KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his chief rival, who have both claimed election victory, have assured U.S. officials they will respect the outcome despite fears of ethnic unrest, Washington's top envoy said on Saturday.

AP - Top South and North Korean officials in charge of inter-Korean relations held talks Saturday for the first time in nearly two years amid a series of conciliatory moves by North Korea after months of tensions on the divided peninsula.

AP - In a meaningless exhibition as he began his 19th NFL season, Brett Favre felt the butterflies.

Reuters - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his chief rival, who have both claimed election victory, have assured U.S. officials they will respect the outcome despite fears of ethnic unrest, Washington's top envoy said on Saturday.

AFP - North Korean envoys sent to mourn former South Korean leader Kim Dae-Jung called Saturday for an immediate improvement in inter-Korean ties and talks with the country's president, media pool reports said.

AP - As the Justice Department considers whether to investigate alleged harsh interrogation practices sanctioned by the Bush administration, sources say a soon-to-be-released report by the CIA's inspector general reveals that agency interrogators conducted mock executions of terror suspects.

AP - Taliban militants cut off the ink-stained fingers of two Afghan voters in the militant south during the presidential election, the country's top election monitoring group said Saturday.

AP - Jasmine Fiore made a living off her body, modeling swimsuits and working for Playboy events. Her physique helped even in death as investigators used the serial numbers on her breast implants to identify her mutilated remains, which were found without fingers or teeth.

AP - Even though the Rev. Mark Chavez believes the leaders of his church made a decision in direct contradiction of the Bible by lifting a ban on sexually active, monogamous gays and lesbians as clergy, he said he's staying with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

AP - Federal agents hunting leaders of a multibillion-dollar Mexican drug cartel began their case with crumbs: a fake container of corn chips and a threat scrawled on a Hallmark greeting card.

AP - The top U.S. Marine is checking on troops in one war zone as he gets ready to send more to the next.

AP - Brett Favre jogged onto the turf to a chorus of cheers and a hero's welcome — the kind of reception he's grown used to over 18 brilliant seasons in his Hall of Fame career.

Reuters - President Barack Obama will visit China in mid-November, the new United States ambassador to Beijing said on Saturday, setting a date for a big summit likely to tackle the global economy, North Korea and climate change.

Reuters - Pakistani Taliban have detained four relatives of their leader Baitullah Mehsud, believed to have been killed this month in a U.S. missile strike, on suspicion of tipping off authorities about his whereabouts, security officials said.

AFP - Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi met overnight with Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi amid mounting Western outrage over the hero's welcome he received upon his return.

AFP - Barack Obama will make his first official visit to China as US president in mid-November, Jon Huntsman, the new US ambassador to China, said Saturday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama hammered away at 'outrageous myths' about his healthcare reform plans on Saturday, seeking again to take control of a debate that has tarnished support for his top domestic policy goal.

TRIPOLI/LONDON (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi embraced the convicted Lockerbie bomber and promised deeper cooperation with Britain in gratitude for his release, as London and Washington condemned his 'hero's welcome' home.

BEIJING (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will visit China in mid-November, the new United States ambassador to Beijing said on Saturday, setting a date for a big summit likely to tackle the global economy, North Korea and climate change.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani Taliban have detained four relatives of their leader Baitullah Mehsud, believed to have been killed this month in a U.S. missile strike, on suspicion of tipping off authorities about his whereabouts, security officials said.

AP - As the Justice Department considers whether to investigate alleged harsh interrogation practices sanctioned by the Bush administration, sources say a soon-to-be-released report by the CIA's inspector general reveals that agency interrogators conducted mock executions of terror suspects.

AP - President Barack Obama is challenging his critics on a national health care overhaul, accusing them of making 'phony claims' about the legislation.

AP - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi welcomed with a hug the only man convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people and praised Scotland's leaders for 'their courageously right and humanitarian decision' to release him.

AP - A tropical storm warning was issued for the Massachusetts coast Saturday as waves from Hurricane Bill pounded Bermuda and people from Florida to New England braced for high surf and rip currents from the storm.

AP - Iraq's foreign minister said Saturday that those who carried out bombings that targeted government buildings in the Iraqi capital received help to pull off the attacks, possibly from Iraqi security forces.

Reuters - President Barack Obama hammered away at 'outrageous myths' about his healthcare reform plans on Saturday, seeking again to take control of a debate that has tarnished support for his top domestic policy goal.

Reuters - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi embraced the convicted Lockerbie bomber and promised deeper cooperation with Britain in gratitude for his release, as London and Washington condemned his 'hero's welcome' home.

AFP - After more than 40 years, the former US army officer found guilty of organizing mass killings in the Vietnamese community of My Lai during the war has made a public apology.

TRIPOLI/LONDON (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi hugged the convicted Lockerbie bomber and promised more cooperation with Britain in gratitude for his release, while London and Washington condemned his 'hero's welcome' home.

AP - Britain's leaders faced new pressure Saturday to explain any role they might have had in the release of the Lockerbie bomber after Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi credited senior officials and members of the royal family for influencing the decision.

AP - Tourists and residents in Bermuda are waking up to debris scattered across roads, some power outages and minor flooding as Hurricane Bill skirts past the island.

Reuters - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi hugged the convicted Lockerbie bomber and promised more cooperation with Britain in gratitude for his release, while London and Washington condemned his 'hero's welcome' home.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's presidential election was generally fair but not entirely free because of Taliban intimidation and violence that kept turnout low in the south, European monitors said on Saturday.

HAMILTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Bill doused Bermuda with rain and battered its shores with powerful surf on Saturday as it moved on a path off the U.S. East Coast, where a tropical storm warning was issued for coastal Massachusetts.

TRIPOLI/LONDON (Reuters) - Britain dismissed suggestions of a link between the Lockerbie bomber's release and energy deals with Libya on Saturday, after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi embraced the man and thanked Britain.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's foreign minister on Saturday said members of the security forces may have colluded in a massive truck bombing that wrecked his ministry, and called for a 'serious and responsible' investigation.

AP - Iraq's foreign minister said Saturday that Iraqis should be prepared for bigger, more powerful attacks to strike the capital in the coming days and urged the government to immediately fix security shortcomings among its forces.

AP - Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators are preparing to make a run at their third national title in four seasons, but the defending champs have already made some history.

AP - As the Justice Department considers whether to investigate alleged harsh interrogation practices sanctioned by the Bush administration, sources say a soon-to-be-released report by the CIA's inspector general reveals that agency interrogators conducted mock executions of terror suspects.

AP - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's top challenger said Saturday he has reached out to several other candidates — but not the incumbent — in the days since the presidential election, and that a second round of voting was likely.

AP - Federal agents hunting leaders of a multibillion-dollar Mexican drug cartel began their case with crumbs: a fake container of corn chips and a threat scrawled on a Hallmark greeting card.

AP - Turnabouts in European and Asian economies, along with recent gains in the U.S., are raising hopes that that the worldwide recession is drawing to a close. That's not to say the coast is clear.

AP - Hurricane Bill scattered coral and palm tree debris, causing flooding and power cuts but no casualties on Bermuda on Saturday, then prompted tropical storm warnings for parts of the U.S. coast — including President Obama's planned vacation spot.

Reuters - Afghanistan's presidential election was generally fair but not entirely free because of Taliban intimidation and violence that kept turnout low in the south, European monitors said on Saturday.

Reuters - Hurricane Bill doused Bermuda with rain and battered its shores with powerful surf on Saturday as it moved on a path off the U.S. East Coast, where a tropical storm warning was issued for coastal Massachusetts.

Reuters - Britain dismissed suggestions of a link between the Lockerbie bomber's release and energy deals with Libya on Saturday, after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi embraced the man and thanked Britain.

Reuters - Iraq's foreign minister on Saturday said members of the security forces may have colluded in a massive truck bombing that wrecked his ministry, and called for a 'serious and responsible' investigation.

AFP - Libya feted freed Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi on Saturday, ignoring Western fury at his hero's welcome and poured oil on the fire by accusing Britain of seeking commercial advantage.

HAMILTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Bill trekked north toward eastern Canada on Saturday, buffeting the U.S. East Coast with dangerous heavy swells after brushing Bermuda with rain and powerful churning surf.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - AutoNation Inc, the largest U.S. chain of auto dealers, decided to end its 'cash for clunkers' rebates as of Friday night, three days ahead of the government's Monday deadline, The Wall Street Journal reported.

ATHENS (Reuters) - A large wildfire raged out of control on the outskirts of Athens on Saturday, burning several homes and thousands of acres of forest.

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean envoys, in Seoul to mourn the death this week of former President Kim Dae-jung, will meet South Korea's current leader Sunday, the first such meeting since he took office 18 months ago.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Saturday assured the country in the aftermath of the deadliest bombings this year that its security forces would defeat terrorism despite 'breaches here and there.'

AP - Britain on Saturday rejected any suggestion that it had struck a deal with Libya to free the Lockerbie bomber — after questions arose when Moammar Gadhafi embraced the man convicted of killing 270 people and publicly thanked British officials.

AP - The suicide bombers who blew up explosives-laden trucks outside government buildings in Baghdad may have been aided by members of Iraq's security forces, the foreign minister said Saturday, even as the government insisted Iraqi forces could still protect the nation.

Reuters - Hurricane Bill trekked north toward eastern Canada on Saturday, buffeting the U.S. East Coast with dangerous heavy swells after brushing Bermuda with rain and powerful churning surf.

Reuters - AutoNation Inc, the largest U.S. chain of auto dealers, decided to end its 'cash for clunkers' rebates as of Friday night, three days ahead of the government's Monday deadline, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Reuters - A large wildfire raged out of control on the outskirts of Athens on Saturday, burning several homes and thousands of acres of forest.

Reuters - North Korean envoys, in Seoul to mourn the death this week of former President Kim Dae-jung, will meet South Korea's current leader Sunday, the first such meeting since he took office 18 months ago.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama hammered away at 'outrageous myths' about his healthcare reform plans on Saturday, seeking again to take control of a debate that has tarnished support for his top domestic policy goal.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki assured Iraq on Saturday that its forces would defeat terrorism despite the year's deadliest bombings, ignoring remarks from a minister that the government had fallen into a false sense of security.

AP - President Hamid Karzai's leading challenger accused him of using the Afghan state to 'rig' this week's election and detailed allegations of cheating by government officials in an interview Saturday with The Associated Press.

AP - President Barack Obama is challenging critics of his push to overhaul the health care system to stop making 'phony claims' about proposals now the subject of intense coast-to-coast debate.

Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama hammered away at 'outrageous myths' about his healthcare reform plans on Saturday, seeking again to take control of a debate that has tarnished support for his top domestic policy goal.

HAMILTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Bill raced north toward eastern Canada on Saturday, buffeting the U.S. East Coast with dangerous heavy swells after brushing Bermuda with rain and powerful churning surf.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Some senior clerics want Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to reconsider the nomination of three women as ministers in his new government, a conservative lawmaker was quoted as saying on Saturday.

AP - Workers used giant cranes to raise concrete walls around the blast-scarred Foreign Ministry and other government buildings on Saturday, as Iraqi authorities sought to bolster security after suicide truck bombings that killed scores in Baghdad.

AP - Police said a Cleveland barber became so upset by what he considered bad beef jerky that he returned to the store where he bought it and tried to rob the owner. Police said the 28-year-old barber walked into the store where he bought the snack, just two doors down from his barbershop, and tried to rob the owner Thursday night.

AP - As Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators prepare to make a run at their third national title in the last four seasons, the defending champions have already made some history. Florida is No. 1 in The Associated Press' preseason Top 25 released Saturday, followed by Texas, Oklahoma, Southern California and Alabama. But the Gators are in a class by themselves, the most overwhelming preseason No. 1 in the history of the media poll.

AP - Two months after a weary looking John Ensign hastily confessed to having an extramarital affair with a former campaign aide who was his best friend's wife, the Nevada senator set out to reconstruct his image before a forgiving crowd in the Fernley Community Center.

Reuters - Hurricane Bill raced north toward eastern Canada on Saturday, buffeting the U.S. East Coast with dangerous heavy swells after brushing Bermuda with rain and powerful churning surf.

Reuters - Some senior clerics want Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to reconsider the nomination of three women as ministers in his new government, a conservative lawmaker was quoted as saying on Saturday.

AFP - Observers Saturday highlighted cases of fraud in Afghanistan's elections and said voting was not universally free due to violence and intimidation as speculation mounted about a possible run-off.

HAMILTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Bill weakened in intensity as it raced northwards toward eastern Canada on Saturday, pummeling the U.S. East Coast with heavy swells and dangerous surf as it passed.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. military has begun to share with the International Committee of the Red Cross the identities of militants held in secret camps in Iraq and Afghanistan, The New York Times reported on on Saturday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Influential former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has urged Iranians to follow Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's guidelines, five weeks after he challenged the authority of the country's most powerful figure.

AP - Dozens of wildfires broke out across Greece, torching olive groves, cutting off villages and sending residents fleeing Saturday as one of the largest blazes swept perilously close to the capital's northern suburbs.

AP - A weakening Hurricane Bill spun northward Saturday, churning up rough seas, creating dangerous rip tides and closing beaches to swimmers up and down the eastern seaboard, including President Obama's planned vacation spot, Martha's Vineyard.

Reuters - Hurricane Bill weakened in intensity as it raced northwards toward eastern Canada on Saturday, pummeling the U.S. East Coast with heavy swells and dangerous surf as it passed.

Reuters - The U.S. military has begun to share with the International Committee of the Red Cross the identities of militants held in secret camps in Iraq and Afghanistan, The New York Times reported on on Saturday.

Reuters - Influential former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has urged Iranians to follow Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's guidelines, five weeks after he challenged the authority of the country's most powerful figure.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. military has begun to share with the International Committee of the Red Cross the identities of militants held in secret camps in Iraq and Afghanistan, The New York Times reported on on Saturday.

AP - Canadian authorities on Saturday intensified the manhunt for the millionaire reality TV star accused of murdering a former swimsuit model and stuffing her naked, mutilated body in a suitcase.

AP - Kevin Youkilis homered twice and tied a career high with six RBIs, rookie Junichi Tazawa stopped New York's big bats and the Boston Red Sox broke a five-game skid against the Yankees with a 14-1 win Saturday.

Reuters - The U.S. military has begun to share with the International Committee of the Red Cross the identities of militants held in secret camps in Iraq and Afghanistan, The New York Times reported on on Saturday.

HAMILTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Bill, weaker but still a dangerous storm, charged northwards toward Canada's Atlantic region on Saturday, generating heavy swells and dangerous surf on a path skirting the U.S. New England coast.

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean envoys, in Seoul to mourn the death of former President Kim Dae-jung, met South Korea's current leader on Sunday, local media reported, in the first such meeting in nearly two years.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA interrogators carried out mock executions and threatened an al Qaeda commander with a gun and an electric drill, according to an internal report that provides new details of abuses inside's the agency's secret prisons, two leading U.S. newspapers reported on Saturday.

AP - Lawyers for a Guantanamo Bay detainee will be allowed to question — in writing — accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a federal judge has ruled. The decision is a setback for government lawyers who had sought to limit the scope of detainee lawyers' challenges to the detention and prosecution of terror suspects.

AP - An official says a high-level delegation from North Korea has delivered a message from leader Kim Jong Il to South Korea's president.

AP - Rookie Tommy Hanson won his fourth straight start in August, combining with two relievers on a four-hitter, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Florida Marlins 4-3 on Saturday night.

Reuters - Hurricane Bill, weaker but still a dangerous storm, charged northwards toward Canada's Atlantic region on Saturday, generating heavy swells and dangerous surf on a path skirting the U.S. New England coast.

Reuters - North Korean envoys in Seoul to mourn the death of a former president on Sunday held their first talks with the current leader since he took office about 18 months ago, marking a new conciliatory tone from Pyongyang.

Reuters - CIA interrogators carried out mock executions and threatened an al Qaeda commander with a gun and an electric drill, according to an internal report that provides new details of abuses inside's the agency's secret prisons, two leading U.S. newspapers reported on Saturday.

AFP - Senior North Korean envoys on Sunday met South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak for the first time since he took office 18 months ago, raising hopes of an end to high tensions on the peninsula.

HAMILTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Bill, weaker but still a large storm, headed northeast toward Canada's Atlantic regions on Saturday, buffeting the New England coast of the United States as it passed with heavy swells, surf and rain.

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean envoys in Seoul to mourn the death of a former president on Sunday held their first talks with the current leader since he took office about 18 months ago and delivered a message from Kim Jong-il.

AP - A high-level North Korean delegation conveyed a message from leader Kim Jong Il to the South Korean president during a rare meeting Sunday in the latest sign of warming ties on the tense Korean peninsula.

Reuters - Hurricane Bill, weaker but still a large storm, headed northeast toward Canada's Atlantic regions on Saturday, buffeting the New England coast of the United States as it passed with heavy swells, surf and rain.

Reuters - North Korean envoys in Seoul to mourn the death of a former president on Sunday held their first talks with the current leader since he took office about 18 months ago and delivered a message from Kim Jong-il.

AFP - North Korean envoys delivered a message from their leader Kim Jong-Il when they met South Korea's president Sunday, raising hopes of an end to high tensions which had sparked fears of military clashes.