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From staff and wire reports

LOS ANGELES, California -- Screenwriter Julius Epstein, who co-wrote the screenplay for one of cinema's classics, "Casablanca," has died at the age of 91.

The Oscar-winning writer was born the son of a livery stable owner on Manhattan's Lower East Side on August 22, 1909.

Epstein turned out 50 produced screenplays, both with his twin brother, Philip, who died in 1952, and by himself during a career that spanned 60 years.

"Casablanca" brought the brothers and Howard Koch a shared Oscar for the screenplay. The 1942 Humphrey Bogart-Ingrid Bergman romantic drama also won the Oscar for best picture.

Epstein, revered for his wit, later commented that the screenplay contained "a great deal of corn, more corn than in the states of Kansas and Iowa combined. But when corn works, there's nothing better."

Casablanca has achieved cult status due largely to the Epsteins' unforgettable dialogue, which includes such gems as "Here's looking at you, kid," "We'll always have Paris," and "Round up the usual suspects."

LONDON, England -- The Archers, billed by the BBC as the world's longest-running radio soap opera, on Monday celebrated its 50th anniversary with fans of the British farming saga tuning in around the world.

Originally intended as an educational drama, the "everyday story of country folk" has its imitators from Albania from Uzbekistan.

It is available worldwide on the Internet and attracts millions of devoted admirers who revel in Archers trivia.

UK Agriculture Minister Nick Brown hailed the radio landmark as "a momentous day for British farming."

"As minister, I need to be a regular listener," he said.

In 1987, the United Nations urged Third World countries to launch Archers-like soap operas to help educate farmers and solve social problems.

Kenya and Afghanistan joined Albania and Uzbekistan in answering the call and putting out their own versions.

An audience of 20 million tuned in in 1955 to listen to the death of Grace Archer in her husband's arms.

Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth's sister, became the first member of the British Royal family to act on either radio or television. In a 1984 edition, she played herself in a part that stretched to 85 words.

LONDON, England -- Pure Shores, by All Saints, has defeated hits by Moby, Robbie Williams, Craig David, Madonna and many more to be the favourite of 2000, according to a new poll of more than 100,000 e-mail and telephone voters.

The single, produced by studio supremo William Orbit, from the soundtrack to major movie The Beach, led the VH1 Top 100 of 2000 chart, sponsored by British radio station Heart 106.2FM.