♦ Local Calendar, August 13

TONIGHT Redlands Theatre Festival presents "The Good Doctor," 8:30 p.m. at the Avice Meeker Sewall Theater in Prospect Park, Redlands. Continues Aug. 17 and 22.	1 vote

♦ Man Utd expect long Ronaldo stay

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Cristiano Ronaldo would prefer to extend his stay at the club rather than join Real Madrid. After a summer saga in which the 23-year-old was continually linked with the Spanish giants, Ronaldo has publicly committed himself to United. "Real know they are dealing with a different animal now," said Ferguson. Ronaldo...	1 vote

♦ U.S. releases some detainees in Iraq back to home countries

Since 2002, more than 500 detainees have been transferred from Guantanamo Bay to their home countries, according to the Pentagon. Here, a detainee walks in a fenced-in exercise area in 2006 at the Guantanamo prison. WASHINGTON — The U.S.	1 vote

♦ Eco-towns plan 'may be unlawful'

The government's approach to delivering up to 10 eco-towns could be "unlawful", councils have warned. Ministers are to publish a planning policy statement to set out standards and potential locations in England. But the Local Government Association said the proposals went against the principle of development through plans drawn up by local authorities.	1 vote

♦ Bangladesh voters' lists 'ready'

Bangladesh's Election Commission says it has completed the registration of voters ahead of a general election due to be held at the end of December. It says it has recorded the identities, fingerprints and photographs of more than 80 million voters to ensure that the elections will be free and fair.	1 vote

♦ Who is the greatest Russian?

Josef Stalin and Tsar Nicholas II are the two leading contenders to be crowned 'The Name of Russia', a domestic version of the BBC series Great Britons. Who do you think should get the title? The programme has lead to a major push by communists and monarchists in the country to push support for their candidate. Lenin is currently third with nearly 187,000 votes...	1 vote

♦ Increase in prison knife attacks

The number of knife attacks among prison inmates has almost doubled over a period of seven years, according to government figures. There were 208 assaults that involved a knife or blade in English and Welsh prisons in 2007. This represents a rise from 112 incidents recorded in 2000.	1 vote

♦ Survey Says Patients Get a Good Deal

More people can see a GP in Derbyshire within two days than in other parts of the UK, according to a patient survey. Ninety per cent of patients in Derby and 89% across the county say they can get an appointment within two days...	1 vote

♦ Microsoft results hit its shares

Microsoft's quarterly earnings, and the software company's predictions for the next three month period, have come in worse than many analysts expected. Net profit was $4.3bn (2.2bn) in April to June. That is 41% higher than a year earlier, when Microsoft took a $1bn charge to fix faulty Xbox 360 consoles. For the current quarter, it predicted earnings of 47 to 48 cents per share...	1 vote

♦ Center Offers Treatment for Swallowing Disorders

By Jamie Durant, Florence Morning News, S.C. Jul. 16--Marion Regional Healthcare System now has equipment that enables staff members to treat swallowing disorders that normally would require patients to travel to Charleston or Greenville.	1 vote

♦ Italy indicts Iraqi suspected of plotting terrorist attack

ROME (AP) — A judge in Venice indicted an Iraqi on Tuesday who is suspected of plotting a terrorist attack on U.S. bases in Iraq using ultra-light aircraft. Saber Fadhil Hussien was ordered to face a fast-track trial starting Nov. 18 on international terrorism charges, said his lawyer, Giorgio Pietramala. Investigators believe Hussien...	1 vote

♦ Spokesman: Israel approves Hezbollah prison swap

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli government spokesman says the Cabinet has overwhelming approved a prisoner swap with Hezbollah. The hotly debated deal would release a convicted Lebanese child-killer and four Hezbollah guerrillas in exchange for two missing Israeli soldiers or their bodies. The exchange, which also includes the bodies of 199 Hezbollah and Palestinian fighters...	1 vote

♦ Review: Memoirs of a Not So Dutiful Daughter by Jenni Murray

Review: Memoirs of a Not So Dutiful Daughter by Jenni Murray The formidable and fiery presenter of Radio 4's Woman's Hour documents a turbulent, loathing-filled upbringing in a pre-feminist Britain...	1 vote

♦ Washington Diary

There have been many unforeseen and unintended consequences of the success of Barack Obama's campaign. Will Iran's missile-test lead to an escalation of hostilities? We have seen a growing interest in the Kenyan Luo tribe of Mr Obama's father. There has been a forensic analysis of the true meaning of fist bumps for those of you have forgotten...	1 vote

♦ EU, U.S. pledge more than $1.9B to Kosovo

BRUSSELS (AP) — Kosovo has received a total of $1.9 billion in pledges from international donors including the United States and the European Union to help build much needed infrastructure and democratic institutions and foster economic growth. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci says his country "scored an extraordinary success" at the conference...	1 vote

♦ Justices to debate whether Navy sonar harms whales

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a dispute over the Navy's sonar training exercises off the Southern California coast. Environmentalists say the exercises threaten dolphins, whales and other marine mammals. The case presents an important test of competing environmental and military interests.	1 vote

♦ Tunisia 'state torture' condemned

Rights group Amnesty International has accused Tunisia of carrying out illegal detentions and torture under its anti-terrorism policy. The UK-based group said Tunisia's State Security department used torture with impunity against suspects. The report gives accounts by detainees who say they were beaten, deprived of sleep and had bottles and other items inserted into their bodies.	1 vote

♦ Councils urged to help homeowners

Councils are being urged to come to the rescue of families who are threatened with having their homes repossessed. A report by the New Local Government Network think tank says councils should use their lending powers to stave off repossession and eviction. Mortgage lenders expect 45,000 homes to be repossessed in 2008, nearly 20,000 more than last year.	1 vote