Saturday, September 4
U.N. predicts bigger swings in food supply
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A U.N. agency says the 2010 global wheat harvest is one of the largest ever but experts say a less stable climate will mean bigger food supply fluctuations.
Friday, September 3
Orszag becomes New York Times columnist
NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Former Obama administration budget guru Peter Orszag will ply his talents for The New York Times as a contributing columnist, the newspaper said Friday.
Balloon Boy, family move to Florida
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 3 (UPI) -- The Colorado man who staged the "balloon boy" charade last year had his mug shot taken Friday in Florida after moving his family there, officials said.
Crude oil tops $75 per barrel
NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices wound up below $75 a barrel Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, unable to follow the stock markets higher.
Rep. seeks compliance docs on Mariner Energy
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A Democratic congressman Friday requested to see compliance documents for the Mariner Energy oil platform that caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico a day earlier.
Canadian mine faces Indian opposition
OTTAWA, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Canadian Indian leaders say they remain opposed to a proposed copper-gold mine in British Columbia and warned of violence if the project proceeds.
Chinese fishing boat struck by freighter
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A Chinese fishing boat carrying an unknown number of people sank after being hit by a South Korean ship off the west coast of South Korea, officials said.
Pakistan floods put banks in jeopardy
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Credit rating agency Moody's Investor Service said floods in Pakistan could undermine the nation's banks.
Unemployment rises to 9.6 percent
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. economy shed 54,000 jobs in August as the employment recovery eroded for the second consecutive month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.
Afghanistan says it will back Kabul Bank
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the government would guarantee deposits at stumbling Kabul Bank, which was rocked by a sudden government takeover.
Report: Workers pay more for healthcare
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Premiums paid by employees in the United States for their companies' health plans increased by 14 percent this year, a report released Thursday said.
Thursday, September 2
Suspect in Veronica Guerin killing busted
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- John Traynor, an Irish gangster suspected of conspiring in the killing of reporter Veronica Guerin, has been arrested in the Netherlands, officials said.
Fort Collins, Colo., drivers said safest
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Fort Collins, Colo., has America's safest drivers, says the Allstate Insurance Co. in its annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report."
Afghan banker warns of 'revolution'
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- A major shareholder in a top Afghan bank says the government and the United States must help stabilize the bank to prevent "revolution in our financial system."
Russia takes long view on export ban
MOSCOW, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the moratorium on grain exports could be in place for another year.
Crude oil prices climb Thursday
NEW YORK, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, closing in on $75 per barrel as equity prices were positive for the second consecutive day.
China: Imported U.S. baby formula unsafe
BEIJING, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- China, which had a tainted infant-formula scandal two years ago, says the safety of its baby formula has been threatened by U.S. and other foreign dairy goods.
Grains in Chicago close higher
CHICAGO, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Grains closed higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday with the dollar index off 0.17 percent.
Russian airline sues Moscow for road jam
MOSCOW, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Aeroflot filed suit against the city of Moscow, alleging the government caused the Russian airline to lose millions during road repair traffic jams.
Worst typhoon in a decade strikes S. Korea
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Three people were killed when Typhoon Kompasu, the seventh typhoon this year, hit South Korea Thursday, Korea Meteorological Administration officials said.
Darling laments bonus pay tax
LONDON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Former British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said a tax on massive bank executive bonus checks had only a short-term effect.
Pending home sales rose in July
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Pending U.S. home sales rose modestly in July, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.
Mortgage interest rates set record lows
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Average interest rates for long-term mortgages set record lows in the week ending Sept. 2, the U.S. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said Thursday.
Schumer warns Fed of credit issuer dodge
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. credit card companies may be dodging a consumer protection law by sending solicitations for professional-class cards, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said.
Given uncertainty, ECB leaves rate alone
FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- The European Central Bank said Thursday it would keep its lending rate unchanged at 1 percent.
Manufacturing shows growth in August
TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. manufacturing expanded for the 13th consecutive month in August, the Institute of Supply Management said.
Wednesday, September 1
Flurry of storms is typical for time of year, experts say
MIAMI -- In the last two weeks, it seems as though the tropics have exploded: Hurricane Earl, big, scary and steaming toward North Carolina and a string of states. Tropical Storm Fiona, nearing hurricane strength but heading into hostile conditions and out to sea.
Wheat prices gain with dollar down
CHICAGO, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Grains were mixed on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday with wheat futures up sharply and soybean prices moderately lower.
Fuld: Government failed Lehman Bros.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Former Lehman Bros. Chief Executive Officer Richard Fuld Jr. told a Washington panel Wednesday that government error allowed the firm to fail.
Safety advocates seek hot car warnings
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. automobile safety regulators are considering a proposal to require the installation of warning systems to prevent children from being left in cars.
Deseret News to cut staff by 43 percent
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News said it would merge its editorial staff with KSL-TV and Radio in the fall, cutting 43 percent of its staff.
GM hands over keys to Akerson
DETROIT, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- General Motors Co. handed the keys to the car company to board member Daniel Akerson, who took over as chief executive officer Wednesday.
Chile miners clean up, settle in, wait
COPIAPO, Chile, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- A video shows 33 miners doing their best to adapt to what is expected to be as many as four months stuck inside a Chilean copper mine.
Construction outlays dropped in July
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Construction spending in the United States dropped 1 percent in July compared to June, the U.S. Commerce Department said Wednesday.
Settlers vow to break building freeze
JERUSALEM, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The settler council said it would break the building freeze in response to the slaying of four Israelis by terrorists near Hebron Tuesday night.
Tuesday, August 31
Grain futures lower Tuesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Grain futures closed lower Tuesday on the Chicago Board of Trade with declines led by sharp drops in wheat and soybean prices.
Afghanistan takes control of Kabul Bank
KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Officials in Afghanistan said regulators seized control of the county's largest private bank, where a collapse would be an economic and political nightmare.
NTSB: Faulty plane simulators cause deaths
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Flight simulator training flaws led to some of the worst airline accidents in the last decade, a U.S. newspaper's analysis showed.
Russia invites automakers with tariffs
MOSCOW, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said customs tariffs on automobiles would be raised, calling it encouragement for foreign companies to set up shop in Russia.
PBC launches online option
BEIJING, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- China's central bank launched an online banking system expected to save consumers money in the long run, a banking research program director said.
In China, a retailer's prison drama
BEIJING, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- An appeals court in China upheld the 14-year prison sentence of retail executive Huang Guangyu, who is struggling to maintain influence on his company.
Chinese lawyer talks trade, investment in Washington state
Aug. 31--Before he opened the first private law firm in China 18 years ago, Q.H. Charles Duan came to study in Seattle, where he graduated from the University of Washington Law School and became the first foreign-law consultant admitted by the Washington State Supreme Court.
Monday, August 30
Home values rose in second quarter
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said Monday home values rose in all nine U.S. Census divisions in the second quarter compared with the first.
Some Bedroom Depot orders to be filled
WINDSOR, Ontario, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Canadian furniture retailer Bedroom Depot, which filed for bankruptcy protection last week, said it would honor some orders customers have already paid-for.
Grains futures mixed Monday
CHICAGO, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Grain futures closed mixed Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade, with the dollar index up 0.27 percent.
Washington State looks for China to invest
SEATTLE, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Washington State is increasing its pursuit of Chinese investments with a diplomatic envoy headed to Beijing in two weeks, The Seattle Times reported Monday.
Carbon monoxide eyed in Ariz. mine deaths
SHOW LOW, Ariz., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. mine safety officials headed to northern Arizona Monday to investigate the deaths of two workers apparently killed by carbon monoxide in a mine shaft.
Frank Lloyd Wright homes remain unsold
PASADENA, Calif., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- A historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Pasadena, Calif., could be dismantled and rebuilt elsewhere, says the real estate agent listing the property.
Trip goal: Border to border on 14 gallons
TACOMA, Wash., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- An inventor says he will drive an ultralight car he built down the length of the U.S. West Coast on 14 gallons of gas.
Spending and incomes rose in July
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Commerce Department said consumer spending and incomes rose in July after months of virtually stagnant data.
Japan, China sign seven trade pacts
BEIJING, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Japanese and Chinese officials pledged to improve the countries' trade cooperation with seven new agreements.
Sunday, August 29
Trapped Chilean miners talk to families
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Thirty-three Chilean miners trapped deep underground for 24 days got to talk with their families by telephone for the first time Sunday, officials said.
Katrina called a 'man-made' disaster
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- On the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu called the devastation caused by the deadly 2005 storm a "man-made disaster."
Oxford dictionary to be digital only
The next edition of Britain's venerable Oxford English Dictionary will not be printed due to the Internet's impact on declining book sales, its publisher says.
Donovan: Housing policy to move forward
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan said Sunday the federal government would start two new programs to help struggling homeowners.
Government to sell White House replica
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Federal regulators are selling a 13,000-square-foot replica of the White House in Lawrenceville, Ga., that includes a drive-through window.
Saturday, August 28
Start up bank, rare, but true
LAKE CHARLES, La., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- The first and only new bank charter granted to a U.S. bank this year started in Lake Charles, La., with $13 million in capital, The New York Times reported.
Miners, rescuers prepare for long struggle
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Efforts are under way to secure the health, including the mental health, of 33 miners trapped since Aug. 5 in a mine in Chile.
Nine dead in Chinese fire
SHENYANG, China, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- A fire in a real estate project in northeast China's Liaoning Province has killed 9 people and injured 9 others, fire officials say.
Friday, August 27
Experts: N.C. emerald largest in U.S.
HIDDENITE, N.C., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Experts said a 64-carat emerald discovered by a gem miner in North Carolina is the largest cut emerald ever found in the United States.
Putin drives Russian car on Siberian trip
KHABAROVSK, Russia, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, on a road trip through the Far East, gave some tourists a surprise talk Friday on the merits of his modest Lada Kalina.
Crude oil prices jump Friday
NEW YORK, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices charged higher Friday as equities on Wall Street rallied on reassurances from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Corn, soybeans up Friday, oats close lower
CHICAGO, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Grain futures closed mixed Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade, despite a strong rally on Wall Street.
Harvard, Princeton are top 2 institutions
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Harvard University is one of five Ivy League schools among six schools at the top of the U.S.News and World Report's ranking of universities.
Japan to consider currency intervention
TOKYO, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Friday it was time Bank of Japan monetary policymakers considered a currency rate intervention.
Flyover blamed for mass chicken deaths
COTES-D'ARMOR, France, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A French farmer is demanding compensation for 4,800 chickens apparently killed by fright when two jet fighters flew overhead.
Detroit mayor changes mind on residence
DETROIT, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has changed his mind and will move into the Manoogian Mansion, but wants to have its name changed, his spokesman says.
Affluent got most help in Katrina disaster
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Affluent whites benefited more than poor blacks from programs meant to help Gulf Coast residents recover from Hurricane Katrina, an official says.
Trapped miners send video to families
COPIAPO, Chile, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Thirty-three men trapped in a mine in Chile since early August sent a video message to their families, expressing thanks for the work being done to free them.
Annual Fed gathering amid uncertainty
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- This year's annual Federal Reserve summer retreat in Wyoming occurs against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and slipping indicators, economists say.
Thursday, August 26
Prince Charles going solar in London
LONDON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The Westminster City Council has given Prince Charles permission to install solar panels on the roof of Clarence House, his London home and office.
HHS creates Web site to find health plans
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a Web site to help people search for health insurance options, officials say.
Toyota recalls 1.13M cars
Toyota Motor Corp. Thursday announced a recall of 1.13 million vehicles, following word U.S. regulators were looking more closely at complaints about its cars.
Toyota recalls 1.13M cars
DETROIT, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Toyota Motor Corp. Thursday announced a recall of 1.13 million vehicles, following word U.S. regulators were looking more closely at complaints about its cars.
Grain futures close higher
CHICAGO, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Grain futures rose Thursday on the Chicago Board of Trade with support from the dollar, which dropped 0.43 percent on the dollar index.
Ford plans for growth in India
Ford Motor Co. said the growing market in India would be pivotal to future growth, with auto sales expected to reach 35 million for the industry by 2018.
Ford plans for growth in India
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Co. said the growing market in India would be pivotal to future growth, with auto sales expected to reach 35 million for the industry by 2018.
Jackson: Detroit march to 'provide hope'
DETROIT, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- A Detroit march seeking to echo the 1963 March on Washington will "provide hope" to laid-off autoworkers, civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson said.
Protests halt proposed Russian highway
SOCHI, Russia, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The Russian president Thursday said he would suspend plans to build a highway through a forest near Moscow following protests from people, including ecologists.
FEMA flood insurance seeks bailout
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency is seeking $19 billion in federal bailout funds to cover a flood insurance program observers call badly flawed.
Honda Jazz to get a hybrid engine
TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Honda Motors said it would outfit the Jazz for European and Asian markets with a hybrid engine starting in 2011.
Wednesday, August 25
Kenya fights threat to nut cash crop
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- A tree disease threatens the livelihood of farmers in Kenya who grow macadamia nuts, their only cash crop after the coffee market crashed, officials say.
New York approves midtown skyscraper
NEW YORK, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The New York City Council Wednesday approved construction of a tower near the Empire State Building that will rise to within 34 feet of the iconic landmark.
Crude oil prices recover slightly
NEW YORK, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices recovered some ground in New York Wednesday with light, sweet crude oil for October delivery adding 26 cents to reach $72.78 per barrel.
Wheat sharply lower in Chicago Wednesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Grain futures held mostly steady Wednesday with the exception of wheat, where prices plunged on the Chicago Board of Trade with the dollar slightly higher.
Dukes vs. Walmart may go to Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Walmart has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a sex discrimination case that could cost the retailer $1 billion, court papers show.
Regulators to study Jeep Grand Cherokee
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is investigating 1993 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees concerning a possible fire hazard.
Big three chase police for auto business
DETROIT, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Closing out production of Ford Motor Co.'s Crown Victoria police cruiser opens up a niche U.S. market to rivals, an industry adviser said.
Vilsack offered to resign over Sherrod
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack offered to resign from his position in the wake of the Shirley Sherrod controversy, Politico reported Wednesday.
Retail limp with continued hot weather
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Weekly U.S. chain store sales dropped in the week ending Aug. 21 for the fourth consecutive weekly decline, the International Council of Shopping Centers said.
Project randomly gives $100 to 100 people
DETROIT, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- During a 100-day period, 100 people in Detroit will get a crisp $100 bill as part of Project 100, a program to improve the community, organizers said.
Freeing trapped miners could take months
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Engineers in Chile say it could take up to four months to free 33 men trapped in a northern copper mine that collapsed Aug. 5.
Tuesday, August 24
Toyota aims to empower U.S. managers
TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A Toyota Motor Corp. executive said the Japanese automaker planned to revive a plan to give U.S. managers more autonomy, a move made following massive recalls.
Grain futures drop in Chicago Tuesday
CHICAGO, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Concern over an economic slowdown weighed on grain futures on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday.
U.S. energy 'appetite' trimmed in 2009
LIVERMORE, Calif., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Americans are using less energy overall and availing themselves of more renewable energy sources, a report says.
Developers: PR consultant passed on bribes
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Father-and-son developers in South Florida implicated many local officials in bribery in sworn statements to prosecutors, court documents reveal.
Judges test public with bank deals
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The public may have the final say on how tough U.S. courts get on banks that break the law, a University of Chicago law professor said.
Canada releases prisoners by mistake
TORONTO, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- At least 143 prisoners were mistakenly allowed to leave Ontario correctional facilities during the last eight years, Canadian government documents indicate.
Sherrod turns down new job offer from USDA
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Agriculture Department Administrator Shirley Sherrod said Tuesday she has decided not to accept a new job as head of an outreach office.
Chicago gears up for electric vehicles
CHICAGO, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Chicago officials say they're gearing up to be ready for electric cars as automakers prepare to determine which U.S. cities will get the vehicles first.
Bridge case settles for $52.4 million
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The victims and survivors of Minnesota's 2007 bridge collapse will get $52.4 million in a settlement with engineering firm URS Corp., plaintiff lawyers said.
N.Y. firm recalls 'Grab and Go Sandwiches'
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A New York meat packer is recalling 380,000 pounds of potentially contaminated delicatessen meats, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday.
Canadian retail sales rose slightly in June
OTTAWA, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Retail sales rose marginally in Canada in June, climbing 0.1 percent to $35.9 billion, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.
Huge wall will protect New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The city of New Orleans is well on its way to getting the protection system that Congress ordered after Hurricane Katrina, engineers say.
Trapped miners sing national anthem
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The 33 miners trapped in a Chilean mine cheered, applauded and sang the country's anthem in their first verbal contact with the outside world, officials said.
Monday, August 23
Crude oil prices fall Monday
NEW YORK, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices dropped sharply in New York Monday as the Dow Jones industrial average extended its losses through a third consecutive trading session.
Corn crop progress ahead of averages
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. corn crop is well ahead of its long-range historic averages with 54 percent in the dented kernel stage, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.
No wheat spike in Afghanistan, Pakistan
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Ample wheat supplies worldwide appear to be easing the impact of Russia's export ban in Pakistan and Afghanistan, U.S. foreign aid officials said Monday.
China urged to allow modified crops
BEIJING, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A top Chinese agricultural adviser is urging the government to loosen restrictions of genetically modified crops to mitigate future food shortages.
Deepwater Horizon probe resumes
HOUSTON, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A BP official testified in Houston the two company representatives aboard a doomed oil rig when it exploded may not have been familiar with its procedures.
Sunday, August 22
33 trapped Chilean miners say they're OK
COPIAPO, Chile, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Thirty-three miners trapped deep underground in northern Chile for 17 days let rescuers know Sunday they are OK, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera confirmed.
Detroit's rainy Dream Cruise draws throng
DETROIT, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Organizers say rain cut into the crowd at Detroit's annual Dream Cruise parade of classic cars, but the event was nevertheless called a big success.
Saturday, August 21
ShoreBank's assets sold to investors
CHICAGO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. regulators seized ShoreBank Corp., a longtime community lender in Chicago, and decided to sell its assets to a team including the bank's executives.
Asian-Americans face healthcare barriers
BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Some Asian-Americans have full access to healthcare but U.S. researchers say many Asian-Americans have the same healthcare barriers as other immigrant groups.
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