Reuters - Orders for costly U.S. manufactured goods plunged in August and new-home sales hit a 17-year low, while new claims for jobless benefits shot up last week, according to government reports on Thursday that showed the economy rapidly weakening.

Reuters - Two NATO helicopters fired upon by Pakistani forces on Thursday were U.S. military aircraft operating inside Afghanistan, the Pentagon said.

Reuters - Lawmakers reached basic agreement on a massive financial bailout plan, lifting world stock markets, sending the dollar up and breathing life into troubled money markets.

AP - Lance Armstrong can try for an eighth Tour de France title — if his team is clean in the run-up to cycling's premier race.

AP - One after the other, the models strutted across the stage to bouncy '80s dance tunes, all showing off designs of the same article of clothing — adult diapers.

AP - Ed McMahon has an unexpected new job title: rapper.

AP - In advance of the new Google phone, T-Mobile USA has changed the wording of the user agreement for its wireless data network and no longer claims the right to slow surfing to a crawl once a subscriber goes over a monthly usage limit.

AP - China launched a three-man crew into space Thursday, including one who will make the country's first spacewalk — its most challenging mission since its first orbital flight in 2003.

AP - Sen. Ted Stevens blamed the overzealousness of a contractor friend for the legal mess that had the senator on trial for corruption Thursday.

AP - In separate meetings with Middle East leaders Thursday, President Bush applauded Lebanon's efforts to forge a national reconciliation and told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the administration has not given up hope on an agreement to create a Palestinian state.

AP - New home sales tumbled in August to the slowest pace in 17 years, while the average sales price fell by the largest amount on record, demonstrating the depth of the problem that Washington is trying to solve.

AP - John McCain's campaign expressed cautious optimism Thursday as congressional Republicans and Democrats agreed in principle on a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry hours before the two presidential candidates were to meet with President Bush on the crisis.

AP - Warned of a possible financial panic, key Republicans and Democrats reported agreement in principle Thursday on a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry and said they would present it to the Bush administration in hopes of a vote within days.

AFP - South Africa's third post-apartheid president is set to be sworn into office Thursday after the dramatic toppling of Thabo Mbeki by his own party, just months before the end of his term.

AFP - Warning "our entire economy is in danger," US President George W. Bush called unprecedented crisis talks for Thursday with White House rivals John McCain and Barack Obama and congressional leaders.