News
Newest Ford C-Max Comes With A Plug
May 8, 2013 2:04 pm | by Ann M. Job, For The Associated Press | CommentsFord's newest C-Max is the ultimate plug-in gasoline-electric hatchback for fuel- and environmentally conscious drivers yearning for something new. Introduced for 2013, the C-Max Energi is an electric plug-in, tall, five-seat car that has a four-cylinder, gasoline engine as a backup.
Two Hurt In Explosion At Sandblasting Plant
May 8, 2013 1:57 pm | CommentsTwo people are hospitalized in Tulsa after an explosion outside a sandblasting plant in Eufaula. McIntosh County Sheriff Kevin Ledbetter told reporters the two were injured in the blast at Ford Sandblasting in west Eufaula shortly after noon Tuesday.
Deal: Dubai Company To Build Ga. Plant
May 8, 2013 1:54 pm | CommentsGov. Nathan Deal says a company based in Dubai plans to build a manufacturing plant in Murray County with the goal of creating 200 jobs over the next three years. Mattex is headquartered in Dubai and is a leading provider of carpet backings and other textiles. The company has four facilities in the Middle East and plans to invest $60 million in its first U.S. plant.
Court Upholds $28M In Damages For Sky Diving Deaths
May 8, 2013 1:44 pm | by Jim Salter, Associated Press | CommentsRelatives of five of the victims filed suit against Doncasters Inc. Evidence presented at trial showed that the London-based company made a defective part that caused the right engine of the DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter to blow up shortly after takeoff July 29, 2006.
United To Resume 787 Flights On May 20
May 8, 2013 1:35 pm | CommentsUnited Airlines expects to start flying its Boeing 787s again on May 20. The 787s had been grounded because of concerns about smoldering batteries, but they have been returning to the skies. Ethiopian Airlines was the first to fly a 787 again, on April 27.
China Reports Stronger Trade Growth
May 8, 2013 11:37 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | CommentsChina reported stronger April trade but analysts said export data were inflated and its shaky recovery might be weaker than it looks. Exports rose 14.7 percent over a year earlier, up from March's 10 percent growth, customs data showed Wednesday. Imports gained 16.8 percent, up from the previous month's 14.1 percent.
Ferrari To Sell Fewer Cars To Boost Exclusivity
May 8, 2013 9:26 am | by Colleen Barry, AP Business Writer | CommentsFerrari says it will limit sales of its high-performance street cars this year to below 7,000 units to protect the brand's aura of exclusivity. Chairman Luca Montezemolo says that means sales will decline overall by "more than 1 or 2 percent" from last year's sales of 7,318 cars.
Germany Plans Tighter Control Of Managers' Pay
May 8, 2013 8:38 am | CommentsThe plan, approved Wednesday by Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet, foresees obligatory, binding votes at publicly listed companies' annual general meetings on the pay system and levels for managers. Those decisions are currently taken by German companies' boards of directors and shareholder votes are voluntary and nonbinding.
UN Predicts Boom In Trade Of 'Green' Products
May 8, 2013 8:25 am | CommentsThe U.N. Environment Program says trade in organic food and beverages is likely to reach $105 billion by 2015, up from $62.9 billion in 2011. Seafood farmed according to certified sustainability standards is forecast to rise to $1.25 billion from $300 million in 2008.
Italy Cargo Ship Slams Into Genoa Port
May 8, 2013 8:22 am | by Nicole Winfield, Associated Press | CommentsRescue workers in diving gear found seven bodies Wednesday in the wreckage after a cargo ship slammed into the dock at Genoa, toppling the busy Italian port's control tower into the harbor. Four people were hospitalized and two others remained unaccounted for, Luca Cari, spokesman for the fire rescue teams at the scene, told The Associated Press.
Cyberattacks A Growing Irritant In U.S.-China Ties
May 8, 2013 8:10 am | by Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press | CommentsWashington's sudden focus on Chinese hacking comes after rising complaints from U.S. businesses about theft of trade secrets. Amid growing evidence that the People's Liberation Army and other state-backed groups are behind the infiltrations, Beijing's statements that the cyberhacking allegations are groundless.
Reality TV's New Stars: Small Businesses
May 8, 2013 8:02 am | by Joseph Pisani, AP Business Writer | CommentsTurning small business owners into stars has become a winning formula for television producers, but some businesses featured in them are cashing in, too. Sales explode after just a few episodes air, transforming these nearly unknown small businesses into household names.
GM Opening $1.3B Cadillac Plant In China
May 8, 2013 7:54 am | CommentsPlans call for the 8 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) factory in Shanghai to begin production in 2015 with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles, according to GM spokeswoman Dayna Hart. GM sells imported Cadillacs in China but the luxury market is dominated by Germany's Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi.
Toyota Profit More Than Doubles
May 8, 2013 7:49 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | CommentsToyota Motor Corp., which last year reclaimed the title of world's top-selling automaker, said Wednesday it expects the strong results to continue in its new business year that ends March 2014. It projected a 1.37 trillion yen ($13.8 billion) profit, up from 962 billion yen for the year ended March 2013.
Subaru Invests $400M In Indiana Plant
May 8, 2013 7:41 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | CommentsSubaru said Wednesday it is investing $400 million to expand its Indiana factory and will add 900 workers to build the Impreza small car there in 2016. The plant now employs about 3,600 people and builds the Legacy and Outback cars and the Tribeca SUV. It also builds the Camry midsize car under contract with Toyota Motor Corp.
Elon Musks' SpaceX Signs Lease At NM Spaceport
May 7, 2013 8:42 pm | CommentsAnother space industry heavyweight has signed onto New Mexico's Spaceport America. Gov. Susana Martinez announced Tuesday that Elon Musks' Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, has agreed to a three-year lease to do testing of its "Grasshopper" reusable rocket in southern New Mexico.
Fiesta China Maker Sues Over Knockoffs
May 7, 2013 8:40 pm | CommentsIt says Hanna's Candle Co. of Fayetteville, Ark., and The Bazaar Inc. of River Grove, Ill., are selling Chinese knockoffs of the famous American brand under the name Carnaval. Homer Laughlin alleges violations of a federal law that prohibits trademark infringement, trademark dilution and false advertising.
San Francisco City Attorney Sues Monster Beverage
May 7, 2013 8:37 pm | CommentsCity Attorney Dennis Herrera said Monday that Monster is the "industry's worst offender" in the extent to which it targets youth and children. The action comes after Monster last week sued Herrera over his demands that company reduce caffeine levels in its drinks and stop marketing to minors.
NY Group Buys Tesla Property, Plans Science Center
May 7, 2013 2:15 pm | CommentsA New York community group that raised $1.3 million in a six-week Internet crowd funding effort last year has purchased a laboratory once used by visionary scientist Nikola Tesla. Tesla was a rival of Thomas Edison who imagined a world of free electricity. He conducted experiments in the early 20th century at his laboratory in Shoreham, about 65 miles east of New York City.
Coke Plans Major Expansion Of Fla. Orange Groves
May 7, 2013 2:13 pm | by Tamara Lush, Associated Press | CommentsThe Coca-Cola Co. says it will invest $2 billion to support the planting of 25,000 acres of new orange groves in Florida. The announcement will be made at a news conference late Tuesday morning at Coca-Cola's production plant in Auburndale. Details were released in advance to The Associated Press.
