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Pageantry, pyrotechnics open Beijing Games - China celebrated its ancient past and modern power when the Beijing Olympics began on Friday, featuring an Opening Ceremony that was the culmination of seven years of hard work.

Haze, heat, humidity for Olympics start - Heat, humidity and haze cloaked the start of China's long-awaited Olympic Games in a sultry blanket Friday.

Russia, Georgia troops battle on border
Death toll in bus crash rises to 14
Scoop: Tyra Banks has White House dreams
NYT: Minn. governor eyes national stage
Bill Clinton to speak at convention
Plane makes emergency landing at Calif. airport
Henna hazard: Chemical causes ornate allergies
Red Tape: JetBlue, now in the Gotcha Hall of Shame
Foreclosures catch renters off guard
Detroit mayor arraigned on new charges
10 die in train crash in Czech Republic
Cop suspended for demanding free Starbucks
Bin Laden driver gets 5 1/2 years
U.S. deaths in Afghanistan war reach 500
Despite demons, Ivins stayed at lab
Most Americans want overhaul of health system
Man held for threat on Obama's life
L Oreal denies lightening Beyonce s skin in ad
Lawsuit claims Blige stole tune used in iPod ad
Opinion: Mickelson primed for great finish
Myanmar's condition starker than portrayed

US NEWS

Death toll in bus crash rises to 14
N.J.'s ex-governor owes wife no alimony
German man says 'Rockefeller' his brother
Detroit mayor arraigned on new charges
Foreclosures catch renters off guard
Polar bear surprise sends scientists fleeing
NYT: Minn. governor eyes national stage
Man with 'Greatest Dad' shirt admits crimes
Md. mayor's home raided, dogs killed
Remote-control warriors suffer war stress
Texas executes immigrant after court win
Cop suspended for demanding free Starbucks

WORLD NEWS

Russia, Georgia troops battle on border
Q & A: Behind the battle for South Ossetia
Haze, heat, humidity for Olympics start
Pageantry, pyrotechnics open Beijing Games
10 die in train crash in Czech Republic
U.S. mulls bigger military forays into Pakistan
Threat turns back Air China plane
U.S. deaths in Afghanistan war reach 500
Myanmar's condition starker than portrayed
Beijing couples rush to wed on lucky day
Hamdan gets 5 1/2 years on terror charge
France: 10-year-old torero sparks debate

BUSINESS

Stocks jump as the price of oil sinks
Oil resumes plunge as dollar strengthens
Rising prices, flat paychecks worry consumers
Worker productivity slowed in spring
Newsweek: Economists say China can rule Olympics
China dominates in list of world s cheapest cars
Foreclosures catch renters off guard
Msnbc.com offering rates fresh daily
Fannie Mae s loss more than triple estimate
Mortgage giant Countrywide facing probe
UBS to settle securities case for $19.4 billion
ConsumerMan: A victory for consumers
Companies have tall hopes for Yao Ming
Stimulus spent, retailers face tough outlook

ENTERTAINMENT

Scoop: Tyra Banks has White House dreams
Tidbits: Kate Hudson won t kiss and tell
Clay Aiken welcomes baby boy
A viewer s guide to Olympic events
NBC pins Olympics hopes on Phelps, gymnasts
An hour-and-a-half later, Talent pool is set
That's all, folks! The Police end tour in NYC
Brad Pitt takes on Inglorious role
Obama, McCain reveal pop culture favorites
Cyrus: Maybe I ll end up marrying Nick Jonas
Paris' poke at McCain garnered 5 million hits
L Oreal denies lightening Beyonce s skin in ad
Lawsuit claims Blige stole tune used in iPod ad
Morgan Freeman leaves hospital after accident
Lucas: 'Indiana Jones' needs Ford to continue
Despite report, Shia LaBeouf won't lose pinky
Quiz: Who does Shia LeBeouf blame for his drinking?
Slide show: The week in celebrity sightings
TV listings

SPORTS

China lights up world in Opening Ceremony
Abrahamson's blog: Opening Ceremony live
Slide show: Opening Ceremony fireworks
New York mayor rolls out red carpet for Favre
Low scores hard to find at PGA Championship
PGA Championship leaderboard
Boras denies engineering Ramirez trade
Ohio U. lineman scores big in state lottery
Video: Madden on the Favre trade
Opinion: Optimistic Lefty primed for great finish
The freedom to fail
Celizic: China is gaining, but Team USA is still No. 1
Rivalry budding between United States and China
Fantasy Fix: Video outlooks for every NFL team
Slide show: Slide show: The Week in Sports Pictures
Rotoworld: Get latest fantasy baseball updates
Odds: Find latest lines, more on each game
Matchups: Breaking down each contest
Sound off in our sports discussion boards
Injury report: Who will, won't be playing

HEALTH

FDA: Heart drug combo may harm muscles
Henna hazard: Chemical causes ornate allergies
6 guilt-free reasons to love carbs
44-pound stray cat no longer homeless
Scientists create stem cells for 10 disorders
Newsweek: How we rationalize our wimpiness
Only 40 percent of U.S. adults tested for HIV
For mystery infertility, two methods don't help
Most Americans want overhaul of health system
Beware slugs: Athletes warned on Chinese meds
Vitamin C may help lower diabetes risk
Surprises in landmark U.S. adoption survey
You, too, can train like an Olympian
Body Odd: Exercise pill is a cheat
California firm recalls beef due to E. coli
Newsweek: Hope for more effective HIV treatment
Shaky science casts doubt on doping results
Shock therapy makes a quiet comeback
Flight crews, airports well prepared for emergencies
FBI: Hospital used homeless as 'human pawns'
Average ER waiting time nears 1 hour
PTSD tied to early death from heart disease
If trends continue, we ll all be fat in 40 years
Even viruses can get sick, study finds

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Wireless services add more parental controls
Let there be life: Games go organic
Seven smashing atom-smashers
See the big meteor show while you can
Major Internet security flaw also affects e-mail
Reporters booted from conference for hacking
Cosmic Log: Big day set for big-bang machine
Wii're already fit, thanks
Sing it, FreeCreditReport.com guy!
Fingerprints can point to drugs or bombs
1,900-year-old chariot discovered in Bulgaria
Phallus-shaped flower is botanical superstar
Lawsuit claims Blige stole tune used in iPod ad
Where's the 'Dark Knight' video game?
Shuttle to deliver final service call for Hubble
32 lab monkeys accidentally killed
All planets are born in killer environments

TRAVEL

High flying heli-adventures
The bucket list of ultimate adventures
Surfer girls, unite! Surfer camps 101
The princess of tides in Costa Rica
Take it off at these clothing-optional resorts
Labor Day air and lodging packages
London and Edinburgh air/6 nights, $1,179
Threat turns back Air China plane
Plane makes emergency landing at Calif. airport
Ready for takeoff ... and emergencies
Survey: Public divided on in-flight cell use
American ups miles for reward tickets

WEATHER

Haze, heat, humidity for Olympics start
U.S. experts raise Atlantic hurricane outlook
Hernan becomes hurricane off Mexico
Dry California OKs huge desalination plant
Drought dictates pace of life on Cyprus