Europe

Venice, Italy -- George Clooney will kick off the 2008 Venice Film Festival with his latest effort but after that independent movies will hold sway, officials said.

Edinburgh, UK -- Scottish researchers say they have found a way to create cheaper drugs used to fight conditions such as cancer and arthritis.

Sardinia, Italy -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's renditions of Neopolitan love songs may be released on CD in time for Christmas, his music partner says.

London -- British leaders say they're shocked that a portrait of 1960s child killer Myra Hindley was used in a promotional video touting London's 2012 Olympic Games.

Bristol, England -- England's Bristol Zoo has announced its pair of gibbons have been given a curfew to prevent their mating songs from disturbing sleeping neighbors.

Edinburgh, Scotland -- Irish comedian David O'Doherty has won Britain's most prestigious comedy award for routines delivered at Scotland's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, officials say.

If China won't love Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), Russia will. That's according to a Reuters report that says the iPhone is to be distributed by Russia's Mobile Telesystems (NYSE: MBT). As many as 3.5 million handsets are to be sold over the next two years, Reuters cites sources as claiming.

London -- British singer-songwriter George Michael is thanking his fans for "25 amazing years" of support during his "final" concerts in London.

Valencia, Spain -- Felipe Massa roared to victory at Sunday's Formula One European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain, 5.6 seconds ahead of F1 points leader Lewis Hamilton.

Zandvoort, Netherlands -- Darren Clarke used a 4-under-par 66 Sunday to win the European Tour's KLM Open golf tournament in Zanvoort, Netherlands, by four strokes.

Paris -- A Swiss daredevil says he is closer to becoming the first jet-powered "bird man" to cross the English Channel.

Tokyo -- Former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has agreed to perform in Japan for the first time in seven years, promoters say.

London -- British actress Keira Knightley says the trailer for her new movie, "The Duchess," wrongly invokes a tie to Diana, the late princess of Wales.