| US: A Mission to Rebuild Reputations by Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post January 17th, 2008 Now those promises -- and the public's perception of the Air Force's ability to spend its money prudently -- are being tested by new contracting and public relations challenges. The Air Force is about to award two key contracts worth a total of about $55 billion, and Boeing is in the running for both deals. |
| EU: European Antitrust Regulators Raid Large Drug Makers
by STEPHEN CASTLE and JAMES KANTER, New York Times January 17th, 2008 Antitrust regulators on Wednesday raided big European drug makers as part of an investigation into whether patents and lawsuit settlements are being manipulated to keep generic products off the market. |
| CHINA: In Chinese Factories, Lost Fingers and Low Pay by DAVID BARBOZA, New York Times January 5th, 2008 Nearly a decade after some of the most powerful companies in the world — often under considerable criticism and consumer pressure — began an effort to eliminate sweatshop labor conditions in Asia, worker abuse is still commonplace in many of the Chinese factories that supply Western companies, according to labor rights groups. |
| US: Suit says IBM dumped chemicals in New York state
by Dan Wilchins and Philipp Gollner, Reuters January 3rd, 2008 Neighbors of a former IBM plant in New York state sued the company on Thursday, saying it released chemicals into the air, ground and water for nearly 80 years that caused birth defects and cancer. |
| CHINA/US: The Recalls’ Aftershocks by Louise Story and David Barboza, New York Times December 22nd, 2007 Toy makers are investigating whether they need to treat their tainted products with stabilization chemicals or if they must seal the toys in giant polyethylene bags. |
| CHINA: China Grabs West’s Smoke-Spewing Factories by Joseph Kahn and Mark Landler, New York Times December 21st, 2007 In its rush to re-create the industrial revolution that made the West rich, China has absorbed most of the major industries that once made the West dirty. |
| EUROPE: Europe Proposes Binding Limits on Auto Emissions by James Kanter, New York Times December 20th, 2007 European Union officials told leading automakers to make deep cuts in tailpipe emissions of the cars they produce or face fines that could reach billions of euros. Companies including Volkswagen and Renault immediately promised a fight to weaken the proposed legislation. |
| GLOBAL: Mining Firms Bulk Up, Echoing Big Oil Mergers by Patrick Barta and Robert Guy Matthews, Wall Street Journal December 18th, 2007 Mining are embarking on another round of deals that promises industry juggernauts with great influence over the cost of raw materials -- and, by extension, the price of consumer electronics, cars and new apartment blocks. |
| US: Senator Says Wal-Mart Sells Products From Sweatshops
by Reuters, New York Times December 13th, 2007 A Democratic senator said Wednesday that Christmas tree ornaments sold at Wal-Mart Stores and other major retailers were made in a Chinese sweatshop. |
| US: New York Manhole Covers, Forged Barefoot in India by Heather Timmons and J. Adam Huggins, New York Times November 26th, 2007 Companies responsible for the manufacturing of manholes are criticized over worker conditions in India, where manufacturing takes place.javascript:change_form_block( 'location_trigger' ); |
| SOUTH KOREA: Corruption scandal snowballs at Samsung Group in South Korea by Choe Sang-Hun, International Herald Tribune November 6th, 2007 A corruption scandal at Samsung Group, the South Korean conglomerate, snowballed Tuesday as prosecutors vowed to open a formal investigation into allegations that its chairman had masterminded a massive scheme of bribery and illegal transactions. |
| US: Lessons Even Thomas Could Learn by David Leonhardt, NY Times October 24th, 2007 Toy manufacturer RC2 recalls toys due to lead content, replacing them with new lead-contaminated toys. |
| US: US green groups urge Toyota U-turn by John Reed, Financial Times October 15th, 2007 Toyota is scrambling to protect its green reputation in the US, its largest market, where environmental groups are urging it to drop its opposition to a draft fuel economy bill. |
| CHINA: China Takes Aim at U.S. on Quality Control Amid Criticism Over Recalls by Nicholas Zamiska, Wall Street Journal October 10th, 2007 The Chinese government, scrambling to counter a storm of criticism over the safety of the nation's exports, is now taking aim at products sent to China from some of America's largest companies. |
| US: UAW Workers Walk Off the Job by John D. Stoll and Jeffrey McCracken, Wall Street Journal September 24th, 2007 The decision Monday by the United Auto Workers to walk off the job at General Motors highlights yet again the divisive element of healthcare in labor relations, and how what began as a historic accident is now the single biggest liability for both businesses and workers. |
| US: Cribs Recalled After Deaths of 2 Children by Michael M. Grynbaum, nytimes September 24th, 2007 One million cribs designed by Simplicity for Children, a manufacturer based in Pennsylvania, have been recalled after the suffocation deaths of at least two children, the government said yesterday. It was the company’s fourth recall in a little more than two years. |
| US: Wal-Mart maps out grand plan to go greener by Fiona Harvey and Jonathan Birchall, Financial Times September 24th, 2007 Wal-Mart will set out how it will cut costs by measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout its supply chain Monday. |
| US: In Turnaround, Industries Seek Regulations by Eric Lipton and Gardiner Harris, New York Times September 16th, 2007 After years of favoring the hands-off doctrine of the Bush administration, some of the nation's biggest industries are pushing for something they have long resisted: new federal regulations. |
| US: '60s Figure Says He Financed Donor Hsu by Ianthe Jeanne Dugan and Brody Mullins, Wall Street Journal September 12th, 2007 A company controlled by Democratic Party donor Norman Hsu recently received $40 million from a Madison Avenue investment fund run by Joel Rosenman, who was one of the creators of the Woodstock rock festival in 1969. That money, Mr. Rosenman told investors this week, is missing. |
| US: Investigative Report: U.S. ships unsafe products by Russell Carollo, Sacramento Bee September 9th, 2007 This report finds that goods manufactured in the US and sent to other countries do not meet our own safety standards and often do not receive media attention. |