Business

Economy

Rising Interest Rates Worry Banking Industry

5:08am July 17, 2013

by Jim Zarroli

Five years after the start of the financial crisis, the U.S. banking industry continues to earn strong profits. On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs became the latest big bank to report better than expected earnings. But rising interest rates mean a riskier environment for banks.

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Weather Puts A Damper On Coca-Cola Sales

12:15pm July 16, 2013

Coca-Cola sales have slowed, in part because of the weather. The company says global soda sales rose by only 1 percent in the second quarter — less than expected. Coke's CEO cited rain and cold temperatures in the U.S., which seems to have put a damper on consumers' desire for a refreshing soft drink.

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Use The Books, Fans: 'Star Wars' Franchise Thrives In Print

10:56am July 16, 2013

by NPR Staff

More than 200 novels, the Star Wars' book series spans 25,000 years, from the beginning of the Jedi Order to 40 years beyond where the original trilogy left off. According to The Wall Street Journal's Alexandra Alter, the books help keep fans interested between movies.

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Health & Safety

Georgia Hospital System Partners With Royal Philips

6:22am July 16, 2013

by Jim Burress

Medical equipment manufacturers operate largely on a supply and demand model. But a new agreement between Georgia Regents Health System and Royal Philips means Philips will take on a new role. It will supply equipment and help the hospital achieve its mission of delivering better care to patients at a lower cost.

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Coca-Cola Life, a new product being rolled out in Argentina with a green label, is being marketed as a "natural" and therefore lower-calorie cola.

World News

In Argentina, Coca-Cola Tests Market For 'Green' Coke

6:40pm July 15, 2013

by Bob Mondello

Argentina is the site of the global kickoff of what Coke is describing as a "natural" and "green" lower-calorie cola. Coca-Cola Life contains stevia instead of sugar, and comes in a bottle that's made partially from plants.

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When Employees Need More Than An Advance On Their Paycheck

9:38am July 15, 2013

by Marianne McCune

Some companies offer employees one-on-one financial counseling. The service can be revealing.

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It's easier — and cheaper — than you'd expect to hack a cellphone, say a team of white hat hackers.

How Hackers Tapped Into My Cellphone For Less Than $300

8:57am July 15, 2013

by Laura Sydell

A group of good guy hackers showed us how they can listen in on phone conversations and read text messages of Verizon customers simply by using inexpensive store bought technology.

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World News

Rail Industry Vows To Learn From Fiery Accident In Canada

5:59am July 15, 2013

by Jeff Brady

As investigators look for what caused last weekend's train crash in Canada, a question is emerging across the border in the U.S.: Could it happen here? Transportation safety officials have warned railroads for years about the types of tanker cars involved in the Lac-Megantic accident. But they are still widely used in Canada and the U-S.

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National

Boeing Takes Another Hit With Fire On Plagued 787 Dreamliner

6:19pm July 12, 2013

by John Ydstie

Boeing's stock plummeted more than 7 percent on news of another fire on board a 787 Dreamliner. The plane was on the ground at London's Heathrow Airport and no passengers were on board. It's not known yet whether the fire had anything to do with the troubled plane's battery or electric system.

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National

Wal-Mart Threatens To Pull Out Of D.C. Over Wage Requirements

6:19pm July 12, 2013

by Allison Keyes

Wal-Mart says it will not build three of the six stores planned for Washington, D.C., after the city council passed a bill that would require the retailer to pay a wage nearly 50 percent higher than the city's minimum wage. Those three stores would be located in mostly low-income areas, with high unemployment and few places to shop. A similar situation once played out in Chicago.

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