Reuters - Michael Phelps will join the likes of Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz and Paavo Nurmi at the top of the list of all-time Olympians if he wins his ninth gold medal in the 200 meters freestyle swimming on Tuesday.

Reuters - Georgia appealed for international intervention on Monday and pulled its battered forces back to defend the capital, as Russian troops moved further into its territory, ignoring Western pleas to halt.

AP - More banks are tightening lending standards on home mortgages and other consumer and business loans as a deepening credit crisis exerts a heavier toll on the economy.

AP - Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Monday called for a multi-pronged diplomatic effort to force Russia to withdraw from Georgia, saying Moscow's actions could have long-term implications for its relations with the rest of the world.

AP - Mauritania's prime minister was released Monday as junta leaders bowed to international pressure after a coup that prompted the U.S. to cut off more than $20 million in aid.

AP - A prosecutor on Monday accused Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of violating his bond in an assault case by spending time over the weekend with his sister, one of 11 witnesses listed by authorities.

AP - Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena and Venus Williams are all winners today at Olympic tennis. Nadal made a successful debut in Olympic singles Monday, overcoming numerous missed chances by sweeping the final four games to beat Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

AP - There were two exceptional comebacks in the pool during Day 3 of the Beijing Games. One helped Michael Phelps win his second gold medal of the Olympics. The other prevented American Katie Hoff from capturing gold.

AP - The Olympics hadn't even started when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin quietly confirmed to President Bush the sketchy reports of Russian troops involved in an outbreak of fighting in Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia.

AP - Georgia's president says Russia's troops have effectively cut the country in half by seizing a strategic city that straddles the country's main east-west highway.

AFP - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will not resign, his spokesman said on Monday, as the ruling coalition put the finishing touches to impeachment charges against the key US ally.

AFP - Russia intensified attacks on Georgia on Monday, the Tblisi government said, ignoring appeals for a ceasefire and US diplomatic warnings.

Reuters - Shares in Dutch TNT NV rose more than 6 percent on Monday after a source said Europe's No.2 mail and logistics company was in talks with U.S. rival United Parcel Service .