AP - Tropical Storm Fay pounded Cuba with torrential rain and wind Monday, prompting authorities to evacuate dozens of low-lying communities, cancel carnival celebrations in a central of province and warn of flooding.

AP - President Pervez Musharraf announced Monday he was resigning to avoid an impeachment battle with Pakistan's ruling coalition that would harm the nation.

AFP - Michael Phelps cemented his place in Olympics history Sunday, capping a sensational week by becoming the first athlete ever to win eight gold medals in one Games.

Reuters - Zimbabwe's ruling party and the main opposition have not yet reached a power-sharing agreement, an opposition spokesman said on Sunday.

AP - Tropical Storm Fay lashed southeastern Cuba with downpours and heavy winds Sunday and was expected to churn its way over the center of the island before heading toward Florida.

AFP - Germany's Deutsche Telekom, the biggest telecoms group in Europe, intends to shut nearly half its call centres in Germany, according to a report due out Monday in the Focus newsweekly.

AP - A series of bombings in this small but strategic northwestern Iraqi city is stoking fears of a return to sectarian conflict here and raising questions about a strategy of handing urban security to Iraqi police.

AP - The Afghan police ordered 7,000 officers onto the streets of Kabul to guard against attacks on senior leaders during Independence Day celebrations Monday, responding to signs of the Taliban's growing strength near the capital.

AP - Russia's president said troops would begin pulling out of Georgia on Monday, but made no mention of leaving the separatist province at the heart of the conflict between the countries.

AFP - Turkish warplanes bombed a Kurdish rebel hideout in neighbouring northern Iraq overnight, the military said Sunday.

Reuters - Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday power-sharing talks at a regional summit were making good progress.

AP - Paraguay's new leftist president returned Saturday to the province where he spent 11 years as bishop, and pledged to raise living standards by eradicating poverty and corruption in one of South America's poorest nations.