Tropical depression off Mexico coast strengthens (AP)

AP - Forecasters say a tropical depression off the coast of Mexico has strengthened slightly.

Greenpeace activists given suspended jail term (AFP)

AFP - A Japanese court Monday sentenced two Greenpeace activists to one-year jail terms, suspended for three years, for stealing a box of whale meat during an investigation, the environmental group said.

Hon Hai shares fall after reports on sales target cut (Reuters)

Reuters - Shares in Hon Hai Group (2317.TW), maker of Apple's iPhones, fell as much as 4 percent on Monday after its chairman was quoted as saying in a report that the group will halve its long-term sales growth target to 15 percent annually.

Obama launches big week on economy (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama launches several economic initiatives this week aimed at generating some desperately needed U.S. job growth and limiting predicted Democratic losses in November 2 congressional elections.

'Lazy' ecotourism industry cops a blast

Australia's ecotourism industry is paying the price for taking a lazy ride on the back of past glories, an industry figure says.

Australia's Macquarie warns on profit (Reuters)

Reuters - Australia's top investment bank Macquarie Group Ltd warned investors it would miss profit forecasts after weak markets took a toll on its trading and advisory business, sending its shares to a 15-month low.

Health-services industry has brighter prospects in the local job market

The health-services industry is one of the few bright spots in a faltering job market. The Richmond area lost nearly 5,900 jobs in the 12 months that ended in June, according to Chmura Economics & Analytics.

Industrial agriculture puts big problems on our plates

Former housing industry workers transfer their skills to new jobs

In 2007, a booming construction industry employed about one in every 15 workers in South Florida. Three years later, it's one out of 24. Six workers who once had building-related jobs tell how they are making the transition.

Malaysia's Biodiesel industry at a standstill

The biodiesel industry in Malaysia is at a standstill stage with almost zero production, said the Malaysian Biodiesel Association vice-president U.R. Unnithan. He said many players were not able to m .....

Industry funds on guard

A conference of industry superannuation funds has been warned of the implications of a minority Coalition Government for the not-for-profit sector.

Industrial property yields to stay over eight per cent

Good buying opportunities exist in industrial property, with high quality assets to be found on an 8.25 per cent yield, according to Charter Hall Direct Property’s chief executive, Richard Stacker.

Diverse water sources key to food security: report (Reuters)

Reuters - Increasingly erratic rainfall patterns related to climate change pose a major threat to food security and economic growth, water experts said on Monday, arguing for greater investment in water storage.

Fury as 263 sacked factory workers told 'train your Polish replacements before you leave'

Twinings bosses announced they will be closing its North Shields factory with the loss of 263 jobs. All production will be transferred to Poland or China by September.

Skydiving industry says it's safe despite crash

The New Zealand skydiving industry says nobody should lose confidence in the industry after Saturday's plane crash at Fox Glacier that killed nine people

Hotel industry all set for expansion:SIHRA

Chennai, Sep 4 (UNI) The hotel industry in the south is heading for a massive expansion with 119 new hotels set to add about 11,000 additional rooms, Mr T Natarajan, Secretary, South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA) said today.

Labor Day Is No Vacation for a Growing Number of Workers (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - If you're a business owner or a salaried employee, the long Labor Day weekend is a chance to kick back and relax before heading into the busy fall business season. If you're an hourly employee - and more than half of all workers are, according to the U.S. Census Bureau - you might not have that luxury, particularly if you're a low-level worker involuntarily working part time.

What might make the Fed flinch? (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. economy appears to be trudging along, neither booming nor busting, growing steadily enough to diminish double-dip recession fears but not quickly enough to bring down unemployment.

Focus of Gulf oil disaster shifts to finding the culprit (AFP)

AFP - With a key piece of evidence raised from the depths of the Gulf of Mexico and BP's Macondo well ruled a threat no longer, the focus shifts to what went wrong and who is to blame.

Debt levels should fall after pre-crisis jump: BIS (Reuters)

Reuters - Debt levels that ran up ahead of the financial crisis have shown only a modest decline since and are likely to fall sharply in the coming years, a study said.

McCain Hits Democrats for 'Flailing Around' on Economy (CQPolitics.com)

CQPolitics.com - Leading voices in both parties sparred Sunday over the state of the economy and the role that Bush tax cuts should play in the recovery.

Key oil spill evidence raised to Gulf's surface (AP)

AP - Investigators looking into what went wrong in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are a step closer to answers now that a key piece of evidence is secure aboard a ship.

Update | Two dead, two injured in Gozo fireworks factory blast

The cloud of smoke from the Gharb fireworks factory as seen from Zebbug. Photo: Kevin Farrugia Sacco/Mediatoday Eyewitnesses say three explosions were heard in the area of Toni tal-Gharb.

Three killed in Gozo fireworks factory explosion (updated)

Three persons were confirmed dead and another two reportedly seriously injured in an explosion that occurred at a fireworks factory close to Għarb at around 18:10 CEST on Sunday. Eyewitnesses said three powerful explosions were heard coming from the direction of the fireworks factory situated in the area of Toni tal-Gharb. A large mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke was [...]

Sanofi ready to raise bid if Genzyme talks: report (Reuters)

Reuters - French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis would be prepared to moderately raise its $69 per share offer for Genzyme if the U.S. biotech agreed to negotiate, Dow Jones reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Fireworks factory blows up in Gozo

A fireworks factory near Gharb in Gozo blew up at about 6.10 pm. today. Eyewitnesses said they saw a big mushroom-shaped cloud over the scene. Three explosions were heard over a wide area.

After 20 years of protection, owl declining but forests remain (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — Twenty years after northern spotted owls were protected under the Endangered Species Act, their numbers continue to decline, and scientists aren't certain whether the birds will survive even though logging was banned on much of the old-growth forest in the Pacific Northwest where they live in order to save them.

Taxpayers may face initial loss on GM IPO: sources (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. government is likely to take a loss on General Motors Co in the first offering of the automaker's stock, six people familiar with preparations for the landmark IPO said.

Wanted For Long Space Missions: Flexible Astronaut, Works Well With Others (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - When it comes to flying in space, the makeup of an astronaut crew can be just as important as the mission itself, and the same goes for a team of six volunteers going through the motions of a 520-day trek to Mars without ever leaving Earth.

Industry proposes ‘infra czar’

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is pushing for the appointment of an infrastructure czar from among the Cabinet members who will serve as point man on priority public-private partnerships, its president Francis Chua said.

Rise in US industrial output drives markets higher

• Dow Jones up 200 points as recession fears recede • But UK industrial orders lowest for nine months Share prices rose strongly in the City and on Wall Street after a stronger than expected showing by America's factories last month helped ease concerns of a double-dip recessionin the world's largest economy. Amid signs of relief in New York, the Dow Jones industrial average surged by more than ...

BP hikes asset sale target after oil spill: report (AFP)

AFP - Oil giant BP has increased to nearly 25 billion pounds the amount it wants to raise from an asset sale programme in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

Milk powder factory plan

Kota Kinabalu: The Department of Veterinary Services & Animal Industry (Dovsai) wants to set up a milk powder factory in Sabah - the first of its kind in the country.

Industrial relations specialist Stephen Ben Carter passes on

FORMER Director of Industrial Relations in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Stephen Benjamin Carter, has passed on. He died on Monday, August 30, 2010 after a brief illness.

As a Hurricane, Earl Looked Like 'Magnificent Chaos' From Space (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - The former Hurricane Earl put on a striking weather display for astronauts on the International Space Station, impressing the crew with its strength even as it weakened to a tropical storm.

IMF's Lipsky says moderate world recovery underway (Reuters)

Reuters - The world economy is recovering moderately but still faces challenges such as the need for medium-term fiscal consolidation, the IMF's First Managing Director, John Lipsky, said on Sunday.

Venezuela OKs payment for French retailer Casino (Reuters)

Reuters - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has approved a $690 million payment to French retailer Casino and other owners of a supermarket chain nationalized earlier this year, state media said on Saturday.

Trichet calls for united EU at the IMF (AFP)

AFP - European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet called Saturday for Europe to hold a united position on refomin the International Monetary Fund.

Obama to address new economic ideas next Wednesday (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama said on Friday he would outline new measures next week to boost the U.S. economy, but analysts were skeptical he would be able to deliver a big enough package to lift growth significantly.

Industry fears over cheaper coins

Vending machine companies warn cheaper "steel" 5p and 10p coins being considered by the Treasury could cost the industry millions of pounds.

The nation's weather (AP)

AP - The remnants of Hurricane Earl took aim at Nova Scotia early Saturday after a brush with the Northeast that was far less intense than feared, dumping heavy, wind-driven rain on Cape Cod cottages and fishing villages accustomed to nor'easters.

Raj industry department, IFC sign MoU to promote biz

Rajasthan Industry Department and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank Group member, have signed an MoU to promote the state as an attractive investment destination.

Biotech salmon safe for eating: FDA (Reuters)

Reuters - A biotechnology company's genetically engineered salmon are as safe to eat as other Atlantic salmon, U.S. regulators said as they weighed approval of the first DNA-altered animal for Americans' dinner plates.

Petrobras sells 64 bln dlrs of stock to fund oil exploration (AFP)

AFP - Brazil's Petrobras unveiled one of the world's biggest share offerings Friday, a sale of up to 64 billion dollars in new stock to finance oil exploration aimed at turning Brazil into a leading oil exporter of the 21st century.

Campbell reports Q4 profit rise on better margins (AP)

AP - Summer is rarely a hot sales season for Campbell Soup Co., and this year's sweltering June and July made that even more true, but the company said Friday that cost-cutting and strong drink sales helped its net income climb.

Industrial Alliance buys Golden State Mutual business for US$11 million

Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc., Canada’s fourth-biggest insurer, said Friday it has acquired the life insurance policies of California-based Golden State Mutual for US$11 million.

First Industrial Realty Trust Declares Preferred Stock Dividends

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. , a leading provider of industrial real estate supply chain solutions, today announced that its board of directors declared a dividend of $0.45313 per depositary share on its 7.25% Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock for the quarter ending September 30, 2010 payable on September 30, 2010 to stockholders of record on September 15, 2010. Â

MGIC added $1.2B in mortgage coverage in August (AP)

AP - Private mortgage insurer Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp. said Friday it added $1.2 billion in new primary insurance coverage in August and the number of delinquent loans it insures declined.

Industrial Alliance buys Golden State Mutual business for US$11M

QUEBEC - Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc., Canada's fourth-biggest insurer, said Friday it has acquired the life

Clams befouling Tahoe invade Adirondack lake in NY (AP)

AP - A thumbnail-sized clam blamed for clouding the azure bays of Lake Tahoe high in the Sierra Nevada has now turned up in a mountain-ringed Adirondack lake renowned for its limpid, spring-fed waters.