Government And Institutions

The Serbian prime minister says his government has secured an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a standby loan after promising to slash public spending and rein in debt.

A judge said he will rule Friday on the constitutionality of the landmark Illinois pension patch after hearing arguments about whether the state can use the crisis of a $100 billion retirement-fund debt to cut benefits to retirees.

The U.S. is running out of options in its effort to tell consumers where fresh cuts of meat originated after a successful challenge to package labeling by Canada and Mexico.

California regulators have approved a settlement to divide billions of dollars in costs from the closed San Onofre nuclear power plant.

Some low-cost generic drugs that have helped restrain health care costs for decades are seeing unexpected price spikes of up to 8,000 percent, prompting a backlash from patients, pharmacists and now Washington lawmakers.

Even though the U.S. job market is gaining strength, there are still a lot of unemployed Americans.

Responding to criticism leveled at him last week, Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday challenged two Republican senators to "do more than just criticize and mischaracterize" actions being considered to reduce carbon pollution.

As government problems go, it's not a bad one to have: How should New York spend a $5 billion surplus? The options are all big-ticket, important items.

Iowa's largest grocery store chain should stop selling tobacco products to demonstrate its oft-stated commitment to health and wellness, anti-smoking activists said Thursday.

Gov. Dannel P.

Iowa should exercise caution in drafting the next budget plan because revenue growth has slowed, a top budget adviser to Gov. Terry Branstad said Thursday.

The prospects for Atlantic City's crumbling casino market are worsening.

The global quality chief of Takata Corp. apologized and an official from Honda acknowledged the automaker broke a disclosure law as a Senate committee put the spotlight on a growing problem with exploding air bags.

State regulators are set to consider whether to fine Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and require its shareholders to cover as much as $200 million of a gas rate increase because of backroom negotiations between the utility and regulators.

The U.S. Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week.

The number of people applying for U.S. unemployment benefits declined slightly last week, suggesting that job gains should remain solid.

The quality chief for Japanese air bag maker Takata Corp. is telling a Senate committee that a national recall of driver's side air bag inflators is not necessary.

U.S. stock exchanges will have to keep a closer eye on their electronic trading systems under rules adopted by federal regulators.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is promising the new Republican majority will quickly resurrect Keystone XL pipeline legislation killed by Democrats, potentially setting up an early 2015 veto confrontation with President Barack Obama.

Gov. Deval Patrick's administration ordered nearly $200 million in immediate spending cuts Wednesday while asking lawmakers to approve reductions in local aid and other accounts to help close a state budget shortfall.