US, Iraq have draft to pull US troops out (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:47:48 GMT]

AP - Iraq and the U.S. have reached preliminary agreement to withdraw American forces from Iraqi cities by next June, six years into the increasingly unpopular war, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday after meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Suicide bombing at Pakistan arms complex kills 59 (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:07:54 GMT]

AP - Twin Taliban suicide bombings at Pakistan's largest weapons complex killed at least 59 people Thursday, heightening the turmoil following Pervez Musharraf's ouster as president.

Tropical Storm Fay forces more evacuations in Fla. (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:07:03 GMT]

AP - Torrential rains from a slow-moving Tropical Storm Fay triggered a new round of flooding Thursday, submerging roads and forcing dozens of people to flee the rising water in their homes.

U.S. softball team denied 4th-straight gold, loses to Japan (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:59:21 GMT]

AP - Losing for the first time since 2000, the U.S. softball team was denied a chance for a fourth straight gold medal Thursday, beaten 3-1 by Japan in the sport's last appearance in the Olympics for at least eight years — and maybe for good.

Butterfingers drop US men, women out of 400 relays (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:22:45 GMT]

AP - Tyson Gay reached back to grab the baton "and there was nothing." He's not the only American track favorite who will leave Beijing empty-handed. The American men's and women's 400-meter relay teams both misconnected on the final handoffs in their preliminaries Thursday, a pair of stunning setbacks that made it that much easier for the Jamaicans to say the Bird's Nest is really their house.

16-year-old dies in Tennessee school shooting (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:32:57 GMT]

AP - A student fatally shot a 16-year-old classmate during a dispute Thursday at a Knoxville high school, as other teenagers watched in horror as the victim clutched his chest and fell to the floor.

Leading economic indicators fell sharply in July (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:49:18 GMT]
AP - A private business group's measure of the economy's health showed the largest drop in one year as stocks fell, new building permits declined and unemployment rose.

Rejected by Hong Kong, Glitter arrives in Thailand (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:06:48 GMT]

AP - Thai police said disgraced rocker Gary Glitter agreed Thursday to leave Thailand for London, possibly ending a two-day odyssey that began when he was released from a Vietnamese prison after serving time for molesting children.

Now on the Hallmark aisle: Gay marriage cards (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:17:01 GMT]

AP - Most states don't recognize gay marriage — but now Hallmark does.

NFLPA head Gene Upshaw dies of cancer at age 63 (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:20:38 GMT]

AP - Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who during a quarter century as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. He was 63.

Rice says Iraq troops deal close (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:02:34 GMT]

Reuters - The United States and Iraq are close to a deal extending the presence of U.S. troops beyond 2008, but any timetable for their withdrawal must be "feasible," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday.

U.S. demands Russia leave Georgia "now" (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:37:51 GMT]

Reuters - Russia began pulling tanks and troops back over its frontier, pledging all forces would quit Georgia's heartland by Friday night, but the United States demanded it leave "now."

Analysts see tough quarter for U.S. investment banks (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:31:16 GMT]

Reuters - Wall Street research analysts are projecting yet another tough quarter for U.S. investment banks marked by additional writedowns across a series of fixed-income assets amid an already weak operating environment.

Jamaica sweeps the sprint golds in Beijing (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:33:40 GMT]

Reuters - Jamaica made a clean sweep of Olympic sprint golds on Thursday with victory in the women's 200 meters humbling the United States, the traditional track and field superpower.

Suicide bombs kill 59 outside Pakistani arms plant (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:45:19 GMT]

Reuters - Two Pakistani Taliban suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the country's main defense industry complex on Thursday, killing at least 59 people as workers were leaving at the end of their shift, officials said.

Obama Winning Women Voters, but Margin Slimmest Among Baby Boomers
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:50:00 -0400]
New poll shows Obama with 12-point lead among all female respondents.

The 'New York Times' Votes Big for Obama Economics
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:17:00 -0400]
An 8,000 word story concludes that Obama is right on the economy and that McCain and Reagan are wrong.

5 Deadliest Hurricanes in U.S. History
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:55:00 -0400]
As Tropical Storm Fay claims lives in the Caribbean and threatens Florida, we look at past hurricanes.

One Blogger's Money-Making Secrets
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:52:00 -0400]
She earns $50,000 a year by blogging for others.

Data Points: Political Fundraising
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:48:00 -0400]
Republicans have raised more, but Democrats have significantly increased fundraising since 2006.

Suicide Attack at Pakistan Arms Plant Kills 60 People
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:31:53 GMT]
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday outside the largest military ordnance plant in Pakistan.

Rice Travels to Iraq to Push for Deal on U.S. Forces
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:31:58 GMT]
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was meeting with Iraqi officials in an effort to finalize an agreement on the presence of American troops in Iraq.

Report Says Fire, Not Explosion, Felled 7 W.T.C.
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:48:22 GMT]
The report says evidence does not support the speculation that explosives or fuel fires were responsible for the building’s collapse on Sept. 11, 2001.

China Closes in on Diving Sweep With Gold in Women’s Platform
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:55:23 GMT]
On the final dive of the night, Chen Ruolin scored four 10s and three 9.5s, giving China its seventh gold medal in diving.

Madrid Plane Crash Inquiry Begins
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:18:21 GMT]
Investigators began their inquiry into the cause of Wednesday’s plane crash at Madrid Barajas International Airport that killed at least 153 , in Spain’s worst flight disaster in years.

Company Interview Excerpt: Wayne Silver – Phonetime Inc. (PHD:TSX)
[]

Company Interview Excerpt: Clark Hickock – Axesstel, Inc. (AFT)
[]

Company Interview Excerpt: Martin Rosendale – Cytomedix, Inc. (GTF)
[]

Company Interview Excerpt: John E. Mordock – Neurologix, Inc. (NRGX)
[]

Company Interview Excerpt: Robert Saunders – Edgewater Foods International, Inc. (EDWT)
[]

Spain grieves for Madrid victims
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:59:09 GMT]
Spain mourns 153 people killed in a plane crash at Madrid airport, as investigators look into the causes of the tragedy.

Pakistan bombers hit arms factory
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:35:12 GMT]
Pakistan suffers its deadliest attack on a military installation, as suicide bombers kill at least 63 outside a munitions factory.

Teenager in death fall from flats
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:37:26 GMT]
A teenager may have been chased by a gang of masked youths before falling to his death from a block of flats, police say.

Two energy firms to raise prices
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:30:36 GMT]
Energy firms E.On and Scottish and Southern Energy are to raise gas and electricity prices by up to 29%, blaming wholesale costs.

Big jump in top GCSE exam grades
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:21:51 GMT]
There has been the biggest annual rise since 1990 in the proportion of GCSE exams awarded the best grades.

Gary Glitter 'will fly to London'
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:06:21 GMT]
Convicted paedophile and former pop star Gary Glitter has agreed to fly to London, Thai police have said.

Brown visits UK troops in Helmand
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:05:06 GMT]
Gordon Brown tells British troops they are "the heroes of our country", on a surprise trip to Afghanistan.

Russians halt Nato co-operation
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:56:40 GMT]
Russia tells Nato it is halting military co-operation over the continuing crisis in Georgia, the alliance says.

Ex-Kitten Katona is made bankrupt
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:43:48 GMT]
Former Atomic Kitten pop star Kerry Katona is declared bankrupt at the High Court after failing to meet a tax bill.

Swazis protest after royal wives charter plane for shopping trip
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:40:44 GMT]
Swazi women march in protest about an overseas shopping trip taken by nine of the king's wives.

Taliban bombs kill 59 at Pakistan arms site
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:27:35 GMT]

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the gates of Pakistan's main weapons complex Thursday, killing 59 people and dashing hopes for an end to political turmoil.

Owner: Doomed jet experienced overheating
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:38:41 GMT]

The jetliner that crashed in Madrid experienced overheating in an air intake valve before a first attempt at takeoff, but it is not clear if that had anything to do with the disaster, its owner said Thursday.

Surrogate mom, 61, gives birth to own grandkid
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:38:02 GMT]
A 61-year-old Japanese woman gave birth to her own grandchild, using an egg donated by her daughter, a clinic said Thursday.

Russia blocks port city as deadline looms
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:45:04 GMT]

Russian forces blocked the only land entrance to Georgia's main port city on Thursday, a day before Russia promised to complete a troop pullout from its ex-Soviet neighbor.

Russia halts military cooperation with NATO
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:29:06 GMT]
NATO has received a note from Moscow saying Russia is halting military cooperation, in the latest sign of tension over the violence in Georgia, an official said Thursday.

Silk-Based Optical Lenses Green Enough to Eat
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:27:30 GMT]
Scientists create silk-based optical devices that you can literally eat harmlessly.

Sorry Goldilocks, Black Holes Come in Small and Large
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:27:30 GMT]
There are few, if any, middleweight black holes.

Thawed Bigfoot 'Body' Just a Rubber Suit
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:20:30 GMT]
After the boldest Bigfoot hoax ever, a frozen "body" turns out to be a rubber costume.

Birds Thrown Off by Global Warming
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:20:30 GMT]
As birds shift in response to warming, their food sources adjust at different rates.

Trace Arsenic in Water Linked to Diabetes
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:10:30 GMT]
A new study is the first to link low-level arsenic exposure to Type 2 diabetes.

Stem Cells Could Boost Blood Transfusion Supplies
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:10:30 GMT]
Making blood cells from stem cells could lead to a supply of "universal" blood.

Imperiled Baby Whale Returns to 'Mama' Yachts
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:10:30 GMT]
A baby humpback whale that confused a yacht for its actual mother is unlikely to survive.

Hefty Dinosaurs Trampled Denmark
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:27:30 GMT]
Sauropod dinosaur tracks are found on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Palm Vein ID Scan Makes U.S. Debut
[Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:35:30 GMT]
U.S. business school applicants will soon submit hand vein scans to verify their identities.

In Multi-Pet Homes, Cats Are Top Dogs
[Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:00:30 GMT]
Cats and dogs can get along, so long as the cat has full run of the house first.

Bigfoot DNA Dubbed Scam, Believers Undaunted
[Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:30:30 GMT]
Two Georgia men say they have found Bigfoot and have his DNA, as others cry hoax.

SLIDE SHOW: Ten Reasons Why Bigfoot Is Bogus
[Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:30:30 GMT]
Discovery News consults the experts for a skeptic's guide to Sasquatch.

In Shark Vs. Polar Bear Smackdown, Shark Wins
[Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:00:30 GMT]
A polar bear jaw found in the stomach of a Greenland shark is raising eyebrows.

Birds Thrown Off by Global Warming
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST]
As birds shift in response to warming, their food sources adjust at different rates.

Thawed Bigfoot 'Body' Just a Rubber Suit
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:00:30 EST]
After the boldest Bigfoot hoax ever, a frozen "body" turns out to be a rubber costume.

Imperiled Baby Whale Returns to 'Mama' Yachts
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST]
A baby humpback whale that confused a yacht for its mother is unlikely to survive.

Lost Humpback Whale Calf Bonds With Yacht
[Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST]
A confused humpback whale calf attempts to suckle the side of a yacht.

In Multi-Pet Homes, Cats Are Top Dogs
[Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:00:30 EST]
Cats and dogs can get along, so long as the cat has full run of the house first.

Bigfoot DNA Dubbed Scam, Believers Undaunted
[Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:30:30 EST]
Two Georgia men say they have found Bigfoot and have his DNA, as others cry hoax.

Our Good Earth
[]
The future rests on soil. Can we protect it?

Haiti Soil
[]
Haiti has lost its soil and its means to feed itself.

Elephants of Samburu
[]
An African love story.

Desperate Measure
[]
The grim practice of culling elephants may resume.

Sailfish in the Whirl
[]
Sails raised, colors gleaming, they round up prey.

Bolivia's Wrestlers
[]
Women compete in petticoats, bowlers, and bling.

Lost Tribes of the Green Sahara
[]
Uncovering a mysterious Stone Age graveyard.

International Photo Contest
[]
National Geographic's international photo contest will be open for entries starting August 1.

Editor's Note
[]
Editor in Chief Chris Johns writes about elephants in Africa and their management.

Flashback
[]
A man measures the amount of erosion in rural New Mexico.

Your Shot
[]
Submit your photo, check out Your Shot jigsaw puzzles, and see reader photos that were recently published in National Geographic.

Desktop Wallpaper
[]
Decorate your desktop with beautiful images from this month's issue of the magazine.

Our Good Earth
[]
The future rests on soil. Can we protect it?

Haiti Soil
[]
Haiti has lost its soil and its means to feed itself.

Elephants of Samburu
[]
An African love story.

Desperate Measure
[]
The grim practice of culling elephants may resume.

Sailfish in the Whirl
[]
Sails raised, colors gleaming, they round up prey.

Bolivia's Wrestlers
[]
Women compete in petticoats, bowlers, and bling.

Lost Tribes of the Green Sahara
[]
Uncovering a mysterious Stone Age graveyard.

International Photo Contest
[]
National Geographic's international photo contest will be open for entries starting August 1.

Editor's Note
[]
Editor in Chief Chris Johns writes about elephants in Africa and their management.

Flashback
[]
A man measures the amount of erosion in rural New Mexico.

Your Shot
[]
Submit your photo, check out Your Shot jigsaw puzzles, and see reader photos that were recently published in National Geographic.

Desktop Wallpaper
[]
Decorate your desktop with beautiful images from this month's issue of the magazine.

Deputy: Teen dies after Tenn. school shooting
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:08:33 GMT]
A student fatally shot a 16-year-old classmate during a dispute Thursday at a Knoxville high school, and a suspect was taken ...

Afghan bomb kills 3 Canadian soldiers
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:14:37 GMT]
Canada's Department of National Defense says a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan has killed three Canadian soldiers.

NATO: Russia halts military cooperation
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:57:01 GMT]
Russia has halted all military cooperation with NATO, the Western alliance said Thursday, in the latest sign of East-West tension ...

Displaced Georgians look to U.S. for aid
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:55:11 GMT]
Some 240 displaced Georgians are crammed into a former office building and drinking water is scarce, but people are making do, ...

More funding urged for climate research
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:12:31 GMT]
Scientists on Wednesday recommended a huge increase in the USA's climate and weather research budget, citing the need for improved ...

Rice says U.S., Iraq agree to troop withdrawal timetable
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:41:05 GMT]
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday the two countries have agreed that ...

McCain not sure how many houses he and wife own
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:38:52 GMT]
Days after he cracked that being rich in the U.S. meant earning at least $5 million a year, Republican presidential candidate ...

Bishop to feds: End mass immigration raids
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:34:34 GMT]
A Roman Catholic bishop is calling on U.S. authorities to halt mass immigration raids and says agents who refuse to participate ...

Report: Fire, not bombs, leveled WTC 7 building
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:20:41 GMT]
Government investigators have issued a report refuting conspiracy theories that a skyscraper next to the twin towers was brought ...

Obama tours GOP-leaning South
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:10:56 GMT]
Barack Obama used a big American flag and a custom-built race car as backdrops here Wednesday, signaling his intention to challenge ...

Rice says U.S., Iraq agree to troop withdrawal timetable
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:41:05 GMT]
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday the two countries have agreed that ...

U.S. coalition: 30 militants die in battle in Afghanistan
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:34:39 GMT]
The U.S.-led coalition said Thursday it had killed more than 30 insurgents in a battle in eastern Afghanistan, fighters an Afghan ...

Afghan bomb kills 3 Canadian soldiers
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:14:37 GMT]
Canada's Department of National Defense says a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan has killed three Canadian soldiers.

NATO: Russia halts military cooperation
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:57:01 GMT]
Russia has halted all military cooperation with NATO, the Western alliance said Thursday, in the latest sign of East-West tension ...

Displaced Georgians look to U.S. for aid
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:55:11 GMT]
Some 240 displaced Georgians are crammed into a former office building and drinking water is scarce, but people are making do, ...

Beijing police grab foreign and Chinese activists
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:42:29 GMT]
Police descended on a group of foreign pro-Tibet activists and some disgruntled business owners from Hong Kong on Thursday, taking ...

Pirates seize 3 ships off Somalia coast
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:16:46 GMT]
Armed pirates hijacked three ships off the coast of Somalia in a series of attacks Thursday, an international maritime body said, ...

25 bodies identified from plane crash in Spain
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:54:51 GMT]
The jetliner that crashed in Madrid abandoned a first takeoff attempt because of an air gauge that showed overheating, but experts ...

Suicide blasts at Paki