Defending champion Del Potro not ready for U.S. Open return

(CNN) -- Juan Martin Del Potro has confirmed that he will not defend his U.S. Open title in New York, following women's No. 1 Serena Williams in withdrawing from the final tennis Grand Slam of the season.

The Argentine has been sidelined since January, when he lost in the last 16 of the Australian Open, and needed wrist surgery in May.

The 21-year-old won his first Grand Slam title when he beat Roger Federer in an epic five-set final last September, but on Saturday ended any lingering hopes that he would be in the field when the New York tournament begins on August 30.

"I feel extremely sad to announce that I will not to be able to defend my US Open title," the towering 6ft 6in player said in a statement on the U.S. Tennis Association website. CNN

Chelsea run rampant again to match Arsenal's six-goal effort

(CNN) -- English champions Chelsea scored six goals for the second successive match of the new Premier League season at home to Wigan Athletic to match Arsenal's effort earlier on Saturday.

Nicolas Anelka and substitute Salomon Kalou scored twice each for the London side, while Florent Malouda and Yossi Benayoun also netted as Chelsea again set the mark for Manchester United to follow ahead of last season's runners-up's trip to Fulham on Sunday.

It was the second successive heavy defeat for Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, leaving the Spaniard an early favorite to be the first casualty of the season.

Wigan beat Chelsea near the start of last season, but suffered an 8-0 thrashing on the final day of the campaign in April and have now shipped 25 goals in five league matches.

France winger Malouda broke the deadlock from close range in the 33rd minute after Frank Lampard's effort was saved by Chris Kirkland, then Anelka scored twice in four minutes after halftime -- the second a header set up by last weekend's hat-trick hero Didier Drogba. CNN

U.S., Blackwater reach settlement over export violations

Washington (CNN) -- Xe, the private security firm once known as Blackwater, has reached a $42 million settlement with the U.S. State Department over alleged export violations, a State Department official said.

Darby Holladay, a State Department duty officer, said the civil settlement was reached Wednesday for 288 violations between 2003 and 2009, when the company personnel were guarding U.S. staff overseas.

They involve the "unauthorized export" of defense articles and services to "foreign end-users in multiple countries" and "false statements and misrepresentation or omission of material facts in information provided to the department".

Also, Holladay said, there were violations "of provisos or limitations on export licenses".

But the violations, he said, "did not involve sensitive technologies or cause known harm to U.S. national security".

Xe is pleased with the settlement, which will allow it to continue to get government contracts. CNN

Ruud's double sinks 10-man Schalke as promoted sides profit in Germany

(CNN) -- St. Pauli and Kaiserslautern both won on their return to the German Bundesliga on Saturday, while last season's runners-up Schalke and fellow title hopefuls Werder Bremen suffered defeats.

Schalke saw champions Bayern Munich open their account with a 2-1 victory against Wolfsburg on Friday night, but Felix Magath's team went down by the same scoreline at Hamburg as Ruud van Nistelrooy won the battle of former Real Madrid strikers.

Magath threatened to quit the club during the week after being criticized by fans, and his much-heralded new signing Raul made little impact as the veteran Van Nistelrooy grabbed the headlines with both goals to follow up last weekend's German Cup hat-trick.

The Dutchman hit the bar with a fierce free-kick just before halftime and twice put Hamburg ahead to give former Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh a winning start to his tenure, with Schalke reduced to 10 men in the second half when Benedikt Howedes was sent off. CNN

Egyptian authorities recover stolen Van Gogh painting

(CNN) -- Egyptian authorities have recovered a stolen painting created by Vincent Van Gogh, nabbing the suspected thieves just moments before they were to board a plane and flee the country, according to Egypt's official news agency, MENA.

Egyptian Culture Minister Farouq Hosni said Van Gogh's "Poppy Flowers" was in the possession of two Italians when security forces recovered it at Cairo International Airport. The pair -- a man and a woman -- were preparing to board a plane that would take them to Italy.

An interior ministry spokesman told CNN that the man was arrested.

The painting was returned to Cairo's Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Museum. It was stolen from the museum earlier Saturday.

"Poppy Flowers" has an estimated value of about $50 million. CNN

Floodwaters threaten city of half-million in Pakistan

Shahdadkot, Pakistan (CNN) -- Shahdadkot's half-million people frantically tried to flee their homes Saturday as a wall of water threatened to burst mud berms and drown the entire city in Pakistan's Sindh province.

Three weeks into the worst natural disaster in Pakistan's history, people were still desperate to escape as a second wave of monsoon floodwaters surged southward. More than 1,500 people have died and 20 million lives have been disrupted.

Already, huge parts of Shahdadkot look like a lake, with the roofs of some houses barely above water. Authorities advised the entire population to evacuate.

Residents climbed onto heaps of belongings piled high in the beds of rickety trucks, packed buses, auto-rickshaws and carts to get out of town before the water came. Many did not know where they were going -- just that they had to reach drier ground.

But there weren't enough vehicles for a mass evacuation.

Sunat Magsi and her 100-strong extended family lost their nine mud huts to the raging torrents. They sought shelter in an abandoned house, but even there the water was creeping higher. They only had one donkey and one cart left. CNN

Failed bomb attempts kill 11 militants in Somalia

(CNN) -- Two failed bomb attempts by the Somali Islamist group Al-Shabaab killed 11 militants around Mogadishu, Somalia's transitional government said Saturday.

In the first incident, militants were working on a car bomb in a house near Shirkole, north of the capital, when the device detonated, killing 10, the government said in a news release Saturday.

Another Al-Shabaab member was killed while planting a roadside bomb on Mogadishu's Ansaloti bridge, according to the release. Authorities arrested two other individuals suspected of guarding the militant who died.

"This is clear evidence that Al-Shabaab are planning death and destruction during this holiest of months, Ramadan," Interior Minister Abdikadir Ali Omar said. "Only luck has prevented the deaths of many innocent citizens of Mogadishu". CNN

Sweden drops rape accusation against founder of WikiLeaks

Stockholm, Sweden (CNN) -- Swedish authorities say they have revoked an arrest warrant that had alleged rape against the founder and editor of the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange.

Assange is "no longer wanted" and "is not suspected of rape," Chief Prosecutor Eva Finne said in a statement posted on the agency's official website Saturday. He is also no longer arrested in absentia, the statement said.

The arrest warrant filed Friday had also mentioned a molestation charge, but molestation -- which is not limited to child victims in Sweden -- is not a crime punishable behind bars in Sweden.

Karin Rosander, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, told CNN affiliate TV4 that Assange is still being investigated for molestation.

Earlier, Rosander told CNN that Assange was arrested in absentia Friday night, and faced charges in relation to two separate instances, but she did not have more detail about when the alleged crimes occurred or who the alleged victims are.

Assange denied the allegations in a posting Saturday on the WikiLeaks Twitter page, saying, "The charges are without basis and their issue at this moment is deeply disturbing".

Assange was in Sweden last weekend, but Rosander said it's not clear whether he is still in the country.

She told TV4 that the decision to make the arrest was made by an "on-call prosecutor," and that the arrest was revoked Saturday by the chief prosecutor. Rosander said such differences in prosecutorial judgment are common in Sweden.

She also said she does not believe that Assange had contacted police yet.

An elusive figure, Assange reportedly lives part-time in Sweden. He told the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet this week that he chose Sweden to host several servers for WikiLeaks because of the country's privacy laws. CNN

Pakistan claim nervous win over England

(CNN) -- Pakistan bounced back to win the third Test against England by four wickets at the Oval in London as veteran batsman Mohammed Yousuf completed a successful return to international cricket on Saturday.

The tourists, whose country has been devastated by floods, reduced England's series lead to 2-1 ahead of the final match at Lord's starting next Thursday as Yousuf's experience proved vital.

Recalled after receiving an indefinite ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board in March following his role in the disastrous tour of Australia, the former captain contributed 56 in Pakistan's first innings of 308 and then played another solid hand in the successful chase for 148 on the fourth day.

Pakistan lost an early wicket and then Yousuf came to the crease at 57-2 after Imran Farhat fell to Graeme Swann for a quickfire 39. The 35-year-old helped Salman Butt (48) put on an invaluable 46 before the captain was also dismissed by the spinner. CNN

Afghan police killed during airstrike

(CNN) -- Three Afghan police officers were accidentally killed in an airstrike and a bomb killed five Afghan civilians in separate incidents in northern Afghanistan, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said on Saturday.

The airstrike incident, which occurred on Friday in Jowzjan province, began when insurgents shot at Afghan security forces, and the troops asked for air support.

An air weapons team consisting of two helicopters launched a hellfire missile and fired 30 mm rounds "toward an identified firing position".

The service members later found the three dead police and other wounded officers. ISAF dispatched a team to the region to investigate.

In the other incident, an improvised explosive device attack killed five Afghan civilians and wounded two other people on Saturday. One of those killed was a leader of the Arkabi, a local tribal militia. CNN

WikiLeaks founder charged with rape, molestation in Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden (CNN) -- The founder and editor of the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has been charged in Sweden with rape and molestation, a spokeswoman for the Swedish prosecutor's office told CNN Saturday.

Spokeswoman Karin Rosander said the charges were filed Friday night in relation to two separate instances, but she didn't have more detail about when the alleged crimes occurred or who the alleged victims are.

Assange denied the charges in a posting Saturday on the WikiLeaks Twitter page, saying, "The charges are without basis and their issue at this moment is deeply disturbing".

The rape charge carries a possible prison sentence, while the molestation charge would not, Rosander said.

Assange was in Sweden last weekend, but Rosander said it's not clear whether he is still in the country. She said police have been unable so far to make contact with Assange.

"The next step is to get in contact with him and interview him," Rosander said.

An elusive figure, Assange reportedly lives part-time in Sweden. He told the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet this week that he chose Sweden to host several servers for WikiLeaks because of the country's privacy laws.

He also told the paper, in an interview published Monday, that he had been in Sweden because he wanted a safe place to go after the high-profile leak of U.S. documents related to the war in Afghanistan.

WikiLeaks has sparked major controversy by posting some 76,000 pages of those documents online last month, in what was called the biggest leak since the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates criticized the leak, saying it would have a significant negative impact on troops and allies, revealing techniques and procedures. CNN

Iran's first nuclear plant begins fueling

(CNN) -- Iran began fueling its first nuclear energy plant in the southern city of Bushehr on Saturday, the nation's state media reported.

The effort will help the country create nuclear-generated electricity, Press TV said.

The transfer of nuclear fuel was being watched by the International Atomic Energy Agency and senior officials from Iran and Russia, Press TV said.

Some Western nations have questioned whether the nuclear fuel will be used solely for electricity or would Iran eventually try to enrich uranium on its own, providing material for nuclear weapons.

It will take about two months for the reactor to begin generating electricity, state media has reported. Russia's nuclear agency says it will take longer.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, recently asserted Iran's right to establish nuclear plants.

Sergei Kiriyenko, general director of Rosatom, the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation said Saturday's arrival of nuclear fuel marks "an event of crucial importance" that proves that "Russia always fulfills its international obligations".

Spent nuclear fuel from the plant will be sent back to Russia. CNN

Foot injury keeps Serena Williams from U.S. Open

(CNN) -- Top-ranked tennis superstar Serena Williams said a foot injury that forced her to pull out of the U.S. Open is "devastating".

"Playing in front of the electric crowd of New York at the U.S. Open and competing against the best female athletes in the world is always a highlight, and I look forward to getting back on the court as quickly as possible," Williams said in a statement Friday.

Williams' doctors advised her against playing at the tournament, which begins August 30. She has been recovering from recent surgery on her cut right foot.

"I take great pride in playing the Grand Slam tournaments and have not missed one since 2006; not being able to be part of this year's U.S. Open is one of the most devastating moments of my career," Williams said.

Williams, 28, has won at least one singles title in all four Grand Slam tournaments -- 13 in all -- including three U.S. Opens. She won this year's Australian Open and Wimbledon singles titles. CNN

Italy's Berlusconi seeks key backing

Rome, Italy (FT.com) -- Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister, on Friday challenged Gianfranco Fini, a former ally, and his breakaway faction to renew their commitment to the right-wing coalition by backing the government's latest legislative agenda.

If Mr. Fini and his allies vote against the program in parliament next month the country is likely to face elections before the end of the year, two years early.

"We are ready for early elections, if we are not going to reach the majority that is necessary to bring forward our program," Mr. Berlusconi told a press conference to present his agenda after meeting senior officials of his People of Liberty party .

Taxes, reform of the justice system, fiscal federalism and policies aimed at the south of the country are the four main issues in the political program.

"On these points the People of Liberty asks for a renewed commitment from Parliament in order to grant a rapid, obstacle-free process for the needed reforms," he added.

The program will be presented for a vote of confidence in parliament in what politicians have dubbed "the autumn examination" for Mr. Fini and Future and Liberty, his newly-formed party.

According to the 73-year-old prime minister, if elections were to be called in the next couple of months, the coalition formed by his party and the Northern League, along with smaller right-wing parties, would easily receive more than 50 per cent of the vote. CNN

Afghan woman, 2 children killed in Taliban facilitator pursuit

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghan and coalition forces accidentally killed a woman and two children during a pursuit of a Taliban facilitator, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said Saturday.

The forces were tracking a Taliban facilitator in Farah province Friday, according to the ISAF.

The facilitator is known to traffic foreign fighters and weapons from Iran, and associate with senior Taliban and al Qaeda leadership, the ISAF said.

The security force followed a vehicle carrying several armed insurgents to a compound in Farah, the ISAF said. After determining "hostile intent" from the group, the security force killed six men.

An air weapons team also struck the targeted vehicle, which exploded. The vehicle may have been full of homemade explosives, the ISAF said. A woman and two children were found dead at the scene. CNN

Half a billion eggs have been recalled

(CNN) -- The number of eggs recalled in a nationwide salmonella scare has grown to more than half a billion.

Iowa egg producer Hillandale Farms of Iowa is voluntarily recalling some 170.4 million eggs distributed to stores and companies that service, or are located in, 14 states, a spokeswoman at the Egg Safety Center said on Friday.

The Hillandale eggs were distributed under the Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, and Sunny Meadow brand names in six-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, 30-egg packages, and five-dozen-egg cases, the website for the Egg Safety Center said.

Loose eggs, which could be repackaged by customers, were packaged under the Wholesome Farms and West Creek brands in 15- and 30-dozen tray packs, according to the Egg Safety Center.

The eggs affected by this recall either have plant number P1860 with date codes ranging from 099 to 230, or plant number P1663 and date codes ranging from 137 to 230, the website said.

The salmonella outbreak prompted Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, which began recalling eggs last week, to increase its recall to 380 million eggs on Wednesday.

The number of salmonella cases is expected to grow because infections after July 17 may not have been reported yet due to a two- to three-week lag between when a person becomes sick and when the case gets reported in the system, the CDC said.

"We would certainly characterize this as one of the largest shell egg recalls in recent history," Sherri McGarry of the Food and Drug Administration said in a conference call Thursday. CNN

Nokia Siemens says it didn't help Iranian government spy

(CNN) -- Nokia Siemens Networks said Friday it rejects a lawsuit filed in a U.S. court by a jailed Iranian journalist and his son, who have accused the European telecommunications company of providing the Iranian government the tools to spy on its own citizens.

"The Saharkhiz lawsuit is brought in the wrong place, against the wrong party and on the wrong premise," the company announced in a statement e-mailed to CNN. "The Saharkhizes allege brutal treatment by the government in Iran, but they have not sued that government. Instead, they are seeking to blame Nokia Siemens Networks for the acts of the Iranian authorities by filing a lawsuit in the U.S., a country that has absolutely no connection to the issue they are raising".

Earlier this week, New Jersey-based Iranian blogger Mehdi Saharkhiz filed a lawsuit in a U.S. federal court against Nokia Siemens Networks on behalf of his father, Isa, who has been in an Iranian prison since July 2009.

The lawsuit accuses the telecommunications company of helping the Iranian government establish "spying centers" that allegedly were used to monitor Saharkhiz's cell phone communications. Isa Saharkhiz is just one of hundreds of outspoken critics of the Iranian government to have been arrested as part of a wide-ranging crackdown on opposition leaders over the past year.

"Nokia gave the technology that made this arrest possible," said Mehdi Saharkhiz, in an interview with CNN. "When these people arrested my dad they said, 'We traced your phone'".

This is not the first time the joint venture between Nokia and Siemens has come under fire from activists critical of the company's dealings with the Iranian government. Nobel Peace Prize-winning Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi previously accused Nokia Siemens Network of supplying the technology to allow the government to monitor cell phone calls and text messages. There have also been reports of boycotts of Nokia products inside Iran. CNN