Government And Institutions

Japanese lawmakers have approved a law requiring large companies to set and publicize targets for hiring or promoting women as managers.

Figures on government spending and debt (last six digits are eliminated).

If there was ever a week for the Republican presidential candidates to promise to get tough on China, this was it: Spurred by the stock market's wild ride, they lashed out at the world's most populous nation.

Emboldened by a deal with international creditors to write down part of its debt, Ukraine is asking Russia for lower gas prices for the winter season.

Republicans say they're not satisfied with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claim that a 3-million-gallon toxic spill from an inactive gold mine was likely "inevitable," even though there had been prior warnings that such a spill could occur.

Environmental groups and a New Orleans company that failed to end a decade-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico have reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit over the slow-motion spill.

Democratic lawmakers advanced a package of tobacco regulation bills on Thursday, reviving proposals that earlier stalled in the Legislature amid opposition from tobacco companies.

Fund Opening Balance (July 2005) 10 year cumulative income 10 year cumulative disbursements 10 year spending rate Accumulated Balance (June 2014) California Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Research Fund $2 million $4.9 million $5.2 million 105% $1.8 million California Peace Officer Memorial Fund $178,000 $1.56 million $1.6 million 104% $122,000 California Breast Cancer $941,000 $5.2 million $5.3 million 102% $819,000 California Ovarian Cancer Research Fund 0 $241,000 $241,000 100% 0 California Prostate Cancer Research Fund 0 $418,000 $418,000 100% 0 California Sexual Violence Victims Fund 0 $386,000 $386,000 100% 0 Veterans Quality of life fund 0 $304,000 $304,000 100% 0 Arts Council Fund 0 $333,000 $331,000 99% $2,000 California Seniors Special Fund $131,000 $588,000 $584,000 99% $135,000 California Missions Foundation Fund $131,000 $303,000 $299,000 99% $4,000 California Firefighters' Memorial Fund $313,000 $6.9 million $6.7 million 97% $210,000 California Fund for Senior Citizens $383,000 $2.9 million $2.7 million 94% $480,000 California Police Activities League (CALPAL) Fund 0 $135,000 $124,000 92% $11,000 ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease Research Fund 0 $604,000 $538,000 89% $66,000 California Veterans Homes Fund 0 $421,000 $324,000 77% $97,000 Municipal Spay Neuter Fund 0 $1 million $752,000 72% $291,000 Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund $367,000 $475,000 $842,000 72% 0 California Sea Otter Fund 0 $2.3 million $1.6 million 68% $743,000 California Cancer Research fund 0 $2.1 million $1.1 million 51% $1 million Safely Surrendered Baby 0 $344,000 $112,000 33% $232,000 California Military Family Relief Fund 0 $1.55 million $376,000 24% $1.2 million California Youth Leadership Fund 0 $92,000 $4,000 4% $88,000 California YMCA Youth and Government Fund 0 $126,000 $5,000 4% $121,000 Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund 0 $461,000 $10,000 2% $451,000 State Parks Protection Fund 0 $650,000 $13,000 2% $637,000 School Supplies for Homeless Children Fund 0 $644,000 $9,000 1% $635,000 California Colorectal Cancer Prevention Fund 0 $237,000 $2,000 1% $235,000 Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund 0 $173,000 0 0% $173,000 American Red Cross, California Chapters Fund 0 $174,000 0 0% $174,000 Keep Arts In Schools Fund 0 $237,000 0 0% $237,000 SOURCE: State Controller's office budgetary/legal annual basis reports.

The Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Thursday.

Fewer people sought U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that employers remain confident in the economy and are laying off few workers.

Every year when they do their taxes, Californians donate millions for charitable causes.

U.S. stocks moved higher in early trading Wednesday after slumping for six straight days amid concern about a slowing Chinese economy.

Federal investigators say in a new report that officials with the solar company Solyndra misrepresented facts and omitted key information in its effort to get a $535 million loan guarantee before filing for bankruptcy protection nearly four years ago.

Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk said Wednesday it will open new factories in North Carolina and Denmark as pharmaceutical companies seek to keep up with demand for diabetes medications in an increasingly overweight world.

An oversight by representatives of a business community improvement district in Columbia means a 23-year-old woman might be the only one voting on a proposed sales tax increase needed to make the district successful.

GOP presidential candidate Scott Walker is renewing his call for President Barack Obama to cancel an official state visit with the president of China in response to slumping U.S. stock markets.

Figures on government spending and debt (last six digits are eliminated).

Montana reached a settlement with CenturyLink on Tuesday that requires the telecommunications company to improve maintenance response times and accept a federal grant to expand broadband in the state.

Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies won approval Tuesday to pick up passengers at Los Angeles International Airport after weeks of debate over whether their drivers are properly screened to weed out criminals.

The home-sharing company Airbnb has agreed to incorporate in its prices a small tourist tax on rental apartments in Paris — following a request by Paris authorities.