Heinz 2Q Profit Falls, But Sales Improve H.J. Heinz Co.’s second-quarter profit dropped 16 percent from last year, when the company’s results were boosted by currency shifts. Staff, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Australian PM Urges Parliament to Approve Carbon Cuts Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urged parliament Tuesday to approve legislation aiming to slash carbon pollution by up to 25 percent by 2020 ahead of next month’s global talks on climate change. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 14 minutes ago
Judge Likes NW Salmon Plan But Sees Legal Flaw A federal judge says the government’s latest plans for making Columbia Basin dams safer for salmon look good, but a legal flaw could delay his approval. Tim Fought, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
GlaxoSmithKline Pulls Swine Flu Vaccines in Canada Pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Tuesday it has advised medical staff in Canada to not use one batch of swine flu vaccines in case they trigger life-threatening allergies. Meera Selva, AP NEWS - 17 minutes ago
Opposition Backs Australian Carbon Reduction Bill Australia’s opposition leader Tuesday pledged his party’s support for contentious legislation proposed by the government aimed at curbing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Rod McGuirk, AP NEWS - 20 minutes ago
Warner Music 4Q Results Hurt by Severance Costs Warner Music Group Corp., one of the nation’s largest record companies, on Tuesday posted a loss in the fourth quarter as severance costs weighed on results despite a strong slate of music releases from artists including Jay-Z and Madonna. Staff, AP NEWS - 20 minutes ago
Palin Heads to Fla. Town That Feted Her in 2008 Sarah Palin’s “Going Rogue” book tour is heading to a Florida retirement community where she attracted a crowd of tens of thousands as the Republican vice presidential nominee. Staff, AP NEWS - 20 minutes ago
Iran Said Ready for Uranium Exchange on Its Soil Iran said Tuesday it was ready to exchange its low-enriched uranium with a higher enriched material, but only on its own soil, to guarantee the West follows through with promises to give the fuel. Nasser Karimi, AP NEWS - 20 minutes ago
Prostitute Linked to Berlusconi Feels Threatened The prostitute at the center of Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s sex scandal has written a book, saying she feels betrayed by him and has been frightened by threats, including the ransacking of her home. Staff, AP NEWS - 23 minutes ago
China Executes 2 for Role in Tainted Milk Scandal China executed a dairy farmer and a milk salesman Tuesday, the only two people sentenced to death in a scheme to water down infant formula with an industrial chemical that left at least six children dead and sickened more than 300,000. Christopher Bodeen, AP NEWS - 24 minutes ago
India Probe Blames Mosque Attack on Hindu Leaders A government investigation released Tuesday reportedly implicated dozens of Hindu nationalist politicians — including a former prime minister — in the 1992 demolition of a mosque that sparked deadly communal riots. Ravi Nessman, AP NEWS - 24 minutes ago
Stock Futures Little Changed Ahead of Open Stock futures are little changed ahead of Tuesday’s opening as investors await a report that is expected to show the economic recovery in the third quarter was not as fast as initially estimated. Stephen Bernard, AP NEWS - 28 minutes ago
EU: US Should Spell Out Long-Term Climate Goal The United States should be ready to spell out its long-term vision for reducing carbon emissions over the next two decades, not just until 2020, the European Union said Tuesday. Robert Wielaard and Arthur Max, AP NEWS - 28 minutes ago
Citigroup Sells Diners Club N. American Ops Citigroup Inc. said Tuesday it is selling its Diners Club North American franchise to BMO Financial Group as it continues to shed noncore assets and streamline operations. Staff, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Walesa Takes Poland’s President to Court A Warsaw court on Tuesday began hearing a lawsuit filed by Lech Walesa in which the Solidarity founder is demanding damages from Polish President Lech Kaczynski for having called Walesa a communist-era agent. Staff, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Hormel 4Q Profit Rises 50 Percent, But Sales Slip Hormel Foods says its fourth-quarter profit rose more than 50 percent, helped by lower ingredient costs even as sales slipped on lower meat prices and a continuing pullback in consumer spending. Staff, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
UNAIDS: Sex Main Cause for HIV Spreading in China The virus that causes AIDS is now spreading fastest in China through heterosexual sex, a trend demanding new strategies to stave off a rebound in the epidemic after years of progress in containing it, a United Nations report said Tuesday. Elaine Kurtenbach, AP FEATURES - 35 minutes ago
British Panel Begins Inquiry on Iraq War In the most sweeping inquiry on the Iraq war, a panel investigating Britain’s role in the conflict began questioning witnesses Tuesday in hearings that critics hope will humble ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair and expose alleged deception in the buildup to fighting. Paisley Dodds, AP NEWS - 36 minutes ago
CPSC Chief: Agency Moved Too Slowly on Crib Safety The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission conceded Tuesday the agency “hasn’t been acting as quickly as it should” on crib safety problems. Staff, AP NEWS - 40 minutes ago
Pakistani Officials: 5 Army Officers Detained Five Pakistani army officers have been detained for questioning over possible links to two U.S. terror suspects accused of plotting an armed attack on a Danish newspaper, intelligence officials said Tuesday. Ashraf Khan, AP NEWS - 41 minutes ago
Google Documents Iraqi Museum Treasures Google is documenting Iraq’s national museum and will post photographs of its ancient treasures on the Internet early next year, Google chief Eric Schmidt announced Tuesday. Ryan Lucas, AP NEWS - 41 minutes ago
Merck Says Key Fosamax Lawsuit Dismissed Merck & Co. on Tuesday said a U.S. district court dismissed claims against the company in a second key case alleging the osteoporosis drug Fosamax causes painful jaw bone destruction. Staff, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
UK to Hold Public Inquiry Into Alleged Iraq Abuse Britain’s defense ministry says it will formally order a public inquiry this week into the alleged abuse and killing of Iraqi civilians by British soldiers. Staff, AP NEWS - 45 minutes ago
Medtronic 2Q Profit Rises 59 Percent on Sales Medical device maker Medtronic says its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 59 percent on higher sales of implantable heart devices and stents, while costs fell. Staff, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
SC Legislators Begin Sanford Impeachment Hearings Legislators irked for months over Gov. Mark Sanford’s summertime vanishing act and his tearful revelation that he was in Argentina for a rendezvous with his lover plan to start debating a measure Tuesday that ultimately would remove him from office. Jim Davenport, AP NEWS - 50 minutes ago
Iran Frees Activist on Bail in Mass Trial Iran’s official news agency reports a political activist and former head of the Tehran municipal council has been released on bail in the mass trial of opposition figures accused of fomenting the post-election unrest. Staff, AP NEWS - 57 minutes ago
CPSC Chief Concedes It Moved Slowly on Crib Safety The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission concedes it has not been “acting as quickly as it should” on crib safety problems. Staff, AP NEWS - 60 minutes ago
2 Warlords Plead Innocent in Congo Massacre Trial Two Congolese militia leaders sent child soldiers and other fighters to wipe out a village in a revenge attack that left more than 200 men, women and children dead, a prosecutor told judges Tuesday at the International Criminal Court. Mike Corder, AP NEWS - 61 minutes ago
Long Prison Term Sought for Khmer Rouge Jail Chief The former prison chief whose trial by Cambodia’s genocide tribunal is coming to an end was a willing, even enthusiastic, participant in atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge, prosecutors charged Tuesday. Sopheng Cheang and Luke Hunt, AP NEWS - 64 minutes ago
Ahead of the Bell: Consumer Confidence A preliminary report on consumer confidence is expected to hold steady in November compared with October, maintaining a gloomy mood as the traditional start to the holiday season begins Friday. Anne D'Innocenzio, AP NEWS - 65 minutes ago
BMO Financial to Buy Diners Club N. American Ops BMO Financial Group said Tuesday that it will buy the Diners Club North American franchise from Citigroup Inc., more than doubling its corporate card business. Staff, AP NEWS - 69 minutes ago
Prostitute in Berlusconi Scandal Writes Book The prostitute at the center of a sex scandal involving Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has written a book, saying she feels betrayed by him. Staff, AP NEWS - 69 minutes ago
Netanyahu: Prisoner Swap Not a Done Deal Israel’s prime minister tried on Tuesday to temper expectations that a deal to free an Israeli soldier held by Hamas militants was imminent. Amy Teibel, AP NEWS - 71 minutes ago
Philippines Declares Emergency After 46 Killed The Philippine president placed two southern provinces under emergency rule Tuesday as security forces unearthed more bodies, pushing the death toll to 46 in some of the deadliest election violence in the nation’s history. Aaron Favila, AP NEWS - 72 minutes ago
British Iraq War Probe Starts Hearings A long-awaited public inquiry into Britain’s role in the Iraq war held its first hearing Tuesday, six and a half years after Tony Blair controversially led the country in backing the US-led conflict. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Khmer Rouge Prosecutors Seek Jail Term for Duch Prosecutors called on Tuesday for the former Khmer Rouge prison chief to get a lengthy jail term, saying he embodied the ruthless efficiency of the regime behind the “Killing Fields” atrocities. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Khmer Rouge Trial Prosecutors Want Duch Jailed Prosecutors called on Tuesday for the former Khmer Rouge prison chief to receive a long jail term for his role in the “Killing Fields” atrocities as they delivered final arguments in his trial. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
European Stocks Drop After Surge Europe’s main stock markets fell in morning deals on Tuesday owing to profit-taking after beginning the week sharply higher. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Nokia Says It Will Cut 220 R&D Jobs in Japan Nokia, the world’s biggest mobile phone maker, said on Tuesday it would cut around 220 jobs in Japan as part of its plans to streamline its vast research and development operations. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Dollar Claws Back Ground Against Euro The dollar firmed on Tuesday after recent sharp losses as investors largely stayed on the sidelines ahead of the US Thanksgiving holiday later in the week, dealers said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Eurozone Factory Orders Rise in September Factories in the 16-nation eurozone reported a rise of new orders in September, although more recent data has suggested economic recovery in Europe may be peaking. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
S.Africa Reports Recession Over With 0.9% Growth The South African economy has escaped from recession with growth of 0.9 percent in the third quarter of 2009, official data for gross domestic product showed on Tuesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
GM to Keep Opel Plant in German Bochum General Motors will keep open Opel’s Bochum plant in western Germany, the head of the US firm’s European division, Nick Reilly, said on Tuesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
GM Has Paid Back Opel Loans to Germany: Merkel General Motors has repaid the 1.5 billion euros (2.2 billion dollars) in bridging loans it received from Germany to keep its troubled European unit Opel afloat, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Chinese Banks to Be Punished for Risky Lending China has issued a rare warning that it will impose curbs on banks unless they beef up their defences against bad loans as Beijing tries to put the brakes on a massive lending spree. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Ex-Somali Fighters Tell Why They Abandonned Jihad The gunfire outside does not disturb them as they speak, explaining what led them to leave behind their lives as Islamist fighters and defect to the side of Somalia’s weak transitional government. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
India’s Tata ‘Eyeing Stake in Rival Vehicle Maker’ India’s largest carmaker Tata Motors is considering buying a stake in truck and bus manufacturer Swaraj Mazda, a report said Tuesday. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Iraq War Probe Opens in London A long-awaited public inquiry into Britain’s role in the Iraq war opened on Tuesday, with the chairman vowing not to “shy away from criticism” of individuals or institutions over the controversial conflict. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Former Thai PM Samak Dies at 74 Former Thai prime minister Samak Sundaravej, who was forced from office in 2008 for starring in television cooking shows, died of liver cancer Tuesday at the age of 74, associates said. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Bomb Kills 6 Family Members in Eastern Afghanistan A remote-controlled bomb planted in a water station exploded in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing six members of a family, including four children, authorities and a relative said. Staff, AP NEWS - 75 minutes ago
China Moves to Protect Pandas From Swine Flu A panda research center in northwestern China has been closed to visitors as a precaution to protect the endangered species from catching swine flu, state media reported on Tuesday. Staff, AP NEWS - 80 minutes ago
German Business Optimism Rises Again in November German business confidence rose for an eighth consecutive month in November as Europe’s biggest economy recovered steadily from its worst recession in decades, a leading survey showed Tuesday. George Frey, AP NEWS - 81 minutes ago
Chavez Faces Hunger Strike Protest Venezuelan students stage a hunger strike in Caracas to protest President Hugo Chavez’s policies. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 81 minutes ago
Blair,Bush Lampooned at Iraq Inquiry Demonstrators wearing blood-smeared masks of the former British and U.S. leaders stage a protest at the start of an official inquiry into Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 82 minutes ago
Cheetah Cubs Wow Tokyo Zoo Visitors Three cheetah cubs debut at a Tokyo zoo, attracting thousands of visitors. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 82 minutes ago
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