Reuters - Senegal's president said on Thursday George W. Bush told African leaders at one stage the United States might send troops to Sudan's Darfur if they did not act to halt what he saw as genocide there.

Reuters - The first Guantanamo Bay war crimes trial, involving Osama bin Laden's former driver, can start next week, a federal judge ruled on Thursday, saying the system backed by President George W. Bush and Congress can stand.

Reuters - Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday U.S. participation in nuclear talks was "positive," but France said big powers still wanted Tehran to make specific proposals to resolve a dispute over Iran's nuclear work.

AP - Drugs hit the Tour de France again Thursday, and the third doping bust netted the biggest name yet: Italy's Riccardo Ricco, a winner of two stages.

AP - Just as John F. Kennedy set his sights on the moon, Al Gore is challenging the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources within 10 years, an audacious goal he hopes the next president will embrace.

AP - Basic cable TV looked more like a pop-culture bargain Thursday as AMC's "Mad Men" and FX's "Damages" snared historic best-series Emmy nominations, while stars from cable's less glamorous channels also made a splash in major acting categories.

AP - President Bush fondly remembered Tony Snow Thursday, telling mourners at Snow's funeral that the conservative commentator-turned-White House press secretary "amassed a rare record of accomplishment."

AP - Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee lead the nation when it comes to obesity, a new government survey reported Thursday.

AP - Democrat Barack Obama raised $52 million last month for his presidential campaign, more than twice as much as Republican rival John McCain in a significant boost to his financial cache for the fall contest.

AP - Wall Street is surging for the second straight day as tumbling energy prices bolster an already upbeat mood in the market. The Dow Jones industrial average is up 170 points at the 11,409 level, and has been up more than 200 in afternoon trading.

AP - The first war crimes trial at Guantanamo Bay can begin Monday, a federal judge ruled, saying civilian courts should let the military process play out as Congress intended.

AFP - Two Israeli soldiers whose bodies were returned home two years after being captured by Hezbollah were to be buried on Thursday, as it emerged that they probably died when they were ambushed.