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45 dead as jet swerves off Madrid airport runway (AP)

AP - A Spanish airliner bound for the Canary Islands swerved off the runway and caught fire during takeoff from the Madrid airport on Wednesday, killing at least 45 people, the Interior Ministry said.

Rice signs missile defense deal with Poland (AP)

AP - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Polish counterpart signed a deal Wednesday to build a U.S. missile defense base in Poland, an agreement that prompted an infuriated Russia to warn of a possible attack against the former Soviet satellite.

Sen. Joe Lieberman to speak at GOP convention (AP)

AP - Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democratic Party's vice presidential candidate in 2000 and now an independent who is one of John McCain's strongest supporters, will speak at the Republican National Convention, an official said.

Obama, VP choice to campaign together Saturday (AP)

AP - Barack Obama and his newly named running mate will campaign together Saturday at the place where the Democratic presidential hopeful formally launched his White House bid.

Tropical Storm Fay hugs Florida's Atlantic coast (AP)

AP - Tropical Storm Fay meandered north along the Florida Atlantic coast Wednesday but did not immediately head out over the ocean, lessening the chances it will gain strength and become a hurricane.

Jamaica's Bolt breaks 200 mark, gets sprint double (AP)

AP - Usain Bolt of Jamaica broke the world record by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds Wednesday night, becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 gold medals at an Olympics.

France bans broadcast of TV shows for babies (AP)
AP - France's broadcast authority has banned French channels from airing TV shows aimed at children under 3 years old, to shield them from developmental risks it says television viewing poses at that age.

States push laws to require paid sick days (AP)

AP - For school bus driver Jamille Aine, a cold is more than an inconvenience. His employer does not offer paid sick days, so if he can't shake the bug, he may not be able to pay his bills.

Dave Matthews Band sax player dies from ATV wreck injuries (AP)

AP - LeRoi Moore, the versatile saxophonist whose signature staccato fused jazz and funk overtones onto the eclectic sound of the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday of complications from injuries he suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident, the band said. He was 46.

Mourning gorilla holds on to body of her baby (AP)

AP - A gorilla at a zoo in the German city of Muenster is refusing to let go of her dead baby's body several days after it died of unknown causes.

McCain takes lead over Obama: poll (Reuters)

Reuters - In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Russian trucks trickle out of Georgia (Reuters)

Reuters - Russian military trucks crossed from Georgia back into Russia on Wednesday but there was no sign of the large-scale, rapid pullout demanded by the West.

At least 45 dead in Madrid plane crash (Reuters)

Reuters - At least 45 people were killed when a Spanair plane crashed on takeoff at Madrid airport on Wednesday, the government said, but an emergency services source reported nearly 150 fatalities.

"Lightning" Bolt strikes again in Beijing (Reuters)

Reuters - Jamaica's Usain "Lightning" Bolt roared to gold in the 200 meters on Wednesday to become the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win an Olympic sprint double.

Poland and U.S. in shield deal irking Moscow (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States and Poland signed a deal on Wednesday to station elements of a U.S. missile defense shield on Polish soil, a move certain to aggravate Russia-Western tensions over Moscow's intervention in Georgia.