Russia scores again
Pride and power is returning to the country's once-faltering sports program.

France enjoys Sarkozy's voodoo doll setback
After appealing a court decision to allow a voodoo doll made in his image to remain on sale, President Nicolas Sarkozy drew a flurry of ridicule from his critics.

Researchers examine genetic links to ancient Phoenicians
Scientists reported Thursday that as many as one in 17 men living today on the coasts of North Africa and southern Europe may have a Phoenician direct male-line ancestor.

Afghanistan tests waters for overture to Taliban
The government and its regional allies have begun approaching insurgent groups to test the waters for eventual peace talks.
- Suicide bomber hits Afghan ministry

U.S. consumers cut spending sharply and the economy contracts
With the presidential election only days away, the U.S. economy, by any meaningful measure, is now clearly in recession.
- Japan announces $51 billion stimulus package

Jobless rate falls in Germany - but economists warn the trend cannot be sustained
Adding to a dark mood, the European Commission reported that business and consumer confidence in the euro zone fell to a 15-year low in October.
- Deutsche Bank earnings rise, helped by an EU accounting change
- Continental's profit is flat and warns of 'drastic' slowdown

Exxon Mobil quarterly income hits $14.8 billion
Exxon said its quarterly income rose by 58 percent to $14.8 billion in the past quarter. That figure was well above what analysts expected.

First government bailouts awarded to Russian oligarchs
Moscow's goal is to send the aid quickest to those companies at risk of foreign takeovers during the financial crisis.

French judge files preliminary charges against trader at Caisse d'Épargne
A Paris judge on Thursday filed preliminary charges against a trader suspected of losing more than €600 million in complex derivative trades at French mutual bank Caisse d'Épargne, a judicial official said.

Merkel's Bavarian allies go for a younger look
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc got a boost after an ally in Bavaria swept away the older guard, hoping to restore the party's reputation before national elections next year.

Berlusconi aims to get tough on graffiti
The Italian government hopes to issue strict measures on Friday that would increase punishments for anyone who marks up private walls or public property.

Fighting stops around Congo city
Government troops return to Goma after fleeing a rebel advance.
- Rebels threaten major Congo city

U.S. airports grow apace, but the timing seems off
Just as dozens of expansion projects are being completed at airports nationwide, airlines are cutting back.

Hubble up and running, with a picture to prove it
To show that the Hubble Space Telescope works as well as ever, astronomers from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore recorded an image of a pair of smoke-rings galaxies known as Arp 147.

Company makes millions playing on computer users' fear
A Russian operation appears sells fake anti-virus software through an elaborate scheme that relies on e-mail spam and indirect control of thousands of unprotected PCs.

Election season resembles 'West Wing'
The parallels between the final two seasons of the television series "The West Wing" and the current political season are unmistakable. Fiction has, once again, foreshadowed reality.

Move over, my pretty, ugly is here
The repulsive and the simply unattractive are getting a philosophical and political makeover.

BlackBerry aims to stay ahead
Three new BlackBerry models may not be iPhones, but they are strong competitors, especially when it comes to e-mail.