AP - In November 2008, with the nation transfixed by a presidential election and a collapsing economy, a group of international hackers infiltrated the computer network of a major financial services company in what authorities describe as one of the most sophisticated attacks ever concocted.

AFP - The US government will release fresh unemployment figures Friday, with Americans hoping for some sign that a limping economic recovery has not come to a stop.

AP - JOB WEAKNESS: A surprise spike in first-time jobless claims disappointed investors and sent stocks moderately lower. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 5 points.

AP - The dollar fell Friday after a weak report on July jobs highlighted the country%27s tough labor market, increasing expectations that economic growth would slow in the second half of the year.

The Christian Science Monitor - President Obama defended the government bailout of the US auto industry during a visit Thursday to a Ford Motor Co. plant here, noting that his plan to rebuild the US economy by doubling exports over the next five years requires a strong domestic auto industry able to compete for trade in the global marketplace.

AFP - European shares edged higher on Thursday after British and eurozone interest rates were left unchanged, as expected, and news of soaring first-half profits at lenders Barclays and Commerzbank.

Reuters - U.S. Social Security payments will exceed receipts this year for the first time in 27 years partly because of the impact of the recession but the long-range health of the program was little changed from last year, a government report said on Thursday.

AP - Faster job growth is needed to accelerate the recovery, but economists worry the government%27s July employment report won%27t show strong gains.

AP - Industrial production in Germany, Europe%27s biggest economy, slipped slightly in June after posting healthy rises in the preceding months, government data showed Friday.

AFP - Christina Romer, a key economic advisor to President Barack Obama who championed the use of stimulus programs to pull the US economy out of recession, will step down next month, the White House said Thursday.

Reuters - Private employers added fewer workers to their payrolls in July than expected and hiring in June was much weaker than had been thought, a blow to an economic recovery that is failing to gain traction.

Reuters - Republicans emboldened by a weak U.S. jobs report pressed their attack against the ruling Democrats on Friday, hoping to translate Americans%27 unhappiness with the economy into votes on November 2.