Earth, Wind and Fire initially wanted to release its new album around the 2012 presidential election, but the band realized it wasn't satisfied with the songs it created.

"Now, Then & Forever," the group's first album in eight years, will be released September 10. Singer Philip Bailey says the band called co-founding member Larry Dunn and others to help produce its latest sound.

The Chinese activist who fled to America after taking refuge in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing last year said Monday that China's relentless efforts to crush opposition forces or suppress human rights will backfire.

Chen Guangcheng said he is convinced that rapidly growing yearnings for freedoms and human rights among the Chinese will eventually "put an end to the authoritarian rule" in the communist country. Chen spoke at a news conference in Taiwan, where he is on a two-week visit.

Bobby "Blue" Bland, a distinguished singer who blended Southern blues and soul in songs such as "Turn on your Love Light" and "Further on up the Road," died Sunday. He was 83.

Rodd Bland said his father died about 5:30 p.m. Sunday due to complications from an ongoing illness at his Memphis, Tenn., home surrounded by relatives.

Britain's Vodafone PLC has launched a takeover bid for Germany's biggest cable operator, Kabel Deutschland, which values the German company at 7.7 billion euros ($10.2 billion).

Kabel Deutschland Holding AG, which has more than 8 million customers, said Monday that its management and supervisory boards "welcome this announcement."

Citigroup Inc. is set to become the first American bank to open an office of its own in Baghdad, highlighting financial firms' growing interest in Iraq a decade after the U.S.-led 2003 invasion.

Executives say the representative office Citi has received preliminary approval for will help support its corporate customers in Iraq and act as a liaison for companies looking to do business there.

Germany's Ifo index of business sentiment rose slightly in June, suggesting the eurozone's largest economy remains on track for a return to stronger growth after a weak stretch.

The closely-watched index came in Monday at 105.9 points, up from 105.7 the month before and in line with analysts' expectations.

The next time Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova meet, it will likely be on a tennis court, with a net separating them — maybe even at Wimbledon, in the final, on the first Saturday in July.

"I think it's great for women's tennis when we play each other," Williams said.

So many things have gone wrong for Juan Pablo Montoya this season that he's come to expect the unexpected at the most inopportune time.

It came Sunday with one lap to go at Sonoma Raceway, where Montoya was desperately hoping to bank a bunch of points.

Forward Mario Balotelli will miss Italy's semifinal against Spain in the Confederations Cup due to a strained thigh, handing the team another major injury complication before facing the World Cup holder.

The Italian Football Federation made the announcement Sunday following medical tests on Balotelli's left quadriceps.

World Cup winners Spain defeated Nigeria 3-0 with two goals from Jordi Alba and another from Fernando Torres on Sunday to set up a semifinal showdown with Italy in the Confederations Cup.

Although the final score was emphatic, it could have been much closer if Nigeria had accepted some of their many clear chances in the first half. At times Spain looked vulnerable to the African champions' fast breaks.