AP - Madonnas harrowing new documentary on Malawi is clearly designed to draw attention to the poverty-stricken nations plight and help to its people. But the superstar doesnt think much about enlisting aid from the U.S. government.

Reuters - Piracy and counterfeiting of
American goods remain serious problems in China and Russia,
despite some progress in both countries, the U.S. Trade
Representatives office said on Friday.

Reuters - Democrat Barack Obama said on
Friday he would fine-tune his presidential campaign pitch and
remind voters of his humble roots after a defeat in
Pennsylvania fueled in part by his failure to win working-class
voters.

AP - President Bush said tax rebates will start going out Monday, earlier than previously announced, and should help Americans cope with rising gasoline and food prices, as well as aid a slumping economy.

Reuters - President George W. Bush said on
Friday the U.S. economy is in a slowdown but tax rebates that
will start hitting consumers bank accounts next week should
help.

Reuters - The U.N. nuclear watchdog pledged on
Friday to investigate whether Syria secretly built an atomic
reactor with North Korean help but criticized the United States
for delaying the release of intelligence.

Reuters - Three New York City detectives were
found not guilty on Friday in the shooting death of an unarmed
black man killed in a hail of 50 bullets on his wedding day,
prompting angry reactions and a federal review of the case.

Reuters - A cargo ship hired by the U.S.
military fired warning shots at approaching boats in the Gulf,
the U.S. Navy said on Friday, underscoring tension in the
region as the Pentagon sharpened its warnings to Iran.

AFP - The UN atomic watchdog Friday chided the United States for holding back intelligence that Syria was building a secret nuclear reactor with North Koreas help, but promised to investigate the claim.

Reuters - China is to hold talks with
envoys of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan
Buddhism whom it blames for a wave of unrest, state media
reported on Friday, as the Olympic flame arrived in Japan.