UN: World economy to grow by 1.8 percent in 2008
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The world economy is "teetering on the brink" of a severe downturn and is expected to grow only 1.8 percent in 2008, the United Nations said in its mid-year economic projections Thursday....

'$100 laptop' nonprofit now teamed with Microsoft
BOSTON (AP) -- The One Laptop Per Child project is about to find out whether Microsoft Corp., a rival the nonprofit group once derided, is the solution to its problems in spreading inexpensive portable computers to schoolchildren....

Oil prices rise after volatile session
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Oil rose Friday in Asia following a whipsaw overnight session during which the expiration of options and a mix of news played havoc with prices trading in a range almost $6 wide....

Senate votes to roll back media ownership rule
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate Thursday night voted to nullify a Federal Communications Commission rule that allows media companies to own a newspaper and a television station in the same market....

Drug combo helps women with advanced breast cancer
A combination of two new-generation cancer drugs modestly delayed the time it took for cancer to worsen in a study of 300 women with very advanced disease who had stopped responding to other treatments....

Japan's economy grows at 3.3 pct annual pace in 1Q
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's economy grew at a stronger-than-expected 3.3 percent annual pace in the first quarter, racking up its third consecutive quarter of growth....

China tallies losses, costs from major earthquake
SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Cracked dams and buckled roads, collapsed buildings and toppled factories - China has begun tallying losses from the calamitous earthquake that struck earlier this week, with estimates ranging to over $20 billion....

Dairy farmers pamper cows to boost milk output
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- When it comes to comfort, Kirk Christie's cows have it all - a new barn, a flat-screen television and waterbeds....

Icahn to Yahoo board: Sell to Microsoft or leave
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Yahoo Inc. Chief Executive Jerry Yang spent months fending off Microsoft Corp.'s unsolicited takeover bid. Now he may only have a few weeks to persuade the software maker to revive its last offer of $47.5 billion, or risk being fired in a shareholder mutiny led by activist investor Carl Icahn....

Industrial output falls, second time in 3 months
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Industrial output plunged in April as factories making everything from autos to heavy machinery felt the adverse effects of the weak economy. Analysts held out hope that production will revive in the second half of the year, helped by the government's economic stimulus checks....