Ford Sales Up From Last Year; GM Down

Ford Motor Co. reports that their sales in August increased 17 percent over their sales in August of last year. Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai also posted increases, but General Motors saw a 19.9 percent decline, Washington Post.

Mexico has evacuated thousands of people from Los Cabos ahead of Hurricane Jimena reaching land. The hurricane has weakened to a category 3, but Los Cabos is still expected to get heavy rain and wind, AP.

Hot Topic: Life in Beslan After School Siege.

Bolivia Gives More Freedom to Indigenous People

Bolivia declared today that indigenous people in the country have the right to rule themselves. They are the first country in South America to give the indigenous people this right and they will be able to vote on referendums that allow for more autonomy in December, BBC News.

Since July 26, more than 600 Nigerians have been killed in violence between an Islamic sect and security forces. Officials say they will have to bury many in mass graves because of the large number of deceased, Sky News.

A plague in China has quarantined an entire town and two people are dead. A 32-year-old and 37-year-old have both died from the lung disease, AP.

Ford Motor Co. reports that their sales increased in the month of July, a promising sign that the U.S. may be recovering from the economic crisis. The company says the “Cash for Clunkers” program, which encourages drivers to trade in vehicles that are not fuel efficent for new vehicles that are, helped aid sales, CNN.

bin Laden Son Reportedly Killed in Drone Attack

Saad bin Laden, the son of Osama bin Laden, was killed by a US drone attack in Pakistan earlier this year, according to military sources, NPR.

President Obama answered questions about his health care priorities during a press conference last night. 47 million Americans are without health insurance, Associated Press. The one off topic question during teh press conference was about the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. President Obama said the police acted “stupidly” for arresting Gates while in his own home, Washington Post.

Ford posted a $2.3 billion profit for the second quarter. Last year at the same time Ford posted a $8.7 billion loss, Wall Street Journal.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is under fire for criticism that the country has not provided enough helicopters for its soldiers in Afghanistan. 188 UK soldiers have died in the conflict, BBC News.

The trial of Ajmal Amir Kasab for last November’s Mumbai terror attacks will continue despite his plea of guilty and his appeal to the court that he “is ready to be hanged,” IBN.