Iraq 4-Day Death Toll Climbs To 200
At least 52 people died in violence across Iraq, including 24 killed in a bomb blast in Baghdad’s market district. More than 200 people have been killed since Sunday despite U.S. and Iraqi officials’ claims that sectarian attacks are decreasing.

Top U.S. general: Iraqis can take over security within 18 months
The top U.S. general in Iraq said Wednesday he believes Iraqi forces can take over security with little coalition support within a year to 18 months.

Israel rebuffs Annan demand on blockade
JERUSALEM – Israel on Wednesday rejected demands from visiting U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that it immediately lift its sea and air blockade of Lebanon and withdraw its forces once 5,000 international troops are deployed.

Talks can help resolve nuclear issue: Iran
TOKYO (Reuters) – Tehran is confident of reaching a negotiated settlement over its nuclear program, a senior Iranian diplomat said in Tokyo on Thursday, as the United Nations nuclear watchdog seemed set to report that Iran had defied a deadline to halt atomic fuel work.

Iran’s president defies U.N. on deadline
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s president defiantly refused to compromise as a U.N. deadline for his country to stop enriching uranium arrived Thursday, saying Tehran would not be bullied into giving up its right to nuclear technology.

22 bombs explode in Thailand, killing 2
BANGKOK, Thailand – Nearly two dozen bombs exploded almost simultaneously Thursday inside commercial banks in southern Thailand, killing two people in a region bloodied by a Muslim insurgency, police said.

Shaky Darfur Peace at Risk as New Fighting Looms
The Sudanese government is preparing a fresh assault on the rebel groups that refused to sign a peace agreement.

Peace talks set to resume in Uganda
KAMPALA, Uganda – Ugandan government forces began withdrawing to neutral positions Wednesday to provide northern rebels safe passage to two camps across the border in southern Sudan where they can be monitored until a final peace deal is reached to end 19 years of civil war.

Bush to make pre-election campaign on Iraq
NASHVILLE, United States (AFP) – US President George W. Bush was to launch a series of speeches, helped by world leader visits, to defend the unpopular war in Iraq two months before key US elections.

Race tests value, or cost, of loyalty
In a sign that Iraq is a difficult campaign issue for Republicans, lawmakers such as Christopher Shays of Connecticut, Mike Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Gil Gutknecht of Minnesota have begun to distance themselves from the president and his handling of the war.

Pentagon sees Iran with bomb in 5 years: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military is operating on the assumption that Tehran is five to eight years away from being able to build a nuclear bomb, The Washington Times reported in its Thursday edition.
You can believe it if you want to.

Democrats Take Fire at Rumsfeld
WASHINGTON (AP) – Democrats chastised Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld for questioning the historical grasp of those who criticize the Bush administration’s handling of war, accusing him Wednesday of engaging in “dangerous business.”

U.S. to stage missile-defense test over Pacific
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is set to test key parts of its emerging antimissile shield over the Pacific on Thursday, officially to collect data, but with the possibility that a target dummy warhead will be shot down.
DO NOT fly over the Pacific today.

Two FEMA Employees Sentenced to Prison Terms Following Federal Bribery Convictions in New Orleans
Two Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) officials working in the New Orleans region following Hurricane Katrina were sentenced in federal court to 21 months imprisonment and fined $20,000 each, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten of the Eastern District of Louisiana announced today.

Feds Say Air Controller Slept 2 Hours
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – In the day leading up to the crash of Comair Flight 5191, a federal investigator says the air traffic controller on duty had worked for almost 15 hours and slept for two.
This is what happens when you try to cut corners in critical situations.  People die.  When will we ever learn?

Senate panel won’t confirm Bush broadcast chief
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A White House nominee may lose his job overseeing U.S.-backed international TV and radio services after a Senate committee said on Wednesday it would not vote this year on another term for Kenneth Tomlinson, following a government report that said he used the office for personal gain.

California takes lead in U.S. global warming fight
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – California catapulted to the forefront of U.S. efforts to fight global warming on Wednesday with an accord that will give the state the toughest laws in the nation on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and possibly spur a reluctant Washington to take similar action.

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GDP growth revised up, inflation slower
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. economy grew at a faster clip and inflation was slower than originally reported in the second quarter, a government report said on Wednesday, suggesting the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady.

Dow, Nasdaq gain after growth data
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Nasdaq rose and the blue-chip Dow edged up on Wednesday after a government report showed economic growth, while slowing, remains fairly strong.

Corporate profits up in 2nd quarter
Corporate profits rose swiftly in the second quarter, the government said Wednesday in a report that suggested businesses are in a solid position to help offset a slowdown in consumer spending.

Wal-Mart goes upscale
Wal-Mart’s new ad campaign touts its improved health insurance policy and charitable giving programs. At the same time, it’s adding upscale goods to draw in a wider shopping audience.

Builders cut back landholdings
As sales slow and inventories jump, large publicly traded home builders are trimming landholdings or renegotiating deals, according to earnings reports and industry officials. The development illustrates the fact that some previous land deals done at the height of the housing boom no longer make business sense.

Warner Bros. to release 10 high-definition films
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Warner Home Video said on Wednesday it will release 10 high-definition titles on September 26, including six in the Blu-ray format and four in the competing HD-DVD format.

Scientists report baldness breakthrough
LONDON (AFP) – In a finding that could help treat an inherited form of baldness, a research team in Manchester claims to have discovered a protein “code” that instructs cells to sprout hair.

Samsung unveils world’s first 4G mobile technology, on a bus
SEOUL (AFP) – South Korea’s high-tech giant Samsung Electronics have unveiled the world’s first fourth-generation (4G) mobile technology with a demonstration on a bus.

Not Into Mobile Search? Just Wait a Couple Years
SAN FRANCISCO (AdAge.com) — Ron Rogowski, a senior analyst at Forrester Research, can cite all the reasons and studies that say search on mobile phones is a long way off from its potential as mobile marketing’s killer app. But when he needed to get a prescription for his wife after his regular pharmacy had closed, Mr. Rogowski found himself driving using Google and its handy map to find a drugstore that was open.

The Trouble With Cell Towers
Wireless service providers have long faced a dilemma when it comes to the towers that help transmit calls. Customers want seamless coverage — except they don’t want the coverage-boosting cellular towers in their backyards.

Search engine screens sites for homework
NEW YORK – A new search engine promises to give schoolchildren results from sites pre-screened by teachers and librarians.
RadioShack uses e-mail to fire employees
FORT WORTH, Texas – RadioShack Corp. notified about 400 workers by e-mail that they were being dismissed immediately as part of planned job cuts.

Software Can Resurrect Cell Phone Info
WASHINGTON (AP) – Don’t tell your cell phone any secrets. It might not keep them. Secondhand phones purchased over the Internet surrendered credit card numbers, banking passwords, business secrets and even evidence of adultery.