Government
Drug Maker Novartis Loses India Cancer Patent Battle
April 1, 2013 9:03 am | by Nirmala George, Associated Press | News | CommentsIndia's Supreme Court on Monday rejected drug maker Novartis AG's attempt to patent an updated version of a cancer drug in a landmark decision that health activists say ensures poor patients around the world will get continued access to cheap versions of lifesaving medicines.
Asian Giants Tiptoe Toward Free Trade Deal
March 29, 2013 2:22 pm | by Youkyung Lee, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsTrade between the three Asian powers totaled $684 billion in 2011, an increase of more than five times from 1999, underlining Asia's growing weight in the world economy after more than two decades of breakneck growth in China and the earlier rise of Japan and South Korea as manufacturing powerhouses.
Court: EPA Can Stop Some Power Plant Modifications
March 29, 2013 2:17 pm | by John Flesher, AP Environmental Writer | News | CommentsGovernment regulators can try to halt construction projects at power plants if they think the companies didn't properly calculate whether the changes would increase air pollution, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday, marking the latest twist in a decades-long fight over the Clean Air Act.
NY Awards $46M For 76 Solar Energy Projects
March 29, 2013 2:12 pm | News | CommentsThe state is awarding $46 million to help finance 76 large-scale solar energy projects across New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday the money will go to 28 recipients for projects at businesses, factories, municipal buildings and other large energy users.
Unemployment Falls In 22 States
March 29, 2013 10:35 am | by Paul Wiseman, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsUnemployment rates fell in 22 U.S. states in February from January, a sign that hiring gains are benefiting many parts of the country. The Labor Department says unemployment rates rose in 12 states and were unchanged in 16. Nationally, unemployment slid to a four-year low of 7.7 percent in February, down from 7.9 percent in January.
Consumer Spending, Income Jump In February
March 29, 2013 8:43 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsConsumers earned more and spent more in February, helped by a stronger job market that has offset some of the drag from higher taxes.The Commerce Department says consumer spending rose 0.7 percent in February compared with January. It was the biggest gain in five months and followed a 0.4 percent rise in January.
Honeywell Agrees To $3M Pollution Fine
March 29, 2013 7:55 am | News | CommentsThe agreement between federal authorities and Honeywell Resins and Chemicals LLC was filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond. The consent decree is subject to court approval. Along with paying the fine, the company agreed to improve the plant's air pollution control equipment and processes.
EPA Taking Aim At Auto Emissions, Sulfur In Gas
March 29, 2013 7:43 am | by Dina Cappiello, Associated Press | News | CommentsAn oil industry study says the proposed rule being unveiled Friday by the administration could increase gasoline prices by 6 cents to 9 cents a gallon. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates an increase of less than a penny and an additional $130 to the cost of a vehicle in 2025.
Right-To-Work Law Takes Effect In Michigan
March 28, 2013 12:35 pm | by David Eggert and Mike Householder, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe law allows Michigan workers to choose not to financially support unions that bargain on their behalf. It applies to labor contracts that are extended or renewed starting Thursday, so many unionized employees will not be affected until their existing collective bargaining agreements end months or years from now.
Scooter Ads Face Scrutiny From Gov't Doctors
March 28, 2013 12:26 pm | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | News | CommentsThe commercials, which promise freedom and independence to people with limited mobility, have driven the nearly $1 billion U.S. market for power wheelchairs and scooters. But the spots by the industry's two leading companies, The Scooter Store and Hoveround, also have drawn scrutiny from doctors and lawmakers.
CDC Launches New Batch Of Graphic Anti-Smoking Ads
March 28, 2013 10:19 am | by Mike Stobbe, AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsThe $48 million campaign involves TV, radio, online, print and billboard ads. It's the second year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has spent tens of millions to get people to quit smoking. In previous years the agency relied on public service announcements.
U.S. Economy Expands At 0.4 Percent Rate
March 28, 2013 8:41 am | News | CommentsThe U.S. economy grew at a slightly faster but still anemic rate at the end of last year. However, there is hope that growth accelerated in early 2013 despite higher taxes and cuts in government spending. The Commerce Department says the economy grew at an annual rate of 0.4 percent in the October-December quarter.
Jobless Claims Jump To 357,000
March 28, 2013 8:39 am | by Paul Wiseman, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits jumped by 16,000 last week, the second straight weekly increase. But the longer-term trend in layoffs remained consistent with an improved job market. The Labor Department says applications increased to a seasonally adjusted 357,000 for the week ending March 23.
U.S. Takes Swipe At China For Hacking Allegations
March 28, 2013 8:35 am | by Anne Flaherty, Associated Press | News | CommentsBuried in a spending bill signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday is a provision that effectively bars much of the U.S. government from buying information technology made by companies linked to the Chinese government. It's unclear what impact the legislation will have, or whether it will turn out to be a symbolic gesture.
Merck: FDA Reviewing Tablet To Eliminate Allergy
March 28, 2013 8:00 am | by Linda A. Johnson, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe treatment, a tablet that quickly dissolves under the tongue, could become the first alternative available in the U.S. to getting a long series of uncomfortable allergy shots. Both methods work by gradually desensitizing the patient's immune system to the substance triggering the allergic reaction.
Is Re-Industrialization The Key?
March 27, 2013 11:53 am | by Dr. Tom McNamara, Assistant Professor of Operations Management, Rennes School of Business | Blogs | CommentsMost economists agree that the “Great Recession” of 2008 ended sometime around August 2009, and while the economy has been slowly recovering, unemployment still appears to be a stubborn problem. The headline rate is just a shade under 8 percent, but another measure, U6, stands at an incredible 14.4 percent.
EPA Settles With Goodrich Over Calif. Plant Water
March 27, 2013 10:46 am | News | CommentsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it has reached a settlement worth at least $21.5 million with aerospace supplier Goodrich Corp. that will require the company to clean up a Southern California industrial site where chemicals contaminated the water supply.
Japanese Regulators To Investigate Nuclear Crisis
March 27, 2013 8:35 am | News | CommentsSeveral groups have published findings of their own investigations into the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, which was ravaged by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Previous investigations have largely blamed the disaster on botched crisis management, government-industry collusion and the tsunami.
Lawmakers Mull $100M In Bonds For Nissan
March 27, 2013 8:31 am | by Jeff Amy, Associated Press | News | CommentsMississippi lawmakers are considering giving a development agency the capacity to use $100 million in bonds toward the construction of buildings for suppliers of Nissan Motor Co.'s Canton plant. Two Senate committees voted Tuesday in favor of Senate Bill 2920.
Durable Goods Orders Rise On Aircraft Demand
March 26, 2013 2:16 pm | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsA surge in commercial aircraft demand pushed orders for U.S. long-lasting manufactured goods up sharply in February. The gain offset a steep drop in orders that signal company investment plans, although economists viewed the decline as a temporary setback.
Warning Issued On Doctors' Stakes In Device Firms
March 26, 2013 2:01 pm | by Kelli Kennedy, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general said the increasingly common practice is "inherently suspect" and may violate anti-kickback laws, according to the special fraud alert. The agency has only issued a handful of these national fraud alerts in the past 20 years and the warning sends a strong message to doctors.
Mich. AG Seeks Criminal Probe Of Meningitis Deaths
March 26, 2013 1:56 pm | by David Eggert, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe state attorney general on Tuesday sought permission to launch a criminal investigation into a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company linked to a deadly outbreak of meningitis, saying Michigan was at the "epicenter" of pain and death in the case.
SKorea, China, Japan Begin Free Trade Talks
March 26, 2013 10:21 am | by Youkyung Lee, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsSouth Korea said in a statement that officials will discuss mostly administrative issues during the three days of talks in Seoul that will end on Thursday. The meeting will determine the areas from agriculture to intellectual property rights that will be included in future negotiations.
U.S. Business Investment Orders Drop In February
March 26, 2013 8:51 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe Commerce Department says orders for core capital goods declined 2.7 percent in February. Demand weakened for machinery and communications equipment. The decline followed a 6.7 percent surge in January, which was the biggest one-month gain in nearly three years.
China, Brazil Signing Local Currency Trade Deal
March 26, 2013 8:22 am | News | CommentsChina and Brazil plan to sign a deal to do up to $30 billion of trade in their local currencies, as the five-nation BRICS forum of emerging market powers work to lessen dependence on the U.S. dollar and euro. Brazil's foreign trade minister Fernando Pimentel says the agreement would involve nearly half his country's $75 billion annual trade with China.
