Study: Flamboyant male dancing attracts women best (AP)

AP - John Travolta was onto something. Women are most attracted to male dancers who have big, flamboyant moves similar to the actor's trademark style, British scientists say in a new study.

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

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

Official condemns German lawmaker comment on WWII (AP)

AP - A deputy foreign minister has condemned a lawmaker's reported comment that Poland provoked Nazi Germany as "very dangerous," becoming the first official in Angela Merkel's government to wade into the controversy.

City offers reward in fatal shooting of barber

The City of Toledo is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people involved in the shooting death of Racole Hill, who was fatally shot on Fernwood Avenue late Monday evening. "This was a senseless death that has left a void in the community," said Mayor Michael P. Bell. "My condolences go out to Ms. Hill’s children and family and I hope that someone ...

City considers disposal of properties

City council members approved of the city disposing of certain real estate during the council meeting on Aug. 23.

Quran burning stirs outrage in Muslim world (AP)

AP - An Afghan cleric threatened Thursday that U.S. troops in the country's north would face large protests if a small American church burns copies of the Muslim holy book as planned on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

New Zulu-English dictionary 1st update in 40 years (AP)

AP - Oxford's new Zulu-English dictionary is the first update in four decades for one of South Africa's most widely spoken languages, the university publisher said Thursday.

US Marines take back pirate-held ship off Somalia (AP)

AP - U.S. Marine commandos stormed a pirate-held cargo vessel off the Somalia coast Thursday, reclaiming control of the ship and taking nine prisoners without firing a shot, the U.S. Navy said.

City Council and Planning Commission review Pacifica's general plan

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.

Jobless claims add hope to labor outlook (Reuters)

Reuters - New claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week to their lowest level in two months, a hopeful sign for the troubled labor market.

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.

New filings for jobless benefits tumble (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.

Trade gap narrows more than expected in July (Reuters)

Reuters - The trade deficit narrowed more than expected in July, as imports retreated and exports shot to their highest since August 2008, according to a government report on Thursday that could lift hopes for third-quarter economic growth.

(AP)

AP - Trade deficit narrows sharply in July as exports rise to the highest level in nearly two years.

Dynasty speculation on North Korea's founding day (AP)

AP - North Korea celebrated its 62nd anniversary Thursday with odes to supreme leader Kim Jong Il and pilgrimages to his late father's statue amid hints that a political meeting believed aimed at promoting his son as successor is imminent.

Tropical Storm Igor drifting north in the Atlantic (AP)

AP - Tropical Storm Igor is drifting northward in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa near the Cape Verde Islands.

City raises employees’ pay

All city employees and appointees will get a pay raise in 2011, as only one elected official takes one in the same year, Shelbyville City Council members unanimously approved Wednesday.

Storm that killed 2 in Texas continues north (AP)

AP - The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine trekked northward after forcing more than 100 high-water rescues in Texas, swamping streets, producing several tornadoes and killing at least two people.

Safety concerns for Fla. officials over Quran burn (AP)

AP - As Florida officials worried about public safety surrounding a small church's plan to burn the Quran, President Barack Obama added his voice to the chorus of opposition to the church's intention to burn copies of Islam's holiest text to mark the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

A Fashion Week model's secret: Sensible shoes (Time.com)

Time.com - On the eve of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the hottest event on New YorkCity's couture calendar, TIME takes a look inside the grueling auditionprocess for hundreds of high-fashion hopefuls

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

Crews contain 10 percent of Colorado wildfire (AP)

AP - As thousands of people waited to learn if their homes survived a raging Colorado wildfire, Dan Hackett hiked a second time behind roadblocks to make sure his house near Boulder was still standing.

Global recession is unlikely, OECD says (AP)

AP - The global economic recovery could be slower than previously anticipated but a return to recession is unlikely, a leading international economic body said Thursday.

Bank of England holds rates at 0.5 percent (Reuters)

Reuters - The Bank of England kept interest rates at 0.5 percent for the 18th month in a row and announced no new quantitative easing purchases, in a widely expected decision on Thursday.

Obama implores minister to call off Quran burning (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is exhorting a Florida minister to "listen to those better angels" and call off his plan to engage in a Quran-burning protest this weekend.

Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1950 (AP)

AP - The number of people dying on the nation's roads has fallen to its lowest level in six decades, helped by a combination of seat belts, safer cars and tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws.

City to take over housing project

THE City Government is set to take over the P130-million abandoned housing project at Barangay Ungka, Pavia, Iloilo after lawyers failed to locate the project contractor. read more

US loses ground in competitiveness report (AP)

AP - The U.S. has slipped down the ranks of competitive economies, falling behind Sweden and Singapore due to huge deficits and pessimism about government, a global economic group said Thursday.

Bank of England keeps rates at record low (AP)

AP - The Bank of England says it is holding interest rates steady at a record low of 0.5 percent for the 18th consecutive month amid growing fears about a double-dip recession.

A whole different Playboy channel for the blind (AP)

AP - Suzi Hanks reads Playboy magazine for the articles. And the jokes. And the letters and cartoons.

Global stocks rise, dollar steady (AFP)

AFP - Global equities rose and the dollar steadied against the euro on Thursday amid renewed confidence in the economy and as markets awaited US jobs data and a British interest rate decision.

Fidel latest to say Cuba's communism doesn't work (AP)

AP - Cuba's communist economic model has come in for criticism from an unlikely source: Fidel Castro.

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

AP - Former first lady Laura Bush will speak at a National Park Service 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.

Report: 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.

Soldier's father: Army was warned of murder plot (AP)

AP - The father of a U.S. soldier serving in Afghanistan says he tried nearly a half dozen times to pass an urgent message from his son to the Army: Troops in his unit had murdered an Afghan civilian, planned more killings and threatened him to keep quiet about it.

Afghan AG: West should not lead corruption fight (AP)

AP - Afghanistan's top prosecutor said Thursday that while President Hamid Karzai backs the work of Western-supported anti-corruption teams, he wants investigations to be led by Afghans and free of interference from international advisers.

OECD says recovery slowing, urges policy caution (Reuters)

Reuters - Global recovery looks to be slowing more than expected as growth weakens in rich economies, and stimulus should be extended or stepped up if the slowdown endures, the OECD said on Thursday.

New Muslim college welcomes freshmen in California (AP)

AP - Amid the uproar over the proposed mosque near ground zero in New York, a new Islamic college recently opened its doors in California with plans to educate a new generation of Muslim-American leaders.

Regret, apology not part of BP's oil spill report (AP)

AP - BP's long-awaited internal report on what it believes went wrong when a rig exploded and started the massive Gulf oil spill never mentions the words blame, regret, apology, mistake or pollution. The word fault shows up 20 times, but only once in the same sentence as the company's name.

U.S. slips in WEF's competitiveness rankings (Reuters)

Reuters - Switzerland remains the world's most competitive economy, while the United States has fallen from second to fourth after losing the top spot last year, according to the World Economic Forum's annual rankings issued on Thursday.

Australian regulators reject NAB bid for AXA Asia Pacific (AFP)

AFP - Australian regulators rejected National Australia Bank's 12.2 billion US dollar bid for financial firm AXA Asia Pacific on competition concerns Thursday, in a move welcomed by rival suitor AMP.

City lose Balotelli for six weeks

Manchester City FC will be without striker Mario Balotelli for their first two UEFA Europa League group games after it was revealed the 20-year-old requires surgery on his knee injury.

Imam fears moving NYC mosque could inflame tension (AP)

AP - The imam behind a proposed Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero cautioned Wednesday that moving the facility could cause a violent backlash from Muslim extremists and endanger national security.

City workers comp costs way up

Workers compensation costs to the city almost tripled in the last fiscal year, skyrocketing to $100 million - one of several findings of a comprehensive audit of city finances released yesterday by the City Controller's Office.

Detroit gets rare assist from suburbs for fires (AP)

AP - As exhausted Detroit firefighters battled wind-fed blazes burning wild in some neighborhoods and threatening to char much of the city, a half-dozen departments from surrounding communities brought in sorely needed — and gladly accepted — help.

Detroit gets rare assist from suburbs for fires (AP)

AP - As exhausted Detroit firefighters battled wind-fed blazes burning wild in some neighborhoods and threatening to char much of the city, a half-dozen departments from surrounding communities brought in sorely needed — and gladly accepted — help.

City pockets $9,000 from River Regatta

BULLHEAD CITY — This year’s Bullhead City River Regatta realized approximately $9,000 in profit, according to City Manager Toby Cotter, in comments made at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

China prepares further property tightening (Reuters)

Reuters - Some Chinese cities are preparing fresh property tightening steps as housing transactions and prices show signs of a rebound, reinforcing market expectations that Beijing will not ease its grip on the sector any time soon.

3rd Mexican mayor in month slain by hit men (AP)

AP - The third Mexican mayor in a month was slain by suspected drug gang hitmen on the same day the U.S. secretary of state raised hackles in Mexico by saying the country is "looking more and more like Colombia looked 20 years ago."