General Motors earned its largest profit ever in 2011, two years after it nearly collapsed. Strong sales in the United States and China helped the automaker turn a profit of $7.6 billion, beating its old record of $6.7 billion set during the pickup and SUV boom of 1997. GM said 47,500 blue-collar workers in the United States will get $7,000 profit-sharing checks in March.
The unemployment rate fell for the fifth straight month after a surge of January hiring, a promising shift in the nation's outlook for job growth. The Labor Department says employers added 243,000 jobs in January, the most in nine months
After a four-year run during which states had to close budget gaps of historic proportions, the term "surplus" is finally making a modest comeback in capitals. According to the Rockefeller Institute of Government, at least 45 states saw their revenues increase over the past year. Enough economic vital signs are headed in the right direction that the mood in most states is encouraging, and some legislatures will start reversing the most painful of their recent cuts as soon as this year.
Today marks a milestone in the fight against polio as India marks one year since the last recorded case of new polio infection there. This success is the result of decades of work by Rotary International along with its partners, as well as the tens of millions of dollars donated to the cause by Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
Two-thirds of Americans are optimistic that they will be better off financially next year than they are now, according to a new poll. Also, fewer Americans are experiencing daily worry or stress, and their emotional heath, self-measured by how much they remember smiling, laughing and enjoyment of recent days, is now higher than it has been in any month since tracking began in January 2008.
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.
Mitsubishi electric car owners in Japan will soon be able to use the family car as an emergency generator, using their EV's batteries to power a home.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For a blissful 36 hours beginning on Sunday night, there was no gun or knife violence reported in New York City. Officials couldn't remember the last time that happened. But it may not be as rare in the future. Homicide rates in the Big Apple have fallen continuously since the 1990's.
Recent Stories
A Heartfelt Reminder to Appreciate the Ones We Love
Cherish the Woman Who Stands by You
Breaking Generational Cycles of Pain
Living by Your Own Values, Not Others' Approval
When Life Brings Rain, It’s Okay to Rest
Before You Judge Someone's Life, Take a Moment to Walk in Their Shoes.
A Friend Who Spreads Gossip is Not a True Friend at All
The Value of Human Connection Over Digital Convenience
The Quiet Kind of Love
One Day, Your Mom Won’t Call You Anymore
I’ve reached a point in my life...
Happiness is a mindset, a conscious choice we make every day