Norway 1st in Europe to raise interest rates

Norway's central bank raised its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 1.5 percent Wednesday, making the oil-rich country the first European economy to boost rates since the height of the global financial crisis.

Norges Bank said in a statement that its decision was due to a sharper-than-expected rise in inflation and lower unemployment.

"The world economy is in a deep slump, but there are signs of new growth," said Svein Gjedrem, governor of Norges Bank. "The Norwegian economy has gotten moving again faster than anticipated."

The Nordic country of 4.8 million, which is not a member of the European Union, escaped …

Ex-con held on $6 million bond in Girl X assault

A $6 million bond was set today for an ex-convict charged in theattack on the 9-year-old known as Girl X in Cabrini-Green.

A veteran prosecutor said it was one of the most heinous crimeshe has handled in his 17-year career.

Patrick Sykes, 25, of the 3200 block of West Maypole, stoodsilently with his head bowed before Criminal Court Judge William Makias prosecutor Thomas E. Epach Jr. summarized Sykes' confession to theJan. 9 attack.Epach gave this version of the assault:Sykes dropped off his girlfriend at a bus stop and was returningto her apartment at 1121 N. Larrabee when he spotted the girl in ahallway, grabbed her and dragged her into his girlfriend's …

Lohse shutout sees Cardinals beat Nationals

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kyle Lohse threw a career-best two-hitter to steer the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-0 defeat of the Washington Nationals in the National League on Thursday.

Lohse (3-1) struck out six in his eighth career complete game and sixth shutout, both accomplished last on April 12, 2009.

Matt Holliday kept his average near .500 with a two-run homer and single, while Albert Pujols added a two-run homer in a three-run eighth for the Cardinals.

Tom Gorzelanny (0-2) extended the Nationals' run of five-inning starts in every game, but had to work for it.

Dodgers 5, Braves 3, 12 innings

In Los Angeles, Matt Kemp hit …

Athletics 4, Giants 1

…

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Dear Abby: ; Hyper-suspicious mother leaves teenager no privacy

DEAR ABBY: I'm a high school student in the top 2 percent of myclass. I'm heavily involved in extracurricular activities. I don'tgive my mom much to worry about, but she is always "concerned."

She spies on me from the other room while I'm online and hasrecruited my brother to help her. She has forced me to give her thepasswords to my e-mail and Myspace accounts and constantly asks mewhat I'm doing.

When I'm in my room alone, she repeatedly comes in to ask mewhat's going on and says I'm not supposed to close my bedroom door.If I do, she will open it without knocking. Abby, even the bathroomdoor isn't permitted to be locked. If it is, Mom breaks in with abobby pin, and …

Health club dangers

A recent study of 122 health and fitness clubs in Ohio by University of Massachusetts' associate professor, Dr. Kyle McInnis, published in the July issue of the journal, Chest, found that 28 percent of the 65 clubs that responded to the survey don't do "pre-entry screening to identify members with signs, symptoms or history of cardiovascular disease," even though 52 percent of clubs offered special programs for older adults, cardiac patients or both. Despite the fact that, during the past five years, 17 percent of clubs reported one or more cardiovascular emergencies (e.g., stroke or sudden cardiac death), only three percent of health clubs surveyed maintain an automated external …

Niners WR Battle out with foot sprain

Receiver Arnaz Battle will miss the San Francisco 49ers' game at Arizona on Monday night with a sprained right foot.

Battle, the 49ers' second-leading receiver with 24 catches for 318 yards, has played in 42 consecutive games. The six-year veteran also occasionally returns kickoffs and punts while serving as San Francisco's No. 3 receiver in most offensive sets.

Jason Hill, rookie Josh Morgan and Bryant Johnson all are likely to get more playing …