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Friday, August 29
Trade light before Labor Day break
CHICAGO, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Volume was reported relatively light Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade in advance of the long Labor Day weekend,
EPA disputes pesticide link to bee deaths
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it disputes allegations that the pesticide clothianidin is linked to bee colony collapse disorder.
Grandparents big on back-to-school sales
NEW YORK, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- It's back to school for many U.S. students and in these tough times with a lot of clothes to buy it's the grandparents footing the bill, a survey indicates.
Thursday, August 28
Journalism student raped at immigrant camp
CALAIS, France, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Police say a British journalism student was gang-raped by illegal immigrants living in a Calais, France, squatters camp.
Scaffold collapse hurts 16 in San Diego
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- The collapse of a scaffold at a downtown San Diego construction site left 16 people injured, according to firefighters.
Pakistan politico Zardari gets his $60M
BERNE, Switzerland, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Swiss authorities say they have released $60 million belonging to Pakistani president-to-be Asif Ali Zardari after being unable to prove criminal allegations.
Wednesday, August 27
Toyota scales back 2009 projection
TOKYO, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Toyota Motor Corp. will sell hundreds of thousands fewer vehicles next year than it had projected earlier, the Japanese automaker said Thursday.
Corn, soybeans head Midwest grain report
CHICAGO, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Corn and soybeans rallied to finish up for the day on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday.
Crude Oil Tops $118 in Another Slow Day
Crude oil prices closed at $118.27 a barrel Wednesday as the oil rally cooled a bit despite storm concerns in the Gulf of Mexico.
Crude oil tops $118 in another slow day
NEW YORK, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices closed at $118.27 a barrel Wednesday as the oil rally cooled a bit despite storm concerns in the Gulf of Mexico.
Payment deal reached in Exxon Valdez case
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Lawyers in the long-running Exxon Valdez case say the Alaska plaintiffs could get their settlement checks in October.
Four buyers bid in Daewoo deal
SEOUL, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Four major suitors have bid for a majority share of South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding in a deal possibly worth $6.5 billion, company officials say.
Tuesday, August 26
Oil Prices Climbing Amid Hurricane Watch
Crude oil prices resumed their slow advance Tuesday as traders kept an eye on the weather in the Gulf of Mexico and Hurricane Gustav.
Grains finish down Tuesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Major grain markets all slipped slightly lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday.
Ford to Invest $75 Million in Michigan Truck Plant
Aug. 26--Ford Motor Co., which has lost $8.6 billion through the first half of this year because of falling sales, especially of large trucks, will invest $75 million in Michigan Truck Plant's body shop to prepare for small-vehicle production.
Group alleges West Bank construction boom
JERUSALEM, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- An activist group claims Israel has embarked on a massive building program in the West Bank that has essentially erased the so-called green line.
FEMA hurricane housing tab near $3 billion
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Federal officials insist they are not going to provide long-term housing for people displaced by the 2005 hurricanes on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
V-8 engine on way out in new cars
NEW YORK, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The powerful, legendary V-8 engine is pretty much being relegated to history except for a few cases, U.S. auto industry reports say.
Rush on to install renewal energy units
NEW YORK, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Developers and customers in the United States are reported rushing to install renewable energy projects by year's end to qualify for federal tax credits.
Monday, August 25
Demand for nuclear engineers rising
ROLLA, Mo., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Demand for young nuclear engineers is on the rise, with nearly 20,000 veteran engineers poised to retire by 2012.
Census to release uninsured data
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Census Bureau is set to release Tuesday its annual estimate of the number of Americans without health insurance.
Soybeans up but most grains down
CHICAGO, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Most major grain markets except soybeans registered losses for the day on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday.
Uninsured paying $30B for healthcare
NEW YORK, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Americans with no health insurance will spend about $30 billion out of pocket on medical care this year, a new study said Monday.
New hydrogen production method created
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. chemists at Ohio State University say they have developed a catalyst that can very efficiently convert ethanol and other biofuels into hydrogen.
U.S. drilling boom eyes natural gas
HOUSTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- A new U.S. drilling boom has sent natural gas production flaring at a clip not seen in half a century, pushing down fuel prices, analysts say.
Sunday, August 24
Pelosi open to hearing case for drilling
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday expanded oil drilling in federal waters could be included in an energy bill.
Saturday, August 23
Two journalists missing in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Two freelance journalists from Australia and Canada disappeared near Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday and were thought to have been abducted, officials said.
Man charged with $214M fraud scheme
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A man who set up a Florida company that claims to have its own currency has been charged with trying to defraud the Bank of America of more than $200 million.
Bush: Dem oil bill 'designed to fail'
CRAWFORD, Texas, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush Saturday accused congressional Democrats of trying to block offshore oil drilling by pushing a bill "that is designed to fail."
Friday, August 22
Crude oil prices ease slightly
NEW YORK, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The strengthening dollar sent crude oil prices skidding down $7.69 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange Friday.
Grains fall hard in Chicago Friday
CHICAGO, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Falling crude oil prices, a stronger U.S. dollar and rain in the Midwest pressured grain prices on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday.
FDA approves irradiated lettuce
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it will allow the sale of fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce treated with radiation to kill bacteria.
GM to invest $500 million in new compact
DETROIT, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Auto giant General Motors Corp. is preparing to invest $500 million in a new compact car, slated for production in Lordstown, Ohio, the company said.
Colo. official cancels al-Jazeera meal
GOLDEN, Colo., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Mike Bestor, the city manager for Golden, Colo., says he decided to withdraw a dinner invitation to an al-Jazeera media group due to social pressures.
Venmar CES ventilators recalled
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of Venmar CES heat recovery ventilators due to a fire hazard.
Gains forecast for Canadian field crops
OTTAWA, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The majority of Canadian field crops were forecast to see increased yields for 2008, the Statistics Canada agency reported from Ottawa Friday.
Last of China mine victims recovered
FAKU, China, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Rescuers recovered the last four victims of a coal mine gas explosion in northeast China Friday, bringing the death toll to 26, officials said.
Thursday, August 21
Detroit prosecutor's home in foreclosure
DETROIT, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Wayne County, Mich., Prosecutor Kym Worthy says she has joined the growing list of Detroit residents whose homes are in foreclosure.
FDA Allows Irradiation of Leafy Greens
CHICAGO -- Food safety experts generally say that zapping spinach and lettuce with a tiny shot of radiation is the best way to vanquish deadly outbreaks of E. coli. It's safe, too, they say and the federal government officially agreed Thursday, allowing so-called irradiation of our leading leafy greens.
Grains rise as oil prices climb Thursday
CHICAGO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Galloping oil prices and a weaker dollar lifted grain prices on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday.
U.S. mortgage rates fall slightly in week
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Interest rates for 30-year, fixed-rate U.S. mortgages declined slightly from the previous week, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said Thursday.
U.S. leading index down sharply in month
NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. leading indicator index fell sharply in July pushed by declines in building permits and stock prices, a research group said Thursday.
Jobless claims down slightly in week
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- First-time claims for U.S. unemployment insurance dropped by 13,000 during the week ending Aug. 16, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday.
Chrysler plans for 2009 summer break
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. auto giant Chrysler LLC told employees to expect a two-week break in July next year, adding months to its notification policy.
Utility raises rates in Britain
LONDON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- German energy giant E.ON said Thursday it would raise electric rates 16 percent and gas rates 26 percent for most of its 5.5 million British customers.
Utility rate regulators' hands are tied
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Utility regulators said there is little they can do to stand between utility companies and a recent wave of requests for electric rate hikes.
Canadian magazine: Bush is a liberal
TORONTO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A Canadian weekly news magazine claimed in this week's issue U.S. President George Bush is "shockingly liberal."
New regulations underscore Fed gathering
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- New regulations may be the underlying theme of the U.S. Federal Reserve's annual meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo., this week, analysts said.
Oil deal sends real estate soaring
ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A multibillion-dollar oil deal in Canada's eastern province of Newfoundland this week has resulted in a real estate boom, real estate agents said.
Untreated wastewater used in agriculture
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A survey released in Stockholm, Sweden, suggests many cities around the world use raw, untreated wastewater for agricultural purposes.
FDIC re-writes loan terms at IndyMac
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. regulators plan to rewrite terms on about 25,000 troubled Indymac Bancorp, mortgages that could set a trend for other lenders, an official said.
Wednesday, August 20
Gulf Lease Sale Attracts High-Dollar Attention
Aug. 20--Norway's Statoil bet $61 million that significant oil and gas deposits lie beneath the Gulf of Mexico seafloor more than 160 miles south of Galveston, according to lease sale results released by the federal government today.
Weather lifts grain prices Wednesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Grain prices lifted on weather concerns with a pirated ship coming into play on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday.
Goodyear to close 92 retail outlets
AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Goodyear Tire & Rubber said it would close 92 of its least profitable U.S. retail outlets, including Just Tires, Allied and Goodyear Auto Centers.
Crude oil supplies up in week
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories increased by 9.4 million barrels in the week ending Aug. 15, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.
Ford employees head for the test track
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Michigan automaker Ford Motor Co. is driving its own employees to the track -- offering them a chance to test drive unreleased cars, the company said.
eBay fixes sights on fixed sales
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Internet auction giant eBay is lowering fees for "Buy It Now" listings to encourage fixed-price transactions, analysts said.
Elderly denied credit cards in Sweden
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. owned Citibank in Sweden confirmed it is turning down credit card clients over 75 years of age as part of a risk-assessment policy.
Gas sales drive Canadian retail up in June
OTTAWA, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Higher gas prices were attributed to a 0.5-percent increase in Canadian monthly retail sales in June to $36 billion, the Statistics Canada agency reported.
Government picks up construction slack
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. government spending on construction is booming, while private spending has dropped, the U.S. Commerce Department said.
Tuesday, August 19
Corn up, wheat and soybeans down Tuesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Grain prices were mixed on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday with corn prices gaining, while wheat and soybeans prices fell.
Zimbabwe inflation at 11.2 million percent
HARARE, Zimbabwe, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Zimbabwe government officials have confirmed the nation's inflation rate has increased to 11.2 million percent, the world's highest.
U.S. housing starts off 11 percent in July
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Privately owned housing starts fell 11 percent in the United States in July, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday.
Trouble with U.S. mortgage giants spreads
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Fears over two U.S. mortgage giants collapsing are rippling through financial systems and putting a strain on the system, analysts said.
Summer Games slow retail sales
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States rose slightly in the week ending Aug. 16, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.
17 miners dead in China coal mine disaster
BEIJING, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Two coal mine disasters in China killed at least 17 miners, authorities said Tuesday.
Monday, August 18
U.S. peanuts ahead, rice is a week behind
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. corn crop's silking stage is 97 percent done with 14 percent of the crop's kernels now at the dented stage, the Department of Agriculture said.
Commodity prices ease inflation worries
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Easing commodity prices have given emerging countries, like China, India and Thailand, a break from fast-rising inflation, analysts said.
UBS chairman predicts profitable future
ZURICH, Switzerland, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Chairman Peter Kurer of Swiss UBS said he believed the bank, which lost $326.8 million in the second quarter, can return to earning a profit.
Greenest store built in England
DARTMOUTH, England, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Britain's "greenest" supermarket has opened with backers claiming it has 38 energy-saving measures.
Ethiopia facing never-ending famine
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Oxfam, the international aid organization, says Ethiopia is facing what it calls a "toxic cocktail" of drought, high food prices, delivery problems and plagues.
Offshore Texas oil port to cost $2 billion
FREEPORT, Texas, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Refinery expansion along the Texas Gulf Coast has pushed U.S. and German oil companies to build a $2 billion offshore oil port, the companies say.
U.S. agricultural exports boom could fade
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. agricultural goods have become the shining star of the U.S. economy in a year of many downturns, analysts said, but that star may dim quickly.
Windmill firms turn over documents
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Two wind companies subpoenaed by New York's attorney general say they are cooperating in a probe of possible corruption involving land acquisition upstate.
BusinessWeek to launch Business Exchange
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. financial publication BusinessWeek is embracing an interactive approach to its online magazine, its editors said.
Sunday, August 17
Economy slowing new car models in Europe
OBERPFAFFENHOFEN, Germany, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Several European automakers are putting the brakes on planned rollouts for new models until the global economy improves, auto industry analysts said.
VWs popular in China
BEIJING, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- China is expected to become Volkswagen's No. 1 market this year, surpassing even its home turf in Germany, the automaker says.
Wheelchair lift stolen in mid-day
SALEM, Mass., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A wheelchair lift stolen in broad daylight may reflect the increased value of scrap metal, say officials in a Massachusetts community.
Saturday, August 16
Will Australia end tariffs on car imports?
CANBERRA, Australia, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A report recommends the end of tariffs that have protected Australian automobile makers from foreign competition.
Pelosi now open to offshore drilling
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi detailed a new energy bill Saturday that includes offshore oil drilling, a practice she condemned weeks ago.
British group alleges overcharging on gas
LONDON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Britain's Automobile Association contends oil companies' refusal to trim their prices is causing unfair prices at the pump.
Chicago Tribune lays off 40 journalists
CHICAGO, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- More than 40 jobs were eliminated from the Chicago Tribune newsroom as part of the Tribune Co.'s cost-cutting efforts at the newspaper, company officials said.
Toyota to put hybrid engine in all models
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 16 (UPI) -- All Toyota models will have hybrid engines by 2020, the company has announced at an automotive conference.
L.A. Times names new publisher
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Times has named Eddy Hartenstein as its new publisher.
Report: Lehman shops real estate assets
NEW YORK, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- New York investment banker Lehman Brothers is shopping its massive commercial real estate portfolio in an effort to raise capital, sources say.
Hershey raises candy prices 11 percent
HERSHEY, Pa., Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Hershey Co. is giving chocolate lovers some not-so-sweet news, saying it is raising its retail candy bar prices by 11 percent to cover surging costs.
Cookie maker says it needs more dough
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Mrs. Fields Famous Brands LLC, which sells cookies and yogurt at more than 1,200 franchises across the United States, is filing for bankruptcy, records show.
Friday, August 15
California declares victory over Medflies
SACRAMENTO, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The Mediterranean fruit fly has been eradicated from California, agricultural officials said.
Danish cartoonist not planning Jordan trip
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard says he is not planning to go to Jordan to face a trial over his controversial caricature of Mohammed, the founder of Islam.
Grain prices off sharply in Chicago Friday
CHICAGO, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Grain prices fell sharply on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday, falling along with other commodities amid worries of a global economic slowdown.
Oil prices fall $2.46 per barrel Friday
NEW YORK, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices fell Friday as confidence in demand is skidding on weaker economies in Europe, Asia and the United States.
Eurozone economy shrinks 0.5 percent
FRANKFURT, Germany, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The economy in the 15-member Eurozone shrank in the second quarter with the largest economies turning listless or showing contraction, data show.
Sacramento targeting representative's home
SACRAMENTO, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The city of Sacramento says the local home of U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif., is in disrepair and the politician could face related fines.
Qantas flights endure repair delays
SYDNEY, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- At least nine flights by the Australian national airline Qantas have been delayed due to necessary repairs or maintenance problems, officials said Friday.
Health insurance premiums have doubled
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- While the price of gas gets the headlines, the price of health insurance premiums has gone up by 100 percent since 1996, U.S. health officials said.
Canadian manufacturing inches up in June
OTTAWA, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Canadian manufacturers reported $52.5 billion in sales in June, a 2.1 percent increase over May, the Statistics Canada agency reported Friday.
Solar power amped up in two new projects
HAYWARD, Calif., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Two solar power plants in California will produce 12 times the amount of electricity of current plants, the companies said.
Options few, prices up for home heating
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Filling a home's oil or propane tank this summer may not give U.S. homeowners much of a break on the heating bills this year, energy analysts said.
Thursday, August 14
Iranian president arrives in Turkey
ISTANBUL, Turkey, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived Thursday in Istanbul for his first visit to Turkey as president of Iran.
Oil prices drop as dollar gains Thursday
NEW YORK, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices dropped Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange as the dollar gained against the euro.
Grain prices rise in Chicago Thursday
CHICAGO, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Grain prices lifted on the Chicago Board of Trade as export figures looked promising for 2008.
Amerigroup to pay $225 million judgment
CHICAGO, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Amerigroup Corp. has agreed to a $225 million settlement in a medical fraud case, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
BMW recalls 200,000 vehicles
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- BMW of North America said it was recalling 200,000 model year 2004-2006 vehicles due to a problems with the passenger-side air bag sensors.
Poll: U.S. industries earn poor marks
PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- An annual poll that measures the way U.S. adults say they feel about U.S. industries indicated sharp declines this year.
Wednesday, August 13
Building collapse kills 20 in India
MUMBAI, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A portion of a 70-year-old, four-story building in India's financial capital of Mumbai collapsed Wednesday, killing at least 20 people, officials said.
Crude oil prices rise sharply Wednesday
NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose after the U.S. Energy Information Administration said U.S. gasoline stocks had fallen by 6.4 million barrels last week.
Detroit home sells for $1, eventually
DETROIT, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A Detroit home advertised for $1 still took 19 days to find a buyer, real estate agents said Wednesday.
Cellar incest children return to dungeon
AMSTETTEN, Austria, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Austrian police say Elisabeth Fritzl, imprisoned in a cellar dungeon for 25 years as a sex slave to her father, returned to the dungeon for the first time.
U.S. Steel and union reach tentative deal
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Steel said it reached a tentative four-year agreement with the United Steel Workers that covers about 16,000 workers.
Nissan to supply Chrysler with small cars
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Chrysler LLC said it would invest $1.8 billion in a Michigan plant and work with Nissan to supply small cars to North and South America.
British reporter arrested at Tibet protest
BEIJING, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A British television reporter says he was roughed up and taken away by police while attempting to cover a Tibet protest in Beijing during the Olympic Games.
U.S. oil stocks fall slightly in week
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories decreased by 0.4 million barrels in the week ending Aug. 8, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.
CVS Buys Longs for $2.9 Billion
Aug. 13--WALNUT CREEK -- Longs Drug Stores Corp. of Walnut Creek has agreed to sell itself to CVS Caremark Corp. in a $2.9 billion deal that would give CVS control over the 521 Longs retail locations and the Longs Rx America operation, the companies said Tuesday. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
Experts: Massive blackout less likely now
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The United States is better equipped to deal with a massive power outage now than five years ago when it was hit by a blackout, federal officials say.
New corn estimate won't slow food inflation
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- An improved estimate of the U.S. corn crop released Tuesday won't keep food prices from rising about 6 percent this year, a Wells Fargo economist said.
Tuesday, August 12
China July retail sales up 23.3 percent
BEIJING, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- China's July retail sales totaled $125.8 billion, up a robust 23.3 percent from the same period of last year, and higher than June's record 23 percent jump.
U.S. boosts solar research funding
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The United States will invest up to $24 million to advance the development of solar energy products, the Department of Energy said Tuesday.
Convenience key to retail clinics
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- In U.S. communities with retail health clinics, 1 in 6 parents have used a clinic to provide their child with medical care, a survey indicates.
Bush backs House GOP energy protest
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- President George Bush repeated his call for Congress to allow offshore drilling Tuesday, saying he sided with House Republicans' efforts to force a vote.
BRIEF: USDA: Corn Has Recovered From July Floods
Aug. 12--The corn crop appears to have recovered from July flooding, with the Agriculture Department reporting Tuesday that yields are expected to average 155 bushels an acre, a 3.9 bushel increase from the year prior.
Supply report stirs grains prices Tuesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A U.S. Department of Agriculture Supply and Demand report Tuesday was bullish for soybeans, but pressured corn and wheat prices of the Chicago Board of Trade.
UBS shakes up after second-quarter losses
ZURICH, Switzerland, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Swiss bank UBS said its fourth consecutive quarter of losses reached $326 million, triggering a management and organizational shakeup.
Inflation Hits Monthly Record in Britain
Prices in Britain rose 4.4 percent in July, rising above economic forecasts and more than twice the target rate set by the Bank of England, the government said.
U.S. retail sales drop in week
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States declined 1.1 percent in the week ending Aug. 9, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.
Canadian international trade up in June
OTTAWA, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Buoyed by energy exports, Canada's international exports rose 3.1 percent in June to $43.2 billion, the Statistics Canada agency reported Tuesday.
Spain's building boom turns to bust
MADRID, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A building boom in Spain has fizzled, leaving many without jobs and the economy pressed for a comeback.
Monday, August 11
Forbes: Ohio has most 'dying cities'
NEW YORK, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Ohio has four entries on Forbes Magazine's list of the top 10 dying U.S. cities, Forbes said Monday.
Chicago grains mixed on Monday
CHICAGO, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Corn ticked lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday but wheat and soybean prices gained as crude oil prices fell slightly in New York.
Corn silking catching up, USDA reports
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. corn crop has nearly caught up with its historic average in silking, its key pollination stage, the Department of Agriculture said Monday.
Power diversion may cost Con Ed customers
NEW YORK, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Con Ed customers may be out hundreds of millions of dollars from a complicated scheme to sell power out of New York State, regulators said.
Ford may cull Taurus X and Sable
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 11 (UPI) -- No. 2 U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. has plans to discontinue the Mercury Sable and the Taurus X crossover in 2009, company documents said.
Conseco to transfer CSHI to new trust
CARMEL, Ind., Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Indiana insurer Conseco said Monday it would transfer the Conseco Senior Health Insurance Co. to an independent trust.
Staple foods up 27 percent in Britain
LONDON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Staple food items -- bread, milk and meat -- have jumped 27 percent in price in Britain in the past 12 months, a supermarket research group said Monday.
Supply behind U.S. demand in small cars
DETROIT, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Small car sales could jump to 3 million in the United States in 2008 if car makers kept up with demand, industry analysts said.
U.S. retailers power up their rooftops
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Giant chain stores in the United States are jumping into solar power, trying to beat a year-end deadline for a federal tax break, retailers said.
One killed in Kuwait refinery fire
KUWAIT, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A maintenance contractor was killed and another injured at a weekend oil refinery fire in Kuwait, officials said.
Sunday, August 10
Homeless allegedly used in insurance scam
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- A health official in Los Angeles allegedly used homeless individuals as part of a scheme to steal millions of dollars from insurance programs, authorities say.
31 miners killed in Burkina Faso landslide
BOUSSOUKOULA, Burkina Faso, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- At least 31 miners working in an illegal gold mine were killed in a landslide in Burkina Faso, officials said Sunday.
Saturday, August 9
Ford plant sale deal falls apart
DETROIT, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Sluggish sales and tight credit killed a planned sale of a Michigan plastic trim plant to a Ford supplier, industry experts say.
Study: Baltic fish decrease sperm counts
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Eating fatty fish caught in the Baltic Sea can lead to decreased sperm counts among some men, Swedish researchers say.
Four arrested at power plant protest
KENT, England, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Four environmental activists have been arrested for entering a power station in England, police said.
3 newsroom vets take Tribune buyouts
CHICAGO, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Three veteran Chicago Tribune newsroom leaders have volunteered to accept buyouts as a new round layoffs was underway, Tribune Co. officials said.
FBI apologizes for reporter spying
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation says it's sorry for improperly obtaining the telephone records of U.S. newspaper reporters working in Indonesia.
Friday, August 8
Grains falter in Chicago on dollar's rise
CHICAGO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Grain prices turned lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday with the dollar's upward trend against the euro continuing to pressure commodity prices.
In states with fewer smokers, fewer fires
ATLANTA, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. home fire deaths are higher in states that have a greater percentage of smokers, federal health officials said.
British home repossessions up 50 percent
LONDON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Britain is reported in the steely grip of an escalating repossession crisis, with home evictions soaring more than 50 percent over last year.
Crude oil prices tumble Friday
NEW YORK, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices fell $5.24 in 24 hours to $114.71 per barrel Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
EU: Crop production ready to increase
BRUSSELS, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The European Union says crop production should soon increase, which should help place a temporary freeze on worldwide food prices.
Breastfeeding women picket store
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- A Canadian clothing store in Vancouver was picketed by at least 60 breastfeeding women after a new mother was chastised for feeding her infant.
Think tank warns of soaring oil prices
LONDON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Plentiful oil reserves underground will not prevent supply issues from pushing prices above $200 a barrel in the next 5 to 10 years, a British study group said.
U.S. non-farm labor costs eased in quarter
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Second-quarter U.S. productivity rose faster than labor costs, indicating a drop in labor cost pressure for non-farm business, the government said Friday.
Cop suspended for coffee shakedowns
CHICAGO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- A Chicago police officer has been suspended for demanding free coffee and pastries from Starbucks coffee shops, documents show.
EPA REJECTS PERRY PLEA ON ETHANOL: Governor Says Corn Prices Hurt Texas Consumers, Livestock Industry
Aug. 8--The Bush administration made clear Thursday it has no intention of easing federal quotas for corn ethanol in the nation's fuel supply despite a challenge from Texas Gov. Rick Perry and a broad alliance of industries hurt by high corn prices.
Thursday, August 7
Toyota Income Falls in 'Severe' Quarter
DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday that its first-quarter net income dropped 28.1 percent to 353.6 billion yen, or $3.2 billion, mainly because of the impact of exchange rates between the yen and the dollar, higher raw material costs and the turbulent U.S. market. But it remained the world's most profitable automaker.
EPA won't reduce ethanol requirement
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency refused Thursday to reduce its quota for ethanol use from 9 billion gallons this year and 11 billion gallons in 2009.
Grain prices turn upward Thursday
CHICAGO, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Grain prices swung up on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday as the dollar strengthened against the euro and oil prices rose in New York.
Toyota Profits Plunge Due to U.S. Challenges
DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday that its first quarter net income dropped 28.1 percent to 353.6 billion yen, or $3.2 billion, mainly due to the impact of exchange rates between the yen and the dollar, higher raw material costs and the turbulent U.S. market.
Lexus Once Again Tops Dependability Study
WASHINGTON -- Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus brand recaptured the top spot in J.D. Power and Associates annual survey of long-term vehicle quality released Thursday, which found a 5 percent reduction of problems found in three-year-old models.
Oil prices close higher Thursday
NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices wavered Thursday then settled $1.60 cents higher at $119.95 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Canadian mining 'copter crash kills four
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Canadian transportation officials were at the scene Thursday of a four-fatality helicopter crash in British Columbia trying to determine the crash cause.
EPA rejects lower biofuels standards
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rejected a request by the State of Texas to lower the nation's renewable fuels standard.
N.Y. bank manager admits to $1M theft
NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- William Brahe Jr. has admitted to stealing more than $1 million from accounts while serving as a manager of a bank in Carle Place, N.Y., officials say.
U.S. chain store sales up in July
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. chain store sales rose 2.6 percent in July on a year-over-year basis, the International Council of Shopping Centers reported Thursday.
NAR predicts improved home sales
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The new housing stimulus bill could lift U.S. home sales by the fourth quarter, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.
Canadian building permits fall in June
OTTAWA, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The value of Canadian building permits fell 5.3 percent overall in June to $6.3 billion from a month earlier, the Statistics Canada agency reported Thursday.
Critics: Profit drives Pickens energy plan
DALLAS, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens' energy initiatives are motivated by profit, not domestic security, critics said.
Auto designer Pininfarina dies
TURIN, Italy, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Andrea Pininfarina, chairman and chief executive officer of Italian car designer Pininfarina, was killed Thursday in a traffic accident, authorities said.
GOP to protest up to Democrats' convention
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Republicans say they'll protest Democratic energy policies from the U.S. House of Representatives floor until the start of the Democratic Party convention.
Toyota profits down with sales robust
NAGOYA, Japan, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Shrinking sales in the United States helped push Toyota Motor Corp.'s second-quarter net profit down 28.1 percent from a year ago, the company said.
Wednesday, August 6
Grains trend lower in Chicago Wednesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Grains continued a recent downward trend on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday on improved weather and optimistic yield estimates.
Oil prices fall slightly Wednesday
NEW YORK, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices wavered Wednesday, then edged down 23 cents in the late afternoon to $118.35 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Big Three face big risks in turnarounds
DETROIT, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- All three U.S. auto giants face the possibility of bankruptcy as they adapt to current consumer trends favoring smaller vehicles, industry analysts said.
Oil stocks up, gas stocks down, EIA says
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories increased, but gas inventories declined in the week ending Aug. 1, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.
Food inflation accelerates in Britain
LONDON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Food prices rose sharply in Britain over the past year, up 9.5 percent from July 2007, a retail watchdog group said.
Tuesday, August 5
Walgreens expands drug savings program
DEERFIELD, Ill., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The Illinois-headquartered drug store chain Walgreens has fired a new salvo in a pharmaceutical price war.
Grains trend lower in Chicago Tuesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Falling crude oil prices and the rising dollar pushed prices lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday.
Oil prices down a dime Tuesday
NEW YORK, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices fell 10 cents Tuesday to $118.50 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Analysts see Chrysler at a crossroads
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. auto giant Chrysler LLC is at a crossroads one year after Cerberus Capital Management LP took over, industry analysts said.
GAO: Iraq has third highest oil reserves
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A U.S. government report finds Iraq has the third largest oil reserve in the world and generated $96 billion in oil revenue from 2005-07.
Energy conservation cuts power grid strain
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A U.S. scientist says people often waste power because they aren't aware of how they can reduce electrical consumption.
U.S. cops battle gas-pump card skimming
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Secret Service says it is investigating the nationwide use of gas-pump skimming devices that steal credit card numbers.
U.S. service sector declined in July
TEMPE, Ariz., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Non-manufacturing U.S. businesses declined slightly in July, the Institute for Supply Management reported Tuesday.
U.S. retail sales unchanged on week
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States were unchanged in the final week of July, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.
Spain's economy deteriorates, analysts say
MADRID, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Analysts have issued dire warnings about the state of banks in Spain, as many economic sectors have deteriorated, sources said.
Severstal purchases third U.S. steelmaker
MOSCOW, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Russian steel giant Severstal has completed a $775 million tender offer, buying 94 percent of U.S. steelmaker Esmark's outstanding shares, the company said.
Firefighters still sick after May fire
LONDON, Ontario, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Some 50 Canadian firefighters who fought a farm chemical fire in May must undergo medical testing in London, Ontario, after 10 experienced illnesses.
Northern Rock recovery hits a snag
LONDON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The British Treasury said Tuesday it would convert nearly $6 billion in loans to Northern Rock bank into common bank shares to help balance its books.
New rules pull rug from under house deals
RENO, Nev., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Lending rules at U.S. finance companies are changing quickly, eliminating some deals that were previously given the green light, industry observers said.
Oil prices fall sharply Monday morning
NEW YORK, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices fell nearly $3 to $118.60 a barrel in electronic overnight trading, continuing a monthlong decline on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Monday, August 4
Grains sharply lower in Chicago Monday
CHICAGO, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Grains contracts turned sharply lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday following a monthlong downward trend in crude oil.
Greenspan warns of regulatory reaction
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan says more U.S. and overseas banks may end up in government rescue plans.
Oil prices fall down more than $3 Monday
NEW YORK, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices eased $3.31 a barrel Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange to $121.27 per barrel.
GOP asks Pelosi to reconvene House
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Bring the U.S. House of Representatives back into session after the August recess, House Republicans asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in a letter.
Winter wheat almost complete; corn lags
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. corn crop lags slightly behind its historic average in silking, its key pollination stage, the Department of Agriculture said Monday.
Consumers and cars mismatched, group says
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Proposed U.S. fuel economy standards for 2011 to 2015 vehicles are based on faulty assumptions, a consumer group said Monday.
Ford and GM discuss collaborative research
DETROIT, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp, are in discussion to join forces on research and development, sources at both companies said.
Factory orders up for fifth straight month
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- New orders for manufactured U.S. goods increased for the fifth consecutive month, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Monday.
Residents mop up after weekend storm
MONTREAL, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The head of Montreal's water management service says residents shouldn't expect financial compensation for sewer backups caused by weekend storms.
Top TNK-BP official resigns amid turmoil
MOSCOW, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The chief financial officer for joint Russian-British oil giant TNK-BP has resigned, citing an inability to work independently, the company said.
Florida business accused of Medicare scam
DORAL, Fla., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Manassas Medical Center of Doral, Fla., has allegedly been collecting Medicare funds in exchange for non-existent services, alleged participants say.
Fees precede transactions at some banks
NEW YORK, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Some U.S. banks are charging overdraft fees before accounts are technically overdrawn, sources said.
California insurance bill nears completion
SACRAMENTO, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The state of California is nearing a compromise on legislation that would tighten controls on individual medical insurance policies, sources said.
Lab results needed in missing child case
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Florida authorities said they hope to learn this week whether a stain and hair samples from her mother's car are linked to missing 2-year-old Caylee Anthony.
Sunday, August 3
Canada's Sea-to-Sky Highway reopened
WHISTLER, British Columbia, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The famed Sea-to-Sky Highway in western Canada was reopened five days after a rockslide blocked the road, transportation officials said Sunday.
Saturday, August 2
Two admit stealing appliances
DENVER, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Two men have pleaded guilty to stealing refrigerators, stoves and microwaves from newly constructed houses in the Denver suburbs.
PM wants Malaysia to make hybrids
SHAH ALAM, Malaysia, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged Proton, the country's automobile manufacturer, to begin producing hybrid cars.
Poll: Scots oppose 'drink tax'
EDINBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- A majority of Scottish voters oppose increasing taxes on alcohol to curb problem drinking, a poll indicated.
Vehicle sales up in Canada in July
TORONTO, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Sales of motor vehicles, which fell last month in the United States, rose 5 percent in Canada.
Husband of slain woman charged with fraud
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The owner of a California gold-trading firm, whose estranged wife was stabbed to death Monday, has been arrested on federal charges, the FBI said Saturday.
3 detained in Turkish dorm collapse
BALCILAR, Turkey, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Three people were detained Saturday in connection with an explosion at a girls' dormitory in central Turkey that left 18 people dead, officials said.
ETA bomber's release draws protests
MADRID, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The release of notorious Basque bomber Inaki de Juana is unjustified, say protesters planning a wave of demonstrations across Spain.
Washington Post records first red ink
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The publisher of The Washington Post says the media company will "weather the storm" after posting its first-ever operating loss as a public company.
Investors Unfazed By GM's Huge Loss: Cuts Under Way Soften Impact of $15.5-Billion Blow on Shares
Aug. 2--Despite posting the third-worst loss in its 100-year history, General Motors Corp. seemed Friday to have Wall Street's confidence that recently announced plans would be sufficient to carry the company through to better times in 2010.
Bush blames Congress for oil prices
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush Saturday blamed Democratic congressional leaders for "high gas prices."
Report: Cuomo Readies Citigroup Charges
The New York attorney general is preparing to file possible civil fraud charges against Citigroup Inc. in connection with auction-rate securities, sources say.
Priority Bank is 8th U.S. bank to fail
BRADENTON, Fla., Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Assets of First Priority Bank, the eighth U.S. bank to fail this year, have been transferred to other institutions, federal authorities say.
Brit real estate booms as 2nd homes sold
LONDON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- British real estate agents say falling property prices are causing business to boom in rural and coastal areas as city dwellers sell off second homes.
Friday, August 1
3 killed in fire on Scottish trawler
FRASERBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Three fishermen were killed in a fire on board a fishing trawler docked in a Scottish harbor.
Yukos executive sentenced to life
MOSCOW, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A former executive with the Russian oil giant Yukos now living in Israel was sentenced in absentia Friday to life in prison for murder.
Crude oil prices up on Mideast tension
NEW YORK, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Tension in Israel helped boost crude oil prices Friday.
New bridge on horizon year after collapse
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A new Interstate 35W bridge across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis should open in September, a year and a month after the old span collapsed.
Vehicle recall system frustrates Canadians
OTTAWA, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Canadian vehicle recall laws have far fewer teeth than U.S. laws, leaving free safety repairs a voluntary move by manufacturers, industry observers said.
U.S. unemployment rises to 5.7 percent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. unemployment rate rose from 5.5 percent to 5.7 percent in July on the loss of 51,000 non-farm jobs, U.S. government statistics showed.
U.S. manufacturing index unchanged in July
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The Institute for Supply Management said Friday U.S. manufacturing activity in July was little changed from June and remains in slow contraction.
U.S. construction spending dropped in June
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Spending on private and public construction in the United States fell in June, the U.S. Commerce Department said Friday.
A used Prius is money in the bank
TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A used Toyota Prius is doing something very few vehicles ever do: appreciating in value, a car value research group said.
ACLU wants less security at Democratic meet
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A U.S. judge in Denver promises a ruling soon in a trial seeking easier security provisions at the Democratic National Convention.
India ready to return to WTO talks, report
NEW DELHI, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- India's commerce minister says his country is ready to return to world trade talks on the Doha round but won't compromise on issues affecting its farmers.
Thursday, July 31
Energy bill will have to wait
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate said any action on an energy bill must wait until after the August recess since the two parties have been unable to agree.
Muslim groups appeal cartoon ruling
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Seven Muslim groups in Denmark say they will appeal a decision rejecting their libel suit against a newspaper that published cartoons of Mohammed.
Farmers turning manure into cash
CHICAGO, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Some U.S. dairy farmers are cashing in on cow manure by using methane gas to produce electricity.
New Jersey's biggest newspaper may be sold
NEWARK, N.J., July 31 (UPI) -- Advance Publications, owned by the Newhouse family, announced Thursday it will sell New Jersey's largest newspaper unless 200 employees take buyouts.
Grains prices continue downward trend
CHICAGO, July 31 (UPI) -- Grains contracts continued a downward trend on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday as crude oil prices fell in New York.
Oil price drops Thursday in extended slide
NEW YORK, July 31 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices swung lower to $124.19 a barrel Thursday, as the U.S. dollar gained against the euro and economic news pointed to weaker consumer spending.
U.S. jobless claims jump in week
WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- First-time claims for U.S. unemployment insurance jumped dramatically during the week ending July 26, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday.
FDA warns against eating Mexican peppers
WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat raw serrano or jalapeno peppers grown in Mexico, as well as any foods containing them.
Deutsche Bank posts second-quarter profits
FRANKFURT, Germany, July 31 (UPI) -- Deutsche Bank, the largest bank in Germany, posted $1 billion in profits in the second quarter in spite of massive write downs, the bank said.
PPG Industries sells share of division
PITTSBURGH, July 30 (UPI) -- PPG Industries Inc. is spinning off its auto glass and services division, giving it the name Pittsburgh Glass Works, the Pittsburgh company said.
Brazil's economy lifting rich and poor
BRASILIA, Brazil, July 31 (UPI) -- Brazil's growing economy is lifting the country's rich and poor and shows signs of sustainability, analysts said.
Israelis barricade West Bank village
RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 31 (UPI) -- Israeli authorities used sandbags and cement barricades Thursday to block entrances to West Bank village of Nalain.
Wednesday, July 30
Ban expresses Doha disappointment
NEW YORK, July 31 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, concerned about the failure of the Geneva trade talks on the Doha round, says their success was important at this stage.
Grains mixed in Chicago as crude oil rises
CHICAGO, July 30 (UPI) -- Grains traded mixed on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday as crude oil prices surged in New York.
ASE picked to operate national energy lab
WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy says it has selected the Alliance for Sustainable Energy to manage and operate the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Oil prices break two barriers Wednesday
NEW YORK, July 30 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose Wednesday on news the U.S. inventory of gasoline had dropped by 3.5 million barrels on the week ending July 25.
Fires burn in northern Utah
SALT LAKE CITY, July 30 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Utah struggled Wednesday to contain a wildfire near Salt Lake City.
Peach pickers hit by lightning in S.C.
SPARTANBURG, S.C., July 30 (UPI) -- A group of peach pickers was hit by lightning as severe thunderstorms rolled across upland South Carolina.
Fla. partly foils alleged Lebanon con
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 30 (UPI) -- Florida officials say a Lebanese con man nearly tricked a state agency out of almost $6 million, but the plot was discovered before all the money disappeared.
Study: Cover crops good for tropical soils
MANHATTAN, Kan., July 30 (UPI) -- U.S., Brazilian and French scientists say no-till farming combined with a winter cover crop is most effective in retaining tropical soil nutrients.
Nissan offers 6,600 workers buyouts
FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 30 (UPI) -- Nissan said Wednesday it was offering autoworkers at two Tennessee plants between $100,000 and $125,000 each to leave their positions.
Oil and gas supplies drop last week
WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil and gas inventories declined in the week ending July 25, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.
U.S. gained 9,000 jobs from June to July
ROSELAND, N.J., July 30 (UPI) -- U.S. non-farm jobs increased by 9,000 from June to July, reversing a three-month downward trend, a research group said Wednesday.
Norwegian farmers cheer trade talk failure
OSLO, Norway, July 30 (UPI) -- Norwegian farmers, eager to retain government subsidies, cheered the breakdown of World Trade Organization talks, sources said.
Cablevision completes Newsday deal
BETHPAGE, N.Y., July 30 (UPI) -- Cablevision Systems Corp. has closed its deal with Tribune Co. for 97 percent of the daily newspaper Newsday on Long Island, N.Y., the company said.
U.S. automakers curtail leasing options
DETROIT, July 30 (UPI) -- U.S. automakers are moving quickly to change their leasing programs in response to falling used car values, Detroit's Big Three said.
U.N. building to cut air conditioning
NEW YORK, July 30 (UPI) -- The U.N. headquarters in New York will be warming up as part of an initiative to battle climate change, U.N. officials say.
Tuesday, July 29
Corn trades higher in Chicago Tuesday
CHICAGO, July 29 (UPI) -- Grains traded lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday, but corn tracked up in spite of a downward trend in crude oil.
Peters unveils new highway, transit plan
ATLANTA, July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. interstate system, congestion and transit are key points to a "better approach" to transportation matters, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said.
Doha trade talks end in stalemate
DOHA, Qatar, July 29 (UPI) -- International trade talks in Doha, Qatar, broke down Tuesday with disagreements among three world powers on access to agricultural markets, sources said.
White House chides Congress on energy
WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The White House criticized U.S. congressional Democrats Tuesday for delaying consideration of energy-related legislation before the August recess.
Crude oil prices fall again Tuesday
NEW YORK, July 29 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices fell again Tuesday in New York, continuing a downward trend that has pushed prices to levels not seen since early May.
Teck Cominco to buy Fording Coal
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 29 (UPI) -- Canadian mining company Teck Cominco Ltd. said it had reached agreement to purchase Fording Canadian Coal Trust for $21.1 billion.
Ex-mayor of Newark, N.J., gets 27 months
NEWARK, N.J., July 29 (UPI) -- Sharpe James, the former mayor of Newark, N.J., was sentenced Tuesday to 27 months in prison for helping his girlfriend buy city property.
Stevens indicted for alleged form fraud
WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- Sen. Ted Steven, R-Alaska, was indicted Tuesday for allegedly lying on his Senate financial disclosure forms, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Report: Web sites still blocked by Chinese
BEIJING, July 29 (UPI) -- Despite assurances that censorship of foreign Web sites would be lifted, journalists arriving in Beijing for the Olympics say some sites are still blocked.
Energy costs spurring school spending cuts
WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- A report released Tuesday said spending cuts affecting virtually every school district in the United States are coming this fall due to higher energy prices.
U.S. retail sales gained last week
WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States made strong gains during the week ending July 26, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.
Gas field producing instant millionaires
SHREVEPORT, La., July 29 (UPI) -- One of the largest natural U.S. gas fields is making instant millionaires out of modest, work-a-day Louisiana and Texas land owners, sources said.
FDA: Don't eat American lobster tomalley
WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns consumers not to eat tomalley in American lobster (Maine Lobster), no matter where the lobster was harvested.
U.S. peppers cleared in salmonella study
WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said U.S.-grown jalapeno and Serrano peppers are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak.
Experts point to peak oil production
WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The world's maximum oil output peaked about three years ago, an industry expert from Texas said.
Monday, July 28
GM Details Truck Output Cuts
DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. on Monday detailed its plan for cutting North American truck production by nearly 300,000 units when it announced that it will eliminate 117,000 units of production from its truck plants by the end of the year.
Grains mostly up as hot weather moves in
CHICAGO, July 28 (UPI) -- Grains trading edged up on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday as hot, dry weather put upward pressure on soybeans and corn.
Analyst: Ford to gain on Chrysler's issues
DETROIT, July 28 (UPI) -- A former International Trade Commission economist said Monday the difficulties at Chrysler LLC will benefit rival U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co.
GM softens blow of Canada plant closing
OSHAWA, Ontario, July 28 (UPI) -- General Motors Corp. workers facing the closure of a Canadian truck plant will get severance deals and maybe more work, company and union official said Monday.
Oil prices rise on tension in Nigeria
NEW YORK, July 28 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose slightly in New York Monday on tensions in Nigeria and a sharp drop in U.S. miles driven in May compared to a year ago.
Firm seeks to custom fit online shopping
AUSTIN, Texas, July 28 (UPI) -- Retail consultants at an Austin, Texas, company are studying online shoppers to help e-retail companies close on sales, a company executive said.
Mechel price change ends dispute
MOSCOW, July 28 (UPI) -- Russia's steel giant Mechel has agreed to match world and domestic coking coal prices, avoiding a dispute with government regulators, a presidential aide said.
Trips not taken hurt government coffers
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