Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 6 : A three-day national executive meeting of the Communist Party of India will begin here from today to take stock of the current situation in the wake of the Mumbai terror strikes.

Besides taking stock of the situation, the party will also hold talks on the role of the Left and secular forces in the coming parliament elections to take on the Congress and BJP.

Issues like the global recession and its fallout on the country, and retrenchment will also be considered during the meeting.

Sydney, Dec. 6: Australian opener and New South Wales captain Simon Katich believes that Ricky Ponting will opt for a spinning option during the first Test against South Africa to be played at the WACA in Perth from December 17.

"Generally in the past we have played a spinner in Perth. Whether it''s been Stuey MacGill, Beau Casson or Nathan Hauritz. Whoever it is, we generally like to play one as it adds balance to the attack," news. com. au quoted Katich, as saying.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5 -- Right-hander Greg Maddux will end his 23-year major league baseball career, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The newspaper said the 42-year-old Maddux will announce his retirement Monday in Las Vegas, his hometown, on the first day of baseball's winter meetings.

The likely first-ballot hall of fame selection accumulated 355 victories -- eighth-most in major league history. He is a four-time Cy Young Award winner and an eight-time all-star selection.

Melbourne, Dec. 6 : Believe it or not, Australia’s cricketers get paid 672 dollars for every single that they score, or every wicket that they snare.

Which suggests that their demand for a review of pay and conditions virtually borders on the ridiculous.

Even if they just turn up for a game, they earn up to 14,000 dollars, reports news. com. au.

CHICAGO, Dec. 5 -- Workers at a Chicago factory that shut down this week said Friday they will remain in the plant until police throw them out or they get their last paychecks.

A union representative at Republic Windows and Doors blamed Bank of America for the debacle, CBS2 in Chicago reported. Leah Fried of the United Electrical Workers of America accused the bank of forcing the company to close by cutting off credit and then refusing to guarantee payment on its last checks.

Workers said they feel desperate.

"It's just miserable, everything is up in the air," Melvin Maclin, a Republic employee, said. "We don't know anything, no one wants to talk with us."

New York, Dec 6: ‘The Tonight Show’ king Jay Leno is the best when it comes to giving autographs to fans, according to Autograph magazine''s annual survey.

"I''ve been there hundreds of times for autographs of ''The Tonight Show'' guests, and not once has Jay not signed. And he signs for the audience during breaks," the New York Daily News quoted autograph collector Mike Aring, as saying.

Hollywood hunk George Clooney, who regularly stops to speak to fans and sign photos, is the second-best and following him is Matt Damon.