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free daily tarot reading Princes William and Harry will attend the world premiere of the next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. A growing number of people are concerned about the impact working mothers have on family life, according to British research. Should mothers stay home and look after the family? The funeral will be held later of a woman whose disabled son's remains were found in a suitcase. A large man on a very small bike. What's being said? Two suspected militants are killed in Pakistan after accidentally detonating explosives with which they planned to blow up a school. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. AFP - The Pentagon is stepping up the use of offensive spy versus spy operations to thwart espionage by foreign intelligence agencies or terrorist groups, senior defense officials said Tuesday. Why some OAPs work beyond retirement age Thames Water is accused of being short-sighted for selling off a site that could have been used for a new ?2.5bn "super sewer". A daily round-up of the top BBC Scotland news website stories you have been reading. A Cornish homeowner has hundreds of pounds worth of heating oil taken from his house in two separate thefts. AFP - Floods have killed 42 people in central and eastern Europe since last month and forced around 40,000 others to flee their homes, the United Nations said Tuesday. AP - The Police ended one of rock 'n' roll's most successful reunions in Madison Square Garden on Thursday with a tribute to other famous trios, an assist from some real cops and a not-particularly close shave. BBC News looks at how the credit crisis unfolded globally AFP - Having his picture taken with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, being recognised around Beijing and sending postcards with his face on the stamp is not the usual summer holiday for a 14-year-old. The Edinburgh International Festival begins later with organisers claiming sales have broken previous records. Acrobatic troupe's colourful London debut of Swan Lake In pictures: World Press Photo Exhibition random ugc Police in Italy arrest a senior member of a family allegedly linked to Mafia killings in the German city of Duisburg last year. Two common treatments for fertility problems are no more effective than trying to get pregnant naturally, a study finds. Reuters - Legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate cigarettes and other forms of tobacco cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. Johnny Cash, Bambi's mum - 80 more things that make men cry Paris Hilton records a spoof advert directed at US presidential hopeful John McCain, after he used her name in his campaign. Send us pictures from where you live in Scotland. AP - After months of internal bickering, Pakistan's governing coalition announced Thursday it will seek to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, cranking up pressure on the U.S.-backed former general to resign. One-fifth of UK youngsters have met strangers they found on the internet, a study says. Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by invasions of rats, fleas and cockroaches, claims a report. The families of some Omagh bomb victims decide not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity. The Bank of England keeps its key interest rate at 5% as it weighs up the slowing economy with inflation worries. Martian finding sends rumour mill into overdrive A vast physics experiment - the Large Hadron Collider - is to reach a key milestone ahead of an official start-up on 10 September. Reuters - Legislation that seeks to protect college students from lending abuses and expands scholarship aid was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. Today's Evan Davis sees if hitchhiking still works AP - Former President Clinton will have a role at the Democratic convention in Denver later this month. Democratic officials said Thursday that Clinton will give a speech on the third night of the convention, before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama, the party's likely presidential nominee. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity before the details were formally announced. AFP - Electrical accidents have killed 16 US troops in Iraq since the start of the war, the Pentagon said Tuesday, but it said critics were wrong to blame KBR and other contractors. No more slumming it as campers embrace luxury AFP - Iran promised in a letter Tuesday a final response to an offer from six world powers relating to its nuclear programme but said it first needed some clarifications about the proposals, an EU source said. Scientists hope secretions from maggots can produce an antibiotic to tackle MRSA and other infections. Questions are asked in the House of Lords about official scrutiny of online ad firm Phorm. AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. A weakness in the plumbing of the internet could be much more destructive than first thought, says the man who found it. AP - Former President Clinton will have a role at the Democratic convention in Denver later this month. Democratic officials said Thursday that Clinton will give a speech on the third night of the convention, before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama, the party's likely presidential nominee. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity before the details were formally announced. A new geographical web search tool that allows people to find historical items from their local area is launched at the eisteddfod. Georgia's clashes with rebels raise fears of new conflict Internet law professor Michael Geist examines implications of new anti-counterfeiting agreement. The US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, meets President Michel Suleiman on a surprise visit to Lebanon's capital. Reuters - Some of the most desperate refugees stranded in the Iraqi desert will move to Iceland and Sweden under a resettlement program announced on Tuesday by the United Nations refugee agency. Great Britain women's forward Alex Danson is cleared to make her Olympic debut in Beijing after recovering from an ankle injury. At least five Pakistani troops and about 25 pro-Taleban militants die in clashes along the Afghan border, say officials. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. Reuters - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been advised to "distance himself" from Sudan's president, who could face an international arrest warrant for genocide in Darfur, diplomats and U.N. officials said. Colombia confronts decade of paramilitary killings Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips Athletes from the Middle East prepare for Beijing Games Newly released FBI papers on the 2001 US anthrax attacks say late scientist, Dr Bruce Ivins, was the sole person responsible. AP - Police say there's been an alarming rise in urine-filled plastic containers found along a three-mile stretch of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon. Reuters - Seven years after the September 11 attacks, the Pentagon on Thursday officially named "the long war" against global extremism as its top priority and pledged to avert any conventional military threat from China or Russia through dialogue. Four current and former British Airways executives may face jail if convicted of fixing the price of fuel surcharges. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. A new camera designed with a curved detection surface allows imaging devices to see as animals do. China prepares to open the 2008 Olympic Games with a lavish ceremony in Beijing, amid heavy cloud and pollution concerns. CQPolitics.com - Jaime Zapata has already been the "voice of God'' and now he will be the voice of the House of Representatives. AFP - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday condemned "aggressive actions" by Georgian troops in South Ossetia, and said that Russia would be compelled to retaliate. A host of country stars are to perform with Elvis Presley on a Christmas duet album. Georgian troops close in on the capital of the separatist South Ossetia region, after a night of heavy fighting. AP - A rare bird's-eye look at Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta shows the devastation still left from Cyclone Nargis ? broken levies, flooded farm roads, the shattered remains of bamboo huts and trees strewn like matchsticks along the coast. Reuters - Legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate cigarettes and other forms of tobacco cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. Reuters - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will endorse a $20 billion five-year plan to substantially expand Afghanistan's army, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing senior Pentagon and military officials. Large-scale biomass plants need more investment if the EU is going to meet its renewables goal. Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests. The technology that keeps the net running turns 40 The world is still wary of modern China, according to a poll for the BBC's Newsnight. What is your perception of the country and its people? Thames Water is accused of being short-sighted for selling off a site that could have been used for a new ?2.5bn free daily tarot reading "super sewer". US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. The world is still wary of modern China, according to a poll for the BBC's Newsnight. What is your perception of the country and its people? Satellite communications firm Inmarsat reports strong quarterly revenues, aided by providing mobile services in disaster areas. A large man on a very small bike. What's being said? A large man on a very small bike. What's being said? Results from US retailers show disappointing sales in July, with the outlook between now and September looking poor. The European Central Bank maintains eurozone interest rates at 4.25% after its latest meeting. Explosions outside a public building in Istanbul have injured three people, officials and local media say. AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. The date when the first of Wales' television transmitters will start broadcasting only in digital is to be unveiled. A Serb revisits the Kosovo town he was forced to flee AP - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick spent the night in a one-man jail cell with no TV and a phone only for collect calls, the consequence of violating his bond in a criminal case that has dogged him for months. AFP - The Pentagon has extended the deployment of 1,250 Marines in Afghanistan for 30 days until November to keep up the momentum of training of Afghan security forces, a spokesman said Tuesday. Month by month look at the key events so far AFP - The top US commander in Afghanistan has publicly accused Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate of "some complicity" over time with militant groups fomenting violence in Afghanistan. How UK team won the Championship Gaming Series. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls an all-party meeting to discuss worsening tensions in Indian-administered Kashmir. Chelsea make a ?19.7m bid for Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Robinho, BBC Sport understands. Thames Water is accused of being short-sighted for selling off a site that could have been used for a new ?2.5bn "super sewer". How UK team won the Championship Gaming Series. Simon Gray, the author of more than 30 plays and five novels, dies at the age of 71. Cubans weigh up the benefits of economic reform The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. Reuters - The United Nations on Thursday raised concerns Sudanese anti-terrorism courts which condemned 30 Darfur rebels to death did not meet international standards and urged the appeals courts to review the sentences. Scientists develop procedure which may help transplant patients avoid the need to take anti-rejection drugs. HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch: The date when the first of Wales' television transmitters will start broadcasting only in digital is to be unveiled. AP - The deadliest three months for American forces in Afghanistan have pushed the U.S. death toll to at least 500, forcing a war long overshadowed by Iraq back into the headlines. In pictures: World Press Photo Exhibition AFP - The Pentagon said Friday it has notified Congress of proposed military sales to Iraq valued at more than nine billion dollars, including helicopters, tanks and armored vehicles. AFP - Electrical accidents have killed 16 US troops in Iraq since the start of the war, the Pentagon said Tuesday, but it said critics were wrong to blame KBR and other contractors. Athletes from the Middle East prepare for Beijing Games AP - After months of internal bickering, Pakistan's governing coalition announced Thursday it will seek to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, cranking up pressure on the U.S.-backed former general to resign. The new Lebanese cabinet unanimously approves a policy statement aimed at ending the country's political deadlock. Bill Thompson on Apple's software security stance Industrial output in Germany grew by just 0.2% in June, adding to fears the economy is on the brink of sliding into a recession. Solzhenitsyn and submarines - how deep is Russia? AFP - The Pentagon is stepping up the use of offensive spy versus spy operations to thwart espionage by foreign intelligence agencies or terrorist groups, senior defense officials said Tuesday. DNA tests are to be conducted on the mummified remains of two stillborn children found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptian officials say. Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. No more slumming it as campers embrace luxury An Indian government ban on an Islamic student group accused of terrorism is to remain in force after a Supreme Court ruling, officials say. Citigroup is to buy back billions of dollars worth of securities, following a probe by the US financial regulator. Satellite communications firm Inmarsat reports strong quarterly revenues, aided by providing mobile services in disaster areas. AFP - Two American soldiers in Iraq have been charged with murdering an Iraqi prisoner, the US military said on Saturday. A surgery with 18,500 patients has structural checks after being damaged and left without power after being hit by a car. Industrial output in Germany grew by just 0.2% in June, adding to fears the economy is on the brink of sliding into a recession. How gamers may soon be able to race against top F1 drivers in real time from the comfort of their living room. A 19-year-old youth is being questioned about the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Ryan Bravo in a supermarket. A look at what's making the headlines in Wednesday's morning newspapers. At least five Pakistani troops and about 25 pro-Taleban militants die in clashes along the Afghan border, say officials. A book featuring a Harry Potter prequel by JK Rowling becomes the fastest-selling collection of short stories. India's audit agency says rare documents go missing from the National Library in the eastern city of Calcutta Plans are put forward to turn a rural golf club in the Borders into one of the country's top venues for the sport. AP - The wife of evangelical pastor Joel Osteen shoved a flight attendant during an in-flight tantrum over a stained seat, a fellow crew member testified Thursday at a civil trial over the incident. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a serious sexual assault in Crumlin, County Antrim, police say. Reuters - The United Nations on Thursday raised concerns Sudanese anti-terrorism courts which condemned 30 Darfur rebels to death did not meet international standards and urged the appeals courts to review the sentences. Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. AFP - The UN Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to renew for one year the mandate of the UN mission for Iraq. AP - Eric Dowling, who helped plan the mass wartime breakout from a German prison camp that inspired the movie "The Great Escape," has died at 92. AP - A man who authorities said was keeping weapons and military-style gear in his hotel room and car appeared in court Thursday on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Reuters - A man with self-described mental health problems was ordered held without bail in Florida on Thursday on charges that he had threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama or President George W. Bush. Inside Radovan Karadzic's sparse new home AP - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed. The decline of primates shows time is running out Indian intelligence remains clueless after serial blasts Two Britons detained close to the Olympic stadium in Beijing after staging a protest about Tibet have arrived back in UK. A Honduran man, convicted of a 2001 murder, is executed in the US after the Supreme Court rejects his appeal. Staff at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel find a small girl alone after her parents accidentally take a plane without her. AP - A man who authorities said was keeping weapons and military-style gear in his hotel room and car appeared in court Thursday on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. A Honduran man, convicted of a 2001 murder, is executed in the US after the Supreme Court rejects his appeal. AFP - The United States and its European allies have rejected Iran's latest letter on its suspect nuclear program and now plan to seek new UN Security Council sanctions, US media reported Wednesday. Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. France accuses Rwanda of "unacceptable accusations" after a report says it was actively involved in the 1994 genocide. AFP - Computer security researchers on Thursday warned that online social networking websites are playgrounds for hackers who can easily take advantage of people's trust. Afghan taekwondo star could win a medal The families of some Omagh bomb free daily tarot reading victims decide not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity. Leona Lewis and Coldplay are amongst the acts nominated for a special British prize at the MTV Music Video Awards in the US. Osama Bin Laden's ex-driver is sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch: A US widow demands to know why a "certifiable" scientist now suspected of anthrax attacks was not removed from his post. Osama Bin Laden's ex-driver is sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. The Dark Knight passes the $400 million (?204.5m) mark at North American cinemas faster than any other film in history. HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch: A man in Nigeria who has 86 wives and at least 170 children advises others not to follow his example. US space agency Nasa quashes any idea that it is hiding information related to discoveries made on Mars. Demonstrators march in Caracas against moves to bar nearly 300 Venezuelan politicians from standing for election. AP - Former President Clinton will have a role at the Democratic convention in Denver later this month. Democratic officials said Thursday that Clinton will give a speech on the third night of the convention, before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama, the party's likely presidential nominee. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity before the details were formally announced. AFP - Computer security researchers on Thursday warned that online social networking websites are playgrounds for hackers who can easily take advantage of people's trust. A contest to choose the next Miss Nepal is postponed indefinitely after criticism from former rebel Maoists. A baby dying from kidney failure was saved when her doctor built her a dialysis machine from scratch in his garage. Reuters - Legislation aimed at curbing credit card billing practices that surprise borrowers with unexpected interest rate increases and fees was approved on Thursday by a U.S. House of Representatives committee. AP - After months of internal bickering, Pakistan's governing coalition announced Thursday it will seek to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, cranking up pressure on the U.S.-backed former general to resign. A report finds progress in tackling social work failures in south west Scotland has been slower than intended. It's time to exercise residual language skills. Paddy O'Connell tries a French class with a nice ferry attached. An in-depth guide to EU news and institutions Attitudes to working mothers are becoming less favourable, a survey from Cambridge University suggests. Thames Water is accused of being short-sighted for selling off a site that could have been used for a new ?2.5bn "super sewer". The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. Two Israeli soldiers will face trial over the shooting of a bound Palestinian prisoner in the foot, the Israeli military says. A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. Reuters - Seven years after the September 11 attacks, the Pentagon on Thursday officially named "the long war" against global extremism as its top priority and pledged to avert any conventional military threat from China or Russia through dialogue. Scientists have identified a possible cause of the painful womb condition endometriosis. Damon Albarn on his opera album Nicole Kidman calls on the media in her hometown of Sydney to give her "a little space" during her visit there with her baby. Politico - One of the Democratic Party's leading electoral street fighters, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, said that Barack Obama should respond to John McCain's personal attacks with an equally personal slap. Vital work of Clinton-backed HIV centre The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. Firms help staff understand laws of the land BBC News looks at how the credit crisis unfolded globally AFP - The Pentagon is mounting a 2.2 billion dollar effort to dramatically expand surveillance of Iraq and Afghanistan by manned and unmanned spy planes, Pentagon officials said Thursday. Steve Kingstone reads police files on Madeleine McCann The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. random ugc Princes William and Harry will attend the world premiere of the next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. A man in Nigeria who has 86 wives and at least 170 children advises others not to follow his example. Osama Bin Laden's ex-driver is sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. A vast physics experiment - the Large Hadron Collider - is to reach a key milestone ahead of an official start-up on 10 September. Watery workshop to raise sea squirts awareness AP - Israel will almost surely boycott the next U.N. racism conference in Geneva, its ambassador said Wednesday, warning that the meeting is likely to sink into the same anti-Semitism that prompted the U.S. and Israel to walk out of the last one seven years ago. Sweden's Robert Karlsson and India's Jeev Milkha Singh share a one-shot lead after the opening day of the USPGA at Oakland Hills. A man in Nigeria who has 86 wives and at least 170 children advises others not to follow his example. The families of some Omagh bomb victims decide not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity. Britain's sailing squad has an extra weapon going into the Olympics - an extract from a sea creature which could help keep them ready to race. AP - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick spent the night in a one-man jail cell with no TV and a phone only for collect calls, the consequence of violating his bond in a criminal case that has dogged him for months. AP - John McCain's campaign said Thursday it is returning $50,000 in contributions solicited by a foreign citizen. The move follows the disclosure that the money was being raised by a Jordanian man who is a business partner of prominent Florida Republican Harry Sargeant III, who has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars for McCain. A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Londonderry woman Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. The disease tends to affect older people - but can strike at any time. AP - The average time that hospital emergency rooms patients wait to see a doctor has grown from about 38 minutes to almost an hour over the past decade, according to new federal statistics released Wednesday. The disease tends to affect older people - but can strike at any time. AP - Former President Clinton will have a role at the Democratic convention in Denver later this month. Democratic officials said Thursday that Clinton will give a speech on the third night of the convention, before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama, the party's likely presidential nominee. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity before the details were formally announced. Money short for film-makers in Tinsel Town Britain's sailing squad has an extra weapon going into the Olympics - an extract from a sea creature which could help keep them ready to race. Iran suspends the punishment of death by stoning, handed down for adultery in the Islamic republic, but rarely carried out. AP - One of the United States' biggest challenges in securing government computers from foreign attacks isn't necessarily technical. The country first needs to figure out how much those networks are worth and how much the U.S. should spend on protecting them, the new Homeland Security official in charge of that effort said Thursday. The Italian government has deployed thousands of soldiers in major cities in a new drive against crime. Do you support the move? AFP - Australian Customs and police said Friday they had seized 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy tablets worth nearly 400 million dollars, describing it as the biggest haul of the illicit drug anywhere in the world. Plans are put forward to turn a rural golf club in the Borders into one of the country's top venues for the sport. There is widespread international condemnation of the military takeover announced in Mauritania. AP - A spokeswoman for Bernie Mac says the actor is responding well to treatment for pneumonia and hopes to be released in the next few weeks. AFP - Republicans Monday took to a darkened House of Representatives, in a highly unusual demand for Democratic leaders to recall Congress from its summer recess for a vote on offshore oil drilling. Georgia's clashes with rebels raise fears of new conflict A comprehensive guide to clinical conditions Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. The US budget deficit is expected to hit $400bn this year, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. Two suspected militants are killed in Pakistan after accidentally detonating explosives with which they planned to blow up a school. One hundred years ago London hosted the Fourth Olympiad. It was a hastily organised affair, after Italy pulled out following the eruption of Vesuvius. Oh, and Britain won free daily tarot reading 56 golds. AP - Eric Dowling, who helped plan the mass wartime breakout from a German prison camp that inspired the movie "The Great Escape," has died at 92. Indian inflation hits a 13-year high above 12% despite government efforts to tighten monetary policy. Reuters - The U.S. Defense Department plans to spend $2.2 billion on a new fleet of spy planes and unmanned drones for Iraq and Afghanistan that would greatly enhance the ability of U.S. forces to track militants, officials said on Thursday. AFP - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will meet on Sunday with the two sides drawing nearer to a power-sharing agreement, a newspaper reported Friday. Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication. The US calls for 'punitive' measures over Iran's nuclear programme, after Tehran's response to an incentives offer. OneWorld.net - UNITED NATIONS, Aug 5 (OneWorld) - Aid groups are demanding increased protections for civilians in Afghanistan as fighting continues to escalate in the Central Asian country that is regaining its status as a focal point of the U.S.-led "war on terror." Barclays reports a 33% drop in profits for the first half of 2008 to ?2.75bn, with more write-downs linked to the credit crunch. Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. Hundreds of Tibetans are arrested in Nepal's capital during a protest against Chinese policy on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. A senior military official close to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is assassinated, according to Arab media reports. Andrea Pininfarina, head of a world-famous Italian car design group, is killed in a road accident in Turin. AFP - Australian Customs and police said Friday they had seized 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy tablets worth nearly 400 million dollars, describing it as the biggest haul of the illicit drug anywhere in the world. A court in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) rejects a couple's plea to abort their 25-week foetus in a key test case. Reuters - Major powers agreed to consider a fourth U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran because of its refusal to freeze sensitive nuclear work, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. AP - In an assessment that could lead to a substantial charge against its future profits, Google Inc. believes its $1 billion investment in advertising partner AOL is souring. Paris Market Report The US budget deficit is expected to hit $400bn this year, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. AP - Speaking on China's turf the very day it hosted the opening of the Olympic Games, President Bush on Friday prodded the communist country to lessen repression and "let people say what they think." A colour-changing crystal attached to a soldier's uniform could help doctors decide if they might need treatment for a brain injury, researchers say. The US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, meets President Michel Suleiman on a surprise visit to Lebanon's capital. Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. Frasier star Kelsey Grammer leaves hospital for the second time since suffering a heart attack. A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. AFP - Having his picture taken with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, being recognised around Beijing and sending postcards with his face on the stamp is not the usual summer holiday for a 14-year-old. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. AP - Republican John McCain called Thursday for a federal investigation into plans by the DHL shipping company that could cost 10,000 jobs here, as he and his campaign manager took criticism for helping DHL complete a key corporate merger in 2003. Georgian troops close in on the capital of the separatist South Ossetia region, after a night of heavy fighting. AP - A man who authorities said was keeping weapons and military-style gear in his hotel room and car appeared in court Thursday on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Solzhenitsyn drew on Russian tradition to expose evil The Atlantic hurricane season is set to be more active this year than initially predicted, US meteorologists say. Broadcaster ITV says half-year profits fell 28% and predicts this autumn's advertising revenue will be much lower than last year. The US revokes visas of three postgraduate students from Gaza whose cases it championed at the highest levels. AP - The wife of evangelical pastor Joel Osteen shoved a flight attendant during an in-flight tantrum over a stained seat, a fellow crew member testified Thursday at a civil trial over the incident. AP - They're not exactly rooting for Barack Obama, but prominent white supremacists anticipate a boost to their cause if he becomes the first black president. His election, they say, would trigger a backlash ? whites rising up, a revolution of sorts ? that they think is long overdue. Results from US retailers show disappointing sales in July, with the outlook between now and September looking poor. Life in the shadow of Mexico's feared drug gangs Police launch murder inquiry after a man dies after being attacked with a baseball bat on a Cornish street. An ex-member of Italy's disbanded Red Brigades group is granted bail by a French court due to ill health. An MEP says an extension of police powers to stop and search anyone near the Kent climate camp is undermining civil liberties. One hundred years ago London hosted the Fourth Olympiad. It was a hastily organised affair, after Italy pulled out following the eruption of Vesuvius. Oh, and Britain won 56 golds. Month by month look at the key events so far Pakistan's ruling alliance is expected to decide whether to begin moves to try to impeach President Pervez Musharraf. AP - If you witness a murder or a drug deal in the crime-stricken border city of Tijuana, don't bother calling the police ? call the Mexican army. A man is arrested on suspicion of affray following the recovery of a samurai sword from a house in Gateshead. Britain's sailing squad has an extra weapon going into the Olympics - an extract from a sea creature which could help keep them ready to race. The Dark Knight passes the $400 million (?204.5m) mark at North American cinemas faster than any other film in history. The UK government has been given a month to respond to EU concerns over Phorm. AP - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed. AP - Republican John McCain called Thursday for a federal investigation into plans by the DHL shipping company that could cost 10,000 jobs here, as he and his campaign manager took criticism for helping DHL complete a key corporate merger in 2003. Muslims in Indian-administered Kashmir are on strike for a second day in a row as tensions rise over protests by Hindus. Afghan taekwondo star could win a medal Kurdistan novelist strikes region's first major book deal Quangos, which aim to rejuvenate regional economies, are wasteful and should be scrapped, a report says. The families of some Omagh bomb victims decide not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity. AP - A man and a woman found a new use for a barbecue pit ? one that landed them in jail. An argument over whether a third guest should stay in the house got so heated that the woman picked up the barbecue pit and hit the man over the head with it, police said. A genetic mutation in dachshunds could help uncover the roots of some inherited forms of blindness in humans, say scientists. Raid puts town at centre of the US immigration debate The world is still wary of modern China, according to a poll for the BBC's Newsnight. What is your perception of the country and its people? Martian finding sends rumour mill into overdrive The technology that keeps the net running turns 40 R&B singer Mary J Blige is sued for $2m (?1m) by a US music production company that says she stole a song used on her latest album. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. The former US leader Bill Clinton says poorly-developed health services are now the main obstacle to fighting AIDS. Is he right? A man in Nigeria who has 86 wives and at least 170 children advises others not to follow his example. A man found guilty of manslaughter after giving his friend the methadone which killed him has his conviction overturned. Scientists develop procedure which may help transplant patients avoid the need to take anti-rejection drugs. AP - After months of internal bickering, Pakistan's governing coalition announced Thursday it will seek to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, cranking up pressure on the U.S.-backed former general to resign. Yahoo bosses face fresh free daily tarot reading pressure after it emerges that opposition to them at its recent AGM was greater than first thought. French prosecutors call for a seven-year probe into corruption over the sale of warships to Taiwan to be dismissed. Investigators are to drop a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained two painkillers that contributed to his death. French prosecutors call for a seven-year probe into corruption over the sale of warships to Taiwan to be dismissed. A new geographical web search tool that allows people to find historical items from their local area is launched at the eisteddfod. Reuters - Major powers agreed to consider a fourth U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran because of its refusal to freeze sensitive nuclear work, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? East Coast Mainline services for passengers travelling north from Newcastle continue to be disrupted by flooding. A report finds progress in tackling social work failures in south west Scotland has been slower than intended. AP - A Bangladeshi lawyer who works as a human trafficking expert for the United Nations has been released on bail while she appeals a three-year jail sentence on extortion charges, a prison official said Thursday. Barclays reports a 33% drop in profits for the first half of 2008 to ?2.75bn, with more write-downs linked to the credit crunch. AP - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick spent the night in a one-man jail cell with no TV and a phone only for collect calls, the consequence of violating his bond in a criminal case that has dogged him for months. Reuters - Ambassadors from the United States and Libya exchanged hugs and kisses at the U.N. Security Council on Thursday in an unusual public display of affection between former arch enemies. The Enemy lead singer Tom Clarke "slashed the end off" his finger while playing guitar at a festival in Chicago, he reveals. Satellite communications firm Inmarsat reports strong quarterly revenues, aided by providing mobile services in disaster areas. The date when the first of Wales' television transmitters will start broadcasting only in digital is to be unveiled. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. Nicole Kidman calls on the media in her hometown of Sydney to give her "a little space" during her visit there with her baby. A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. An injection of a high dose of vitamin C may be able to hold back the advance of cancers, US scientists say. Suspected pro-Taleban militants burn down three girls' high schools in the Swat valley of north-west Pakistan, officials say. Mixed results in the worldwide fight against HIV The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. Athletes from the Middle East prepare for Beijing Games AP - The catwalk really was a catwalk Thursday. Show cats dressed in everything from an Elvis costume to a sequined satin dress strutted their stuff at New York's Algonquin Hotel. Sri Lanka and India meet in the third and final Test in Colombo with the series up for grabs. Reuters - Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind. AP - A top Italian administrative court on Tuesday approved the expansion of a U.S. military base in northeast Italy, local media reported. The expansion has caused angry protests by residents and leftist politicians. AFP - Republicans Monday took to a darkened House of Representatives, in a highly unusual demand for Democratic leaders to recall Congress from its summer recess for a vote on offshore oil drilling. The body of Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, chronicler of Soviet brutality, is laid to rest. Cubans weigh up the benefits of economic reform Kurdistan novelist strikes region's first major book deal Israel's press is largely unsurprised by Ehud Olmert's announcement that he would leave office in September after coming under pressure over corruption allegations. Two Britons detained close to the Olympic stadium in Beijing after staging a protest about Tibet have arrived back in UK. Dr Who actor David Tennant takes to the stage as Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon - alongside Star Trek's Patrick Stewart. The European Central Bank maintains eurozone interest rates at 4.25% after its latest meeting. Nearly half of drivers would never consider giving up their car, regardless of how expensive petrol became, a survey shows. Reuters - Los Angeles residents are notorious for worrying about their waistlines and if two Los Angeles County Supervisors have it their way, calorie counting while dining out in the city may get easier. A council appeals for information about the source of contamination which could date from the 1940s. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. The US president uses a keynote speech in Asia to criticise China's human-rights record, on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. Watery workshop to raise sea squirts awareness How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. Protests over the murder of a Marxist leader paralyse life in the enclave of Nandigram in India's West Bengal state. Iraq's parliament adjourns for a month after failing to agree on a provincial election law, viewed as a key political reform. Israelis comment on the prisoner swap taking place between Israel and Lebanon. Yawning is known to be contagious in humans but now scientists have shown that pet dogs can catch a yawn, too. In spite of global fears, Brazil hails its ethanol revolution The world is still wary of modern China, according to a poll for the BBC's Newsnight. What is your perception of the country and its people? Which bits of the bottom of the sea does the UK claim? Reuters - The chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has urged the Bush administration to shelve a nuclear trade deal with India unless it can guarantee compliance with a U.S. law that would suspend trade if India tested a nuclear weapon again. Reuters - A jury of U.S. military officers sentenced Osama bin Laden's driver on Thursday to just 5 1/2 years in prison -- most of which he has already served - in the first U.S. war crimes tribunal since World War Two. AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. Almost half of the world's primate species are facing extinction, a major global assessment warns, with habitat loss the main threat. Large-scale biomass plants need more investment if the EU is going to meet its renewables goal. AP - Speaking on China's turf the very day it hosted the opening of the Olympic Games, President Bush on Friday prodded the communist country to lessen repression and "let people say what they think." A fake profile on the Twitter micro-blogging site has been found to hide a program capable of stealing data. The Italian government has deployed thousands of soldiers in major cities in a new drive against crime. Do you support the move? Chevron and Total are the latest major oil companies to report strong results thanks to high oil prices. AFP - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will meet on Sunday with the two sides drawing nearer to a power-sharing agreement, a newspaper reported Friday. A man is killed when the car in which he is travelling crosses a carriageway and collides with a tipper truck. Chip giant Intel has revealed details of the chip line that will spearhead its push into the graphics card market. Former medic at main US jail in Iraq raises concerns Playbill - The Federal Communication Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) is currently field testing the performance of prototype White Space Devices, like laptops, which use the same free broadcast television spectrum as theatrical wireless microphones. AFP - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will meet on Sunday with the two sides drawing nearer to a power-sharing agreement, a newspaper reported Friday. An ex-US secret service informant is accused of being the ringleader in the country's biggest identity fraud case. AP - The U.S. Navy said that one of its nuclear-powered submarines had leaked minimally radioactive water earlier this year, threatening to cause a stir in Japan where both the U.S. military presence and its nuclear vessels are controversial. The Italian government has deployed thousands of soldiers in major cities in a new drive against crime. Do you support the move? AFP - A reported rift between the US and Pakistani intelligence agencies reflects deepening US frustration over Islamabad's role in a worsening insurgency in Afghanistan, analysts said here. Reuters - Fighting raged around the capital of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia on Friday as Georgian troops, backed by warplanes, pounded separatist forces in a bid to re-take control of the territory. AP - With thousands of hackers milling around the Black Hat convention here, and widespread snooping on the public WiFi network, one place was supposed to be off limits: the press room. AP - Major world powers agreed Wednesday to pursue new sanctions against Iran, free daily tarot reading even though the watered-down penalties already levied by the U.N. have only made Iran rush faster to perfect nuclear expertise. Police in Italy arrest a senior member of a family allegedly linked to Mafia killings in the German city of Duisburg last year. Reuters - August 8 promises to be a lucky day for Liu Chuan who is getting married and has a ticket for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. China prepares to open the 2008 Olympic Games with a lavish ceremony in Beijing, amid heavy cloud and pollution concerns. Reuters - Legislation that seeks to protect college students from lending abuses and expands scholarship aid was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. Damon Albarn on his opera album The technology that keeps the net running turns 40 Reuters - August 8 promises to be a lucky day for Liu Chuan who is getting married and has a ticket for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. AFP - The Pentagon is mounting a 2.2 billion dollar effort to dramatically expand surveillance of Iraq and Afghanistan by manned and unmanned spy planes, Pentagon officials said Thursday. Reuters - The U.N. Security Council voted on Thursday to keep the United Nations mission in Iraq for another year, as Baghdad urged the world body to do more to help it transform into a functioning democracy. The former US leader Bill Clinton says poorly-developed health services are now the main obstacle to fighting AIDS. Is he right? World leaders gather in Beijing for the opening of the Olympics. Will these be a memorable Games? A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? Preparations ahead of the start of the Olympics in China are widely reported in Friday's papers. Police launch murder inquiry after a man dies after being attacked with a baseball bat on a Cornish street. AP - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed. Quangos, which aim to rejuvenate regional economies, are wasteful and should be scrapped, a report says. AP - One of the United States' biggest challenges in securing government computers from foreign attacks isn't necessarily technical. The country first needs to figure out how much those networks are worth and how much the U.S. should spend on protecting them, the new Homeland Security official in charge of that effort said Thursday. The scion of sheikhs teaching English to Pristina East Coast Mainline services for passengers travelling north from Newcastle continue to be disrupted by flooding. AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. Almost half of the world's primate species are facing extinction, a major global assessment warns, with habitat loss the main threat. The Police stage the final performance of their reunion world tour with a concert in New York's Madison Square Garden. Dominicans' role in hunt for Alzheimer's cure Send us pictures from where you live in Scotland. It's time to exercise residual language skills. Paddy O'Connell tries a French class with a nice ferry attached. AP - The catwalk really was a catwalk Thursday. Show cats dressed in everything from an Elvis costume to a sequined satin dress strutted their stuff at New York's Algonquin Hotel. The technology that keeps the net running turns 40 Why Iraqi cleric wants his fighters to drop their guns Internet law professor Michael Geist examines implications of new anti-counterfeiting agreement. French prosecutors call for a seven-year probe into corruption over the sale of warships to Taiwan to be dismissed. Should a baby be risked to save her sister? DNA tests are to be conducted on the mummified remains of two stillborn children found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptian officials say. AP - The deadliest three months for American forces in Afghanistan have pushed the U.S. death toll to at least 500, forcing a war long overshadowed by Iraq back into the headlines. A militant attack on two pipelines cuts oil production in Nigeria, as five kidnapped oil workers are freed. AP - Police say there's been an alarming rise in urine-filled plastic containers found along a three-mile stretch of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon. Students at a school in Tynemouth carry out a survey of mobile phone use as apart of the BBC's School Report project. India's audit agency says rare documents go missing from the National Library in the eastern city of Calcutta Matt Frei, presenter of BBC World News America, thinks Mr Obama needs to respond to humour with some jokes of his own. CNET - LAS VEGAS--Microsoft is jumping into the responsible disclosure game. The Russian writer who exposed Stalin's prison system in his novels, has died at the age of 89 Frasier star Kelsey Grammer leaves hospital for the second time since suffering a heart attack. Two common treatments for fertility problems are no more effective than trying to get pregnant naturally, a study finds. AP - One of the United States' biggest challenges in securing government computers from foreign attacks isn't necessarily technical. The country first needs to figure out how much those networks are worth and how much the U.S. should spend on protecting them, the new Homeland Security official in charge of that effort said Thursday. Reuters - A jury of U.S. military officers sentenced Osama bin Laden's driver on Thursday to just 5 1/2 years in prison -- most of which he has already served - in the first U.S. war crimes tribunal since World War Two. Suspected pro-Taleban militants burn down three girls' high schools in the Swat valley of north-west Pakistan, officials say. Former medic at main US jail in Iraq raises concerns Which bits of the bottom of the sea does the UK claim? AFP - China's once-in-a-lifetime Olympic dream neared reality Friday as the clock ticked down to the Beijing Games opening ceremony, but gloomy weather and tight security risked dampening the celebration. Scientists hope secretions from maggots can produce an antibiotic to tackle MRSA and other infections. A new camera designed with a curved detection surface allows imaging devices to see as animals do. AP - A man and a woman found a new use for a barbecue pit ? one that landed them in jail. An argument over whether a third guest should stay in the house got so heated that the woman picked up the barbecue pit and hit the man over the head with it, police said. CQPolitics.com - Jaime Zapata has already been the "voice of God'' and now he will be the voice of the House of Representatives. The World Conker Championship could be in jeopardy because of a virus attacking horse chestnut trees. AP - A man and a woman found a new use for a barbecue pit ? one that landed them in jail. An argument over whether a third guest should stay in the house got so heated that the woman picked up the barbecue pit and hit the man over the head with it, police said. Syrian dissident economist Aref Dalila is freed by the authorities after serving nearly seven years in jail. A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. Two Israeli soldiers will face trial over the shooting of a bound Palestinian prisoner in the foot, the Israeli military says. AP - About 20 House Republicans have cut short their August vacations, gathering on the floor to protest Democratic energy policy and demand that Speaker Nancy Pelosi call lawmakers back into session to vote on an energy package. The bill would include GOP demands for more domestic drilling. The Dark Knight passes the $400 million (?204.5m) mark at North American cinemas faster than any other film in history. How UK team won the Championship Gaming Series. The technology that keeps the net running turns 40 AP - Police say there's been an alarming rise in urine-filled plastic containers found along a three-mile stretch of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon. A spokesman tells the BBC that, for the time being, the militia loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr will not carry arms. AP - A man who authorities said was keeping weapons and military-style gear in his hotel room and car appeared in court Thursday on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. British soprano Sarah Brightman will perform at the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony on Friday. Why Bengalis are India's most prolific travellers AFP - Australian Customs and police said Friday they had seized 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy tablets worth nearly 400 million dollars, describing it as the biggest haul of the illicit drug anywhere in the world. Playbill - The Federal Communication Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) is currently field testing the performance of prototype White Space Devices, like laptops, which use the same free broadcast television spectrum as theatrical wireless microphones. World leaders gather in Beijing for the opening of the Olympics. Will these be a memorable Games? AP - Shells fired from a mortar-like mechanism near a municipal free daily tarot reading government building in Istanbul slightly injured three people, the city's governor reportedly said. Pakistan's ruling coalition parties say they will begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf. Four Iraqis describe their hopes and frustrations with life in their country. AP - Mayor Cheye Calvo got home from work, saw a package addressed to his wife on the front porch and brought it inside, putting it on a table. AP - Democatic presidential contender Barack Obama said Wednesday his Republican rival John McCain "thinks we're on the right track," drawing a chorus of boos from a swing state audience vocal about the status quo. The technology that keeps the net running turns 40 Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. Bin Laden's former driver has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. What does this mean for the future of Guantanamo? A Serb revisits the Kosovo town he was forced to flee The Halifax says house prices fell 1.7% in July, with the average property price now 8.8% lower than at the same point last year. The DR Congo and Congo are losing $12m annually in tax avoidance by logging companies, Greenpeace says. Israel carries out its last major airlift of Jewish Ethiopians, ending a 30-year immigration scheme. Yawning is known to be contagious in humans but now scientists have shown that pet dogs can catch a yawn, too. Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication. Pakistan's ruling alliance is expected to decide whether to begin moves to try to impeach President Pervez Musharraf. Employers in England and Wales are making illegal requests for background checks on their workers, the BBC learns. Google's director of mobile platforms explains his vision for Android, a new operating system for mobiles. AP - The average time that hospital emergency rooms patients wait to see a doctor has grown from about 38 minutes to almost an hour over the past decade, according to new federal statistics released Wednesday. TV journalist Martin Bashir apologises for making a "tasteless" comment about Asian women at a banquet. Mixed results in the worldwide fight against HIV A book featuring a Harry Potter prequel by JK Rowling becomes the fastest-selling collection of short stories. A man in Nigeria who has 86 wives and at least 170 children advises others not to follow his example. AP - A spokeswoman for Bernie Mac says the actor is responding well to treatment for pneumonia and hopes to be released in the next few weeks. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m in the first half of 2008, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. Iran's women rowers hoping for Olympic success A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. A man is killed when the car in which he is travelling crosses a carriageway and collides with a tipper truck. Chinese PC maker Lenovo reports upbeat quarterly profits as it improved market share in Europe. Two common treatments for fertility problems are no more effective than trying to get pregnant naturally, a study finds. It's time to exercise residual language skills. Paddy O'Connell tries a French class with a nice ferry attached. CQPolitics.com - Freshman Republican Rep. David Davis of Tennessee's 1st Congressional District lost his seat in Thursday's primary election, as Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe scored a narrow victory. The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. AP - The first federal survey of both men and women on adoption challenges some stereotypes and offers some surprising findings: Reuters - Some of the most desperate refugees stranded in the Iraqi desert will move to Iceland and Sweden under a resettlement program announced on Tuesday by the United Nations refugee agency. AP - Obama says 'reckless' GOP economic policies hammer middle class, would continue under McCain ... On the campaign trail, McCain not always sure of the details of policies he supports ... Analysis: McCain eager to reassure anxious conservatives he won't raise taxes ... Richardson to hold fundraisers Aug. 17 to help Sen. Hillary Clinton retire campaign debt Johnny Cash, Bambi's mum - 80 more things that make men cry Citigroup is to buy back billions of dollars worth of securities, following a probe by the US financial regulator. Time Warner prepares the ground for a major shake-up of its struggling internet business AOL as subscriber numbers fall. A colour-changing crystal attached to a soldier's uniform could help doctors decide if they might need treatment for a brain injury, researchers say. Reuters - The Pentagon on Monday said it was closing a controversial intelligence office that had raised concerns about domestic spying by the military after the September 11 attacks. The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. Yawning is known to be contagious in humans but now scientists have shown that pet dogs can catch a yawn, too. Pakistan PM has hard time winning over sceptical US AFP - Circumcision appears to offer men even greater protection against the AIDS virus than thought and also partially shield them against a common sexually-transmitted disease, two studies presented at the world AIDS conference said Thursday. AP - A suspected cholera outbreak in a remote southern Philippine township has killed 21 people and sickened at least 50 others, the mayor and the Red Cross said Wednesday. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a serious sexual assault in Crumlin, County Antrim, police say. Developers are being urged to unleash their creativity and make the mobile future a reality and bring the world to everyone's phone. Taleban militants kill three people after accusing them of spying in a tribal area along the Afghan border, officials say. Reuters - The Pentagon on Monday said it was closing a controversial intelligence office that had raised concerns about domestic spying by the military after the September 11 attacks. Reuters - Major powers agreed to consider a fourth U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran because of its refusal to freeze sensitive nuclear work, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. Barack Obama's Irish roots have been strengthened, with the discovery that a distant ancestor was a Dublin wigmaker. Reuters - A jury of U.S. military officers sentenced Osama bin Laden's driver on Thursday to just 5 1/2 years in prison -- most of which he has already served - in the first U.S. war crimes tribunal since World War Two. A new Jewish colony takes shape in the Jordan Valley Reuters - The U.N. Security Council voted on Thursday to keep the United Nations mission in Iraq for another year, as Baghdad urged the world body to do more to help it transform into a functioning democracy. French prosecutors call for a seven-year probe into corruption over the sale of warships to Taiwan to be dismissed. Austrians mark 100 years since the discovery of a tiny but curvy figurine, dubbed the Venus of Willendorf, dating back 25,000 years. Successful animal experiments have given the green light for trials of a new type of malaria vaccine in humans. Almost half of the world's primate species are facing extinction, a major global assessment warns, with habitat loss the main threat. Time Warner prepares the ground for a major shake-up of its struggling internet business AOL as subscriber numbers fall. Austrians mark 100 years since the discovery of a tiny but curvy figurine, dubbed the Venus of Willendorf, dating back 25,000 years. CQPolitics.com - Jaime Zapata has already been the "voice of God'' and now he will be the voice of the House of Representatives. Andrea Pininfarina, head of a world-famous Italian car design group, is killed in a road accident in Turin. Citigroup is to buy back billions of dollars worth of securities, following a probe by the US financial regulator. Mercury Prize nominee Burial reveals his identity, saying he is called Will Bevan and comes from south London. US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. British scouts are among at least 13 people hurt in a crash involving a tour bus and lorry in Canada. East Coast Mainline services for passengers travelling north from Newcastle continue to be disrupted by flooding. AFP - Two American soldiers in Iraq have been charged with murdering an Iraqi prisoner, the US military said on Saturday. BBC News interviews Gordon Moore, the man whose "law" has driven the computer revolution. Industrial output in Germany grew by just 0.2% in June, adding to fears the economy is on the brink of sliding into a recession. Reuters - The Pentagon on Monday said it was closing a controversial intelligence office that had raised concerns about domestic spying by the military after the September 11 attacks. Al-Qaeda suspect who went missing for five years AP - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no free daily tarot reading dates had been agreed. The date when the first of Wales' television transmitters will start broadcasting only in digital is to be unveiled. AP - Democatic presidential contender Barack Obama said Wednesday his Republican rival John McCain "thinks we're on the right track," drawing a chorus of boos from a swing state audience vocal about the status quo. AP - After seven years of buildup and billions of dollars in preparations, world leaders and China's elite gathered Friday for the most lavish opening ceremony in Olympic history. But Beijing residents without a ticket were asked to stay home. Results from US retailers show disappointing sales in July, with the outlook between now and September looking poor. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls an all-party meeting to discuss worsening tensions in Indian-administered Kashmir. Reuters - Seven years after the September 11 attacks, the Pentagon on Thursday officially named "the long war" against global extremism as its top priority and pledged to avert any conventional military threat from China or Russia through dialogue. BBC News interviews Gordon Moore, the man whose "law" has driven the computer revolution. CNET - LAS VEGAS--Microsoft is jumping into the responsible disclosure game. A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. AFP - Having his picture taken with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, being recognised around Beijing and sending postcards with his face on the stamp is not the usual summer holiday for a 14-year-old. AP - A United Nations human rights envoy left Tuesday to inspect the devastation from the cyclone that struck Myanmar's Irrawaddy river delta three months ago. The funeral of a British Army dog handler who was shot in Afghanistan, is to take place with full military honours. Andrew Simms, co-author of a Green New Deal, says we have only 100 months to prevent dangerous climate change. US presidential hopeful Barack Obama's visit to the Middle East has drawn a cynical reaction in the region's media. AFP - Palestinian refugees stranded for two years in desperate conditions on the Iraq-Syria border will be resettled in Iceland and Sweden in the coming weeks, the United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday. Frasier star Kelsey Grammer leaves hospital for the second time since suffering a heart attack. AP - They're not exactly rooting for Barack Obama, but prominent white supremacists anticipate a boost to their cause if he becomes the first black president. His election, they say, would trigger a backlash ? whites rising up, a revolution of sorts ? that they think is long overdue. The funeral of a British Army dog handler who was shot in Afghanistan, is to take place with full military honours. Reuters - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will hold a make-or-break meeting in Harare on Sunday aimed at finalizing a power-sharing deal, a South African newspaper reported on Friday. Chip giant Intel has revealed details of the chip line that will spearhead its push into the graphics card market. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. AFP - Having his picture taken with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, being recognised around Beijing and sending postcards with his face on the stamp is not the usual summer holiday for a 14-year-old. AFP - A new defense strategy released Thursday places the "long war" against extremism above potential conventional challenges from China and Russia as the top priority of the US military in the coming years. A vast physics experiment - the Large Hadron Collider - is to reach a key milestone ahead of an official start-up on 10 September. An in-depth guide to EU news and institutions A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. Investigators are to drop a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained two painkillers that contributed to his death. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls an all-party meeting to discuss worsening tensions in Indian-administered Kashmir. Reuters - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates last month approved a new National Defense Strategy that recommends making fighting al Qaeda and other militant groups the top military priority in coming decades, the Washington Post reported in Thursday editions. BBC News looks at how the credit crisis unfolded globally The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. The humble mobile phone looks set to become a multimedia, multi-function monster as more features are crammed inside it. Newly released FBI papers on the 2001 US anthrax attacks say late scientist, Dr Bruce Ivins, was the sole person responsible. Solzhenitsyn drew on Russian tradition to expose evil The former US leader Bill Clinton says poorly-developed health services are now the main obstacle to fighting AIDS. Is he right? Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication. A host of country stars are to perform with Elvis Presley on a Christmas duet album. Regular columnist Bill Thompson wonders about the punishment that should be meted out to copyright infringers. Matt Frei, presenter of BBC World News America, thinks Mr Obama needs to respond to humour with some jokes of his own. The Enemy lead singer Tom Clarke "slashed the end off" his finger while playing guitar at a festival in Chicago, he reveals. Osama Bin Laden's ex-driver is sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. A contest to choose the next Miss Nepal is postponed indefinitely after criticism from former rebel Maoists. A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. AP - The catwalk really was a catwalk Thursday. Show cats dressed in everything from an Elvis costume to a sequined satin dress strutted their stuff at New York's Algonquin Hotel. AP - A rare bird's-eye look at Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta shows the devastation still left from Cyclone Nargis ? broken levies, flooded farm roads, the shattered remains of bamboo huts and trees strewn like matchsticks along the coast. The President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ratifies a new constitution bringing in key democratic changes. AFP - Having his picture taken with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, being recognised around Beijing and sending postcards with his face on the stamp is not the usual summer holiday for a 14-year-old. Scientists in South Korea say they have successfully completed the world's first commercial cloning of a pet dog. Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips An ex-US secret service informant is accused of being the ringleader in the country's biggest identity fraud case. OneWorld.net - UNITED NATIONS, Aug 7 (OneWorld) - It will be a difficult -- but not impossible -- task to develop an AIDS vaccine, say independent medical researchers at a major international conference on HIV/AIDS taking place in Mexico this week. An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. The new Lebanese cabinet unanimously approves a policy statement aimed at ending the country's political deadlock. AP - Iceland and Sweden will take in nearly 200 Palestinian refugees stranded in makeshift desert camps on Iraq's border with Syria. Reuters - Britain on Wednesday criticized a United Nations probe into the March storming of a courthouse by U.N. and NATO troops in Kosovo that concluded that commanders had ignored cautionary advice from New York. AP - House Democrats voted down a public reprimand Thursday that Republicans sought against influential Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., over a questionable housing arrangement that he insists violated no laws. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. AP - The catwalk really was a catwalk Thursday. Show cats dressed in everything from an Elvis costume to a sequined satin dress strutted their stuff at New York's Algonquin Hotel. Reuters - The United Nations urged on Thursday East Timor not to let those responsible for bloodshed surrounding Dili's 1999 independence vote from Indonesia off the hook, pledging to provide support to prosecute perpetrators. AP - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed. Weightlifter Monica Devi is dropped from India's team for the Beijing Olympics after reportedly failing a drugs test, officials say. One hundred years ago London hosted the Fourth Olympiad. It was a hastily organised affair, after Italy pulled out following the eruption of Vesuvius. Oh, and Britain won 56 golds. Questions are asked in the House of Lords about official scrutiny of online ad firm Phorm. Scientists develop procedure which may help transplant patients avoid the need to take anti-rejection drugs. AP - Former President Clinton will have a role at the Democratic convention in Denver later this month. Democratic officials said Thursday that Clinton will give a speech on the third night of the convention, before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama, the party's likely presidential nominee. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity before the details free daily tarot reading were formally announced. AP - While his opponent declared victory, freshman U.S. Rep. David Davis left his campaign party without conceding the race and became the first Tennessee congressman to lose a primary in 42 years. Reuters - The Pentagon on Monday said it was closing a controversial intelligence office that had raised concerns about domestic spying by the military after the September 11 attacks. AP - With thousands of hackers milling around the Black Hat convention here, and widespread snooping on the public WiFi network, one place was supposed to be off limits: the press room. An ex-member of Italy's disbanded Red Brigades group is granted bail by a French court due to ill health. Month by month look at the key events so far Which bits of the bottom of the sea does the UK claim? The World Conker Championship could be in jeopardy because of a virus attacking horse chestnut trees. Police launch murder inquiry after a man dies after being attacked with a baseball bat on a Cornish street. Regular columnist Bill Thompson wonders about the punishment that should be meted out to copyright infringers. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. DNA tests are to be conducted on the mummified remains of two stillborn children found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptian officials say. Hundreds of angry Tibetans protest in Nepal as China prepares to open the Olympics in a few hours. AP - St. Paul police followed a trail of Cheetos in order to nab three teenagers suspected of burglarizing a vending machine. Officers were called to the Arlington Recreation Center on July 29, where they found a vending machine's glass had been broken with a chair. Great Britain women's forward Alex Danson is cleared to make her Olympic debut in Beijing after recovering from an ankle injury. Floods and the threats of cyclones, it must be summer in Northern Ireland. Students at a school in Tynemouth carry out a survey of mobile phone use as apart of the BBC's School Report project. The Edinburgh International Festival begins later with organisers claiming sales have broken previous records. Taleban militants kill three people after accusing them of spying in a tribal area along the Afghan border, officials and witnesses say. AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. AP - John McCain's campaign said Thursday it is returning $50,000 in contributions solicited by a foreign citizen. The move follows the disclosure that the money was being raised by a Jordanian man who is a business partner of prominent Florida Republican Harry Sargeant III, who has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars for McCain. How UK team won the Championship Gaming Series. Reuters - President George W. Bush wasted no time on Friday raising the touchy issues of religious freedom and free speech in China, hours before he was to attend the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Reuters - Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind. US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. The BBC's Peter Bowes looks at how the turbulent financial markets are affecting Hollywood. A Indian couple infected with HIV commit suicide after killing their three young children, police in Mumbai say. Why Bengalis are India's most prolific travellers A militant attack on two pipelines cuts oil production in Nigeria, as five kidnapped oil workers are freed. AP - The average time that hospital emergency rooms patients wait to see a doctor has grown from about 38 minutes to almost an hour over the past decade, according to new federal statistics released Wednesday. Reuters - President George W. Bush wasted no time on Friday raising the touchy issues of religious freedom and free speech in China, hours before he was to attend the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics. A Pakistani woman, suspected of links with al-Qaeda, is extradited to the US from Afghanistan on murder charges. Why more mums are starting their own businesses Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. A lack of parent and adult role models drives young people to gangs, a survey by the Prince's Trust suggests. Pakistan's ruling coalition parties say they will begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf. DNA tests are to be conducted on the mummified remains of two stillborn children found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptian officials say. Johnny Cash, Bambi's mum - 80 more things that make men cry How strong is the case against Dr Bruce Ivins? Why some OAPs work beyond retirement age Kurdistan novelist strikes region's first major book deal The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. AFP - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will meet on Sunday with the two sides drawing nearer to a power-sharing agreement, a newspaper reported Friday. Indian inflation hits a 13-year high above 12% despite government efforts to tighten monetary policy. Italy combats the food cost crisis with text messages The last known survivor of a mountaineering disaster in Pakistan is taken to hospital, officials say. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. Acrobatic troupe's colourful London debut of Swan Lake US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. Hundreds of Tibetans are arrested in Nepal's capital during a protest against Chinese policy on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. Dr Who actor David Tennant takes to the stage as Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon - alongside Star Trek's Patrick Stewart. AP - Computer security professionals tend to be a highly paranoid bunch, seeing potential threats everywhere. It turns out that some aren't cautious enough, though. Two common treatments for fertility problems are no more effective than trying to get pregnant naturally, a study finds. Iran's women rowers hoping for Olympic success Colombia confronts decade of paramilitary killings Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication. Why Rwanda has issued allegations against France Large-scale biomass plants need more investment if the EU is going to meet its renewables goal. The Edinburgh International Festival begins later with organisers claiming sales have broken previous records. AP - As of Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008, at least 496 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Saturday at 10 a.m. EDT. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp plans to invest $100m to develop six TV channels in India and add staff to its news operations. AP - A rare bird's-eye look at Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta shows the devastation still left from Cyclone Nargis ? broken levies, flooded farm roads, the shattered remains of bamboo huts and trees strewn like matchsticks along the coast. Two Israeli soldiers will face trial over the shooting of a bound Palestinian prisoner in the foot, the Israeli military says. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. Google's director of mobile platforms explains his vision for Android, a new operating system for mobiles. AFP - Circumcision appears to offer men even greater protection against the AIDS virus than thought and also partially shield them against a common sexually-transmitted disease, two studies presented at the world AIDS conference said Thursday. AP - A 6-foot-tall, 250-pound letter carrier is campaigning for the right to take off his pants. Dean Peterson wants the U.S. Postal Service to add kilts as a uniform option for men. AP - A rare bird's-eye look at Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta shows the devastation still left from Cyclone Nargis ? broken levies, flooded farm roads, the shattered remains of bamboo huts and trees strewn like matchsticks along the coast. AP - The deadliest three months for American forces in Afghanistan have pushed the U.S. death toll to at least 500, forcing a war long overshadowed by Iraq back into the headlines. Two common treatments for fertility problems are no more effective than trying to get pregnant naturally, a study finds. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. AP - While his opponent declared victory, freshman U.S. Rep. David Davis left free daily tarot reading his campaign party without conceding the race and became the first Tennessee congressman to lose a primary in 42 years. A host of country stars are to perform with Elvis Presley on a Christmas duet album. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp plans to invest $100m to develop six TV channels in India and add staff to its news operations. AP - Major world powers agreed Wednesday to pursue new sanctions against Iran, even though the watered-down penalties already levied by the U.N. have only made Iran rush faster to perfect nuclear expertise. AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. Reuters - Fighting raged around the capital of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia on Friday as Georgian troops, backed by warplanes, pounded separatist forces in a bid to re-take control of the territory. A bomb explosion kills two people on a beach in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, police say. A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. Hundreds of Tibetans are arrested in Nepal's capital during a protest against Chinese policy on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. AFP - Floods have killed 42 people in central and eastern Europe since last month and forced around 40,000 others to flee their homes, the United Nations said Tuesday. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a serious sexual assault in Crumlin, County Antrim, police say. AP - A rare bird's-eye look at Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta shows the devastation still left from Cyclone Nargis ? broken levies, flooded farm roads, the shattered remains of bamboo huts and trees strewn like matchsticks along the coast. AP - About 20 House Republicans have cut short their August vacations, gathering on the floor to protest Democratic energy policy and demand that Speaker Nancy Pelosi call lawmakers back into session to vote on an energy package. The bill would include GOP demands for more domestic drilling. Bill Thompson on the end of the Bill Gates era Customers buying a fish supper in Aberdeen are given something extra to chew over. Bin Laden's former driver has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. What does this mean for the future of Guantanamo? France asks its energy regulator to cap electricity and gas price rises for private users to 2% and 5% respectively. A baby dying from kidney failure was saved when her doctor built her a dialysis machine from scratch in his garage. A book featuring a Harry Potter prequel by JK Rowling becomes the fastest-selling collection of short stories. AP - The House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold former White House strategist Karl Rove in contempt of Congress for ignoring a subpoena to testify. Indian intelligence remains clueless after serial blasts AP - A U.S. military jury sentenced Osama bin Laden's driver Thursday to just 5 1/2 years in prison, a surprise rebuke to Pentagon prosecutors who portrayed him as a member of the al-Qaida leader's inner circle worthy of a life sentence. CQPolitics.com - Here's another reason the Democrats probably will gain ground in the House of Representatives this year: of the 35 House districts where incumbents are not running this November, 28 are held by Republicans. Damon Albarn on his opera album A 19-year-old youth is being questioned about the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Ryan Bravo in a supermarket. Syrian dissident economist Aref Dalila is freed by the authorities after serving nearly seven years in jail. Mixed results in the worldwide fight against HIV All sides claim victory in key Guantanamo case An in-depth guide to EU news and institutions England close 145 behind on 49-1 having bowled out South Africa for 194 on Kevin Pietersen's first day as captain in the final Test. Reuters - The United Nations on Thursday raised concerns Sudanese anti-terrorism courts which condemned 30 Darfur rebels to death did not meet international standards and urged the appeals courts to review the sentences. AP - As of Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008, at least 496 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Saturday at 10 a.m. EDT. Reuters - August 8 promises to be a lucky day for Liu Chuan who is getting married and has a ticket for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. AFP - Computer security researchers on Thursday warned that online social networking websites are playgrounds for hackers who can easily take advantage of people's trust. Thames Water is accused of being short-sighted for selling off a site that could have been used for a new ?2.5bn "super sewer". Time Warner prepares the ground for a major shake-up of its struggling internet business AOL as subscriber numbers fall. Reuters - Seven years after the September 11 attacks, the Pentagon on Thursday officially named "the long war" against global extremism as its top priority and pledged to avert any conventional military threat from China or Russia through dialogue. AP - Authorities say a grandmother was arrested for driving around the parking lot of a Marathon grocery store with her 3-year-old child sitting on the roof of the car. The World Conker Championship could be in jeopardy because of a virus attacking horse chestnut trees. AP - Iceland and Sweden will take in nearly 200 Palestinian refugees stranded in makeshift desert camps on Iraq's border with Syria. Politico - One of the Democratic Party's leading electoral street fighters, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, said that Barack Obama should respond to John McCain's personal attacks with an equally personal slap. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. Italy combats the food cost crisis with text messages Reuters - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will hold a make-or-break meeting in Harare on Sunday aimed at finalizing a power-sharing deal, a South African newspaper reported on Friday. How secure are your credit and debit card details? Reuters - Fighting raged around the capital of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia on Friday as Georgian troops, backed by warplanes, pounded separatist forces in a bid to re-take control of the territory. Acrobatic troupe's colourful London debut of Swan Lake Iran has executed a journalist accused of involvement with a Sunni militant group blamed for a spate of attacks, officials say. The European Central Bank maintains eurozone interest rates at 4.25% after its latest meeting. Kurdistan novelist strikes region's first major book deal Is now the right time to invest in the film industry? Reuters - Legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate cigarettes and other forms of tobacco cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m in the first half of 2008, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. AFP - The Pentagon said Friday it has notified Congress of proposed military sales to Iraq valued at more than nine billion dollars, including helicopters, tanks and armored vehicles. AP - A man who authorities said was keeping weapons and military-style gear in his hotel room and car appeared in court Thursday on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a six-month pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. AP - In the Senate, Democrats are refusing to adjourn for the August recess. Over in the House, Republicans are refusing to leave. France asks its energy regulator to cap electricity and gas price rises for private users to 2% and 5% respectively. Actress Mary-Kate Olsen will not answer questions about Heath Ledger's death unless granted immunity from prosecution. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. Georgian troops close in on the capital of the separatist South Ossetia region, after a night of heavy fighting. A week by week guide to pregnancy taking in how the baby develops, changes to the mother and key scan dates. Pakistan's ruling alliance is expected to decide whether to begin moves to try to impeach President Pervez Musharraf. Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests. CQPolitics.com - Freshman Republican Rep. David Davis of Tennessee's 1st Congressional District lost his seat in Thursday's primary election, as Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe scored a narrow victory. US space agency Nasa quashes any idea that it is hiding information related to discoveries made on Mars. Reuters - Legislation that seeks to protect college students from lending abuses and expands scholarship aid was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. AP - A U.S. military jury sentenced Osama bin Laden's driver Thursday to just 5 1/2 years in prison, a surprise rebuke to Pentagon prosecutors who portrayed him as a member of the al-Qaida leader's inner circle worthy of a life sentence. AP - With thousands of hackers milling around the Black Hat convention here, and widespread snooping on the public WiFi network, one place was supposed to be off limits: the press room. A free daily tarot reading wanted poster featuring Robbie Coltrane is being used by New Zealand police to try to catch a teenage burglar. Why Bengalis are India's most prolific travellers Scientists have identified a possible cause of the painful womb condition endometriosis. Fire crews tackle a blaze at an historic church in the centre of a Nottinghamshire town. Mercury Prize nominee Burial reveals his identity, saying he is called Will Bevan and comes from south London. A look at what's making the headlines in Wednesday's morning newspapers. AP - A rare bird's-eye look at Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta shows the devastation still left from Cyclone Nargis ? broken levies, flooded farm roads, the shattered remains of bamboo huts and trees strewn like matchsticks along the coast. A new Jewish colony takes shape in the Jordan Valley Chevron and Total are the latest major oil companies to report strong results thanks to high oil prices. Japanese carmaker Toyota sees quarterly profits drop less than expected but highlights the tough trading environment. The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. Reuters - A judge on Thursday jailed indicted Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick for violating the conditions of his bond by crossing the Canadian border without permission. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. AP - Authorities say a grandmother was arrested for driving around the parking lot of a Marathon grocery store with her 3-year-old child sitting on the roof of the car. AFP - A US brigade commander in what was one of the most violent sectors of Baghdad just months ago said Monday he now believes US and Iraqi forces are "on the cusp of achieving durable security." Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication. Which bits of the bottom of the sea does the UK claim? The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? A council appeals for information about the source of contamination which could date from the 1940s. Reuters - Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind. The President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ratifies a new constitution bringing in key democratic changes. How secure are your credit and debit card details? The US revokes visas of three postgraduate students from Gaza whose cases it championed at the highest levels. Time Warner prepares the ground for a major shake-up of its struggling internet business AOL as subscriber numbers fall. Reuters - The U.S. Defense Department plans to spend $2.2 billion on a new fleet of spy planes and unmanned drones for Iraq and Afghanistan that would greatly enhance the ability of U.S. forces to track militants, officials said on Thursday. Police in Italy arrest a senior member of a family allegedly linked to Mafia killings in the German city of Duisburg last year. Simon Gray, the author of more than 30 plays and five novels, dies at the age of 71. No more slumming it as campers embrace luxury AP - The wife of evangelical pastor Joel Osteen shoved a flight attendant during an in-flight tantrum over a stained seat, a fellow crew member testified Thursday at a civil trial over the incident. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m in the first half of 2008, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. The US president uses a keynote speech in Asia to criticise China's human-rights record, on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. AP - St. Paul police followed a trail of Cheetos in order to nab three teenagers suspected of burglarizing a vending machine. Officers were called to the Arlington Recreation Center on July 29, where they found a vending machine's glass had been broken with a chair. A colour-changing crystal attached to a soldier's uniform could help doctors decide if they might need treatment for a brain injury, researchers say. An MEP says an extension of police powers to stop and search anyone near the Kent climate camp is undermining civil liberties. Two Britons detained close to the Olympic stadium in Beijing after staging a protest about Tibet have arrived back in UK. AP - Democatic presidential contender Barack Obama said Wednesday his Republican rival John McCain "thinks we're on the right track," drawing a chorus of boos from a swing state audience vocal about the status quo. An MEP says an extension of police powers to stop and search anyone near the Kent climate camp is undermining civil liberties. AP - A top Italian administrative court on Tuesday approved the expansion of a U.S. military base in northeast Italy, local media reported. The expansion has caused angry protests by residents and leftist politicians. Politico - One of the Democratic Party's leading electoral street fighters, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, said that Barack Obama should respond to John McCain's personal attacks with an equally personal slap. Why some OAPs work beyond retirement age AP - While his opponent declared victory, freshman U.S. Rep. David Davis left his campaign party without conceding the race and became the first Tennessee congressman to lose a primary in 42 years. AP - About 20 House Republicans have cut short their August vacations, gathering on the floor to protest Democratic energy policy and demand that Speaker Nancy Pelosi call lawmakers back into session to vote on an energy package. The bill would include GOP demands for more domestic drilling. Weightlifter Monica Devi is dropped from India's team for the Beijing Olympics after reportedly failing a drugs test, officials say. A comprehensive guide to clinical conditions AP - A U.S. military jury sentenced Osama bin Laden's driver Thursday to just 5 1/2 years in prison, a surprise rebuke to Pentagon prosecutors who portrayed him as a member of the al-Qaida leader's inner circle worthy of a life sentence. Today's Evan Davis sees if hitchhiking still works Why more mothers are starting up in business AP - Stepping down from the dais after a news conference where he didn't shed a single tear, Brett Favre squeezed the green No. 4 jersey in his hands. AP - As of Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008, at least 496 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Saturday at 10 a.m. EDT. AP - Former President Clinton will have a role at the Democratic convention in Denver later this month. Democratic officials said Thursday that Clinton will give a speech on the third night of the convention, before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama, the party's likely presidential nominee. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity before the details were formally announced. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a six-month pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific reports a loss for the first half of the year after being hit by higher fuel prices. Mixed results in the worldwide fight against HIV Increasingly fed up with jobs which don't allow them to spend enough time with their children, mums are starting their own businesses. Taleban militants kill three people after accusing them of spying in a tribal area along the Afghan border, officials and witnesses say. Austrians mark 100 years since the discovery of a tiny but curvy figurine, dubbed the Venus of Willendorf, dating back 25,000 years. The Italian government has deployed thousands of soldiers in major cities in a new drive against crime. Do you support the move? Pakistan's ruling coalition parties say they will begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf. Reuters - President George W. Bush wasted no time on Friday raising the touchy issues of religious freedom and free speech in China, hours before he was to attend the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics. French prosecutors call for a seven-year probe into corruption over the sale of warships to Taiwan to be dismissed. Colombia confronts decade of paramilitary killings Bill Thompson on Apple's software security stance Princes William and Harry will attend the world premiere of the next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. Employers in England and Wales are making illegal requests for background checks on their workers, the BBC learns. The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. Out and about with the street gangs of Burnley AP - Republican John McCain called Thursday for a federal investigation into plans by the DHL shipping company that could cost 10,000 jobs here, as he and his campaign manager took criticism for helping DHL complete a key corporate merger in 2003. Wall-climbing robots have been developed by scientists in America using the same principles behind electrostatics that make balloons stick to free daily tarot reading ceilings after being rubbed. Mixed results in the worldwide fight against HIV AP - Former President Clinton will have a role at the Democratic convention in Denver later this month. Democratic officials said Thursday that Clinton will give a speech on the third night of the convention, before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama, the party's likely presidential nominee. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity before the details were formally announced. Newly released FBI papers on the 2001 US anthrax attacks say late scientist, Dr Bruce Ivins, was the sole person responsible. AP - In an assessment that could lead to a substantial charge against its future profits, Google Inc. believes its $1 billion investment in advertising partner AOL is souring. Results from US retailers show disappointing sales in July, with the outlook between now and September looking poor. The Christian Science Monitor - Texas carried out the execution of Mexican national Jos?? Medellin Tuesday in Huntsville over the objections of the World Court and Mexico. The US Supreme Court delayed the lethal injection four hours while it weighed his appeal, which focused on whether the convicted murderer-rapist was denied treaty-guaranteed help from the Mexican consulate when arrested in 1993. One hundred years ago London hosted the Fourth Olympiad. It was a hastily organised affair, after Italy pulled out following the eruption of Vesuvius. Oh, and Britain won 56 golds. A new camera designed with a curved detection surface allows imaging devices to see as animals do. AP - St. Paul police followed a trail of Cheetos in order to nab three teenagers suspected of burglarizing a vending machine. Officers were called to the Arlington Recreation Center on July 29, where they found a vending machine's glass had been broken with a chair. Dr Who actor David Tennant takes to the stage as Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon - alongside Star Trek's Patrick Stewart. The Dark Knight passes the $400 million (?204.5m) mark at North American cinemas faster than any other film in history. Frankfurt Market Report AP - Harvard scientists say they have created stems cells for 10 genetic disorders, which will allow researchers to watch the diseases develop in a lab dish. Great Britain women's forward Alex Danson is cleared to make her Olympic debut in Beijing after recovering from an ankle injury. The first flights have been conducted of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor UK farmland. A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. A spokesman tells the BBC that, for the time being, the militia loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr will not carry arms. AP - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed. World leaders gather in Beijing for the opening of the Olympics. Will these be a memorable Games? AP - The catwalk really was a catwalk Thursday. Show cats dressed in everything from an Elvis costume to a sequined satin dress strutted their stuff at New York's Algonquin Hotel. The world is still wary of modern China, according to a poll for the BBC's Newsnight. What is your perception of the country and its people? Attitudes to working mothers are becoming less favourable, a survey from Cambridge University suggests. AFP - A reported rift between the US and Pakistani intelligence agencies reflects deepening US frustration over Islamabad's role in a worsening insurgency in Afghanistan, analysts said here. Athletes from the Middle East prepare for Beijing Games Sweden's Robert Karlsson and India's Jeev Milkha Singh share a one-shot lead after the opening day of the USPGA at Oakland Hills. AP - The U.S. Navy said that one of its nuclear-powered submarines had leaked minimally radioactive water earlier this year, threatening to cause a stir in Japan where both the U.S. military presence and its nuclear vessels are controversial. Cubans weigh up the benefits of economic reform Why Rwanda has issued allegations against France AP - Republican John McCain called Thursday for a federal investigation into plans by the DHL shipping company that could cost 10,000 jobs here, as he and his campaign manager took criticism for helping DHL complete a key corporate merger in 2003. The DR Congo and Congo are losing $12m annually in tax avoidance by logging companies, Greenpeace says. Is it time to embrace the electronic book? AP - For a few long hours in 2001, things looked impossibly grim for Dr. Irshad Shaikh and his brother, Masood. Not long after dawn on Nov. 13, armed FBI agents hunting for the anthrax killer crashed through the door of his Pennsylvania home and spent the next 13 hours searching the place in moon suits. Another team raided the apartment of a colleague, a few blocks away. One hundred years ago London hosted the Fourth Olympiad. It was a hastily organised affair, after Italy pulled out following the eruption of Vesuvius. Oh, and Britain won 56 golds. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp plans to invest $100m to develop six TV channels in India and add staff to its news operations. Reuters - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will hold a make-or-break meeting in Harare on Sunday aimed at finalizing a power-sharing deal, a South African newspaper reported on Friday. Was there a deal to keep the British out of the Basra battle? All sides claim victory in key Guantanamo case Solzhenitsyn and submarines - how deep is Russia? The President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ratifies a new constitution bringing in key democratic changes. AP - The wife of evangelical pastor Joel Osteen got physical when her demands that a small spill on her seat be cleaned up were not immediately met, a flight attendant testified Thursday at a civil trial over the incident. Actor Morgan Freeman is in "good spirits" after surgery for injuries sustained in a car accident in Mississippi. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. A Serb revisits the Kosovo town he was forced to flee Today's Evan Davis sees if hitchhiking still works Paris Market Report How UK team won the Championship Gaming Series. Former medic at main US jail in Iraq raises concerns Plans for a huge windfarm off the north Norfolk coast are given the backing of the government. A Honduran man, convicted of a 2001 murder, is executed in the US after the Supreme Court rejects his appeal. Barclays reports a 33% drop in profits for the first half of 2008 to ?2.75bn, with more write-downs linked to the credit crunch. More than 30 people die in torrential rains and floods in north west Pakistan, officials say. AFP - Iran promised in a letter Tuesday a final response to an offer from six world powers relating to its nuclear programme but said it first needed some clarifications about the proposals, an EU source said. How UK team won the Championship Gaming Series. World leaders gather in Beijing for the opening of the Olympics. Will these be a memorable Games? The body of Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, chronicler of Soviet brutality, is laid to rest. Were reviewers kind or harsh about Tennant's Hamlet? French prosecutors call for a seven-year probe into corruption over the sale of warships to Taiwan to be dismissed. Bill Thompson on Apple's software security stance Reuters - Legislation aimed at revamping U.S. consumer product safety, including a partial ban on controversial plastic-softening chemicals called phthalates, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. How has the credit crunch hit different parts of the world? Scientists in South Korea say they have successfully completed the world's first commercial cloning of a pet dog. India's audit agency says rare documents go missing from the National Library in the eastern city of Calcutta R&B singer Mary J Blige is sued for $2m (?1m) by a US music production company that says she stole a song used on her latest album. Plans are put forward to turn a rural golf club in the Borders into one of the country's top venues for the sport. Demonstrators march in Caracas against moves to bar nearly 300 Venezuelan politicians from standing for election. Life in the shadow of Mexico's feared drug gangs AP - The average time that hospital emergency rooms patients wait to see a doctor has grown from about 38 minutes to almost an hour over the past decade, according to new federal statistics released Wednesday. Dominicans' role in hunt for Alzheimer's cure Athletes from the Middle East prepare for Beijing Games The families of some Omagh bomb victims decide not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity. The Bank of England keeps its key interest rate at 5% as it weighs up the slowing economy with inflation worries. AP - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says 24 Sukhoi fighter jets have been delivered to Venezuela ? and are ready to defend his country from "imperialist" aggressions. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. A week by week guide to free daily tarot reading pregnancy taking in how the baby develops, changes to the mother and key scan dates. Athletes from the Middle East prepare for Beijing Games US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. AP - A U.S. military jury sentenced Osama bin Laden's driver Thursday to just 5 1/2 years in prison, a surprise rebuke to Pentagon prosecutors who portrayed him as a member of the al-Qaida leader's inner circle worthy of a life sentence. Johnny Cash, Bambi's mum - 80 more things that make men cry A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. Scientists develop procedure which may help transplant patients avoid the need to take anti-rejection drugs. A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. Paris Hilton records a spoof advert directed at US presidential hopeful John McCain, after he used her name in his campaign. AFP - The UN Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to renew for one year the mandate of the UN mission for Iraq. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. AP - A man who authorities said was keeping weapons and military-style gear in his hotel room and car appeared in court Thursday on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a serious sexual assault in Crumlin, County Antrim, police say. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. AFP - The United States and its European allies have rejected Iran's latest letter on its suspect nuclear program and now plan to seek new UN Security Council sanctions, US media reported Wednesday. AP - A suspected cholera outbreak in a remote southern Philippine township has killed 21 people and sickened at least 50 others, the mayor and the Red Cross said Wednesday. More than 30 people die in torrential rains and floods in north west Pakistan, officials say. A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? A new geographical web search tool that allows people to find historical items from their local area is launched at the eisteddfod. A colour-changing crystal attached to a soldier's uniform could help doctors decide if they might need treatment for a brain injury, researchers say. Regular columnist Bill Thompson wonders about the punishment that should be meted out to copyright infringers. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. Insurer American International Group reports a quarterly loss of $5.36bn and sees its shares 18%. A daily round-up of the top BBC Scotland news website stories you have been reading. Industrial output in Germany grew by just 0.2% in June, adding to fears the economy is on the brink of sliding into a recession. Iraq's parliament adjourns for a month after failing to agree on a provincial election law, viewed as a key political reform. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. A baby dying from kidney failure was saved when her doctor built her a dialysis machine from scratch in his garage. Reuters - Major powers agreed to consider a fourth U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran because of its refusal to freeze sensitive nuclear work, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. The Italian government has deployed thousands of soldiers in major cities in a new drive against crime. Do you support the move? HealthDay - THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Shelley Volz, now 59, got the news about her breast cancer diagnosis 10 years ago, right before she was headed from San Francisco to New York for the wedding of her younger brother. AP - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed. A look at the future computing technologies which will go beyond Moore's Law. Wall-climbing robots have been developed by scientists in America using the same principles behind electrostatics that make balloons stick to ceilings after being rubbed. BBC News interviews Gordon Moore, the man whose "law" has driven the computer revolution. A surgery with 18,500 patients has structural checks after being damaged and left without power after being hit by a car. AP - The wife of evangelical pastor Joel Osteen shoved a flight attendant during an in-flight tantrum over a stained seat, a fellow crew member testified Thursday at a civil trial over the incident. Almost half of the world's primate species are facing extinction, a major global assessment warns, with habitat loss the main threat. A militant attack on two pipelines cuts oil production in Nigeria, as five kidnapped oil workers are freed. Inside an 'ER' clinic in Nigeria's violent oil-rich city HealthDay - TUESDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Light to moderate exercise -- just walking a few blocks or even dancing -- can help prevent the abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation in those most vulnerable to it -- older people, a new study finds. Why more mums are starting their own businesses HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- If your child gets migraine headaches, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent them: Make sure your child eats meals on a regular schedule, and never skips a meal. Keep your child on a regular sleep schedule. Make sure your child gets daily exercise, but don't overdo it. Figure out what triggers migraines in your child, and try to avoid those factors. Common triggers include stress, too much intense exercise, or changes in weather or altitude. Avoid foods that are known to trigger your child's migraines. ... When bicycle polo and tug-of-war were the thing Demonstrators march in Caracas against moves to bar nearly 300 Venezuelan politicians from standing for election. Israel carries out its last major airlift of Jewish Ethiopians, ending a 30-year immigration scheme. The military authorities in Burma impose tight security in Rangoon on the 20th anniversary of the 1988 uprising. The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. Finding the time for exercise Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips The Russian writer who exposed Stalin's prison system in his novels, has died at the age of 89 Inside Radovan Karadzic's sparse new home Actor Robbie Coltrane's face is being used on a wanted poster by police trying to catch a 16-year-old burglar in New Zealand. AFP - Computer security researchers on Thursday warned that online social networking websites are playgrounds for hackers who can easily take advantage of people's trust. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. Hundreds of angry Tibetans protest in Nepal as China prepares to open the Olympics in a few hours. Simon Gray, the author of more than 30 plays and five novels, dies at the age of 71. A growing number of people are concerned about the impact working mothers have on family life, according to British research. Should mothers stay home and look after the family? Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. A Honduran man, convicted of a 2001 murder, is executed in the US after the Supreme Court rejects his appeal. AFP - Having his picture taken with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, being recognised around Beijing and sending postcards with his face on the stamp is not the usual summer holiday for a 14-year-old. Regular columnist Bill Thompson wonders about the punishment that should be meted out to copyright infringers. The first flights have been conducted of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor UK farmland. Japanese carmaker Toyota sees quarterly profits drop less than expected but highlights the tough trading environment. An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. TV journalist Martin Bashir apologises for making a "tasteless" comment about Asian women at a banquet. AP - The deadliest three months for American forces in Afghanistan have pushed the U.S. death toll to at least 500, forcing a war long overshadowed by Iraq back into the headlines. AFP - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will meet on Sunday with the two sides drawing nearer to a power-sharing agreement, a newspaper reported Friday. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. Pakistan PM has hard time winning over sceptical US AP - Eric Dowling, who helped plan the mass wartime breakout from a German prison camp that inspired the movie "The Great Escape," has died at 92. Reuters - If the trends of the past three decades continue, it's possible that every American adult could be overweight 40 years from now, free daily tarot reading a government-funded study projects. Why Bengalis are India's most prolific travellers Leona Lewis and Coldplay are amongst the acts nominated for a special British prize at the MTV Music Video Awards in the US. AP - The deadliest three months for American forces in Afghanistan have pushed the U.S. death toll to at least 500, forcing a war long overshadowed by Iraq back into the headlines. A 97-year-old woman is treated for shock after a burglar kisses her before walking into her home and stealing money. The families of some Omagh bomb victims decide not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity. In pictures: World Press Photo Exhibition A new geographical web search tool that allows people to find historical items from their local area is launched at the eisteddfod. Time Warner prepares the ground for a major shake-up of its struggling internet business AOL as subscriber numbers fall. This is the first anniversary of the start of the global credit squeeze. Have you been affected? Increasingly fed up with jobs which don't allow them to spend enough time with their children, mums are starting their own businesses. What do you want the world to talk about? How secure are your credit and debit card details? AFP - Palestinian refugees stranded for two years in desperate conditions on the Iraq-Syria border will be resettled in Iceland and Sweden in the coming weeks, the United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday. HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch: Bill Thompson believes Virgin Media has decided it likes record companies more than its customers. How strong is the case against Dr Bruce Ivins? Reuters - Legislation that seeks to protect college students from lending abuses and expands scholarship aid was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. China prepares to open the 2008 Olympic Games with a lavish ceremony in Beijing, amid heavy cloud and pollution concerns. AP - The House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold former White House strategist Karl Rove in contempt of Congress for ignoring a subpoena to testify. AP - The wife of evangelical pastor Joel Osteen got physical when her demands that a small spill on her seat be cleaned up were not immediately met, a flight attendant testified Thursday at a civil trial over the incident. Reuters - The U.N. Security Council voted on Thursday to keep the United Nations mission in Iraq for another year, as Baghdad urged the world body to do more to help it transform into a functioning democracy. HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- If your child gets migraine headaches, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent them: Make sure your child eats meals on a regular schedule, and never skips a meal. Keep your child on a regular sleep schedule. Make sure your child gets daily exercise, but don't overdo it. Figure out what triggers migraines in your child, and try to avoid those factors. Common triggers include stress, too much intense exercise, or changes in weather or altitude. Avoid foods that are known to trigger your child's migraines. ... Reuters - If the trends of the past three decades continue, it's possible that every American adult could be overweight 40 years from now, a government-funded study projects. Matt Frei, presenter of BBC World News America, thinks Mr Obama needs to respond to humour with some jokes of his own. The deputy head of the UN nuclear agency arrives in Tehran for talks on Iran's disputed nuclear programme. Demonstrators march in Caracas against moves to bar nearly 300 Venezuelan politicians from standing for election. Police in Italy arrest a senior member of a family allegedly linked to Mafia killings in the German city of Duisburg last year. Politico - Barack Obama returns to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to speak with House Democrats, and Republicans will try to spoil the party by linking the Democrats’ presidential nominee to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and their reluctance to allow votes on offshore oil drilling. Bill Thompson believes Virgin Media has decided it likes record companies more than its customers. The former US leader Bill Clinton says poorly-developed health services are now the main obstacle to fighting AIDS. Is he right? An MEP says an extension of police powers to stop and search anyone near the Kent climate camp is undermining civil liberties. The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. The first flights have been conducted of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor UK farmland. The BBC's Peter Bowes looks at how the turbulent financial markets are affecting Hollywood. Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. A Indian couple infected with HIV commit suicide after killing their three young children, police in Mumbai say. Increasingly fed up with jobs which don't allow them to spend enough time with their children, mums are starting their own businesses. Dr Who actor David Tennant takes to the stage as Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon - alongside Star Trek's Patrick Stewart. AFP - Two American soldiers in Iraq have been charged with murdering an Iraqi prisoner, the US military said on Saturday. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m in the first half of 2008, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. AFP - The Pentagon is mounting a 2.2 billion dollar effort to dramatically expand surveillance of Iraq and Afghanistan by manned and unmanned spy planes, Pentagon officials said Thursday. Was there a deal to keep the British out of the Basra battle? Reuters - Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind. Reuters - Legislation that seeks to protect college students from lending abuses and expands scholarship aid was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. TV journalist Martin Bashir apologises for making a "tasteless" comment about Asian women at a banquet. The US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, meets President Michel Suleiman on a surprise visit to Lebanon's capital. Chevron and Total are the latest major oil companies to report strong results thanks to high oil prices. AP - Computer security professionals tend to be a highly paranoid bunch, seeing potential threats everywhere. It turns out that some aren't cautious enough, though. A Indian couple infected with HIV commit suicide after killing their three young children, police in Mumbai say. The first flights have been conducted of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor UK farmland. Paris Hilton records a spoof advert directed at US presidential hopeful John McCain, after he used her name in his campaign. AFP - A new defense strategy released Thursday places the "long war" against extremism above potential conventional challenges from China and Russia as the top priority of the US military in the coming years. Osama Bin Laden's ex-driver is sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Londonderry woman Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. Reuters - Major powers agreed to consider a fourth U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran because of its refusal to freeze sensitive nuclear work, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. Reuters - August 8 promises to be a lucky day for Liu Chuan who is getting married and has a ticket for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication. CQPolitics.com - Here's another reason the Democrats probably will gain ground in the House of Representatives this year: of the 35 House districts where incumbents are not running this November, 28 are held by Republicans. AFP - Having his picture taken with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, being recognised around Beijing and sending postcards with his face on the stamp is not the usual summer holiday for a 14-year-old. Pakistan's ruling coalition parties say they will begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf. Al-Qaeda suspect who went missing for five years CQPolitics.com - Freshman Republican Rep. David Davis of Tennessee's 1st Congressional District lost his seat in Thursday's primary election, as Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe scored a narrow victory. One-fifth of UK youngsters have met strangers they found on the internet, a study says. Time Warner prepares the ground for a major shake-up of its struggling internet business AOL as subscriber numbers fall. The scion of sheikhs teaching English to Pristina Reuters - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been advised to "distance himself" from Sudan's president, who could face an international arrest warrant for genocide in Darfur, diplomats and U.N. officials said. AFP - China's once-in-a-lifetime Olympic dream neared reality Friday as the clock ticked down to the Beijing Games opening ceremony, but gloomy weather and tight security risked dampening the celebration. DNA tests are to be conducted on the mummified remains of two stillborn children found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptian officials say. Britain's sailing squad has an extra weapon going into the Olympics - an extract from a sea creature which could help keep them ready to race. AP - A top Italian administrative court on Tuesday approved the expansion of a U.S. military base in northeast Italy, local media reported. The expansion has caused angry protests by residents and leftist politicians. A 97-year-old woman is treated for free daily tarot reading shock after a burglar kisses her before walking into her home and stealing money. AP - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick spent the night in a one-man jail cell with no TV and a phone only for collect calls, the consequence of violating his bond in a criminal case that has dogged him for months. AFP - China's once-in-a-lifetime Olympic dream neared reality Friday as the clock ticked down to the Beijing Games opening ceremony, but gloomy weather and tight security risked dampening the celebration. A weakness in the plumbing of the internet could be much more destructive than first thought, says the man who found it. Insurer American International Group reports a quarterly loss of $5.36bn and sees its shares 18%. Chelsea make a ?19.7m bid for Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Robinho, BBC Sport understands. A Cornish homeowner has hundreds of pounds worth of heating oil taken from his house in two separate thefts. How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. A new geographical web search tool that allows people to find historical items from their local area is launched at the eisteddfod. Floods and the threats of cyclones, it must be summer in Northern Ireland. US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. Des Browne says reports UK soldiers delayed helping Iraqi troops in Basra because of a deal with militiamen are "simply not true". Taleban militants kill three people after accusing them of spying in a tribal area along the Afghan border, officials and witnesses say. Reuters - Legislation that seeks to protect college students from lending abuses and expands scholarship aid was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. The European Central Bank maintains eurozone interest rates at 4.25% after its latest meeting. Reuters - China celebrates its ancient past and modern power at the Olympics opening on Friday, seeking to shift the global focus from rights criticisms to sport. AP - After months of internal bickering, Pakistan's governing coalition announced Thursday it will seek to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, cranking up pressure on the U.S.-backed former general to resign. Is it time to embrace the electronic book? The Enemy lead singer Tom Clarke "slashed the end off" his finger while playing guitar at a festival in Chicago, he reveals. AP - A man who authorities said was keeping weapons and military-style gear in his hotel room and car appeared in court Thursday on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. AP - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed.

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