Sales of new homes fell 3 percent in June, the biggest decline in four months and 11 percent below the same period a year ago, the Commerce Department reported today in the latest sign that the market has turned in favor of buyers. Sales for May were also revised downward.
AP - Israel's government decided Thursday not to expand its battle with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon for now, but authorized the army to call up 30,000 reserve soldiers in case the fighting intensifies. Lebanese officials estimated a civilian death toll as high as 600.
AP - A man serving a life sentence in Colorado for murdering a teenage girl has claimed responsibility for as many as 48 slayings across the country dating back more than three decades, authorities said Thursday.
AP - The amazing ride of Floyd Landis took a troubling detour Thursday. A positive doping test has cast doubt on one of the most stirring Tour de France comeback wins in history. Even if it turns out he's innocent, the American cyclist expects the disgrace will linger a long, long time.
Reserves being called up to support Israeli troopsHaifa near ghost town, factories closed, port emptyHeavy fighting at three towns near Lebanon borderMore than 150 rockets hit Israel in 24 hoursU.N. "distressed" by peacekeepers' deaths
Profits at Exxon Mobil surged 36 percent to a near record $10.4 billion in the second quarter as surging oil prices helped the world's largest publicly traded company soundly beat Wall Street forecasts.
With a poster of the burning World Trade Center behind him, Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant appeared on tape Thursday calling on Muslims to join the fight against Israel and "rise up seeking martyrdom and attack the crusaders and Zionists."