Pakistan to charge 3 over failed Times Square bomb (AP)

AP - Pakistan will soon bring terrorism charges against three men alleged to have helped the failed Times Square bomber meet up with militant leaders close to the Afghan border and send him money to carry out the attack, a senior police officer said Wednesday.

Cameron's father dies on holiday in France (AFP)

AFP - The father of Prime Minister David Cameron has died after suffering a stroke while on holiday in France, Downing Street said Wednesday.

Sinn Fein chief met priest involved in '72 bombing (AP)

AP - The senior Sinn Fein politician in Northern Ireland's government acknowledged Wednesday that he did meet a Catholic priest responsible for a 1972 triple car bombing that killed nine civilians but insisted they never discussed the IRA attack.

10 arrested in European raids on Internet piracy (AP)

AP - Belgian police say 10 people have been arrested in raids across Europe against hackers who put illegal copies of movies and television series on the Internet.

Govt takes over Bahrain human rights group (AP)

AP - The head of a Bahraini human rights organization says the government has taken over his group and removed him from his post.

2 panda cubs born in Spanish zoo (AP)

AP - Two newborn pandas are the latest additions to the Madrid Zoo.

Swaziland activists march, 2 leaders arrested (AP)

AP - Two leading activists in Swaziland were briefly detained Wednesday during a pro-democracy march in the capital of sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy, while supporters said a third leader also has been released.

Bank of Canada hikes rates, sees slower recovery (Reuters)

Reuters - The Bank of Canada raised its benchmark interest rate for a third consecutive time on Wednesday, nudging the rate up 25 basis points to 1 percent, but said a weak U.S. economy would hamper Canada's recovery.

East Timor deputy PM quits, coalition seen at risk (Reuters)

Reuters - One of East Timor's two deputy prime ministers resigned on Wednesday after he said Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao called him a liar, posing a risk to stability of the ruling coalition of the world's youngest countries.

BP shifts U.S. oil spill blame onto contractors (Reuters)

Reuters - BP shifted much of the blame for a rig blast that led to the United States' worst-ever oil spill onto its contractors Transocean and Halliburton.

BP shares gain after Gulf report (AP)

AP - Shares in BP PLC tracked slightly higher after the release of an internal report on the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that deflects much of the blame onto rig owner Transocean Ltd. and contractor Halliburton Co.

Obama pitches road spending, tax incentives in Ohio (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama will push billions of dollars in new business tax incentives and spending on big construction projects on Wednesday, as he tries to convince a balky Congress to pass measures intended to spur the economy and create jobs.

Smithfield reports 1st-quarter profit (AP)

AP - Smithfield Foods Inc. says higher selling prices for pork and improvement in hog market prices helped it return to a profit in its fiscal first-quarter.

Stock futures track Europe stocks up (Reuters)

Reuters - Stock index futures rose on Wednesday tracking a turnaround in European stocks and ahead of comments from the Federal Reserve on the state of the economy.

Talbots profit tops estimates, but sales miss (Reuters)

Reuters - Women's clothing retailer Talbots Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit as tighter inventory management boosted its margins, but its shares fell as sales missed Wall Street forecasts.

China's Hu calls for stable ties with US (AP)

AP - Trying to smooth over recently rocky relations before a visit to Washington, Chinese President Hu Jintao told American officials on Wednesday that he wants to see healthy and stable ties between the two countries.

HSBC faces thorny issues in hunt for new chairman (Reuters)

Reuters - For a bank that prides itself on smooth successions, HSBC is suddenly scrambling to pick its next chairman.

Jackson Hewitt loss narrower than expected (Reuters)

Reuters - No. 2 U.S. tax-preparer Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, as a drop in total expenses offset the decline in revenue.

Weeks of rains leave thousands homeless in Mexico (AP)

AP - Tens of thousands of people have abandoned their homes across southern Mexico to escape flooding from weeks of torrential rains, and forecasts are predicting even more rainfall.

Swisscom to delist troubled Italian unit Fastweb (AP)

AP - Swisscom AG announced Wednesday it will buy all outstanding shares in its Italian telecoms unit Fastweb SpA, which has been rocked by a money-laundering probe, for a total of euro256 million ($326 million).

Foster's knocks back $2.5 billion offer for wine (Reuters)

Reuters - Foster's Group Ltd , Australia's largest brewer, rejected a private equity offer worth up to $2.5 billion for its wine business as too cheap, sending its shares up as much as 6 percent on hopes of higher bids.

Demjanjuk health issues taking over trial (AP)

AP - John Demjanjuk attends most sessions of his trial in a hospital bed set up in the courtroom, wearing dark sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face.

China: Journalist Attacks Hurt Investigative Reporting (Time.com)

Time.com - China has long been an unfriendly place for journalists, but two attacks on journalists in Beijing this summer serve as a reminder that the threats to the press can extend beyond censorship to outright violence

Financial Sheriffs to Monitor Banks, Markets in European Union (Time.com)

Time.com - A trio of financial sheriffs will oversee finance in the entire European market

US provides relief for floods in Guatemala (AFP)

AFP - The United States said Tuesday it has requested 50,000 dollars in emergency aid for flood-hit Guatemala and reprogrammed another 4.38 million dollars in economic aid for recovery efforts.

Banging a Drum for the MDG Summit (OneWorld.net)

OneWorld.net - NEW YORK, Sep 7 (IRIN) - Activists are pulling out all the stops ahead of a development summit at UN headquarters on 20-22 September. Pro-aid and anti-poverty lobbyists are trying everything from giant letters to banging pans to raise awareness of the high-level event.

U.S. offensive expected in home district of Afghan Taliban leader (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - ASHEQUE, Afghanistan — Zhari, the birthplace of the Taliban movement and once again a major stronghold of the Taliban insurgency, looks set to become a battle zone where some 2,400 U.S. troops will lead an attempt to reclaim the region for the Afghan government.

IAEA report: What's driving Iran's latest bout of nuclear obstinacy (The Christian Science Monitor)

The Christian Science Monitor - Iran reacted angrily Tuesday to charges from the United Nations nuclear watchdog that it was hindering an investigation of its nuclear programs by blocking experienced inspectors, and limiting access and design information.

Gov't launches plan to help "underwater" borrowers (AP)

AP - The Obama administration is trying to jump-start its sputtering attempts to tackle the foreclosure crisis with an effort to assist homeowners who owe more on their properties than their homes are worth.

Post-holiday pump prices should slide (AP)

AP - Motorists should see pump prices slide again after spending a little more to fill their tanks over the Labor Day weekend.

Summary Box: Worried investors turn to gold (AP)

AP - SEEKING SAFETY: Gold settled at a record high Tuesday as more worries resurfaced about European banks and the global economy.

Bullish or Bearish? The World's Greatest Investors Debate. (The Motley Fool)

The Motley Fool - The bears and bulls were battling as ferociously as ever over the past month. Let's dive right into the debate, through the words of some of the world's greatest investors.

FTSE 100 closes lower (AFP)

AFP - London shares declined on Tuesday with weaknesses in the US market taking effect as Wall Street traders returned from a long holiday weekend.

The Treasury's New Research Office (BusinessWeek)

BusinessWeek - Don't expect an Elizabeth Warren-style campaign for the first director of the Office of Financial Research, yet another agency set up under the financial system overhaul. Unlike the pending decision over who will lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has prompted online petitions and a viral rap video in support of the Harvard law professor, the competition over who will be the head of the research office is a wonks-only affair. ...