Obama plays some hoops, works on speech

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN

DENVER - Barack Obama aims to weave the personal with the political Thursday night as he tells 75,000 supporters in a football stadium _ and millions more at home _ how as president he would make a difference in their lives.

• Tourists flee as Gustav churns toward Jamaica
• Spring's economic rebound unlikely to last
• McCain stays mum about vice presidential pick
• Mexican Supreme Court upholds legal abortion
• CDC says salmonella outbreak appears to be over
• US coalition: 100 militants killed in Afghanistan
• Rapper DMX pleads out Florida drug case
• Italy museum defies pope anger over crucified frog
• MLB spends $2.5M to give umps 2nd look at homers

Asian alliance rebuffs Russian plea for support

By OLGA TUTUBALINA and PETER LEONARD

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - China and several Central Asian nations rebuffed Russia's hopes of international support for its actions in Georgia, issuing a statement Thursday denouncing the use of force and calling for the respect of every country's territorial integrity.

• Senior Iraqi official suspected of militia links
• US coalition: 100 militants killed in Afghanistan
• Pakistan's next president: Mr. 10 Percent?
• Tourists flee as Gustav churns toward Jamaica
• 2 Chinese policemen killed, 7 wounded in Xinjiang
• Thai protesters defy court order to leave compound
• US Army hearing on death of 4 Iraqis ends
• Anwar, back in Malaysia parliament, stages walkout
• Bombing of Pakistani government bus kills 8

As Gustav nears, Gulf Coast puts faith in planning

By BECKY BOHRER

NEW ORLEANS - With Gustav approaching hurricane strength and showing no signs of veering off a track to slam into the Gulf Coast, authorities across the region began laying the groundwork Thursday to get the sick, elderly and poor away from the shoreline.

• Tropical Storm Hanna forms in Atlantic
• Critics say huge NYC water plant soaking taxpayers
• Small GPS devices help prosecutors win convictions
• Prosecutor: Ohio mother put baby girl in microwave
• Detroit mayor's lawyer says she's losing witnesses
• Defense contractor accused of human trafficking
• Man accused of Obama threat to appear in fed court
• Death for man who kidnapped, murdered Idaho boy
• Poll: California voters oppose ban on gay marriage

Suspect in motel beating charged with murder

RENO, Nev. - Reno police say a man found beaten in a motel room has died, and the suspect has now been charged with murder.

• Report: Plane OK'd for test flights
• Jury deciding fate of ex-Marine in Iraq deaths
• Man removed from Hollywood wiretap jury
• Defense contractor accused of human trafficking
• Hollywood production days in LA slip during talks
• RNC panel calls Nevada GOP 'inept'
• Marine recruiter pleads guilty in sex case
• Budget cuts force early releases in Fresno County
• Tax revenues down 4.1 percent
• Raiders, Seahawks limp into preseason finale
• Reid condemns Bush administration at convention
• Agent for Jags WR denies arranged assault claim
• 'Suge' Knight released from Las Vegas jail
• Boaters urged to inspect vessels for mussels
• Sterilization problems prompts tests on patients

Industry groups file lawsuit over polar bear rule

WASHINGTON - Five industry groups are suing the Interior Department over a rule designed to protect the polar bear.

• Pentagon brass meet secretly with Pakistanis
• CDC: Salmonella outbreak appears to be over
• Tracking Alzheimer's-linked protein in live brains
• Fewer Marines needed in Iraq's western province
• Bush steps up fight over congressional authority
• Prosecutors seek to slash Abramoff prison term
• Judge fears secret hearings over Guantanamo Bay
• Administration wants changes in workplace rules
• Private contractors hold lots of US intel jobs

Obama plays some hoops, works on speech

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN

DENVER - Barack Obama aims to weave the personal with the political Thursday night as he tells 75,000 supporters in a football stadium _ and millions more at home _ how as president he would make a difference in their lives.

• McCain stays mum about vice presidential pick
• McBama agenda: Common ground between candidates
• Biden: Obama cannot win without Pennsylvania
• Excitment, tears and Kumar on convention floor
• Obama makes unscripted appearance at the DNC
• THE EDGE: Dems' best and worst
• Some Clinton fundraisers squeezing money for Obama
• DNC '08: Reviewing the big show
• Analysis: Denver seems like the Clinton Convention

Stocks jump on better-than-expected GDP, jobs data

By TIM PARADIS

NEW YORK - Stocks extended their advance Thursday after a better-than-expected reading on the nation's economy and a drop in jobless claims. The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 200 points.

• Spring's economic rebound unlikely to last
• Boeing delivers new offer to machinists
• Gustav likely to push up gas prices for Labor Day
• CDC: Salmonella outbreak appears to be over
• Jobless claims fall for 3rd straight week
• Sears' 2Q profit drops 62 percent
• Tiffany doubles 2Q profit on strong sales overseas
• Toyota lowers 2009 global sales target
• USW gets authority to strike against ArcelorMittal

NFL clears Pacman to play for Cowboys

By STEPHEN HAWKINS

IRVING, Texas - Adam "Pacman" Jones has been cleared to play for the Dallas Cowboys this season.

• Venus Williams, favorites keep winning at US Open
• Chamberlain hopes to return to Yankees next week
• Man United gets Celtic in Champions League draw
• Oregon QB Costa out for season with knee injury
• Every little bit Phelps: Swimmer a VMA presenter
• Stu Barnes retires, joins Stars' coaching staff
• Merriman to play despite 2 torn knee ligaments
• Mets rally to beat Phillies, reclaim first place
• Sources: De La Hoya wraps up deal for final fight

Baby boy born on airliner en route to Australia

DARWIN, Australia - An Indian woman gave birth to a healthy boy aboard a jet airliner while flying to Australia to reunite with her husband.

• Ga. town's scarecrows h(a)unting for world record
• Spanish town blushes with annual tomato fight
• Charge dismissed in case of dog registered to vote
• Nebraska city council votes to evict aging horse
• Feisty puppy scares off 3 bears in NJ back yard
• Raccoon's courthouse crime spree ends with capture
• Boy, 12, accused of fleeing Texas police at 60 mph
• No buyers for Wis. man's million-mile Chevy _ yet
• 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch

Today in History - Aug. 28

By The Associated Press

Today is Thursday, Aug. 28, the 241st day of 2008. There are 125 days left in the year.