Reuters - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama waded into controversy on Thursday over his plans to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq, first saying he might "refine" his views but later declaring his stance had remained unchanged for more than a year.

Reuters - The investigation of a salmonella outbreak in the United States is shifting to the southern border to encompass produce imported from Mexico, CNN reported on Thursday.

US President George W Bush will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the White House says.

AP - Piles of charred rubble smoldered near California's scenic coastal highway Thursday as a ferocious wildfire descended on the storied tourist town of Big Sur, destroying vacation homes and sending forest creatures running toward the sea for cover.

India's truck operators call off their strike to protest against rising fuel bills, after the government agrees to freeze road tolls.

Larry Harmon, the man who popularised the show business character Bozo the Clown, dies of heart failure aged 83.

After spending 372 days as a hostage in the Philippines, Gracia Burnham would run for cover at the sound of July Fourth fireworks. Her struggles are common among people who spend time in captivity, psychologists say. The 15 hostages rescued this week from Colombian rebels now face their own challenges.

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Obama defended his position on the Iraq War after saying he may "refine" his position to withdraw combat troops within his first 16 months in office if military officials said such a timeline is unsafe.

A former head of Britain's armed forces has said he's concerned about the conditions suffered by Iraqi interpreters.

MPs have voted to keep their second home allowances, though not to award themselves above-inflation pay rises.

Betancourt embraced her children for the first time in six years, saying the thought of them helped her stay alive during her time in captivity. The former Colombian presidential candidate was one of 15 hostages freed after being held by leftist FARC rebels.

Samuel Israel III was ordered by a judge to immediately begin serving a 20-year prison term. The former hedge-fund executive surrendered following more than three weeks on the run.

More than 200 Zimbabweans have gathered outside the US embassy in Harare seeking refuge or assistance.