WASHINGTON – The nation's largest auto insurer said Tuesday it alerted federal safety regulators in late 2007 about a rise in reports of unexpected acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the latest warning sign to emerge about the massive recall.State Farm insurance said it noticed an uptick in reports of unwanted acceleration in Toyotas from its large customer database and warned the National Hi
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new 27-strong team of European commissioners.Each commissioner had previously faced a hearing in the European Parliament.The Commission is the EU's executive arm, responsible for drafting EU laws and ensuring that the 27 member states comply with the EU treaties.Bulgaria's first nominee, Rumiana Jeleva, failed to convince MEPs abou
BRU.S LS – EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso's new team is set to get the green light from the European parliament Tuesday, ending a three-month limbo period during the bloc's worst ever economic crisis.The mandate of Barroso's first team of policy commissioners officially ran out at the end of October but problems in ratifying the EU's reforming Lisbon Treaty, followed by the parlia
Crude oil prices rose by more than $1 a barrel on Tuesday, leading a broad recovery across commodity markets with base metals moving higher while gold also rose.In energy markets, Nymex March West Texas Intermediate rose $1.02 to $73.00 a barrel, while ICE March Brent gained $1 at $71.11 a barrel, supported by colder weather in the US and a weaker dollar.
Tui Travel, the tour operator, has increased the number of summer holidays on offer to customers in the UK and the Nordic region in order to meet stronger demand.It also said on Tuesday that second-quarter profitability had so far been significantly better than in the first quarter, in which it incurred a pre-tax loss of £166m.This had left it confident that it would meet expectations for its fir
The traditional draughty and backless hospital gown is getting a Hollywood-style makeover by one of the world's top designers.Ben de Lisi, famed for creating red-carpet frocks for stars like Kate Winslet, says his aspirational new design will preserve patients' modesty.The old gowns have been criticised for leaving patients laid bare.The Design Council will unveil the design next month as part
ABUJA, Nigeria – Parliament empowered Vice President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday to take over for the ill president of oil-rich Nigeria, whose absence has stoked unrest in Africa's most populous country.Both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed measures calling on Jonathan to act as president and commander in chief until President Umaru Yar'Adua returns from Saudi Arabia, whe
ABUJA – Nigeria's parliament on Tuesday voted to suspend ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua and hand power to his deputy until he is well enough to resume.Both houses of parliament voted to install Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as acting head-of-state, rejecting a cabinet decision that the 58-year-old president's frail health should not stop him remaining in office.Yar'Adua has been in hos
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