Iraq PM did not back Obama troop exit plan: government
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki did not back the plan of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and his comments to a German magazine on the issue were misunderstood, the government's spokesman said on Sunday.

Obama breakfasts with U.S. troops in Afghan capital
KABUL (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had breakfast with U.S. troops in the Afghan capital on Sunday and talked about their experiences in the country that has seen a sharp rise in violence this year.

Powers wield sanction threat after Iran stalemate
GENEVA (Reuters) - Major powers gave Iran two weeks to answer calls to rein in its nuclear programme on Saturday or face tougher sanctions after talks ended in stalemate despite unprecedented U.S. participation.

Thousands march for Nicaragua's Ortega after protest
MANAGUA (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people filled Nicaragua's capital on Saturday to celebrate the country's 1979 leftist revolution, giving a lift to President Daniel Ortega as his government faces simmering protests.

Storm Cristobal forms off U.S., Bertha weakens
MIAMI (Reuters) - The third tropical storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, Cristobal, formed off the U.S. East Coast on Saturday, with gale-force winds and heavy rains expected to lash the Carolinas as the storm grazes the shoreline on a northeasterly path.

Pope warns youth of materialist "spiritual desert"
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, wrapping up his visit to Australia, on Sunday urged a huge crowd of young people to beware the spreading "spiritual desert" that often accompanied modern prosperity.

Guess who's not invited to the Olympics?
BEIJING (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama may be the guest of honor of President George W. Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders, but you won't find Tibet's exiled spiritual leader on the Beijing Olympics guest list.

"Dark Knight" sets opening day box office record
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," raked in $66.4 million in its opening day to set the single-day box office record, according to its distributor Warner Bros.

China arrests quake critic on secrets charge
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese police arrested a human rights campaigner in the country's southwest for "possession of state secrets" after he offered help to parents of children killed in the region's massive earthquake, his family said.

House prices could fall for two years: Citigroup
LONDON (Reuters) - Citigroup chairman Win Bischoff has warned that house prices in Britain and the United States are likely to keep falling for another two years.