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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the release of two new program information bulletins pertaining to the rights of miners who make hazardous condition complaints and request inspections, as well as miners’ protections against discrimination. 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today issued a safety alert and fatality update to the mining industry to draw renewed attention to deaths that have occurred this year in mines throughout the country.  “While headlines continue to focus on the disaster at Upper Big Branch Mine, we cannot lose sight of the fact that other miners are losing their lives at our nation’s mines,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Since the beginning of this year, 28 other miners from all sectors of mining have died in fatal accidents. We must take action to prevent additional fatalities.”

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been petitioned by Public Citizen, a national advocacy organization, as well as other groups and individuals, to issue regulations that would limit the work hours of resident physicians. In response to the request, the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, Dr. David Michaels, today issued the following statement:

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Dusti Gurule as her regional representative in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Gurule is based in Denver, Colo.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Robert Asaro-Angelo as her representative in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Asaro-Angelo will be based in New York City.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued citations to Kief Industries Inc., doing business as Excelsior Brass Works. The citations allege the company knowingly exposed workers to lead hazards and violated federal workplace safety and health standards at its Blandon facility. Proposed penalties total $550,400.

In the week ending Aug. 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 472,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 478,000. The 4-week moving average was 485,500, a decrease of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average of 488,000.

The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $20,332,402 in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to the state of Utah. Utah qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by updating its laws to allow workers to use recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

Baidu unveiled a platform that lets users run applications through the company's website, beating Google to the punch. Users of the service can run applications similar to those found on Facebook or Apple's App Store.

Asian stock markets were modestly higher Friday with technology plays leading markets in Tokyo and Seoul. The Nikkei rose 0.4%.

Burger King Holdings agreed to a $3.3 billion leveraged buyout by private-equity firm 3G Capital Management that proposes to reinvigorate the struggling hamburger chain by accelerating its international expansion.

Burger King Holdings agreed to a $3.3 billion leveraged buyout by private-equity firm 3G Capital Management that proposes to reinvigorate the struggling hamburger chain by accelerating its international expansion.

Vacationers hustled out of coastal North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Earl, while forecasters predicted the gradually weakening storm would travel next to southern New England.

A slim lead helped spark a global inquiry that found some of Europe's vaunted banks actively evaded U.S. law in aiding sanctioned countries to move $2 billion undetected.

The fire that engulfed an oil and gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico heightened pressure on the energy industry, which is battling greater regulation and a deep-water drilling ban.

TV shows are emerging as a new front in the war over digital media between Amazon.com and Apple amid their ongoing battles over electronic books and online music.

TV shows are emerging as a new front in the war over digital media between Amazon.com and Apple amid their ongoing battles over electronic books and online music.

The Russian prime minister's move helped push up the price of wheat and sparked fears of supply shortages and broader unrest over rising food costs.

Disney and Time Warner Cable reached an accord after marathon negotiations over a long-term deal that will provide Time Warner Cable subscribers with a wide swath of Disney's programming.

Disney and Time Warner Cable reached an accord after marathon negotiations over a long-term deal that will provide Time Warner Cable subscribers with a wide swath of Disney's programming.