Kenyan opposition leader willing to discuss power sharing, calls mass rallies

Kenya's opposition leader signaled he is willing to share power with the government he accuses of rigging elections, but at the same time called for mass rallies _ a move that threatens renewed bloodletting.

Weary Kenyans, some hungry and homeless after a week of violence marked by ethnic clashes, prayed for peace Sunday and begged their leaders to break the political deadlock.

"This fighting is meaningless," said Eliakim Omondi, 17, at a Lutheran church in Nairobi's Kibera slum that was torched last week. "I wish they would just talk and square everything so the fighting will stop."

Pastor Dennis Meeker urged congregants …

reviews in brief

At a certain moment in adolescence, we all realize our parents aren't perfect. Celia West, the main character in Carrie Vaughn's After the Golden Age (Tor, $24.99) never had that moment. As far as the citizens of Commerce City are concerned, her parents are perfect. They're superheroes.

Warren and Suzanne West are better known as Captain Olympus and Spark, Commerce City's most loved and respected costumed heroes. He's super strong and invulnerable; she can control fire. Celia, however, has no powers. That led to an adolescence raging with insecurity and resentment, especially once her parents' arch-enemy, the Destructor, revealed their secret identities to the world.

Now …

WELCOME TO THE 2011 WOOD RIVER VALLEY GUIDE

Getting away from it all doesn't mean you have to A) take out a loan, B) take an extended leave of absence, ^~(TM) or C) dig out your passport. In fact, for those of us who live in Southern Idaho, a grand escape is mere hours away. A short drive can take you to a magical land where your hands don't burn on your steering wheel on a summer day, crisp air greets you in the morning and star-filled skies glitter overhead at night.

OK, so maybe it's not actually magical, but the Wood River Valley offers an all-toorare escape from the city, and one that is completely doable over a single weekend.

This is Boise Weekly's third annual Wood River Valley Summer …

Miss Venezuela is Miss Universe 2008

Miss Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe 2008 on Monday in a contest marked by the spectacle of Miss USA falling down during the evening gown competition for the second year in a row.

The new Miss Universe, Dayana Mendoza, was once kidnapped in her homeland and says the experience taught her to remain poised under pressure.

Tension got under the skin of Miss USA, Crystle Stewart of Texas, who tripped on the train of her bejeweled evening gown as she made her entrance.

During the 2007 Miss Universe contest in Mexico City, Miss USA Rachel Smith also tumbled during the evening gown competition and became an unintended star on YouTube, where the video …

European Central Bank sees pressure ease

While Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke faces pressure to spur the U.S. recovery, European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet can take life a bit easier.

For the first time in what must seem like ages, Trichet's monthly press conference Thursday after the central bank's rate-setting meeting will not be engulfed by crisis talk and questions about possible government default.

Following months of procrastination and indecision, Europe's leaders and the ECB appear to have pulled their act together and doused the flames of a government debt crisis that threatened the fabric of the 16-country single currency zone.

The impending sense of …

Missed Putt Sinks Els Emotionally

LOS ANGELES When Ernie Els' 12-foot birdie try on No. 16tantalizingly rimmed in and out of the cup, it probably signaled theend of his chance to win the PGA Championship.

Els began the final round with a three-shot lead at 16-under,but he lost two shots to par on the front nine Sunday. He was backto 16-under and had a chance to move into a tie for the lead, whenhis putt didn't drop at No. 16.

"That putt really, I think, just took everything out of me," Elssaid.

He then bogeyed No. 17 and finished with a 72 that left him tiedfor third with Jeff Maggert.

"I didn't play a great round of golf," Els said.

LOW NINE: Brad Faxon's 7-under-par 28 …

Saudi Aramco picks Samsung for gas project

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia's state-run oil giant Saudi Aramco says it has selected South Korea's Samsung Engineering Co. to build its giant Shaybah natural gas recovery facility.

Aramco said in a statement Wednesday that the project includes the engineering, procurement and construction of all four packages linked to the facility. It did not provide a price tag for the …