Belgian abuse probe to continue despite ruling (AP)

AP - The government says an investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church can continue even though a June raid on the archdiocese has been ruled illegal.

Qureshi falls in bid for US Open mixed doubles crown (AFP)

AFP - Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi was thwarted in his first attempt to win a US Open doubles title when he and partner Kveta Peschke lost to Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan in Thursday's mixed doubles final.

Iran to free female American for holiday clemency (AP)

AP - Iran said Thursday it will free Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans jailed for more than 13 months, as an act of clemency to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

German central bank board member Sarrazin to quit (AP)

AP - A member of Germany's central bank who made disparaging remarks about Muslims and Jews in a disputed book has agreed to quit his position on the board, the Bundesbank said in a statement Thursday.

City to take utility to court

The Rainsville City Council moved to start the process of suing DeKalb-Cherokee Gas District. According to city attorney Jayson Carroll, DC Gas hasn’t paid business license privilege fees required by a 1964 city ordinance since that time.

Gold slips on reassuring jobs, trade reports (AP)

AP - Gold prices are slipping as reassuring reports on the jobs market and trade are creating some optimism about the economy.

Oil gives back early gains, settles lower (AP)

AP - Oil prices fell back on Thursday, after getting an early boost from lower jobless claims and crude inventories.

Somali refugees tell of hellish scene in Mogadishu (AP)

AP - Terrified Somalis fleeing an offensive by Islamist insurgents in their capital described a hellish scene of putrefying corpses, graves hastily dug in gardens and neighborhoods flattened by mortars.

(AP)

AP - Iran says female American held for more than year will be released.

New report: More grandparents raising grandkids (AP)

AP - A new analysis of census data shows that the number of U.S. children being raised by their grandparents rose sharply as the recession began.

A look at economic developments around the globe (AP)

AP - LONDON — A leading international economic body said the global economy will recover slower than expected, but that a double-dip recession remains unlikely. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development cautioned governments around the world against hurting the economic recovery by reducing spending too much and too soon.

Bombers hit Somali airport, killing 9 others (AP)

AP - A suicide car bomber exploded at the gate to Mogadishu's airport Thursday, and suicide bombers in a second vehicle rushed toward the terminal before exploding themselves short of their goal, officials said. Up to 14 people were killed, including five attackers.

Four escape U.S. custody at Iraq prison that held Saddam (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - BAGHDAD — Four prisoners escaped a maximum-security U.S. military facility housing al Qaida in Iraq suspects and former members of Saddam Hussein's regime, officials said Thursday, in an embarrassing development for American forces as they hand over security operations in Iraq.

Wis. reaches deal on military, overseas voting (AP)

AP - Wisconsin election officials and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement on how the state will comply with a new law designed to ensure all military and overseas voters have their ballots counted.

Obama: Minister must cancel Quran-burning 'stunt' (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama implored a Florida minister to call off his Quran-burning "stunt," saying it would jeopardize U.S. troops abroad.

Has Pakistan's Military Lost Ground to the Floods? (Time.com)

Time.com - For Pakistan's powerful military, the unprecedented floods have been a mixed blessing

China makes major breakthrough in quantum teleportation (Time.com)

Time.com - While China has been showing off its new hardware, a potentially more important military advancement has gone largely unnoticed -- a major breakthrough in quantum teleportation

Patriots QB Brady unhurt in wreck near Boston home (AP)

AP - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in a two-car accident near his home Thursday morning, but was unhurt and hours later practiced as usual with his team just days before the season opener.

Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1950 (AP)

AP - Traffic deaths have plummeted across the United States to levels not seen in more than a half-century, spurred by technology, safety-conscious drivers and tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws.

Texas officials stop search for 2 missing swimmers (AP)

AP - Authorities in Texas say it is unlikely they will find alive two missing swimmers swept away by floodwaters from the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine (hur-MEEN').

Laura Bush to speak at 9/11 memorial fundraiser (AP)

AP - Former first lady Laura Bush will speak at a National Park Foundation fundraiser in Pittsburgh on Friday, a day before joining Michelle Obama in rural Pennsylvania to remember the victims of Flight 93, which crashed there in the Sept. 11 attacks.

City gears up for 2011 budget

City officials face some very tough choices in the coming weeks as they grapple with a significantly larger proposed budget for 2011.

FBI agents visit Florida church over Quran burn (AP)

AP - FBI agents visited Thursday with a minister of a small Florida church that plans to burn the Quran on Sept. 11, as public safety became a paramount concern and President Barack Obama added his voice to the chorus of opposition.

Suicide attack in Russia kills 17, wounds over 130 (AP)

AP - A suicide car bomber hit a central market in southern Russia on Thursday, killing at least 17 people and wounding more than 130 in one of the North Caucasus region's worst attacks in years, officials said.

Gulf oil dilemma: accept payout from BP or sue? (AP)

AP - Alabama seafood market owner David Scott faces a difficult decision as he tries to rejuvenate his business after the Gulf oil spill: He can accept a piece of BP's $20 billion claims fund — relatively fast, easy money — or sue the oil giant for a bigger payday, wait years and risk ending up with nothing.

Afghans protest Quran burning plan, torch US flag (AP)

AP - Hundreds of angry Afghans burned a U.S. flag and chanted "Death to the Christians" on Thursday to protest plans by a small American church to torch copies of the Muslim holy book on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

City of Greenfield to see housing rehabs

The City of Greenfield has been awarded more than $350,000 through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and it is passing along that money to city residents.

Canada export weakness a concern: Flaherty (Reuters)

Reuters - Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Thursday he is concerned by the record high trade deficit Canada had in July and he called on the private sector to step up investment to improve productivity and help support economic growth.

(AP)

AP - Appeals court allowing federal funding of stem cell research to proceed temporarily.

Appeals court blocks Pa. town's immigration law (AP)

AP - A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Hazleton, Pa., may not enforce its crackdown on illegal immigrants, dealing another blow to 4-year-old regulations that inspired similar measures around the country.

Irish bonds rebound, banks hold ground after Anglo (AP)

AP - Investors welcomed Ireland's plan to split up its most debt-crippled bank, Anglo Irish, by bidding strongly Thursday for government bonds. Ireland's battered bank shares also held their ground.

Merkel: economic upswing should benefit workers (AP)

AP - German chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday the current economic upswing should benefit workers who were hit by the economic and financial crisis.

Report: LA officer involved in previous shootings (AP)

AP - The police officer who shot and killed a knife-wielding man whose death has sparked three days of violent protests in Los Angeles had been involved in two previous shootings while on duty, according to a media report.

169 homes destroyed in Colorado wildfire (AP)

AP - Hundreds of residents evacuated by a wildfire that has destroyed at least 169 houses in the Colorado foothills were being temporarily allowed back to their homes Thursday.

Data shows economic recovery still on track (Reuters)

Reuters - New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week to a two-month low, while the trade deficit narrowed sharply in July, hopeful signs for the stuttering economic recovery.

Backers of NYC mosque appear divided, regretful (AP)

AP - The backers of a proposed Islamic center near ground zero are expressing regrets about creating a firestorm with a plan they thought would be simple and noncontroversial.

Trade deficit narrows to $42.8 billion in July (AP)

AP - The trade deficit narrowed significantly in July as exports climbed to the highest level in nearly two years, reflecting big gains in sales of U.S.-made airplanes and other manufactured goods while imports declined.

City Seeks Residents To Serve On Boards

The city is seeking volunteers to serve on various board and commissions.

Strong earthquake strikes Chile's disaster area (AP)

AP - A magnitude-6.1 earthquake has hit the same part of Chile that suffered a catastrophic quake in February. The new temblor has caused alarm but no reported damage or injuries.

City Working to Put an End to Graffiti

The City of El Paso's "Make a Difference - Report Graffiti" campaign is underway in an effort to stop tagging in the Sun City.

City striker Balotelli to have operation

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is to undergo a knee operation which will rule him out of action for up to six weeks.

Obama adviser nudges Russia on democracy (Reuters)

Reuters - Russia should uphold democratic rights and increase political competition if the Kremlin's plans to modernize its economy are to become reality, President Barack Obama's top adviser on Russia said on Thursday.

APNewsBreak: NY to seek info on cleanser contents (AP)

AP - Consumers will get a newly detailed look at exactly what's in common household cleansers, as regulators plan to start enforcing a nearly 40-year-old state law that would force manufacturers to reveal their products' contents.

City crews hustle to respond to storm damage calls

City officials say they are still trying to respond to 250 calls from people reporting downed trees blocking roadways.

Obama better on war than economy: poll (AFP)

AFP - US President Barack Obama gets better marks for his wartime leadership than his stewardship of the sluggish economic recovery, a new opinion poll found Thursday.

Global recession unlikely, OECD says (AP)

AP - The global economic recovery could be slower than expected but another recession remains unlikely — especially if governments don't overdo their spending cuts, a leading international economic body said Thursday.

US jobless claims drop faster than expected (AFP)

AFP - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell faster than expected last week, extending a three-week decline, government data showed Thursday.

Avg. mortgage rate up to 4.35 pct. off decades-low (AP)

AP - Mortgage rates mostly edged up last week as investors' fears about the economy eased.

City marks Family Week

THE CITY of Baguio, through the Office of Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), launched the month-long activities for the observance of Family Week i read more

Hopes rise as jobless claims fall, trade gap eases (AP)

AP - The number of people signing up for unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest level in two months, an encouraging sign that companies aren't resorting to deeper layoffs even as the economy has lost momentum.