U.S.officials say there was spontaneous applause at the meeting, at a New York hotel, when word arrived of Senate approval of the five-year Pakistan aid plan, which would triple civilian U.S.assistance to about Expected to win final approval in the U.S.

VOA: standard.2009.09.24

In college basketball, the University of North Carolina won its fifth NCAA men's Division One title by beating Michigan State, The win was UNC Coach Roy Williams' second national crown in five seasons at the university he attended as a student.

VOA: standard.2009.12.24