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The latest information about tarot card layout tarot card layout Parents of missing children in India allege police apathy random ugc A look at some of the technologies that could allow the silicon industry to deliver faster, cheaper chips. 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 - 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. 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. British soprano Sarah Brightman will perform at the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony on Friday. 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. When bicycle polo and tug-of-war were the thing Austrians mark 100 years since the discovery of a tiny but curvy figurine, dubbed the Venus of Willendorf, dating back 25,000 years. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. Damon Albarn on his opera album Questions are asked in the House of Lords about official scrutiny of online ad firm Phorm. Former medic at main US jail in Iraq raises concerns East Coast Mainline services for passengers travelling north from Newcastle continue to be disrupted by flooding. Satellite communications firm Inmarsat reports strong quarterly revenues, aided by providing mobile services in disaster areas. 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 weakness in the plumbing of the internet could be much more destructive than first thought, says the man who found it. The funeral will be held later of a woman whose disabled son's remains were found in a suitcase. 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. 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. Why some OAPs work beyond retirement age 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. Frank Gardner on the backlash to al-Qaeda 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. 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. Should a baby be risked to save her sister? The BBC's Peter Bowes looks at how the turbulent financial markets are affecting Hollywood. Chevron and Total are the latest major oil companies to report strong results thanks to high oil prices. An ex-member of Italy's disbanded Red Brigades group is granted bail by a French court due to ill health. Broadcaster ITV says half-year profits fell 28% and predicts this autumn's advertising revenue will be much lower than last year. A daily round-up of the top BBC Scotland news website stories you have been reading. A US widow demands to know why a "certifiable" scientist now suspected of anthrax attacks was not removed from his post. The body of Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, chronicler of Soviet brutality, is laid to rest. 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. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. Police in Italy arrest a senior member of a family allegedly linked to Mafia killings in the German city of Duisburg last year. Should a baby be risked to save her sister? Reuters - Google Inc's 5 percent stake in Time Warner Inc's AOL unit may be worth less than the $1 billion the Web company paid for it in 2006, Google warned in a regulatory filing on Thursday. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. Developers are being urged to unleash their creativity and make the mobile future a reality and bring the world to everyone's phone. 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. An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. 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. 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. Send us pictures from where you live in Scotland. AP - It's a puzzle worthy of The Riddler: Why is there no video game based on "The Dark Knight"? 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. Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests. AP - It's a puzzle worthy of The Riddler: Why is there no video game based on "The Dark Knight"? Attitudes to working mothers are becoming less favourable, a survey from Cambridge University suggests. 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. Plans are put forward to turn a rural golf club in the Borders into one of the country's top venues for the sport. After 18 months in disposables, trying to *tie* eco-nappies onto a toddler who won't sit still. AP - Iceland and Sweden will take in nearly 200 Palestinian refugees stranded in makeshift desert camps on Iraq's border with Syria. Gestural interfaces could spell the end for the humble computer mouse says analyst company Gartner. 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. Chip giant Intel has revealed details of the chip line that will spearhead its push into the graphics card market. HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch: 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. Out and about with the street gangs of Burnley The European Central Bank maintains eurozone interest rates at 4.25% after its latest meeting. Nine people are missing feared dead after a helicopter carrying firefighters crashes at a fire in north California. Iran's women rowers hoping for Olympic success 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. 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 - In the Senate, Democrats are refusing to adjourn for the August recess. Over in the House, Republicans are refusing to leave. The Atlantic hurricane season is set to be more active this year than initially predicted, US meteorologists say. Israelis comment on the prisoner swap taking place between Israel and Lebanon. Bill Thompson on the end of the Bill Gates era An in-depth guide to EU news and institutions Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. 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 Conker Championship could be in jeopardy because of a virus attacking horse chestnut trees. AP - A tarot card layout 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. Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips 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. US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. An MEP says an extension of police powers to stop and search anyone near the Kent climate camp is undermining civil liberties. The Bank of England keeps its key interest rate at 5% as it weighs up the slowing economy with inflation worries. Two suspected militants are killed in Pakistan after accidentally detonating explosives with which they planned to blow up a school. 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 senior military official close to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is assassinated, according to Arab media reports. 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 scion of sheikhs teaching English to Pristina Actress Mary-Kate Olsen will not answer questions about Heath Ledger's death unless granted immunity from prosecution. 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. A look at what's making the headlines in Wednesday's morning newspapers. Leona Lewis and Coldplay are amongst the acts nominated for a special British prize at the MTV Music Video Awards in the US. US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. Almost half of the world's primate species are facing extinction, a major global assessment warns, with habitat loss the main threat. Bill Thompson on Apple's software security stance Iran has executed a journalist accused of involvement with a Sunni militant group blamed for a spate of attacks, officials say. An ex-member of Italy's disbanded Red Brigades group is granted bail by a French court due to ill health. 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. Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. 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. 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. HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch: 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. 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. 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. 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. A Serb family's new life in multi-ethnic Kosovo village 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Up to 75 firefighters are called to tackle a blaze which spread to two warehouses in Birmingham. 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. Andrea Pininfarina, head of a world-famous Italian car design group, is killed in a road accident in Turin. More than 30 people die in torrential rains and floods in north west Pakistan, officials say. Two Britons detained close to the Olympic stadium in Beijing after staging a protest about Tibet have arrived back in UK. 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. 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. 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 - A bill aimed at preventing excessive speculation in oil and other futures trading did not get enough votes to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, as Republicans complained the measure did not also open more offshore areas to oil drilling. 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. 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. Newly released FBI papers on the 2001 US anthrax attacks say late scientist, Dr Bruce Ivins, was the sole person responsible. 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. A genetic mutation in dachshunds could help uncover the roots of some inherited forms of blindness in humans, say scientists. An in-depth guide to EU news and institutions The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. A wanted poster featuring Robbie Coltrane is being used by New Zealand police to try to catch a teenage burglar. A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Londonderry woman Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. A Indian couple infected with HIV commit suicide after killing their three young children, police in Mumbai say. IT and journalism on the curriculum at Indian madrassa A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. Iran suspends the punishment of death by stoning, handed down for adultery in the Islamic republic, but rarely carried out. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls an all-party meeting to discuss worsening tensions in Indian-administered Kashmir. Was there a deal to keep the British out of the Basra battle? Why more mums are starting their own businesses Sri Lanka and India meet in the third and final Test in Colombo with the series up for grabs. 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. Large-scale biomass plants need more investment if the EU is going to meet its renewables goal. Kenya and Tanzania hold ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary of simultaneous attacks tarot card layout on US embassies. What do you want the world to talk about? 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 world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. 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. 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. Andrea Pininfarina, head of a world-famous Italian car design group, is killed in a road accident in Turin. IT and journalism on the curriculum at Indian madrassa AP - Iraqi troops captured two suspected insurgents linked to a suicide bombing that killed three U.S. Marines and several Sunni sheiks, the military said Friday. 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. Which bits of the bottom of the sea does the UK claim? Al-Qaeda suspect who went missing for five years 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. 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. 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. Raid puts town at centre of the US immigration debate 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. The US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, meets President Michel Suleiman on a surprise visit to Lebanon's capital. 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 vast physics experiment - the Large Hadron Collider - is to reach a key milestone ahead of an official start-up on 10 September. Muslims in Indian-administered Kashmir are on strike for a second day in a row as tensions rise over protests by Hindus. 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 - 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. Plans are put forward to turn a rural golf club in the Borders into one of the country's top venues for the sport. The first flights have been conducted of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor UK farmland. 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. AFP - Two American soldiers in Iraq have been charged with murdering an Iraqi prisoner, the US military said on Saturday. DNA tests are to be conducted on the mummified remains of two stillborn children found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptian officials say. Chinese PC maker Lenovo reports upbeat quarterly profits as it improved market share in Europe. A daily round-up of the top BBC Scotland news website stories you have been reading. The President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ratifies a new constitution bringing in key democratic changes. 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. Raid puts town at centre of the US immigration debate A lack of parent and adult role models drives young people to gangs, a survey by the Prince's Trust suggests. 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 US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. Month by month look at the key events so far 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. 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. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. A fake profile on the Twitter micro-blogging site has been found to hide a program capable of stealing data. Up to 75 firefighters are called to tackle a blaze which spread to two warehouses in Birmingham. Afghan taekwondo star could win a medal Bill Thompson believes Virgin Media has decided it likes record companies more than its customers. 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. The scion of sheikhs teaching English to Pristina Detectives investigating the death of a teenager in South Yorkshire open a mobile police station close to the scene. One-fifth of UK youngsters have met strangers they found on the internet, a study says. When bicycle polo and tug-of-war were the thing Pakistan's ruling coalition parties say they will begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf. 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 Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. AFP - Typos can bedevil online political campaigns by letting evil software wizards or crafty king-makers turn misspellings into opportunities for sabotage or theft, a security specialist has warned. How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. The hits and misses of his leadership of Microsoft China prepares to open the 2008 Olympic Games with a lavish ceremony in Beijing, amid heavy cloud and pollution concerns. AP - A new study calls into question the use of two common infertility treatments for couples who have unexplained problems having children. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. Fashion house makes designs open source 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. Israelis comment on the prisoner swap taking place between Israel and Lebanon. Trade unionists in South Africa stage a nationwide one-day strike to protest over the rising cost of power and food. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. The date when the first of Wales' television transmitters will start broadcasting only in digital is to be unveiled. The UK government has been given a month to respond to EU concerns over Phorm. Frasier star Kelsey Grammer leaves hospital for the second time since suffering a heart attack. This is the first anniversary of the start of the global credit squeeze. Have you been affected? Should a baby be risked to save her sister? CNET - LAS VEGAS--Microsoft is jumping into the responsible disclosure game. 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. A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. 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. Georgia's clashes with rebels raise fears of new conflict Ahmed Rashid on militancy in South Asia French prosecutors call for a seven-year probe into corruption over the sale of warships to Taiwan to be dismissed. Athletes from the Middle East prepare for Beijing Games Successful animal experiments have given the green light for trials of a new type of malaria vaccine in humans. Israelis comment on the prisoner swap taking place between Israel and Lebanon. A wanted tarot card layout poster featuring Robbie Coltrane is being used by New Zealand police to try to catch a teenage burglar. The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by invasions of rats, fleas and cockroaches, claims a report. Yawning is known to be contagious in humans but now scientists have shown that pet dogs can catch a yawn, too. Nine people are missing feared dead after a helicopter carrying firefighters crashes at a fire in north California. 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. Iran has executed a journalist accused of involvement with a Sunni militant group blamed for a spate of attacks, officials say. A man is arrested on suspicion of affray following the recovery of a samurai sword from a house in Gateshead. 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 - 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. 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. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. CQPolitics.com - Jaime Zapata has already been the "voice of God'' and now he will be the voice of the House of Representatives. Detectives investigating the death of a teenager in South Yorkshire open a mobile police station close to the scene. Almost half of the world's primate species are facing extinction, a major global assessment warns, with habitat loss the main threat. 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. 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. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. A vast physics experiment - the Large Hadron Collider - is to reach a key milestone ahead of an official start-up in September. How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. A Indian couple infected with HIV commit suicide after killing their three young children, police in Mumbai say. Former medic at main US jail in Iraq raises concerns 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. The Bank of England keeps its key interest rate at 5% as it weighs up the slowing economy with inflation worries. A book featuring a Harry Potter prequel by JK Rowling becomes the fastest-selling collection of short stories. Month by month look at the key events so far Austrians mark 100 years since the discovery of a tiny but curvy figurine, dubbed the Venus of Willendorf, dating back 25,000 years. Muslims in Indian-administered Kashmir are on strike for a second day in a row as tensions rise over protests by Hindus. Employers in England and Wales are making illegal requests for background checks on their workers, the BBC learns. Why some OAPs work beyond retirement age Georgian troops close in on the capital of the separatist South Ossetia region, after a night of heavy fighting. Pakistan's ruling alliance is expected to decide whether to begin moves to try to impeach President Pervez Musharraf. Internet law professor Michael Geist examines implications of new anti-counterfeiting agreement. IT and journalism on the curriculum at Indian madrassa 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". 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. AP - The first federal survey of both men and women on adoption challenges some stereotypes and offers some surprising findings: 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. 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. 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. A militant attack on two pipelines cuts oil production in Nigeria, as five kidnapped oil workers are freed. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. A look inside the surreal and ultra-clean world of the silicon manufacturing plant. Pakistan PM has hard time winning over sceptical US Insurer American International Group reports a quarterly loss of $5.36bn and sees its shares 18%. 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. Bill Thompson believes Virgin Media has decided it likes record companies more than its customers. 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, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. 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. Nearly half of drivers would never consider giving up their car, regardless of how expensive petrol became, a survey shows. Quangos, which aim to rejuvenate regional economies, are wasteful and should be scrapped, a report says. How countries have classified The Dark Knight A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. AP - A new study calls into question the use of two common infertility treatments for couples who have unexplained problems having children. A new camera designed with a curved detection surface allows imaging devices to see as animals do. 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. 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. 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. Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. Reuters - A bill aimed at preventing excessive speculation in oil and other futures trading did not get enough votes to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, as Republicans complained the measure did not also open more offshore areas to oil drilling. Watery workshop to raise sea squirts awareness BBC News interviews Gordon Moore, the man whose "law" has driven the computer revolution. Gestural interfaces could spell the end for the humble computer mouse says analyst company Gartner. 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. It's time to exercise residual language skills. Paddy O'Connell tries a French class with a nice ferry attached. 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. When bicycle polo and tug-of-war were the thing Paris Market Report The European Central Bank maintains eurozone interest rates at 4.25% after its latest meeting. In pictures: World Press Photo Exhibition AP - The tarot card layout 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 militant attack on two pipelines cuts oil production in Nigeria, as five kidnapped oil workers are freed. 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. Nearly half of drivers would never consider giving up their car, regardless of how expensive petrol became, a survey shows. Staff at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel find a small girl alone after her parents accidentally take a plane without her. The US budget deficit is expected to hit $400bn this year, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. 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 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. Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips When bicycle polo and tug-of-war were the thing A fake profile on the Twitter micro-blogging site has been found to hide a program capable of stealing data. Iran's women rowers hoping for Olympic success 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. 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. An injection of a high dose of vitamin C may be able to hold back the advance of cancers, US scientists say. 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 US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, meets President Michel Suleiman on a surprise visit to Lebanon's capital. Princes William and Harry will attend the world premiere of the next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. Four current and former British Airways executives may face jail if convicted of fixing the price of fuel surcharges. Mercury Prize nominee Burial reveals his identity, saying he is called Will Bevan and comes from south London. 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. 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. All sides claim victory in key Guantanamo case Questions are asked in the House of Lords about official scrutiny of online ad firm Phorm. Fashion house makes designs open source More than 30 people die in torrential rains and floods in north west Pakistan, officials say. Citigroup is to buy back billions of dollars worth of securities, following a probe by the US financial regulator. The Edinburgh International Festival begins later with organisers claiming sales have broken previous records. 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. A US widow demands to know why a "certifiable" scientist now suspected of anthrax attacks was not removed from his post. BBC News interviews Gordon Moore, the man whose "law" has driven the computer revolution. Reuters - A bill aimed at preventing excessive speculation in oil and other futures trading did not get enough votes to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, as Republicans complained the measure did not also open more offshore areas to oil drilling. People living in Stoke-on-Trent have only a day left to comment on how the city should be run in the future. Employers in England and Wales are making illegal requests for background checks on their workers, the BBC learns. Staff at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel find a small girl alone after her parents accidentally take a plane without her. 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. Nearly half of drivers would never consider giving up their car, regardless of how expensive petrol became, a survey shows. Questions are asked in the House of Lords about official scrutiny of online ad firm Phorm. The pros and cons of negative election campaigning AFP - Two American soldiers in Iraq have been charged with murdering an Iraqi prisoner, the US military said on Saturday. Two common treatments for fertility problems are no more effective than trying to get pregnant naturally, a study finds. A wanted poster featuring Robbie Coltrane is being used by New Zealand police to try to catch a teenage burglar. An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. World leaders gather in Beijing for the opening of the Olympics. Will these be a memorable Games? AFP - The US Air Force may turn increasingly to a new armed drone, the MQ-9 Reaper, to help keep the peace in Iraq once the conflict shrinks in scale and US ground troops go home, a top US commander says. 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. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. Protests over the murder of a Marxist leader paralyse life in the enclave of Nandigram in India's West Bengal state. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a six-month pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. Nicole Kidman calls on the media in her hometown of Sydney to give her "a little space" during her visit there with her baby. Barack Obama's Irish roots have been strengthened, with the discovery that a distant ancestor was a Dublin wigmaker. 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. Results from US retailers show disappointing sales in July, with the outlook between now and September looking poor. 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. DNA tests are to be conducted on the mummified remains of two stillborn children found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptian officials say. A lack of parent and adult role models drives young people to gangs, a survey by the Prince's Trust suggests. 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. Yahoo bosses face fresh pressure after it emerges that opposition to them at its recent AGM was greater than first thought. A comprehensive guide to clinical conditions A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? 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. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. 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. Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests. 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. Chevron and Total are the latest major oil companies to report strong results thanks to high oil prices. AP - In an assessment that could lead to a substantial charge against its future profits, Google Inc. believes its tarot card layout $1 billion investment in advertising partner AOL is souring. Two common treatments for fertility problems are no more effective than trying to get pregnant naturally, a study finds. Scientists say they have drawn up the first detailed map showing Arctic areas that could become the centre of border disputes. 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. 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. Two common treatments for fertility problems are no more effective than trying to get pregnant naturally, a study finds. Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific reports a loss for the first half of the year after being hit by higher fuel prices. Great Britain women's forward Alex Danson is cleared to make her Olympic debut in Beijing after recovering from an ankle injury. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. A lack of parent and adult role models drives young people to gangs, a survey by the Prince's Trust suggests. Athletes from the Middle East prepare for Beijing Games 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. 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. 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. AP - A new study calls into question the use of two common infertility treatments for couples who have unexplained problems having children. Bill Thompson on the end of the Bill Gates era Taleban militants kill three people after accusing them of spying in a tribal area along the Afghan border, officials say. The US budget deficit is expected to hit $400bn this year, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. 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. Two suspected militants are killed in Pakistan after accidentally detonating explosives with which they planned to blow up a school. Students at a school in Tynemouth carry out a survey of mobile phone use as apart of the BBC's School Report project. 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. TV journalist Martin Bashir apologises for making a "tasteless" comment about Asian women at a banquet. 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. 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. Police launch murder inquiry after a man dies after being attacked with a baseball bat on a Cornish street. How UK team won the Championship Gaming Series. Mercury Prize nominee Burial reveals his identity, saying he is called Will Bevan and comes from south London. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp plans to invest $100m to develop six TV channels in India and add staff to its news operations. Mercury Prize nominee Burial reveals his identity, saying he is called Will Bevan and comes from south London. 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. The families of some Omagh bomb victims decide not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity. A spokesman tells the BBC that, for the time being, the militia loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr will not carry arms. Great Britain women's forward Alex Danson is cleared to make her Olympic debut in Beijing after recovering from an ankle injury. The hits and misses of his leadership of Microsoft CQPolitics.com - When CQ Politics rated the congressional races last fall, we said: "the Democrats are in a strong position to expand their congressional majorities" in the 2008 elections. Georgian troops close in on the capital of the separatist South Ossetia region, after a night of heavy fighting. A host of country stars are to perform with Elvis Presley on a Christmas duet album. 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 - 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. Scientists say they have drawn up the first detailed map showing Arctic areas that could become the centre of border disputes. 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. 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. 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. The Atlantic hurricane season is set to be more active this year than initially predicted, US meteorologists say. Regular columnist Bill Thompson wonders about the punishment that should be meted out to copyright infringers. The US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, meets President Michel Suleiman on a surprise visit to Lebanon's capital. 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. Chevron and Total are the latest major oil companies to report strong results thanks to high oil prices. 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. France accuses Rwanda of "unacceptable accusations" after a report says it was actively involved in the 1994 genocide. A new Jewish colony takes shape in the Jordan Valley 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. Scientists hope secretions from maggots can produce an antibiotic to tackle MRSA and other infections. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. 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. Police in Italy arrest a senior member of a family allegedly linked to Mafia killings in the German city of Duisburg last year. Up to 75 firefighters are called to tackle a blaze which spread to two warehouses in Birmingham. Should a baby be risked to save her sister? Out and about with the street gangs of Burnley The Enemy lead singer Tom Clarke "slashed the end off" his finger while playing guitar at a festival in Chicago, he reveals. 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. How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. More than 30 people die in torrential rains and floods in north west Pakistan, officials say. Why Bengalis are India's most prolific travellers Indian intelligence remains clueless after serial blasts The first flights have been conducted of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor UK farmland. Attitudes to working mothers are becoming less favourable, a survey from Cambridge University suggests. 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. 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 future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. The military authorities in Burma impose tight security in Rangoon on the 20th anniversary tarot card layout of the 1988 uprising. Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests. A new camera designed with a curved detection surface allows imaging devices to see as animals do. 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. A large man on a very small bike. What's being said? 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. 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. Four current and former British Airways executives may face jail if convicted of fixing the price of fuel surcharges. In pictures: World Press Photo Exhibition 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. 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. An ex-US secret service informant is accused of being the ringleader in the country's biggest identity fraud case. A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? A look at the future computing technologies which will go beyond Moore's Law. Inside Radovan Karadzic's sparse new home Kurdistan novelist strikes region's first major book deal Rail journeys on the East Coast Mainline into Scotland continue to be disrupted by flooding over the border. Iran suspends the punishment of death by stoning, handed down for adultery in the Islamic republic, but rarely carried out. There is widespread international condemnation of the military takeover announced in Mauritania. The Bank of England keeps its key interest rate at 5% as it weighs up the slowing economy with inflation worries. The technology that keeps the net running turns 40 One-fifth of UK youngsters have met strangers they found on the internet, a study says. AP - Shells fired from a mortar-like mechanism near a municipal government building in Istanbul slightly injured three people, the city's governor reportedly said. 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. The body of Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, chronicler of Soviet brutality, is laid to rest. A host of country stars are to perform with Elvis Presley on a Christmas duet album. The Russian writer who exposed Stalin's prison system in his novels, has died at the age of 89 France asks its energy regulator to cap electricity and gas price rises for private users to 2% and 5% respectively. 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. 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." AP - It's a puzzle worthy of The Riddler: Why is there no video game based on "The Dark Knight"? Chinese PC maker Lenovo reports upbeat quarterly profits as it improved market share in Europe. 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. 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. More than 1,000 council workers face pay cuts of up to 25% as part of a drive to equalise wages among staff. The deputy head of the UN nuclear agency arrives in Tehran for talks on Iran's disputed nuclear programme. An Indian government ban on an Islamic student group accused of terrorism is to remain in force after a Supreme Court ruling, officials say. 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. Des Browne says reports UK soldiers delayed helping Iraqi troops in Basra because of a deal with militiamen are "simply not true". Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. An ex-member of Italy's disbanded Red Brigades group is granted bail by a French court due to ill health. CNET - LAS VEGAS--Microsoft is jumping into the responsible disclosure game. Simon Gray, the author of more than 30 plays and five novels, dies at the age of 71. A Serb revisits the Kosovo town he was forced to flee How secure are your credit and debit card details? AFP - Two American soldiers in Iraq have been charged with murdering an Iraqi prisoner, the US military said on Saturday. 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. Four current and former British Airways executives may face jail if convicted of fixing the price of fuel surcharges. Citigroup is to buy back billions of dollars worth of securities, following a probe by the US financial regulator. AP - Iraqi troops captured two suspected insurgents linked to a suicide bombing that killed three U.S. Marines and several Sunni sheiks, the military said Friday. Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips 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. 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. A weakness in the plumbing of the internet could be much more destructive than first thought, says the man who found it. 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. Sri Lanka and India meet in the third and final Test in Colombo with the series up for grabs. The military authorities in Burma impose tight security in Rangoon on the 20th anniversary of the 1988 uprising. Matt Frei, presenter of BBC World News America, thinks Mr Obama needs to respond to humour with some jokes of his own. Mixed results in the worldwide fight against HIV Matt Frei, presenter of BBC World News America, thinks Mr Obama needs to respond to humour with some jokes of his own. The funeral of a British Army dog handler who was shot in Afghanistan, is to take place with full military honours. A vast physics experiment - the Large Hadron Collider - is to reach a key milestone ahead of an official start-up in September. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. Yahoo bosses face fresh pressure after it emerges that opposition to them at its recent AGM was greater than first thought. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific reports a loss for the first half of the year after being hit by higher fuel prices. 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. Developers are being urged to unleash their creativity and make the mobile future a reality and bring the world to everyone's phone. 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. More than 30 people die in torrential rains and floods in north west Pakistan, officials say. AP - It's a puzzle worthy of The Riddler: Why is there no video game based on "The Dark Knight"? Ahmed Rashid on militancy in South Asia Former medic at main US jail in Iraq raises concerns After 18 months in disposables, trying to *tie* eco-nappies onto a toddler who won't sit still. Dr Who actor David Tennant takes to the stage as Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon - alongside Star Trek's Patrick Stewart. 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? 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. Reuters - President George tarot card layout 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. 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. 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. Cubans weigh up the benefits of economic reform Hundreds of angry Tibetans protest in Nepal as China prepares to open the Olympics in a few hours. Nicole Kidman calls on the media in her hometown of Sydney to give her "a little space" during her visit there with her baby. Georgian troops close in on the capital of the separatist South Ossetia region, after a night of heavy fighting. 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. Investigators are to drop a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained two painkillers that contributed to his death. 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. Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips 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. The funeral will be held later of a woman whose disabled son's remains were found in a suitcase. AP - House Republicans on Thursday scuttled a bill that Democrats hoped would help lower gasoline prices by forcing the Energy Department to release 70 million barrels of oil ? about a three-day supply ? from the national stockpile. The Italian government has deployed thousands of soldiers in major cities in a new drive against crime. Do you support the move? AP - The first federal survey of both men and women on adoption challenges some stereotypes and offers some surprising findings: Two Britons detained close to the Olympic stadium in Beijing after staging a protest about Tibet have arrived back in UK. 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. Nicole Kidman calls on the media in her hometown of Sydney to give her "a little space" during her visit there with her baby. The Enemy lead singer Tom Clarke "slashed the end off" his finger while playing guitar at a festival in Chicago, he reveals. Princes William and Harry will attend the world premiere of the next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. 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. A Indian couple infected with HIV commit suicide after killing their three young children, police in Mumbai say. The last known survivor of a mountaineering disaster in Pakistan is taken to hospital, officials say. 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 man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. 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? 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. 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 - 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 Parents of missing children in India allege police apathy 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. 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. 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. Four current and former British Airways executives may face jail if convicted of fixing the price of fuel surcharges. A senior military official close to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is assassinated, according to Arab media reports. The technology that keeps the net running turns 40 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. 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. Scientists have identified a possible cause of the painful womb condition endometriosis. 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. India's audit agency says rare documents go missing from the National Library in the eastern city of Calcutta A Serb revisits the Kosovo town he was forced to flee A look at what's making the headlines in Wednesday's morning newspapers. The Italian government has deployed thousands of soldiers in major cities in a new drive against crime. Do you support the move? A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. The first flights have been conducted of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor UK farmland. China prepares to open the 2008 Olympic Games with a lavish ceremony in Beijing, amid heavy cloud and pollution concerns. Two Israeli soldiers will face trial over the shooting of a bound Palestinian prisoner in the foot, the Israeli military says. Georgian troops close in on the capital of the separatist South Ossetia region, after a night of heavy fighting. 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. 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. 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. 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 Indian couple infected with HIV commit suicide after killing their three young children, police in Mumbai say. A Serb family's new life in multi-ethnic Kosovo village US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. 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. Kenya and Tanzania hold ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary of simultaneous attacks on US embassies. 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. 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. 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. 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. Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. AP - Israel will almost surely boycott tarot card layout 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. A genetic mutation in dachshunds could help uncover the roots of some inherited forms of blindness in humans, say scientists. A vast physics experiment - the Large Hadron Collider - is to reach a key milestone ahead of an official start-up on 10 September. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp plans to invest $100m to develop six TV channels in India and add staff to its news operations. A look at some of the technologies that could allow the silicon industry to deliver faster, cheaper chips. The former US leader Bill Clinton says poorly-developed health services are now the main obstacle to fighting AIDS. Is he right? 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. Indian intelligence remains clueless after serial blasts There is widespread international condemnation of the military takeover announced in Mauritania. The Edinburgh International Festival begins later with organisers claiming sales have broken previous records. Floods and the threats of cyclones, it must be summer in Northern Ireland. The hits and misses of his leadership of Microsoft Why some OAPs work beyond retirement age An MEP says an extension of police powers to stop and search anyone near the Kent climate camp is undermining civil liberties. IT and journalism on the curriculum at Indian madrassa 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. BBC News interviews Gordon Moore, the man whose "law" has driven the computer revolution. Money short for film-makers in Tinsel Town Acrobatic troupe's colourful London debut of Swan Lake 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. The BBC's Peter Bowes looks at how the turbulent financial markets are affecting Hollywood. An injection of a high dose of vitamin C may be able to hold back the advance of cancers, US scientists say. Colombia confronts decade of paramilitary killings Trade unionists in South Africa stage a nationwide one-day strike to protest over the rising cost of power and food. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. Preparations ahead of the start of the Olympics in China are widely reported in Friday's papers. Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication. 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. 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. When bicycle polo and tug-of-war were the thing Why more mums are starting their own businesses 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. 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. Bill Thompson believes Virgin Media has decided it likes record companies more than its customers. The BBC's Peter Bowes looks at how the turbulent financial markets are affecting Hollywood. Results from US retailers show disappointing sales in July, with the outlook between now and September looking poor. Austrians mark 100 years since the discovery of a tiny but curvy figurine, dubbed the Venus of Willendorf, dating back 25,000 years. AFP - The UN atomic watchdog's number two held a new round of talks on Thursday on Iran's nuclear drive as Western governments said the time had come for the Security Council to impose more sanctions. 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? How has the credit crunch hit different parts of the world? 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. Successful animal experiments have given the green light for trials of a new type of malaria vaccine in humans. 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. How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. 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. The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic ancestor. More than 1,000 council workers face pay cuts of up to 25% as part of a drive to equalise wages among staff. Politico - The House ethics panel announced Thursday that it would review Rep. Charles B. Rangel's lease of four rent-stabilized apartments in a Harlem high-rise as well as his use of congressional letterhead to contact potential donors to an educational center that bears his name. Chelsea make a ?19.7m bid for Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Robinho, BBC Sport understands. 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." A device put into laptops to protect them when dropped is being used to give warnings about earthquakes. A Cornish homeowner has hundreds of pounds worth of heating oil taken from his house in two separate thefts. A car carrying visiting UK diplomats is attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank town of Hebron. 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. 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. Frasier star Kelsey Grammer leaves hospital for the second time since suffering a heart attack. 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. Dominicans' role in hunt for Alzheimer's cure Pakistan PM has hard time winning over sceptical US random ugc 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. AP - A new study calls into question the use of two common infertility treatments for couples who have unexplained problems having children. AP - House Democrats pushed through legislation Thursday that would give women new tools to combat pay discrimination. How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. Scientists in South Korea say they have successfully completed the world's first commercial cloning of a pet dog. 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. Plans are put forward to turn a rural golf club in the Borders into one of the country's top venues for the sport. The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by invasions of rats, fleas and cockroaches, claims a report. The date when the first of Wales' television transmitters will start broadcasting only in digital is to be unveiled. Leona Lewis and Coldplay are amongst the acts nominated for a special British prize at the MTV Music Video Awards in the US. 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. Plans are put forward to turn a rural golf club in the Borders into one of the country's top venues for the sport. A new camera designed with a curved detection surface allows imaging devices to see as animals do. Wall-climbing robots have been developed by scientists in America using the same principles behind electrostatics that make balloons stick tarot card layout to ceilings after being rubbed. 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. Reuters - Google Inc's 5 percent stake in Time Warner Inc's AOL unit may be worth less than the $1 billion the Web company paid for it in 2006, Google warned in a regulatory filing on Thursday. 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. Increasingly fed up with jobs which don't allow them to spend enough time with their children, mums are starting their own businesses. 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. A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. 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. Which bits of the bottom of the sea does the UK claim? Internet law professor Michael Geist examines implications of new anti-counterfeiting agreement. 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. The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. Parents of missing children in India allege police apathy A man in Nigeria who has 86 wives and at least 170 children advises others not to follow his example. 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. Ideas from researchers creating artificial life are helping to keep BT's network running. 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 UK government has been given a month to respond to EU concerns over Phorm. How secure are your credit and debit card details? The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. 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. Two suspected militants are killed in Pakistan after accidentally detonating explosives with which they planned to blow up a school. 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. 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. 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. 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 - In the Senate, Democrats are refusing to adjourn for the August recess. Over in the House, Republicans are refusing to leave. The future of a Japanese baby born to a surrogate Indian mother is uncertain after her parents divorce. 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. Satellite communications firm Inmarsat reports strong quarterly revenues, aided by providing mobile services in disaster areas. A device put into laptops to protect them when dropped is being used to give warnings about earthquakes. 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. 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. AP - Iceland and Sweden will take in nearly 200 Palestinian refugees stranded in makeshift desert camps on Iraq's border with Syria. Finding the time for exercise Successful animal experiments have given the green light for trials of a new type of malaria vaccine in humans. Yawning is known to be contagious in humans but now scientists have shown that pet dogs can catch a yawn, too. Why more mums are starting their own businesses random ugc 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. The pros and cons of negative election campaigning 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. Send us pictures from where you live in Scotland. Successful animal experiments have given the green light for trials of a new type of malaria vaccine in humans. Afghan taekwondo star could win a medal 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. Satellite communications firm Inmarsat reports strong quarterly revenues, aided by providing mobile services in disaster areas. 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. Matt Frei, presenter of BBC World News America, thinks Mr Obama needs to respond to humour with some jokes of his own. The military authorities in Burma impose tight security in Rangoon on the 20th anniversary of the 1988 uprising. All sides claim victory in key Guantanamo case 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 - 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 - 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 - 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. RBS pays the price of the wrong deal at the wrong time 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 - Computer security professionals tend to be a highly paranoid bunch, seeing potential threats everywhere. It turns out that some aren't cautious enough, though. The US budget deficit is expected to hit $400bn this year, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. British scouts are among at least 13 people hurt in a crash involving a tour bus and lorry in Canada. US space agency Nasa quashes any idea that it is hiding information related to discoveries made on Mars. 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. France accuses Rwanda of "unacceptable accusations" after a report says it was actively involved in the 1994 genocide. A Serb family's new life in multi-ethnic Kosovo village 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. 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. Indian inflation hits a 13-year high above tarot card layout 12% despite government efforts to tighten monetary policy. 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. Successful animal experiments have given the green light for trials of a new type of malaria vaccine in humans. The US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, meets President Michel Suleiman on a surprise visit to Lebanon's capital. Matt Frei, presenter of BBC World News America, thinks Mr Obama needs to respond to humour with some jokes of his own. Taleban militants kill three people after accusing them of spying in a tribal area along the Afghan border, officials and witnesses say. The last known survivor of a mountaineering disaster in Pakistan is taken to hospital, officials say. The US revokes visas of three postgraduate students from Gaza whose cases it championed at the highest levels. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. 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. The DR Congo and Congo are losing $12m annually in tax avoidance by logging companies, Greenpeace says. AFP - Typos can bedevil online political campaigns by letting evil software wizards or crafty king-makers turn misspellings into opportunities for sabotage or theft, a security specialist has warned. Bill Thompson believes Virgin Media has decided it likes record companies more than its customers. 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. 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. A Indian couple infected with HIV commit suicide after killing their three young children, police in Mumbai say. 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. Georgia's clashes with rebels raise fears of new conflict 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. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. 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. Leona Lewis and Coldplay are amongst the acts nominated for a special British prize at the MTV Music Video Awards in the US. An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. A baby dying from kidney failure was saved when her doctor built her a dialysis machine from scratch in his garage. 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. 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. A Serb family's new life in multi-ethnic Kosovo village Results from US retailers show disappointing sales in July, with the outlook between now and September looking poor. Iran suspends the punishment of death by stoning, handed down for adultery in the Islamic republic, but rarely carried out. More than 30 people die in torrential rains and floods in north west Pakistan, officials say. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. Regular columnist Bill Thompson says the virtual world still needs a lot of work if it is to replace the real world. How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. 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 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. How secure are your credit and debit card details? A bomb explosion kills two people on a beach in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, police say. Investigators are to drop a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained two painkillers that contributed to his death. In pictures: World Press Photo Exhibition 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. Finding the time for exercise A wanted poster featuring Robbie Coltrane is being used by New Zealand police to try to catch a teenage burglar. 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. 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. Satellite communications firm Inmarsat reports strong quarterly revenues, aided by providing mobile services in disaster areas. Satellite communications firm Inmarsat reports strong quarterly revenues, aided by providing mobile services in disaster areas. 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. US scientists have discovered people who can "hear" what they see. 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. East Coast Mainline services for passengers travelling north from Newcastle continue to be disrupted by flooding. 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. 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. A new camera designed with a curved detection surface allows imaging devices to see as animals do. 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 - 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 - 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. Rail journeys on the East Coast Mainline into Scotland continue to be disrupted by flooding over the border. An ex-member of Italy's disbanded Red Brigades group is granted bail by a French court due to ill health. Researchers in Leipzig show off software that allows simulated humans to do back flips A week by week guide to pregnancy taking in how the baby develops, changes to the mother and key scan dates. An MEP says an extension of police powers to stop and search anyone near the Kent climate camp is undermining civil liberties. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. A daily round-up of the top BBC Scotland news website stories you have been reading. AFP - The Pentagon is stepping up the use of offensive spy versus spy operations to thwart espionage by foreign intelligence tarot card layout agencies or terrorist groups, senior defense officials said Tuesday. Japanese carmaker Toyota sees quarterly profits drop less than expected but highlights the tough trading environment. Time Warner prepares the ground for a major shake-up of its struggling internet business AOL as subscriber numbers fall. Why some OAPs work beyond retirement age 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. 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. Hundreds of angry Tibetans protest in Nepal as China prepares to open the Olympics in a few hours. A car carrying visiting UK diplomats is attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank town of Hebron. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. 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. 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. 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. 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. A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. 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. A census of western lowland gorillas shows that populations are doing much better than expected. CQPolitics.com - When CQ Politics rated the congressional races last fall, we said: "the Democrats are in a strong position to expand their congressional majorities" in the 2008 elections. Broadcaster ITV says half-year profits fell 28% and predicts this autumn's advertising revenue will be much lower than last year. 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. Afghan taekwondo star could win a medal 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. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. 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. Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. The families of some Omagh bomb victims decide not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity. The DR Congo and Congo are losing $12m annually in tax avoidance by logging companies, Greenpeace says. Police launch murder inquiry after a man dies after being attacked with a baseball bat on a Cornish street. Israel carries out its last major airlift of Jewish Ethiopians, ending a 30-year immigration scheme. The Police stage the final performance of their reunion world tour with a concert in New York's Madison Square Garden. A weakness in the plumbing of the internet could be much more destructive than first thought, says the man who found it. US singer Usher sacks his manager and re-hires his mother - a year after he dismissed her from the job. Finding the time for exercise BBC News interviews Gordon Moore, the man whose "law" has driven the computer revolution. 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. Regular columnist Bill Thompson says the virtual world still needs a lot of work if it is to replace the real world. Nearly half of drivers would never consider giving up their car, regardless of how expensive petrol became, a survey shows. A weakness in the plumbing of the internet could be much more destructive than first thought, says the man who found it. Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests. Demonstrators march in Caracas against moves to bar nearly 300 Venezuelan politicians from standing for election. CQPolitics.com - When CQ Politics rated the congressional races last fall, we said: "the Democrats are in a strong position to expand their congressional majorities" in the 2008 elections. A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? 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 car carrying visiting UK diplomats is attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank town of Hebron. 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." 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. Georgia's clashes with rebels raise fears of new conflict 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 - 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. Johnny Cash, Bambi's mum - 80 more things that make men cry A new geographical web search tool that allows people to find historical items from their local area is launched at the eisteddfod. 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. 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. Muslims in Indian-administered Kashmir are on strike for a second day in a row as tensions rise over protests by Hindus. Iraq's parliament adjourns for a month after failing to agree on a provincial election law, viewed as a key political reform. 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. Frank Gardner on the backlash to al-Qaeda 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 Serb revisits the Kosovo town he was forced to flee World leaders gather in Beijing for the opening of the Olympics. Will these be a memorable Games? 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. Google's director of mobile platforms explains his vision for Android, a new operating system for mobiles. British scouts are among at least 13 people hurt in a crash involving a tour bus and lorry in Canada. The date when the first of Wales' television transmitters will start broadcasting only in digital is to be unveiled. The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by invasions of rats, fleas and cockroaches, claims a report. 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. Employers in England and Wales are making illegal requests for background checks on their workers, the BBC learns. Should a baby be risked to save her sister? AP - The average time that hospital emergency rooms patients wait to see a doctor has grown from tarot card layout about 38 minutes to almost an hour over the past decade, according to new federal statistics released Wednesday. Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific reports a loss for the first half of the year after being hit by higher fuel prices. The date when the first of Wales' television transmitters will start broadcasting only in digital is to be unveiled. The BBC's Peter Bowes looks at how the turbulent financial markets are affecting Hollywood. 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. How secure are your credit and debit card details? The US budget deficit is expected to hit $400bn this year, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. Inside Radovan Karadzic's sparse new home AP - In the Senate, Democrats are refusing to adjourn for the August recess. Over in the House, Republicans are refusing to leave. Month by month look at the key events so far Royal Bank of Scotland posts a pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. The world will fail to reach millennium development goals unless India improves healthcare for children, the UN says. Georgian troops close in on the capital of the separatist South Ossetia region, after a night of heavy fighting. Simon Gray, the author of more than 30 plays and five novels, dies at the age of 71. What do you want the world to talk about? The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. Solzhenitsyn drew on Russian tradition to expose evil Gestural interfaces could spell the end for the humble computer mouse says analyst company Gartner. The US revokes visas of three postgraduate students from Gaza whose cases it championed at the highest levels. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. Royal Bank of Scotland posts a six-month pre-tax loss of ?691m, the second-biggest loss in UK banking history. Questions are asked in the House of Lords about official scrutiny of online ad firm Phorm. 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. 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. A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? The US president uses a keynote speech in Asia to criticise China's human-rights record, on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. Chevron and Total are the latest major oil companies to report strong results thanks to high oil prices. A spokesman tells the BBC that, for the time being, the militia loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr will not carry arms. 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. The funeral will be held later of a woman whose disabled son's remains were found in a suitcase. 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. A Serb revisits the Kosovo town he was forced to flee 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. A week by week guide to pregnancy taking in how the baby develops, changes to the mother and key scan dates. 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. Investor's Business Daily - Petite laptops with small screens and even tinier price tags may do more than shake up the computer hardware industry: They might loosen Microsoft's grip on the computer operating system. Indian intelligence remains clueless after serial blasts 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. The Chinese economy is set to stabilise, official figures suggest, after seeing a sharp fall in growth in the first half of the year. Trade unionists in South Africa stage a nationwide one-day strike to protest over the rising cost of power and food. A spokesman tells the BBC that, for the time being, the militia loyal to Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr will not carry arms. Pakistan's ruling alliance is expected to decide whether to begin moves to try to impeach President Pervez Musharraf. 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. 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. 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 new camera designed with a curved detection surface allows imaging devices to see as animals do. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a serious sexual assault in Crumlin, County Antrim, police say. Two suspected militants are killed in Pakistan after accidentally detonating explosives with which they planned to blow up a school. Solzhenitsyn drew on Russian tradition to expose evil Time Warner prepares the ground for a major shake-up of its struggling internet business AOL as subscriber numbers fall. More than 30 people die in torrential rains and floods in north west Pakistan, officials say. Four current and former British Airways executives may face jail if convicted of fixing the price of fuel surcharges. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. 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. ... What do you want the world to talk about? 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. The body of Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, chronicler of Soviet brutality, is laid to rest. Nine people are missing feared dead after a helicopter carrying firefighters crashes at a fire in north California. 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. Former medic at main US jail in Iraq raises concerns Four current and former British Airways executives may face jail if convicted of fixing the price of fuel surcharges. A Serb revisits the Kosovo town he was forced to flee Europe's biggest insurers, including Allianz and Axa, report profit falls as a result of the financial market turmoil. The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. 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. Bill Thompson on the end of the Bill Gates era 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. Steve Kingstone reads police files on Madeleine McCann A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? Musharraf's options after impeachment decision A senior military official close to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is assassinated, according to Arab media reports. 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 tarot card layout with it, police said. A TV company and a social networking site are broadcasting into space. But can aliens already see our TV? 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. A six-year-old boy is killed and another seriously injured when they are hit by a bus in Wiltshire. The Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro agrees not to make any new investments in Iran. 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. 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 President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ratifies a new constitution bringing in key democratic changes. British soprano Sarah Brightman will perform at the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony on Friday. 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? 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. Scientists hope secretions from maggots can produce an antibiotic to tackle MRSA and other infections. The body of Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, chronicler of Soviet brutality, is laid to rest. How secure are your credit and debit card details? After 18 months in disposables, trying to *tie* eco-nappies onto a toddler who won't sit still. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. 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. 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 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. AFP - The UN Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to renew for one year the mandate of the UN mission for Iraq. 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. Chevron and Total are the latest major oil companies to report strong results thanks to high oil prices. A Pakistani woman, suspected of links with al-Qaeda, is extradited to the US from Afghanistan on murder charges. 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. How secure are your credit and debit card details? How secure are your credit and debit card details? 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 first federal survey of both men and women on adoption challenges some stereotypes and offers some surprising findings: Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication. Solzhenitsyn drew on Russian tradition to expose evil Iran's women rowers hoping for Olympic success 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. BBC News looks at how the credit crisis unfolded globally A wanted poster featuring Robbie Coltrane is being used by New Zealand police to try to catch a teenage burglar. 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 comprehensive guide to clinical conditions 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. 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. Scientists say they have drawn up the first detailed map showing Arctic areas that could become the centre of border disputes. A new class of cosmic object has been found by a 25-year-old Dutch schoolteacher through an online astronomy project. Scientists say they have drawn up the first detailed map showing Arctic areas that could become the centre of border disputes. Iran suspends the punishment of death by stoning, handed down for adultery in the Islamic republic, but rarely carried out. A National Risk Register commissioned by the prime minister cites a flu pandemic as the gravest threat to security. 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. China prepares to open the 2008 Olympic Games with a lavish ceremony in Beijing, amid heavy cloud and pollution concerns. 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. AP - In the Senate, Democrats are refusing to adjourn for the August recess. Over in the House, Republicans are refusing to leave. A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Londonderry woman Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. 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. 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. How secure are your credit and debit card details? Actress Mary-Kate Olsen will not answer questions about Heath Ledger's death unless granted immunity from prosecution. US authorities charge 11 people over the alleged theft of credit card details in the country's largest ID theft case. In pictures: World Press Photo Exhibition 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 - 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. Iran's women rowers hoping for Olympic success 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 - 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 - 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. Were reviewers kind or harsh about Tennant's Hamlet? A man, arrested in Donegal in connection with the murder of Londonderry woman Jean Quigley, is discharged from hospital. An investigation is under way into how the exhaust system of a high-speed train caught fire as it arrived at a station. 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. Hundreds of angry Tibetans protest in Nepal as China prepares to open the Olympics in a few hours. Police launch murder inquiry after a man dies after being attacked with a baseball bat on a Cornish street. Month by month look at the key events so far CQPolitics.com - Jaime Zapata has already been the "voice of God'' and now he will be the voice of the House of Representatives. 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. Rail journeys on the East Coast Mainline into Scotland continue to be disrupted by flooding over the border. Politico - Barack Obama returns to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to speak with House Democrats, tarot card layout 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. Investigators are to drop a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained two painkillers that contributed to his death. Google's director of mobile platforms explains his vision for Android, a new operating system for mobiles. 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 How well do you know the UK? Test yourself, using birds-eye photographs which offer an aerial perspective. Regular columnist Bill Thompson wonders about the punishment that should be meted out to copyright infringers. Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, is jailed for visiting Canada in a violation of the terms of his bail in a perjury case. Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, is jailed for visiting Canada in a violation of the terms of his bail in a perjury case. The US sees an unexpected increase in agreements to buy homes in June, according to a real estate organisation. What do you want the world to talk about? Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is discharged from a Tennessee hospital where he recovered after a car crash. AP - House Democrats pushed through legislation Thursday that would give women new tools to combat pay discrimination. 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. British soprano Sarah Brightman will perform at the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony on Friday. 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. Month by month look at the key events so far 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. World leaders gather in Beijing for the opening of the Olympics. Will these be a memorable Games? 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. Comments:
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