News
3-D TV Falls Flat
June 13, 2013 10:00 am | by Peter Svensson and Ryan Nakashima, AP Technology Writers | CommentsLast year, an estimated 6 percent of TVs in the U.S. were able to show 3-D programming, according to the most recent data from research firm IHS Screen Digest. Even homes that have 3-D TVs don't appear to be using them very much, said IHS analyst Sweta Dash. The lack of programming and the discomfort of having to wear special glasses could be contributing to the problem, she said.
Retail Sales Jump 0.6 Percent In May
June 13, 2013 9:52 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | CommentsAmericans stepped up purchases at retail businesses in May, spending more on cars, home improvements and sporting goods. The gain shows consumers remain resilient despite higher taxes and could drive faster growth later this year. The Commerce Department said retail sales increased 0.6 percent in May from April.
ZW3D Supports And Creates Opportunity For Next-Gen Education
June 13, 2013 9:36 am | CommentsZWSOFT, a leading supplier of 2D and 3D CAD/CAM solutions for the AEC and MCAD industries, is demonstrating their caring for education aiming at improving the learning environments. ZW3D, their cost-effective CAD/CAM solution, has been applied in many high schools, universities and educational institutions, helping the next generation become capable of and interested in 3D modeling, molding and machining design.
Honda Recalling 104,500 Cars To Fix Brakes
June 13, 2013 8:39 am | CommentsHonda is recalling 104,500 cars in 49 countries worldwide to fix problems with the brakes. In the U.S., the recall covers more than 18,000 Acura RSX compact cars from 2006 and the Honda S2000 sports car from the 2006 and 2007 model years.
GM's Opel Unit To Start Building Cars In Belarus
June 13, 2013 8:20 am | CommentsGeneral Motors Co.'s European Opel unit says it will start assembling cars for Russia and other eastern markets in Belarus next year. Germany-based Opel said GM signed an agreement Thursday to start building its Corsa model at facilities owned by partner Unison in Belarus.
Pfizer Settles Protonix Patent Case For $2.15B
June 13, 2013 8:06 am | CommentsTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., one of the world's largest generic drugmakers, will pay $1.6 billion, while India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. will pay $550 million for selling their versions of Protonix before the patent protecting the drug expired.
U.S. Budget Deficit Widens In May
June 13, 2013 8:04 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | CommentsThe government says the U.S. budget deficit widened in May by $139 billion, but the annual deficit stayed on track to finish below $1 trillion for the first time since 2008. With the May increase, the deficit through the first eight months of this budget year totaled $626 billion.
Wisconsin Assembly Approves Lemon Law Changes
June 13, 2013 7:53 am | CommentsWisconsin's Assembly has passed a bill making changes to the state's lemon law which covers when consumers can sue auto manufacturers. The bill passed 88-8 on Wednesday. Most Democrats removed their opposition after bill sponsor Rep. Bill Kramer worked with them and trial attorneys on a compromise.
Fiat: Supplier Delays Will Force Shutdowns
June 13, 2013 7:46 am | CommentsItalian carmaker Fiat says it will temporarily stop production at some European car plants in the coming days due to insufficient deliveries of plastic parts. Fiat said in a statement Wednesday that more than 5,500 vehicles can't be completed due to missing components from the Italian supplier Selmat, creating an "unmanageable" backlog.
Once-Promising Car Venture Ends In Bankruptcy
June 13, 2013 7:43 am | CommentsA company that had planned to build high-tech police cars in a vacant plant that once housed a rust belt city's largest employer has filed for bankruptcy, dashing the hopes of a community desperate for economic rejuvenation. Carbon Motors Corp. filed for Chapter 7 liquidation in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis.
'Pink Slime' Lawsuit Heads Back To State Court
June 13, 2013 7:38 am | by Dirk Lammers, Associated Press | CommentsA federal judge on Wednesday moved a South Dakota beef processing company's defamation lawsuit against ABC News back to state court. Beef Products Inc. sued American Broadcasting Companies Inc. and ABC News Inc. for defamation in September.
Chrysler Recalls Heavy-Duty Trucks
June 13, 2013 7:34 am | CommentsChrysler Group is recalling 6,900 heavy-duty Ram pickup trucks from the 2012 model year because part of the front axle could fracture and cause them to lose power. The automaker said Wednesday that the front prop shaft, which connects the engine to the axle, can bind or fracture.
China's Shenzhou 10 Ship Docks With Space Lab
June 13, 2013 4:47 am | CommentsChina's latest manned space capsule docked with an orbiting space station Thursday, and the three astronauts climbed aboard what will be their home for the next week, state media reported. Automated controls guided the Shenzhou-10's docking with the space lab, the Xinhua News Agency said.
AP: Bangladesh Factory Flaws Highlighted
June 13, 2013 4:39 am | by Ravi Nessman, Associated Press | CommentsBangladeshi garment factories are routinely built without consulting engineers. Many are located in commercial or residential buildings not designed to withstand the stress of heavy manufacturing. Some add illegal extra floors atop support columns too weak to hold them, according to a survey.
GlaxoSmithKline: No China Bribery Found
June 13, 2013 2:39 am | CommentsDrug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline said Thursday it has investigated an accusation that its salespeople in China bribed doctors and found no evidence of wrongdoing. The company said it conducted a four-month investigation after receiving complaints from an anonymous source. It said it found "no evidence of corruption or bribery in our China business."
CEOs More Optimistic About Hiring
June 12, 2013 2:03 pm | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | CommentsThe Business Roundtable said Wednesday that its April-June quarterly survey found 32 percent of its members expect to expand payrolls in the next six months. That's up from 29 percent in the January-March survey. And 78 percent expect their sales to increase. That's up from 72 percent from the previous survey.
Czechs Present Bicycle That Can Fly
June 12, 2013 2:02 pm | CommentsIs it a bike? Is it a plane? Three Czech companies have teamed up to make a prototype of an electric bicycle that successfully took off Wednesday inside an exhibition hall in Prague and landed safely after a remote-controlled, five-minute flight.
P&G Exec Says Work To Do In China, Russia
June 12, 2013 1:56 pm | by Mae Anderson, Associated Press | CommentsProcter & Gamble must do more to improve overall sales in Russia and China, according to the company's chief financial officer, and it has a "disproportionate" amount of work to do in developed markets to revive beauty product sales, once one of its most profitable ventures.
Cooper CEO: Buyer Committed To U.S. Operations
June 12, 2013 1:55 pm | by John Seewer, Associated Press | CommentsThe head of Ohio's Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. says a $2.2 billion deal that puts the company under new ownership won't result in the closings of its three U.S. manufacturing plants. Cooper chief executive Roy Armes says India's Apollo Tyres Ltd. also plans to retain Cooper's management operation in Ohio.
Voice-Operated Dashboard Technology Still Risky
June 12, 2013 1:53 pm | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | CommentsSpeech-to-text systems that enable drivers to send, scroll through, or delete email and text messages required greater concentration by drivers than other potentially distracting activities examined in the study like talking on the phone, talking to a passenger, listening to a book on tape or listening to the radio.
