Zimbabwe's opposition declined to meet with visiting South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday and said that he should be replaced as mediator in the country's political crisis.

Myanmar's military junta pushed ahead Saturday with a referendum on a proposed constitution despite a devastating cyclone that killed tens of thousands.

Guinness beer owner Diageo PLC rattled an Irish icon Friday, announcing plans to lay off more than half of its brewery workers, close two breweries and shift most production to a new, high-tech plant in the Dublin suburbs by 2013.

The top executive of Abercrombie & Fitch, who has built the retailer into a chain of about 1,000 stores, received compensation that the company valued at $9.9 million in 2007, an 82 percent increase from the previous year, according to a regulatory filing Friday.

The U.S. dollar was mostly lower against other major currencies in European trading Friday morning. Gold rose.

The top business news from The Associated Press for the morning of Friday, May 9, 2008:

How should Britain deal with louts and bullies who make their neighbors' lives miserable? A top law-enforcement official says the answer is to bully them right back.

Picture two young people trying to enjoy their wedding night in the bedroom right next to the groom's parents, and you'll get an idea of the frustrating yet touching comedic premise of Ayub Khan-Din's warmhearted play, "Rafta, Rafta ...," currently in a New Group production at off-Broadway's Acorn Theatre.

Gas jumps nearly 3 cents to record; oil crosses $124

Anschutz Entertainment Group acquired a significant ownership stake in Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions on Thursday, creating a partnership between one of the world's largest sports conglomerates and the boxing superstar's burgeoning promotions company.