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GM sale cleared, path opens to exit Chapter 11

DETROIT (AP) -- The path is now clear for General Motors Corp. to leave bankruptcy protection in record time as a leaner company that is better equipped to compete in a brutal global auto market. On Thursday, a judge's order allowing GM to sell most of its assets to a new company went into effect, despite a last-minute appeal by plaintiffs in a product liability case....

565K new jobless claims, lowest level since Jan.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid-off workers filing initial claims for jobless benefits last week fell to lowest level since early January, largely due to changes in the timing of auto industry layoffs....

Obama urges poorer nations to fight global warming

L'AQUILA, Italy (AP) -- President Barack Obama said Thursday the global recession makes it harder to strike an international agreement to battle dangerous temperature increases, but he urged the poor emerging economies that rejected specific clean-energy goals to "fight the temptation toward cynicism" and embrace them soon....

Hundreds protest in Iran, defying crackdown vow

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Hundreds of young men and women chanted "death to the dictator," confronting police wielding batons and firing tear gas in the capital Thursday as opposition activists sought to revive street protests despite authorities' vows to "smash" any new marches....

Retailers report weak June sales

NEW YORK (AP) -- Escalating job worries and rainy weather dampened shoppers' appetite for buying summer staples like shorts and dresses, resulting in sharper-than-expected sales declines for many merchants in June and increasing concerns about the back-to-school shopping season....

House Dems look at taxing the rich for health care

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Democrats working on President Barack Obama's goal of health legislation are narrowing in on an income tax surcharge on the highest-paid wage earners to help subsidize insurance for the 50 million people who lack it....

Chinese try to heal psychological wounds of unrest

URUMQI, China (AP) -- Construction worker Zhang Binkun said Thursday he was enraged because a mob of Muslim minorities beat to death his mother in the worst rioting to hit western China in decades....

Pelosi shuts down resolution on Michael Jackson

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shut the door Thursday to a resolution honoring Michael Jackson because debate on the symbolic measure could raise "contrary views" about the pop star's life....

Frenemy, locavore among new words in Webster's

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- Do you use a sock puppet to secretly keep track of your frenemies?...

Fans line up to honor slain ex-NFL QB McNair

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Dozens of Steve McNair fans donned Tennessee Titans gear as they lined up around a funeral home Thursday to honor the slain ex-NFL quarterback's accomplishments and charity work....