AFP - China's once-in-a-lifetime Olympic dream became reality Friday as the Beijing Games opened with a dazzling ceremony showcasing the nation's ancient civilization and an offer of friendship to the world.

Reuters - Eyes were on Pakistan's generals on Friday for any gesture of support for President Pervez Musharraf a day after a four-month-old civilian coalition declared plans to impeach the former army chief.

Reuters - Anti-American Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr would dissolve his Mehdi Army militia if the United States started withdrawing troops according to a set timetable, a spokesman said.

Reuters - At least 13 people on their way to a religious festival were killed when a private charter bus crashed north of Dallas, police reported on Friday.

Reuters - A judge on Friday allowed indicted Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to post $50,000 bond to get out of jail but ordered new restrictions on his movements, while new charges were filed against the embattled mayor.

Reuters - It's not a battleground state and it's unlikely to tip the U.S. election in November, but White House hopeful Barack Obama headed to Hawaii on Friday - minus, largely, his presidential campaign.

Reuters - Resurgent China opened the Olympics on Friday with volleys of fireworks at a spectacular ceremony that wove ancient Chinese history with modern wizardry and aimed to draw a line under months of political controversy.

Reuters - Russian armored vehicles have entered the northern edges of the capital of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, the separatists' press service reported on its website on Friday.

AP - The Baghdad Zoo on Friday welcomed a pair of rare Bengal tiger cubs that were donated by a North Carolina animal sanctuary despite protests by animal rights activists.

AP - A founder of the country band Sugarland is suing the two current members of the popular group for $1.5 million.

AP - Fannie Mae swung to a second-quarter loss that was more than triple what Wall Street expected as conditions in the housing market continued to deteriorate, forcing the mortgage finance giant to make bold cutbacks that will send shock waves through the mortgage market.

AP - A Camp Pendleton Marine sergeant was ordered Friday to stand trial on charges of unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty in the killing of an unarmed detainee in Fallujah, Iraq.

AP - President Bush, the first U.S. president to attend an Olympics abroad, blended political messages for China and Russia with high fives and hugs for American athletes Friday.