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Fla. man held on charge of threatening to assassinate Obama (AP)

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.

Iraqis: Deal close on plan for US troops to leave (AP)

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.

Guantanamo jury gives bin Laden driver 5 1/2 years (AP)

AP - A U.S. military jury gave Osama bin Laden's driver a surprisingly light sentence Thursday, making him eligible for release in just five months despite the prosecutors' request for at least a 30-year sentence to deter would-be terrorists.

Joel Osteen's wife pushed co-worker, flight attendant says (AP)

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.

Police raid Maryland mayor's home and kill his dogs (AP)

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. Suddenly, police with guns drawn kicked in the door and stormed in, shooting to death the couple's two dogs and seizing the unopened package.

For unexplained infertility, 2 methods don't help (AP)
AP - A new study calls into question the use of two common infertility treatments for couples who have unexplained problems having children.

Spokeswoman: Bernie Mac responding to treatment (AP)

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. Publicist Danica Smith said Thursday in a statement that Mac's condition is "stable." Smith first announced on August 1st that Mac was hospitalized in Chicago.

Two arrested after using barbecue pit as a weapon (AP)
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.

Favre says he's ready to get to work with Jets (AP)

AP - Brett Favre held up his new green jersey Thursday evening, hoping he made the right decision. "To a certain degree, I don't know what I'm getting into," he said. Favre's summertime soap opera ended Wednesday night when the Green Bay Packers traded their iconic quarterback to the New York Jets, who haven't had a star of No. 4's stature since the days Joe Namath was slinging passes.

McCain calls for probe of company he once aided (AP)

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 merger in 2003 that led to its current plans.

Bin Laden's driver gets 5 1/2 years in prison (Reuters)

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.

Georgia surrounds breakaway city, rebels defiant (Reuters)

Reuters - Georgia sent troops into its breakaway province of South Ossetia and surrounded the capital Tskhinvali on Friday after a short-lived ceasefire collapsed.

China's Games party set for "Big bang" start (Reuters)

Reuters - China stages the most expensive opening ceremony in Olympic history on Friday, keen to put the world spotlight on its modern face and the sports action after a build-up that fired up the Communist government's critics.

U.S. plans surveillance buildup in Iraq, Afghanistan (Reuters)

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.

Indicted Detroit mayor jailed for violating bond (Reuters)

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.