Latest USA Headlines

All the headlines from our USA Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Hurricane Ida Kills 124 in El Salvador; Heading for Gulf Oil Fields and U.S.

Nov 9 2009 // Hurricane Ida headed toward oil and gas facilities in the central Gulf of Mexico on Monday on a path to the U.S. Gulf Coast after killing 124 people in El Salvador following floods and mudslides.U.S. oil companies were...

France’s AXA Eyes Asia Growth with Takeover Bid

Nov 9 2009 // AXA Asia Pacific rejected a $10.3 billion bid from parent AXA SA and Australian rival AMP Ltd on Monday, an initial hurdle for the French insurer’s bold ambitions to expand in Asia.AXA SA, Europe’s...

Pennsylvania Landowner Blames Energy Drilling for Water Pollution

Nov 9 2009 // An Avella, Pennsylvania landowner is suing an energy company for polluting his soil and water in an attempt to link a natural gas drilling technique with environmental contamination.George Zimmermann, the owner of 480...

Supreme Court to Hear Key Case on Patents For Business Methods

Nov 9 2009 // Software, biotech firms and others who develop new ways to do business will be watching closely Monday as the U.S. Supreme Court hears a case that could determine if such innovations can win patent protection.The case...

Hurricane Ida Shuts Gulf Refineries; Downgraded to Tropical Storm

Nov 9 2009 // Energy companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico shut in oil and natural gas production and a major gas hub was closed on Monday as Hurricane Ida spun toward the region.The Independence natural gas hub — the largest...

House Narrowly Approves Major Overhaul of Healthcare System

Nov 8 2009 // The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly endorsed Saturday the biggest healthcare overhaul in decades, giving President Barack Obama a crucial victory in a battle that now moves to the Senate.By a 220-215 vote, including...

UN Climate Change Treaty May Need Extra Year

Nov 6 2009 // A U.N. climate treaty may need an extra year beyond the December deadline to agree on details, delegates at U.N. talks said on Thursday, even as a U.S. Senate committee approved a carbon-capping bill.The Nov. 2-6 meeting...

U.S. Senate Passes Tax Loss Credit for Business

Nov 6 2009 // U.S. companies of all sizes would get to apply losses in 2008 or 2009 to prior income over five years to receive tax refunds under a bill that passed the Senate by a unanimous vote Wednesday.The provision was added to...

Military Insurer USAA Expands Reach by 35 Million to All Veterans

Nov 6 2009 // Military insurance company USAA is expanding its customer base by nearly 35 million prospects by opening up eligibility for its products to all veterans who have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces anytime.More than...

Recovery Could Depend on Companies’ Savvy Use of Temporary Workers

Nov 5 2009 // Most employers around the world are leery of using temporary workers and other contingent labor, but they will have to get over their reluctance if they are to thrive during an economic recovery, according to employment...

U.S. RE in Alliance with Argentine Broker

Nov 5 2009 // Tal P. Piccione, Chairman and CEO of international reinsurance brokerage firm U.S. RE Corp., announced that it “has formed a strategic, exclusive, and reciprocal alliance with San Segur, a prominent insurance and...

Catlin Group’s Interim Management Statement Shows Gains

Nov 5 2009 // The Bermuda -based Catlin Group Limited has released its interim management statement as of Sept. 30, 2009, which shows significant gains in the Group’s operations.The bulletin listed the following highlights for the...

8th Circuit Affirms Arkansas Court Ruling in Products Liability Case

Nov 5 2009 // The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit has upheld Arkansas district court decisions in a products liability case against pharmaceutical companies that are the makers of hormone therapy drugs that, combined, have...

U.S. Pay Czar to Decide on Clawback

Nov 4 2009 // The U.S. pay czar said Monday that he will determine “in the near future” how he will use his power to claw back pay at companies that have taken bailout money but is not currently in negotiations to do...

U.S. Rep. Kanjorski Favors Curbing Size of Financial Firms

Nov 4 2009 // The government should have the authority to break up or reconstruct financial firms before they become “too big to fail,” a prominent U.S. lawmaker said on Tuesday.The House Financial Services Committee is...

Ratings Roundup: Harbor Point Re, Travelers (UK), Sovag

Nov 4 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Bermuda-based reinsurer Harbor Point Re Ltd. and its U.S.-based subsidiary Harbor Point Reinsurance U.S. Inc. to stable from negative. S&P also...

IRS to Audit Large Companies on Tax, Independent Contractor Issues

Nov 3 2009 // U.S. tax authorities will start to audit 6,000 randomly selected companies to focus on employment tax issues ranging from executive compensation to fringe benefits, Internal Revenue Service officials said.The audits will...

UN Climate Change Talks Resume as Time Runs Out for Deal

Nov 2 2009 // Time has almost run out to break the deadlock on a U.N. climate deal supposed to be struck in Copenhagen next month, the United Nations and Denmark warned negotiators at a final preparatory meeting on Monday.“The...

Delaware Beats Switzerland As Most Secretive Financial Center

Nov 2 2009 // Move over Switzerland. The tiny U.S. state of Delaware beats the Alpine country in a contest for the most secretive financial jurisdiction, a tax justice rights group said.The United States, led by the eastern seaboard...

BP Refinery in Texas Hit with Record $87 Million Fine for Safety Violations

Nov 2 2009 // U.S. safety regulators on Friday hit oil giant BP with a record $87.4- million fine for failing to fix safety violations at its Texas City, Texas, refinery after a deadly 2005 explosion.In announcing the fines, U.S. Labor...