Production of new domestics' vehicles on the rise

orth American OEMs will produce approximately 17.3 million light vehicles for the 2000 model year. The traditional Big Three (Daimler

Chrysler, Ford and General Motors) will account for 79 percent of that production, while new domestics (BMW, CAMI, Honda, Renault/Nissan, SubaruIsuzu, Toyota and Volkswagen) will take the remaining 21 percent. Things change, however, in 2005. Projections show a dramatic influx of new programs and plants will increase the new domestics' share dramatically.

By 2005, new domestics will churn out 27 percent of the 16.9 million light vehicles produced in North America. Production volume will increase from 3.6 million units to 4.6 million units. …

Biden a man of quick wit, depth and gaffes

If Joe Biden becomes vice president, expect to hear variations of this from his boss every now and then: What Joe meant to say was ...

The Delaware senator has played to type in the campaign. He was charming when it most counted, in his debate with Sarah Palin. He was an agile advocate of policy on the stump, with a grounding in foreign and domestic affairs honed over more than three decades in politics.

With a sharp tongue, he took the fight to Republican presidential nominee John McCain, as vice presidential picks are often expected to …

Difficult decision to axe editions

THE Carmarthen Journal will no longer be producing regionaleditions for Cardigan and Lampeter.

Editions for these areas ceased last week because of fallingreadership in these areas. Journal editor Cathryn Ings said: "It wasa very difficult decision to make but sadly we had no choice in thecurrent difficult economic climate.

"We will now be concentrating our resources in the county ofCarmarthenshire."

The Carmarthen …

Democrats Steer All-Night Iraq Debate

WASHINGTON - Democrats steered the Senate into an attention-grabbing, all-night Senate session Tuesday to dramatize opposition to the Iraq war but conceded they were unlikely to gain the votes needed to advance troop withdrawal legislation blocked by Republicans.

"Our enemies aren't threatened by talk-a-thons, and our troops deserve better than publicity stunts," said Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader.

McConnell and many other Republicans favor waiting until September before considering any changes to the Bush administration's current policy. They have vowed to block a final vote on the Democrats' attempt to require a troop withdrawal to begin within …

Turkish parliament to debate expanding smoking ban to bars and restaurants

Men playing backgammon and puffing on cigarettes and hookahs in smoke-filled village coffeehouses could soon become a hazy memory of Turkey's past.

Smoking is already barred on buses and airplanes and in larger offices. But on Wednesday, parliament was to debate a proposal to expand the smoking ban to all enclosed public areas, making it illegal for this tobacco-growing nation of smokers to light up in bars, restaurants and in coffeehouses. A vote could be held later Wednesday.

The draft bill, which is backed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted governing party, would also widen the ban to some open-air locations such as stadiums, sports …

Emergent's Trubion buyout clears regulatory hurdle

SEATTLE (AP) — The planned buyout of Trubion Pharmaceuticals Inc. by Emergent BioSolutions Inc. cleared a regulatory hurdle Wednesday, bringing the deal, potentially worth $135.5 million, closer to closing.

The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act for the acquisition, Trubion said.

The buyout still needs approval from Trubion shareholders before Rockville, Md.-based Emergent can complete the deal.

Emergent said last month it …

Sterling gets the green light for Blue Island shop

Decision upsets local repairers

BLUE ISLAND, Ill.-Collision repairers on Chicago's South Side have been embroiled in an ongoing battle to stop the construction of a new Sterling Autobody Center in their Blue Island neighborhood. After months of debate and twice being denied the permits necessary to build the proposed 16,000-sq. ft. facility on a vacant 1.75-acre plot of land-- estimated to cost between $1 million and $2 million-Sterling was granted the green light to build. On June 12, the Blue Island City Council granted final approval in an 8-6 vote to accept the zoning board's recommendation.

However, prior to this approval, the property owners and Sterling filed a …