A battle between a class of fourth graders and a major movie studio would seem an unequal fight. But new Internet tools are allowing very ordinary people to defeat powerful corporate and political interests— by threatening the titans with online petitions that sometimes gather hundred of thousands of signatures.
A report by the American Lung Association finds that air pollution has fallen to its lowest levels since the group began collecting data in 2000. The nonprofit organization credits the Clean Air Act for the cleanup of major air pollution sources, such as coal-fired power plants and the fleet of older, dirtier trucks.
Lower trade deficits boosted optimism in the U.S. economic growth this week. American businesses sold a record number of goods and services in Europe, China and other foreign markets in February, while imports declined.
Orlando Bloom has an eco-house; Prince Charles has built a sustainable home, and now a major developer plans to build 500 eco-homes in Devon. Despite the economic gloom, the green way of building has never been more popular - 7,000 projects last year, a number that has more than doubled since 2009.
The number of beekeepers in New York City has quadrupled since the ban on keeping bees was lifted two years ago, figures show. Hives are now on skyscraper rooftops, in community gardens, and school backyards across the five boroughs. Locally produced food growers pushed hard for the ban to be overturned.
Nissan is back, one year after an earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan ground auto production to a halt, left giant cracks at a key factory and killed five employees and 17 family members. It's a story of surprising recovery that's playing out at other Japanese automakers, but particularly at Nissan.
Following the sun across the nation, a crew of young filmmakers got a first-hand look at how solar is working for Americans, reducing utility costs for diverse users like a boat marina, fire station, zoo and the Crayola Crayon factory.
Recent models including Apple's iPhone 5 and the Samsung Captivate are less hazardous than old handsets, according to a new chemical analysis. The new study offers encouraging results of tests on handsets which measured the amount of toxins these gadgets would unleash into landfills if not properly recycled.
Manufacturing unexpectedly expanded in September, exceeding even the most optimistic forecasts in a Bloomberg survey. Sustained strength in motor vehicle sales and a rebound in demand for home construction materials provided a major lift for American factories, which outperformed their counterparts in Europe and Asia, according to the Institute for Supply Management's factory index.
Consumer confidence jumped to its highest level in seven months in September as Americans were more optimistic about the job market and income prospects. The index spiked to 70.3 this month from an upwardly revised 61.3 in August.
Fliers rejoice: Travelers are late to fewer business meetings and missing fewer chances to tuck their kids into bed now that U.S. airlines are more punctual and less likely to lose their bags than at any time in more than two decades.Read More
Brazil has become one of globalization's success stories. A rigorous battle against corruption and poverty has ushered in new freedoms, growth, and increasing equality, winning the country respect around the world. (Der Spiegel)
Unemployment in the United Kingdom fell to 8.1 per cent in the March-May quarter, down from 8.3 per cent in the previous three months. The number of people with jobs increased by 181,000, the biggest quarterly gain in two years.
Residential construction, remodeling, moving, gardening and furniture buying add up to about 20 percent of the country's gross domestic product — which is why the upward momentum in housing, which continues to gain steam, is such a powerful boost to the economy.
Saudi Arabia is to license women's sports clubs for the first time, al-Watan daily reported, in a major step for an ultra-religious country where clerics have warned against female exercise.
A clutch of data pointed to growing momentum in the economy during the first quarter, with jobless claims trending lower and factory activity and homes sales both on the rise.
World poverty is shrinking and developing countries are becoming less poor according to a new study by Oxford University. Nepal, Rwanda and Bangladesh were the star performers.
US employers stepped up hiring in February, adding a greater-than-expected 236,000 workers to their payrolls and helping to push the jobless rate to a four year-low in a bright signal on the economy's health.
The number of New York City homicide deaths this year, already plummeting to historic lows, is actually lower than police statistics show. Older cases further reduced the homicide count to 388 through Wednesday; compared with 493 during the same period in 2011.