China to launch next lunar space mission (AFP)

AFP - China is on track to launch its second lunar satellite by year's end, as the country pursues its plans for a manned mission to the moon by 2020, state media said Friday.

U.K. Factory Prices Rise At Slower Pace In August

U.K. factory output prices rose 4.7% in August compared to the same month a year ago, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday.

Oil jumps to near $76 on U.S. supply outage (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. crude approached a three-week high near $76 on Friday, after record U.S. inventories were offset by the shutdown of a major pipeline, but a leading forecaster said oil demand would remain tepid.

Nokia brings in Microsoft exec to replace CEO (Reuters)

Reuters - Nokia (NOK1V.HE), the world's top cellphone maker, brought in Microsoft's Stephen Elop to replace its embattled chief executive and lead a renewed effort to compete in the smartphone market.

Stock index futures up (Reuters)

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.3 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.4 percent at 0850 GMT.

Renault, Peugeot to repay state loan early (AFP)

AFP - French carmakers Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen said Friday they each plan to pay back a third of their three-billion-euro (3.8-billion-dollar) state loans ahead of time.

Nevada mining industry prepays $123 million in taxes

ELKO -- The Nevada mining industry's net proceeds tax payments have soared to about $123 million for 2010, up from $97.5 million in 2009 and $91.8 million in 2008.

Indian industrial output grows 13.8 pct in July

India's industrial production witnessed 13.8 percent of year-on-year increase in July, much higher than 7.7 percent of economists' projections, said a release by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation Friday.

Italian Industrial Output Increased in July Less Than Economists Forecast

Italian industrial output rose less than economists forecast in July as domestic demand remained weak during the country’s export -led economic recovery.

Dubai World wins over most creditors to debt plan (AP)

AP - Dubai World says it has won over nearly all its creditors to its plan to restructure $24.9 billion in debt.

India industrial output surges 13.8 percent

India's industrial output in July leapt by 13.8 percent, data showed Friday -- far outpacing market forecasts -- as consumer demand in Asia's third-largest economy remained robust.

Dubai World in formal debt deal for $24.9 billion (Reuters)

Reuters - State-owned conglomerate Dubai World has come to a formal agreement with over 99 percent of its creditors to restructure around $24.9 billion of liabilities, the government of Dubai said on Friday.

French industrial output rebounds in July

Swedish Industrial Output Logs Record Growth In July

(RTTNews) - Swedish industrial production grew 14.4% year-on-year in July after adjusting to working-day variations, Statistics Sweden said Friday. This was the strongest growth rate since the series began in 2000 and was also much stronger than the 10.4% growth forecast by economists.

US court lifts ban on state-funding for stem cell research (AFP)

AFP - A US appeals court suspended Thursday a ban on state-funding for embryonic stem cell research pending a full appeal of the case, in a major boost to President Barack Obama's administration.

Gas blast engulfs neighborhood near San Francisco (Reuters)

Reuters - A fiery natural gas explosion ripped through a residential neighborhood in a San Francisco suburb on Thursday, ravaging some 50 homes and killing at least one person, officials said.

Trichet: phasing out crisis measures to take time (AP)

AP - The European Central Bank's president says it may take a while yet to phase out special efforts to keep banks supplied with credit in the wake of the financial crisis.

July factory output better than expected: Montek

India's July factory output figures were better than expected and there is a good case for the govt to increase its economic growth target for the current fiscal year, deputy head of the Planning Commission Montek Ahluwalia said.

French Industrial Production Climbs as Recovery Prompts Renewed Investment

French industrial production rose in July as the global economic recovery prompted companies to renew investment.

Insurance industry shows losses for 2009

The insurance industry in Ireland made a loss of €124.5m last year, after a profit of €121.9m a year earlier.

Toyota plant in Australia to build greener engines (AP)

AP - Toyota will build a 300 million Australian dollars ($277 million) plant in Melbourne that will produce greener engines that deliver reduced carbon emissions, the company said Friday.

BP delays Q3 results due oil spill complexities (Reuters)

Reuters - BP Plc said it would delay the release of its third quarter results by a week because of added complexities in its accounts due to costs associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

BP delays Q3 results due oil spill complexities (Reuters)

Reuters - BP Plc said it would delay the release of its third quarter results by a week because of added complexities in its accounts due to costs associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Egg industry fights limits on cage use

Even before the recent salmonella outbreak, America's egg industry was struggling to fend off another threat: allegations that it was cruel to chickens.

French Industrial Output Grows More Than Expected In July

(RTTNews) - French industrial production increased 6.4% year-on-year in July, the statistical office Insee said on Friday. Economists had expected an increase of 5%.

Industrial growth rises to 13.8%

Belying fears of a slowdown, industrial growth accelerated to 13.8 per cent in July from 7.2 per cent in the corresponding month last year, on the back of a 63 per cent jump in capital goods production.

China's imports leap, cutting trade surplus (Reuters)

Reuters - China's imports leapt in August, boding well for a strengthening of domestic demand in an economy that has become a major driver of global growth.

Industrial Production Accelerates, Adding to Rate Pressure on Central Bank

India’s industrial output growth quickened in July, increasing pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates next week for the fifth time this year.

Embryonic stem cell funding allowed - for now (AP)

AP - The government may resume funding of embryonic stem cell research for now, an appeals court said Thursday, but the short-term approval may be of little help to research scientists caught in a legal battle that has just begun.

Jupiter Took a Double Wallop as Amateurs Watched (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Two fireballs from collisions with Jupiter in June and August provided a great show for the skywatchers who spotted them, packing a punch and suggesting the gas giant could be in for frequent punishment.

Fallen peanut industry executive now consults

The peanut industry executive whose filthy processing plants were blamed in a salmonella outbreak that killed nine people and sickened hundreds more two years ago is back in the business. Business - Peanut - United States - Peanut Corporation of America - Virginia

NPD:Videogame Industry Retail Sales For August Lowest Since `06

Tempe factory won't be closed; buyer steps up

A Tennessee company that had planned to shut down a Tempe precision-automotive-parts factory instead sold the operation to a local group.

Activist: Beached whale in Brazil can't be saved (AP)

AP - An animal-rights activist says an endangered right whale stranded on a beach in southern Brazil for two days is too weak to be rescued and returned safely to the sea.

Factory toxic gas leak in central China, two injured

A chemical factory in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region reported a toxic gas leak Thursday, injuring two people, according to local authorities.

Video game industry gears up for battle against California law

The industry is expected to file a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing for overturning a state ban on selling or renting violent video games to minors. Girding itself for its final battle, the video game industry will lay out its arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on why California's ban on the sale or rental of violent video games to minors violates the developers' free speech rights.

USDA sued over genetically modified beet permits (Reuters)

Reuters - Groups opposed to genetically modified foods announced a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday over the agency's recent decision to allow limited plantings of altered sugar beets.

Alaska sues to lift Arctic drilling suspension (AP)

AP - The state claimed Thursday that the Interior Department illegally halted offshore drilling in Artic waters, even though the department said there's no such moratorium in place.

Business Highlights (AP)

AP - Fears of a second recession ease, at least for now

Auto industry 'has to pick up:' Ford Canada CEO warns

Ford Canada's chief executive said the country's auto industry will face "challenges" over the next few years, forecasting that it will grow by only a few per cent annually starting in 2011.

Snoop Dogg and Norton Team Up to Smoke Cybercrime (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - Snoop Dogg may not be the first person you think of when contemplating cybersecurity, but a new ad campaign from Norton, the antivirus company, hopes to change that. Tha Boss Dogg is the face of Norton's "Hack is Wack" venture, an effort to spread the word about cybercrime to a demographic Norton feels does not take the issue seriously enough.

Night Life: Old Spaghetti Factory cranks up happy hour production

The Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant is a familiar Sacramento landmark. This ornate train-station-turned- restaurant has been the setting for happy occasions for more than three decades.

Cable industry publication gives Sunflower Broadband high marks

A leading cable industry magazine has chosen Lawrence-based Sunflower Broadband as its System of the Year.

Mortgage rates edge up; Housing market still slow (AP)

AP - Record-low mortgage rates failed to pull the housing market out of its funk. Now rates are inching higher, but don't blame them if home sales stay sluggish.

Homeowners, Beware Association Costs (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - House and condo owners may face extra costs as their homeowner associations struggle with unpaid assessments, the legacy of neighbors hit by job losses and foreclosures.

Shoe seller DSW's operator says 2Q profit jumps (AP)

AP - Retail Ventures Inc., which operates the DSW shoe store chain, posted a 67 percent jump in second-quarter net income as a key revenue figure improved.

Analysis: Obama has tenuous grip on Democrats over taxes (Reuters)

Reuters - Democrats in Congress are distancing themselves from President Barack Obama's push to let taxes rise for the wealthiest Americans, fearing it will further harm them in November's mid-term elections.

Wal-Mart US merchandising now headed by four execs (Reuters)

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc will remain without a chief merchandising officer for its U.S. stores for now, instead naming four new product heads to take over that responsibility, the retailer said on Thursday.

Residents allowed home as US blaze contained (AFP)

AFP - Residents were allowed to return to their homes in parts of a wildfire-stricken area of Colorado on Thursday, as fire chiefs said they were making progress containing the blaze.

Strengthening La Nina could mean more hurricanes (AP)

AP - The La Nina climate phenomenon is strengthening, increasing the likelihood an active hurricane season could get even busier.