BP blames contractors for U.S. oil spill (Reuters)

Reuters - A BP Plc investigation of the Gulf of Mexico disaster played down the company's role in the world's worst offshore oil spill, seeking to share the blame with its contractors.

Google seeks to speed up Web searches (Reuters)

Reuters - Google Inc unveiled a set of enhancements to its Internet search engine on Wednesday that predict search queries as users type, promising to speed up the time it takes to find information online.

Obama sets up battle over tax cuts with Ohio trip (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama, fighting to keep Democrats in charge of Congress, will push his latest plan to kick-start the economy on Wednesday and set up an election-year battle with Republicans over Bush-era tax cuts.

Senegal prostitutes look forward to Ramadan's end (AP)

AP - Wearing white to symbolize purity, worshippers throughout this African capital gathered to pray on one of the final nights of Ramadan. To purify the soul and purge sin, they hadn't eaten all day and refrained from drinking, smoking and having sex — which during the holy month is only allowed among spouses at night.

In Gulf work camp, jobless begin glum journey home (AP)

AP - The hidden face of the Emirates' economic crunch is in places such as Industrial Zone 18 and the ramshackle compound for about 700 migrant workers within. For more than six months, they have lived on charity, fought off rats and slept amid piles of trash after a construction company abruptly closed and left them jobless.

German farmer's 24 hour milk filling station a hit (Reuters)

Reuters - A German dairy farmer has come up with a novel way to drum up new business -- he opened a "milk filling station."

No charges against Pakistan players: cricket chief (AFP)

AFP - Pakistan's cricket chief stressed Wednesday that British police had yet to charge any of the three players accused of spot-fixing and said there was "zero tolerance" against corruption.

Poor security to keep more Afghan polls closed (AP)

AP - Afghan election officials said Wednesday that scores of additional polling stations will be closed during the Sept. 18 parliamentary vote because of the deteriorating security situation in the country.

S&P 500 rises 1 percent (Reuters)

Reuters - The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose more than 1 percent in afternoon trading on Wednesday, while the Dow and Nasdaq added to gains as worries about Europe's banking system decreased, easing risk aversion.

Muslim mason immortalized at French cathedral (AP)

AP - A Muslim stone mason who spent nearly four decades helping to restore an ancient Roman Catholic cathedral has been immortalized, as a winged gargoyle peering from the facade of the edifice with the inscription "God is Great" at his clawed feet.

Oppenheimer downgrades H&R Block to 'Perform' (AP)

AP - Tax preparation company H&R Block has struggled for the last two tax seasons and faces uncertainty over the mortgages it still holds from its former lending operations, an Oppenheimer analyst said Wednesday.

Iranians unaware Castro has taken up their cause (AP)

AP - Fidel Castro's warnings of a looming war between the United States and Iran have Cuba buzzing with fears of nuclear Armageddon. But the revolutionary icon's alarming predictions have barely registered in the place where it might matter most: Iran.

Oil up to $75 as stocks rise, Europe worries ease (AP)

AP - Oil prices followed stocks higher on Wednesday, as worries about European debt problems eased and buyers returned to the market.

Govt takes over Bahrain human rights group (AP)

AP - Bahrain's government on Wednesday suspended the board of a prominent human rights group, accusing it of being too partial to the country's Shiite majority.

East Timor's deputy prime minister resigns (AP)

AP - One of East Timor's deputy prime ministers resigned after Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao allegedly screamed at him during a public meeting and called him a liar — dealing another blow to the young country's stability.

US sex offenders see sanctuary in Caribbean sun (AP)

AP - Jeffrey Allen Weathers moved from Alaska to an oceanfront apartment in the Caribbean, but his new neighbors soon suspected the heavyset American hadn't come for the sun. The FBI now says they were right.

Ireland to split Anglo Irish into good, bad banks (AP)

AP - Ireland plans to split its most troubled financial institution, Anglo Irish Bank, in two as part of wider efforts to reassure international lenders that the Irish are dealing with their debt crisis.

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 sent him money to carry out the attack, a senior police officer said Wednesday.

Tories see poll lead evaporate (Reuters)

Reuters - The Conservative government has seen its lead over the Liberals evaporate following recent controversies and the two parties are now statistically deadlocked, according to a public opinion poll released on Wednesday.

EU suspends WTO dumping sanction bid against US (AFP)

AFP - The European Union said Wednesday it had suspended a request at the World Trade Organization for the right to impose sanctions on Washington over a controversial US anti-dumping calculation.

Smithfield posts 1Q profit on higher pork prices (AP)

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

Summary Box: Mortgage lending falls 1.5 pct (AP)

AP - MORTGAGE APPLICATIONS SLIP: Applications for home loans dipped last week as mortgage rates ticked up slightly from the lowest level in decades, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Economists further scale back U.S. growth outlook (Reuters)

Reuters - Stubbornly high unemployment and signs of persistent weakness in the housing market have prompted economists to further cut their outlook for U.S. growth in the second half of the year, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday.

How to Play It Safe With Muni Bonds (U.S. News & World Report)

U.S. News & World Report - Defaults in the municipal bond market can happen, as some investors recently discovered. Municipal bonds, which are generally some of the safest investments, are issued by states, municipalities, or counties, and are usually exempt from federal, state, and local taxes. Muni defaults--such as those on bonds issued this year in Jefferson County, Ala., and Harrisburg, Pa.--are not common, but in an era of budget cuts and lower revenues, it's important for investors to be aware of the risks. Here are a few general rules for muni investors to follow:

Tight inventories hurt Talbots sales (Reuters)

Reuters - Women's clothing retailer Talbots Inc posted lower-than-expected quarterly sales and its shares fell 11.6 percent as efforts to keep inventory lean and preserve margins left it short of items to sell.

Home buying up in week, but down 40 percent in year (Reuters)

Reuters - Americans applied to buy homes at the highest pace last week since May, but more than 8 of every 10 loan requests was for a refinancing, Mortgage Bankers Association data show on Wednesday.

North Korea, in Secret, Moves Toward Anointing a New Kim (Time.com)

Time.com - The first congress in three decades of the ruling Workers Party is rumored to be imminent, suggesting that a succession is being prepared that will hand power to a third generation of the first family

Koran Burning: Taking a Cue from Osama bin Laden? (Time.com)

Time.com - While he's planning violence against books rather than people, the Koran-burning Florida preacher is following a self-promotion strategy familiar to the al-Qaeda leader -- a little provocation goes a long, long way

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.

Toyota offers free Hispanic pride stickers (AP)

AP - Toyota Motor Corp., hoping to solidify its standing as the top brand for Hispanic buyers in the U.S., is offering drivers a series of stickers that celebrates their Hispanic heritage.

NYSE Euronext in joint venture on carbon trading (AP)

AP - NYSE Euronext said Tuesday it plans to combine its European carbon trading unit with a U.S. firm to expand its environmental energy business.

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. ...