TBILISI, Aug 22, 2008 (AFP) - Russia was set to withdraw its forces from Georgia on Friday, amid a deepening crisis in its relations with the West over its brutal invasion and occupation of the former Soviet republic.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22, 2008 (AFP) - Pakistan's shaky ruling coalition was set for a make-or-break meeting on Friday, a day after a double suicide bombing killed 64 people and underscored the government's struggle with extremism.

MADRID (AFP) - Distraught relatives of the 153 victims of the Madrid airline disaster struggled Thursday to identify charred remains of their loved ones as investigators scoured the wreckage for clues.

SYDNEY (AFP) - A lost baby whale which captured hearts around the world as it tried to suckle from an Australian yacht it thought was its mother was killed Friday to end its suffering, wildlife rangers said.

ACCRA (AFP) - Time is running out in the fight against global warming, the UN's top climate change official warned as a new round of UN talks got started here Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy and top US trade negotiator Susan Schwab were to meet in Washington in an effort to restart the Doha Round of negotiations, a US official said.

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Flocks of eBay sellers were squawking as the pioneering online auction website continued "bold changes" aimed at wrenching market share from Internet retail giant Amazon.