NEW YORK

The pace of U.S. private sector job growth slowed in August for the second month in a row, but factory activity in the Chicago area continued to expand, suggesting the economy would dodge a recession.

South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers said Wednesday it overwhelmingly accepted a wage offer from Anglo Platinum that boosts pay rates by as much as 10 percent.

The New York Yankees enjoyed a rare success over bitter rivals the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, the 5-2 victory in a hot-tempered affair enabling the visitors to tighten the battle for supremacy in the American League East.

New Jersey Transit has restored Northeast Corridor service, finally ending more than three days of suspended service due to Hurricane Irene. Officials warned riders to expect delays of up to 45 minutes because of ongoing signal problems from flooding in Trenton.

Irene's damages to the U.S. mainland probably reached $3.4 billion but only 60% of it was covered.

While parts of the East Coast hard-hit by Hurricane Irene manage the damage and despair in Connecticut, New Jersey and Vermont another storm is cranking up in the Atlantic -- Tropical Storm Katia is on a path to become Hurricane Katia 2011 later Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The threat of Katia comes just days after Irene battered the Caribbean and the U.S. It's too early to tell if Katia will also hit the U.S.

AT&T has apparently figured out the key to lawmaker hearts: U.S. jobs. The telecommunications company has committed to bringing 5,000 jobs back to the United States once its proposed merger with T-Mobile USA is approved and finalized. AT&T says the jobs will be in wireless call centers, and will bring back positions that were previously outsourced abroad.

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked provisions of a Texas law that required doctors to describe sonogram images to patients before performing abortions, ruling that it violates the doctors' free speech.

Gold and silver prices Wednesday hovered near their previous day's closing prices as traders sorted through a mix of positive and negative economic news.

The 7 billionth baby, according to the United Nations population division, is set to be born on October 31 this year during the Halloween.

The costly process of rebuilding after Hurricane Irene promises to be complicated by the fact that much of the damage was caused by flooding and will not be covered by homeowner insurance.

Palin, a polarizing figure that nonetheless enjoys broad support among social conservatives and the Tea Party set, has thus far been coy about her intentions.

Gold fell on Wednesday after a near 3 percent rally the day before sparked by Federal Reserve comments on possible measures to boost U.S. growth, and the bullion price is still set for its biggest monthly gain in nearly two years.

While parts of the East Coast hit hard by Hurricane Irene manage the damage and despair in Connecticut, North Carolina, New Jersey and Vermont another storm is cranking up in the Atlantic -- Tropical Storm Katia, likely to become Hurricane Katia later today, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Obama administration is considering unveiling new plans next week to revive the ailing housing market and reduce foreclosures, including an effort to help troubled borrowers refinance their mortgages.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal cruised into the second round of the U.S. Open after facing a tough challenge from 98th ranked Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan on Tuesday night.

Russian internet investment group Mail.ru raised its full-year revenue growth forecast to 50 percent from 40 percent on Wednesday after sales and profit rose at its social network, online gaming and e-mail activities in the first half.

Lady Gaga's role-play as her own boyfriend, Joe Calderone, a chain-smoking, curse-spewing greaser, at the weekend's 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, has become a hit among the LGBT community.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for equities Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.3 to 0.8 percent.

The much-awaited Galaxy S2 phone has ultimately landed on the U.S. shores. Samsung will unveil Galaxy S2 phones for AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile at an event this evening in New York.

Bloomberg LP lost a bid to dismiss a lawsuit by Swatch Group AG that accused the news service of secretly recording an earnings conference call with securities analysts and giving a transcript to clients.