AP - Employers cut payrolls by 62,000 in June, the sixth straight month of nationwide job losses, underscoring the economy's fragile state. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent.
AP - Former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt embraced her children for the first time in six years Thursday, saying the thought of them helped her stay alive until a daring rescue plucked her and 14 other hostages from the jungle.
AFP - Soldiers have been taken off the streets of Mongolia's capital following riots that left five people dead, the country's justice minister said on Thursday, as the electoral committee announced victory for the former communists.
AFP - French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three US nationals and 11 other hostages were rescued from Marxist FARC rebels Wednesday, freed after years in captivity by a daring Colombian military operation.
Reuters - A coalition of smaller parties in
India will hold a crucial meeting on Thursday to decide whether
to support a civilian nuclear deal with the United States, a
move that could help decide the fate of India's embattled
government. -- read full article
Reuters - A series of powerful explosions at an
arms dump complex on the outskirts of Sofia rocked the
Bulgarian capital on Thursday, panicking thousands and breaking
windows, authorities and eyewitnesses said.
Reuters - With his wetsuit around
his waist, Peter Flintoft walks wearily along the Long Beach
boardwalk. While worn out by the surf, he is not yet tired of
the lengthy U.S. presidential campaign. -- read full article
Reuters - An Iranian leader said on Wednesday
he detected a better mood in talks over his country's nuclear
program as the top U.S. military officer called for more
dialogue to avoid a confrontation with Tehran.
Reuters - A global sell-off knocked world shares
to a five-month low on Thursday as surging oil fanned concerns
about inflation and slowing growth, just hours ahead of an
expected euro zone interest rate hike and a key U.S. jobs
report.
Reuters - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
said on Thursday that inflation was becoming the top economic
focus of many countries around the world as oil and food prices
take their toll.
Reuters - Microsoft Corp and Yahoo
Inc have been holding separate talks with other potential media
partners after their negotiations with each other broke down,
sources familiar with the companies' thinking said on
Wednesday.
Reuters - Three American defense contractors
landed late on Wednesday in Texas, hours after they were freed
from years of captivity in the jungles of Colombia.
AP - Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Wednesday night, helping the surging Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 for their second three-game sweep of the World Series champions this season.
AP - A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra — but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks all night long.
