actor Vincent Martella, 16.

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