U.S. Forces Advance Toward Najaf Shrine
NAJAF, Iraq (AP) - U.S. forces Monday drew near Najaf's revered Shiite shrine, engaging in fierce battles with followers of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as the military stepped up pressure on the insurgents to hand over the holy site to religious authorities. Al-Sadr followers claimed that U.S. airstrikes overnight damaged an outer wall of the Imam Ali Shrine compound, which remains in control of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia. The U.S. military said the strikes targeted militants south of the shrine who fired on U.S. troops, and that the wall was not hit. There was no independent confirmation of the damage.

Groups Differ on Impact of Overtime Rules
WASHINGTON (AP) - Paychecks could surge or shrink for a few or for millions of workers across the country starting Monday, when sweeping changes to the nation's overtime pay rules take effect. There is little agreement by the Bush administration, employer groups, labor experts and others on how many workers will gain or lose the right to overtime pay under the new rules in the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Almost Perfect: U.S. Wins Softball Gold
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - They are America's newest golden girls - powerful and just a shade from perfection. The U.S. softball team won its third straight gold medal with an unprecedented and nearly unblemished romp through the Olympics, capped by a 5-1 victory Monday over an Australian team that, like the rest of softball's elite, never had a chance. The Americans zeroed in on a gold medal, and were four outs from a tournament-long shutout before the Aussies scored a run - the first given up by the U.S. pitching staff in 54 2-3 innings.

Officials Wary of Plan to Split Up CIA
WASHINGTON (AP) - Officials reacted warily to a proposal by key Republican senators to transfer the nation's major intelligence gathering from the CIA and the Pentagon to control by a new director. The warmest response, in fact, came from the camp of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. His national security adviser, Rand Beers, welcomed the plan and described it as very similar to Kerry's. But even Beers said the proposal needed bipartisan support and leadership from President Bush, whom he said was "resisting any real changes."

GI to Admit to Some Abu Ghraib Charges
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) - One of the Army reservists charged with abusing Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison said Monday that he will plead guilty to some offenses. Staff Sgt. Ivan "Chip" Frederick, a member of the Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company, said in a statement given to The Associated Press that he accepts responsibility for his actions and that he broke the law.

Bush, Defense Advisers Map Out Policy
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President Bush is mapping out defense strategy with his top defense advisers as U.S. deaths in Iraq inch toward 1,000 and the election campaign focuses intently on he and Democrat John Kerry's credentials for keeping the nation safe. "This is a chance for the president and other military leaders to get outside of Washington, D.C., and have a good detailed discussion about key defense priorities," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said of the meeting Monday at the president's ranch.

Norway Searches for Treasured Masterpieces
OSLO, Norway (AP) - Police fielded a flood of tips but still had no motive Monday for the daring theft of "The Scream" and another Edvard Munch masterpiece by armed robbers who barged into a lightly guarded Oslo museum and ripped the paintings from the walls before the eyes of stunned visitors. Police, who launched a nationwide hunt for the works, said there had been no word from the thieves, who were widely expected to demand a ransom. "The Scream," a 20th century icon of angst, is too well known for the thieves to try to sell, experts say.

Woman Moves in With 6,000 Scorpions
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - A Malaysian woman is trying to reclaim the world record for the longest stay in a room full of scorpions, news reports said Sunday. Nur Malena Hassan, 27, moved Saturday into a locked glass box where she plans to live for 36 consecutive days with more than 6,000 of the poisonous arachnids in a shopping mall, the Malay-language Mingguan Malaysia newspaper reported.

Wal-Mart Sales Slump Keeps Stocks Muddled
NEW YORK (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s disappointing sales forecast sent stocks fluctuating Monday as investors' concerns about a slowing economy eclipsed their relief over a drop in oil prices. October contracts for a barrel of light crude were quoted at $46.53, down 19 cents, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. With oil topping $49 per barrel last week, the recent downturn cheered investors hoping to take advantage of a severely oversold stock market.

U.S. Men's Hoops Team Finally Gets a Rout
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - The Americans got a taste of what it was like in the good ol' days. They finally played an opponent they were able to beat easily, routing Angola 89-53 Monday in their final preliminary game of the Olympic men's basketball tournament. The United States, which had already locked up a berth in the quarterfinals, had to wait to find out whether it will play Spain, Argentina or Italy in the quarterfinals Thursday.