The Lead
Bribery Trial Of Former Finmeccanica CEO Opens
June 19, 2013 | by Colleen Barry, AP Business Writer | Comments
The former head of Italian aerospace and defense giant Finmeccanica , accused by prosecutors of making bribery part of the company culture, went on trial Wednesday for his alleged role in the payment of bribes to secure a crucial $670 million helicopter contract in India.
China's Wanda Buys Luxury Yacht Maker Sunseeker
June 19, 2013 7:45 am | by Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press | Comments
Chinese property and cinema conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group said Wednesday it is buying British...
GM Breaks Ground On China Cadillac Plant
June 19, 2013 5:14 am | Comments
General Motors Co. executives broke ground for a new Cadillac factory in China on Wednesday to...
Japan Formally OKs New Nuke Safety Requirements
June 19, 2013 8:21 am | Comments
Japan's nuclear watchdog has formally approved new safety requirements for atomic plants, paving...
Chrysler Agrees To Recall Jeeps At Risk Of Fire
June 19, 2013 8:09 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writers | CommentsBut the recall, which came in an 11th-hour deal between the automaker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, covers only 1.56 million of the 2.7 million Jeeps that the government wanted repaired. The rest are part of a "customer service action" and many may not get fixed.
Mine Safety Lab Creates Disasters To Train
June 19, 2013 7:54 am | by Vicki Smith, Associated Press | CommentsThis is the magic of the Running Right Leadership Academy, a $23 million training complex dedicated to teaching miners how to avoid injury and death in any disaster, and in one of the most dangerous work environments. Alpha Natural Resources calls it the only facility of its kind in the world, a place where crises can be created but controlled, giving miners realistic preparation for the day they hope will never come.
Tesla Model S Recall For Rear Seat Latch Issue
June 19, 2013 7:42 am | CommentsTesla is recalling as many as 1,228 of its Model S vehicles, citing a problem with a rear seat latch in the electric sports sedan. Chairman and CEO Elon Musk said in a blog entry Wednesday that the strength of a mounting bracket for the rear, left seat latch may be weaker than intended.
Ark. AG Seeks To Uphold Verdict Against J&J
June 19, 2013 7:40 am | by Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press | CommentsArkansas' attorney general filed a brief Tuesday backed by his counterparts in 35 other states asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to uphold a $1.2 billion fine levied against Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary over the marketing of the antipsychotics drug Risperdal.
FDA Investigates Zyprexa Patient Deaths
June 19, 2013 7:34 am | CommentsThe Food and Drug Administration says the patients died three to four days after receiving an appropriate dose of the drug known as Zyprexa Relprevv. They had very high levels of olanzapine in their blood. That is the chemical compound behind Zyprexa. High levels of olanzapine can lead to cardiac arrest, irregular heartbeats, sedation or comas.
Senators Introduce Export Bill
June 18, 2013 2:19 pm | CommentsU.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte are teaming up to help small businesses make the most of their export opportunities. The senators on Tuesday reintroduced the bipartisan Small Business Export Growth Act, which is aimed at cutting down on bureaucratic hurdles and giving businesses more exporting assistance.
Techne To Buy Bionostics For $104M
June 18, 2013 1:32 pm | CommentsBionostics develops, manufactures and distributes products that verify the proper operation of in vitro diagnostic devices mainly used in blood glucose and blood gas testing. The company has supply relationships with the vast majority of in vitro diagnostic device manufacturers, Techne said.
Obama: Difference Between Spying And Hacking
June 18, 2013 12:25 pm | CommentsObama says every country engages in intelligence gathering, which he called an occasional source of tension. But the president says there's a big difference between China trying to find out what he's saying in meetings with the Japanese and a hacker connected with the Chinese government breaking into Apple Inc. or other U.S. companies.
Boeing Nets Orders For 102 Stretch 787s
June 18, 2013 12:24 pm | CommentsBoeing announced the formal launch of its 787-10 program at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday and says it already has commitments for 102 jets from five customers: Air Lease Corp., Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, International Airlines Group and GE Capital Aviation Services.
S. Korea Begins Bidding For $7.3B Fighter Buy
June 18, 2013 11:39 am | by Sam Kim, Associated Press | CommentsSouth Korea has begun accepting bids from aircraft makers to supply 60 new fighter jets at an estimated cost of $7.3 billion. Two arms procurement officials said the bidding began Tuesday and is scheduled to end next week. Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle, EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are competing.
Boeing Opening Info Tech Center In St. Louis-Area
June 18, 2013 11:34 am | CommentsMissouri Gov. Jay Nixon said Monday that Boeing Co. plans to open an information technology center in the St. Louis area that is expected to create at least 400 jobs. Nixon made the announcement during a conference call from France, where he was visiting as part of a weeklong European trip to promote Missouri's business interests.
U.S. Safety Agency Investigating Suzuki Small SUVs
June 18, 2013 11:31 am | CommentsU.S. safety regulators are investigating problems with air bag sensors in the seats of some small Suzuki SUVs. The probe covers 205,000 vehicles including Grand Vitaras from the 2006 through 2011 model years and SX4s from 2007 through 2011.
Consumer Prices Rise Just 0.1 Percent
June 18, 2013 11:29 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | CommentsU.S. consumer prices rose slightly last month, as higher energy costs partly offset cheaper food. The small increase is further evidence that consumers are benefiting from mild inflation.The consumer price index ticked up a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent in May from April, the Labor Department said Tuesday.
easyJet To Buy 135 Single-Aisle Airbus A320s
June 18, 2013 11:28 am | CommentsThe companies said at the Paris Air Show that the British-based airline scooped up 35 current generation A320s and 100 of its A320neo. At list prices, the order would cost $11.9 billion, but easyJet said it received deep discounts, as is typical. It has an option to buy another 100 of the new generation A320s.
Rambus And STMicroelectronics Announce Settlement
June 18, 2013 11:26 am | CommentsMemory chip designer Rambus Inc. and STMicroelectronics, one of Europe's largest chipmakers, announced a licensing agreement Monday and said they have resolved all litigation between them.The companies said their agreement will allow STMicroelectronics to use more security measures in multimedia chip sets.
Food Companies Work To Make It Look Natural
June 18, 2013 7:59 am | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | CommentsFood companies are responding to the adage that people eat with their eyes. Americans still love their fast food and packaged snacks, but they're increasingly turning their noses up at foods that look overly processed. Home-cooked meals — or ones that at least look like they were homemade — are seen as more wholesome and authentic.
U.S. Official: Solar Plane To Help Ground Energy Use
June 18, 2013 7:54 am | by Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer | CommentsThe lightweight technology will pay off on the ground far more readily than in the air. This project should lead to cleaner appliances, greener cars and more energy-efficient building, said Solar Impulse CEO Andre Borschberg, who also is one of the pilots.
Lawmakers: Put Dangerous Chemical Site Info Online
June 18, 2013 7:51 am | by Will Weissert, Associated Press | CommentsOther state officials told lawmakers that 129 facilities store at least 5 tons of ammonium nitrate and other potentially explosive materials. Sixteen of those were fertilizer-mixing facilities similar to the West Fertilizer Co., which blew up following a fire that ignited ammonium nitrate.
Stora Enso Lays Off 2,500 Workers
June 18, 2013 7:48 am | CommentsNordic paper maker Stora Enso says it will lay off 2,500 workers, or some 9 percent of its total global workforce, as part of a major cost-cutting program and streamlining of operations. The Finland-based company says the measures are aimed at achieving fixed annual savings of $265 million by the second quarter of 2014.
European Car Sales Hit 20-Year Low
June 18, 2013 7:38 am | by Colleen Barry, AP Business Writer | CommentsPassenger car sale demand for May dropped by 5.9 percent on the same month last year in the 27-country European Union to 1.042 million units, the lowest level since May 1993 when sales dropped below 1 million, according to new figures released by ACEA.