2008-05-08 13:34:11 -

TOP STORIES
RUSSIA-PUTIN
MOSCOW _ Russian legislators confirm Vladimir Putin as prime minister, capping a carefully engineered recast of Russia's leadership a day after he handed the presidency to his protege Dmitry Medvedev. Developing. By Steve Gutterman. AP Photos.
UN-MYANMAR-CYCLONE-AID
GENEVA _ The first U.N. aid flight arrives in Myanmar, bringing an Italian-financed shipment carrying 25 metric tons

(27.5 tons) of emergency response equipment for cyclone survivors, a spokeswoman said. However, international attempts to get relief supplies and aid workers into the isolationist country were apparently still encountering problems. Developing. By Alexander H. Higgins. AP Photos.
RUSSIA-GEORGIA
MOSCOW _ Russia's Defense Ministry says it could further increase the size of its peacekeeping force in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region. Upcoming.
ITALY-GOVERNMENT
ROME _ Premier Silvio Berlusconi is to be sworn in, a day after the conservative leader unveiled his new government. Developing from swearing-in ceremony at 1500GMT. AP Photos planned.
DENMARK-UN-MYANMAR
COPENHAGEN, Denmark _ UNICEF is sending 3 million water purification tablets to Myanmar, enough to provide clean water to 200,000 people for a week, officials say. Moved. AP Photos.
EU-LOBBYING ETHICS
BRUSSELS, Belgium _ The European Parliament votes in favor of setting up a mandatory register of lobbyists trying to influence EU legislation. Developing.
PERU-EU-LATIN AMERICA
LIMA, Peru _ Police map out traffic detours and readied roadblocks in Peru's capital before a summit of European and Latin American leaders expected to address trade, climate change, poverty and the global food crisis. Moved. By Andrew Whalen.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
BRITAIN-BEST BUY-CARPHONE WAREHOUSE
LONDON _ Best Buy Co. Inc., the biggest U.S. electronics retailer, is paying 1.1 billion pounds (US$2.1 billion ¤1.4 billion) to take a 50 percent stake in the European retail operation of The Carphone Warehouse, the companies announce. Moved. By Robert Barr.
EUROPE-INTEREST RATES
ATHENS, Greece _ The European Central Bank is expected to keep its interest rate unchanged as more evidence mounts that growth in the euro zone is likely to slow in coming months. Meanwhile, the Bank of England announces it is keeping official interest rates unchanged at 5.0 percent as it deals with conflicting pressures from a slowing economy and rising inflation. Developing; ECB decision at 1145GMT. By Elena Becatoros and Matt Moore. AP Photos planned.
SPORTS
ITALIAN PREVIEW
MILAN, Italy _ Inter Milan can clinch its third straight Serie A title with a victory over Siena on Sunday. An Inter loss will still earn the Nerazzurri the championship with one game to spare if AS Roma fails to defeat Atalanta. By 1300GMT. By Eric Sylvers.
SPANISH PREVIEW
MADRID, Spain _ Newly proclaimed champion Real Madrid can complete a perfect week when it visits lowly Zaragoza in the Spanish league's penultimate round on Sunday. Moved. By Stephen Mackey.
SPANISH ROUNDUP
MADRID, Spain _ Fourth-placed Atletico Madrid seeks to improve its chances of a berth in next season's Champions League when it visits Espanyol, which is winless in seven games. By 2100GMT.

ITALIAN ROUNDUP
CATANIA, Sicily _ Catania hosts AS Roma in an Italian Cup semifinal game. Roma won the first leg 1-0 last month. The winner faces Inter Milan in the final. By 2100GMT.
ITALIAN OPEN
MILAN, Italy _ John Daly aims for a return to form in the first round of the Italian Open golf tournament. By 1500GMT.
ROME MASTERS
ROME _ Top-ranked Roger Federer faces big-serving Ivo Karlovic in the third round of the Rome Masters. No. 3 Novak Djokovic plays Igor Andreev and No. 6 Andy Roddick is up against rising local favorite Simone Bolelli of Italy. By 1330GMT. By Andrew Dampf.
FEATURES & ARTS
SERBIA-ELECTION
BELGRADE, Serbia _ After Serbia's key weekend election, all eyes will be on Vojislav Kostunica again. The outgoing prime minister is already cherishing his kingmaker role and a choice between two starkly opposed concepts _ one leading the Balkan nation closer to the West, and the other that drags it back to its nationalist past. By 1200GMT. By Dusan Stojanovic. AP Photos. With glance.
WITH: SERBIA-MAIN PARTIES
WITH: KOSOVO-ELECTION JITTERS
For more features, please see the AP World Features Digest.
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