Bridesville.net Web News Archive

Big Oil Defends Industry Mergers in Hearing (Washington Post) - Senior executives from major oil companies underwent a grilling yesterday at a Senate hearing, where lawmakers from both parties blamed mergers for boosting energy prices and threatened to press ahead with legislation aimed at stiffening the antitrust rules governing the industry.

Merck Frosst Canada president calls for government support of industry (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News) - MONTREAL (CP) - The worldwide pharmaceutical industry is going through a tough period and governments cannot afford to neglect it if they want to keep down health-care costs, the president of Merck Frosst Canada said Tuesday.

Power Industry Holds Firm on Rate Jumps (Washington Post) - Power industry officials warned Maryland lawmakers yesterday against meddling with planned electricity rate increases of as much as 72 percent, saying such efforts could result in less reliable service for customers, financial risk for companies and, at worst, California-style rolling blackouts.

Senators Criticize Oil Industry Mergers (AP via Yahoo! News) - Lawmakers told oil executives Tuesday that a "merger mania" in their industry has significantly diminished competition and allowed soaring oil and gasoline prices.

Insurance industry wants funding boost for windstorm insurance (Houston Chronicle) - Warning that Texas insurers are unprepared for a busy hurricane season this summer, the industry has asked Gov. Rick Perry to add a funding boost for windstorm insurance in high-risk coastal areas to the upcoming special legislative session on school finance.

Germany's sex industry gears up for World Cup (Reuters via Yahoo! News) - The combination of nail-biting soccer matches and crowds of beer-swilling males could mean hefty profits for Germany's sex industry.

OSHA Unveils New Printing Industry Ergonomics eTool (Ergonomics Today) - America's printing industry has a new resource to help keep workers safe on the job - Ergonomics in the Printing Industry eTool - the latest interactive web-based training tool unveiled his week by OSHA.

NetSuite Shifts Business Model, Offers Industry-Specific Apps (TechWeb) - NetSuite launches the first in a handful of industry-specific hosted applications expected to change the company's business model in the coming months.

Ethanol industry future in doubt (ABC via Yahoo! Australia & NZ News) - The future expansion of the ethanol industry is under a cloud.

Industry unhappy with laundering bill (The Age) - The government's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing bill has struck problems with key industry groups wanting more information about proposed changes and more time to consider them.