World Features Digest

Below is a list of feature stories that The Associated Press plans to move in the coming week. Questions about the stories may be addressed to the North America Desk supervisor in New York at 212-621-1650 (fax 212-621-5449) or e-mail amidesk(at)ap.org or to individual bureaus in your country or region.

We will update this digest daily, adding new features as available. Feature stories that moved in the previous three days are included at the bottom for editors who may not have seen them.

New this digest:

AP ON TV-AMC LOOKS AHEAD

MOBILE SHOPPING STANDSTILL

TV-RUSSIAN DOLLS

FILM-FIVE MOST

MAGGIE GOES ON A DIET

SEPT 11-CONVICTED FOR …

Blues-Red Wings Sums

St. Louis 1 0 1_2
Detroit 0 2 2_4
First Period_1, St. Louis, Kariya 17 (Backes, Johnson), 5:39. Penalties_Ericsson, Det (hooking), 6:06	St. Louis bench, served by Winchester (too many men), 16:41.
Second Period_2, Detroit, Zetterberg 23 (Bertuzzi, Rafalski), :26. 3, Detroit, Bertuzzi 17 (Zetterberg, Filppula), 4:35. Penalties_Jackman, StL (hooking), 8:44	Stuart, Det, double minor (high-sticking), 11:29.
Third Period_4, St. Louis, McClement 10 …

We will survive

After the initial shock of the Virginia Tech tragedy, I justwanted it to go away -- I didn't want to see any more pictures,didn't want to hear any more words or try to understand it. It justhurt too much!

But for some reason I was drawn to Rick Telander's column ofApril 18 and was somewhat salved ["Va. Tech copes with tragedy,"sports]. Somehow, the column took it out of the realm of starkrealism and made it more calming when he portrayed the convocationstarting with the …

Rights group says democracies ignore abuses

BRUSSELS (AP) — Democracies around the world are ignoring abuses by repressive regimes and opting for improved relations rather than condemning rights violations and curtailing aid, Human Rights Watch said Monday.

In its annual report, the international watchdog decried what it called the increasing use of soft measures without any guarantees to ensure that changes occur in regimes.

"'Dialogue' and 'cooperation' with repressive governments is too often an excuse for doing nothing about human rights," said Kenneth Roth, the group's executive director.

For instance, he criticized EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for meeting in Brussels on Monday with autocratic …

Beckett struggles again in Game 2 of ALCS

Josh Beckett's reputation as a postseason ace is taking a beating.

The Boston star struggled for a second consecutive playoff start Saturday night, lasting only 4 1-3 innings against Tampa Bay in Game 2 of the AL championship series.

Fortunately for Beckett, the Red Sox hitters offset his troubles on the mound, and the game went into extra innings. Tampa Bay tied the ALCS with a 9-8 win in 11 innings.

The 2003 World Series MVP never found his rhythm and was tagged for eight runs and nine hits. After such an outing, there were sure to be more questions about whether Beckett had fully healed from late-season injuries.

"He's been …

Man who aided killing of in-law dies

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Matthew Stuart, who helped his brother Charlescover up the shooting death of his pregnant wife in 1989 in akilling that inflamed racial tensions in Boston, has died,authorities said Sunday.

Carole DiMaiti Stuart was shot to death more than two decades agoand the child she delivered after she was shot died days later. Herhusband, Charles Stuart, blamed the crime on a black man,heightening racial strife in Boston. Police focused on a paroledconvict, William Bennett, as a suspect. He later sued the city afterbeing cleared.

Matthew Stuart admitted to police a few months after the shootingthat he helped hide the gun believed to have been …

Economy Nearly Stalled in First Quarter

WASHINGTON - The economy nearly stalled in the first quarter with growth slowing to a pace of just 0.6 percent. That was the worst three-month showing in over four years.

The new reading on the gross domestic product, released by the Commerce Department Thursday, showed that economic growth in the January-through-March quarter was much weaker. Government statisticians slashed by more than half their first estimate of a 1.3 percent growth rate for the quarter.

The main culprits for the downgrade: the bloated trade deficit and businesses cutting investment in supplies of the goods they hold in inventories.

"We are still keeping our head above water - barely," said …