China's Toxic Toys: Are Big U.S. Makers Passing the Buck to Taxpayers? Big Battle Looms in Washington Over Accountability for Child Toy Safety Will the CPSC, FDA or US toy makers have on-sight inspection of China factories in place, or will child endangering, after-the-fact policies continue? Who will answer for the irresponsible trade practices that have resulted in the hospitalization and life threatening experiences of the recently victimized children.
Are Big U.S. Makers Passing the Buck to Taxpayers?
With consumer outrage and shock boiling over concerning toxic toys made in China (outsourced by big U.S. toymakers), a big battle in Washington looms over whether accountability for product testing and child safety rests with toy makers or the federal government.
Will the CPSC, FDA or US toy makers have on-sight inspection of China factories in place, or will irresponsible, child endangering, after-the-fact policies continue?
The recent disclosure by CPSC head Nancy Nord that the fed agency has just one toy tester on its staff, has American parents fretting over just who is protecting their children from the onslaught of toxic toys that has recently hospitalized 9 young victims with GHB (date-rape drug) shock obtained from Aqua Dots ingestion. Some feel big U.S. toy makers are passing the buck and should be quality controlling on Chinese soil at the factories rather than relying on the feds or retailers to screen for products in violation of safety standards.
Chinese government officials are scrambling to shut down factories that are producing sub-standard goods, but will that be enough to stop toxic products from appearing on America's shelves and into the hands of America's children?
With the Holiday buying crush poised to start, it appears that smaller toy retailers who know their suppliers more intimately will benefit.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to stave off the tidal wave of consumer backlash that seriously jeopardizes their Holiday profits, big box retailers are rolling out PR campaigns that endeavor to make parents aware of independent off-the-shelf testing and inspection programs that they are scrambling putting in place.
globalEyeNews Video Report: Iran Military Drill Flaunts Swastika Desecrated US Flag & Star of David Plundered by Sword Iran Military Ripping Through Swastika Desecrated US Flag Video Excerpts of Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei Inspecting Military Foot-Drills Depicting Sword of Ali Ripping through a Swastika Desecrated US Flag and a Star of David.
CBS Reports Taxpayers Foot Bill for Massive Government Air Travel Abuse Feds Grab Millions in Improper Airline Upgrades A US GAO Report obtained by CBS News reveals widespread air travel abuse amongst various Federal Agencies
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A *US GAO Report obtained by CBS News reveals widespread air travel abuse amongst various Federal Agencies, with Federal employees treating themselves to improperly taken premium class upgrades.
Of 53,000 premium class tickets purchased @ $230 million, two out of every three of upgrades broke federal rules costing taxpayers $146 million.
Cited, were abuses, such as a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Executive, whose ten trips to Western Europe escalated from $9000 to upgrades totalling $62,000. Another Agriculture Department official broke the rules with a $7500 improperly upgraded fare from the $900 coach flight that was required.
Federal rules have been easily circumvented up until now because agencies were only required to track and record first class ticket purchases, not business class, where most of the abuses have occurred.
According to CBS, all that is about to change, with past offenders being culled from bank records and earmarked for possible paybacks of the funds.
Similar systematic Defense Department abuse was revealed in a 2003. Since then, allocations for premium class flights shrank from $60m to $23 million.
*The US GAO (US Government Accountability Office)is the investigative arm of Congress charged with examining matters relating to the receipt and payment of public funds. The GAO-07-1268 Full 45 page report entitled 'Premium Class Travel: Internal Control Weaknesses Governmentwide Led to Improper and Abusive Use of Premium Class Travel' can be downloaded (PDF) or viewed (Accessible Text HTML) online.
The Volvo online highseas adventure hunt for a sunken treasure chest containing $50,000 in gold pieces and the keys to a new Volvo XC90 luxury SUV is on. Volvo has challenged registrants from 22 countries worldwide to join in and find it. The competition is a promotional partnership with Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End which opened in theatres on May 25 with record box office numbers.
The online hunt is the second in Volvo's partnership with Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise that began with last year's highly successful 2006 promotion limited to residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Spain and Austria only.
The 2007 hunt began worldwide May 4, with registration open through yesterday, and will conclude with a global online 'head to head' June 2 between top performers representing each of the 22 participating countries.
Once registered online, participants set sail on a virtual high seas adventure and receive clues as they solve a series of challenging and funonline puzzles. On June 2, the first person from each of the 22 participating countriesto finish the online hunt will compete against one another in one final online challenge. To participate in the global head to head, players will be required to present an original pirate chart upon conclusion of The Hunt.
The first of those 22 individuals to solve the final puzzle will be named the winner and will receive a trip to the burial location to retrieve the chest filled with $50,000 in pirate's gold and a key to a newVolvo XC90 luxury SUV.
Countries participating in The Hunt include the United States, Canada, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
If your interested in catching up with the action visit Volvo's treasure hunt blog and message board, The Hunt 2007, to learn more and discuss the Hunt's developments.
Lindsay Lohan's career was again "curbed" after her car struck one. Lohan was tracked down and arrested at the hospital after cocaine was reportedly found in the car at the scene.
Lohan was arrested at the hospital for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, then released when she was admitted for treatment. Police declined to say what her blood-alcohol level was, but said the case would be presented to the district attorney's office, where she could face additional charges. It appears that felony charges would be likely to follow.
With news of Lindsay Lohan's weekend DUI breaking, Svedka vodka has apparently pulled out of sponsoring Lohan's 21st birthday bash that was to be held this July in Las Vegas.
Lohan's latest movie, Georgia Rule, is in theaters now. Her other screen credits include Mean Girls, Bobby, A Prairie Home Companion and Freaky Friday.
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Reuters Top News Video: Middle East Women Chew the Fat Tribeca Film Festival Documentary Spotlight: "A Slim Peace" Israeli and Palestinian Women Shed Pounds Together
May 4 - Israelis and Palestinians chew the fat about peace and smaller waistlines in a new documentary.
"A Slim Peace," a new documentary showing at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, explores whether bringing together Israeli and Palestinian women to shed pounds together and talk about peace, can help resolve the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Renae Bunney reports.
Spider-Man 3 is Here! CBS News Video - Tobey Maguire Interview Early Show - Weekend Marquee with Harry Smith
Spider-Man 3 (Columbia Pictures) opened today and, accodring to CBS News and many other sources, as well, it is expected to again hit blockbuster status and, perhaps, outdo its predecessors.
In the interviview with Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith, "Maguire agreed with co-anchor Harry Smith's assessment that, "The biggest villain you fight in this movie … is your own ego."
"Yeah," Maguire concurred. "It's my inner-struggle. Peter Parker's ego gets inflated, and he has real anger, and desire for vengeance."
He told Smith he planned to attend one of the film's opening showings in a theater, anonymously, "of course." .)
ABC News Video: Rocket Fuel Chemical Found in Food, Water Supply GMA Health Alert: Tainted Food Supply? Studies Being Done to Determine Long-Term Effects of Small Amounts of Perchlorate on Human Health
Perchlorate, a chemical used in rocket fuel, is turning up in the nation's food -- in vegetables like lettuce and spinach -- and water supply.
You've never heard of it? Most Americans haven't, but millions have been exposed to it. This week Congress held hearings to determine just how dangerous it is to humans' health.
"A study from the Centers for Disease Control last year tested almost 3,000 people who are representative of the U.S. population. They found perchlorate in every single person," said Dr. Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group.
So how did something used to launch inter-continental missiles and the space shuttle find its way into our homes?
At a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce this week, a government report was made public for the first time revealing that at sites in more than 25 states, perchlorate had leaked into the drinking water and soil. About 65 percent of that contamination was attributed to the Department of Defense and to NASA.
The Pentagon said it has invested "over $114 million in research related to perchlorate toxicity," and that they are "developing substitute chemicals."
Doctors agree that large amounts of the chemical can lead to....More
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ABC Health-Care News Video Series: Prescription for Change ABC News Video: Why American Health Care is Broken Medical Editor Tim Johnson on why U.S. must revamp its health-care system.
ABC News Video on Demand - ABC Medical Editor Tim Johnson discusses why U.S. must revamp its health-care system.
According to federal government statistics, the increased cost of health-care in the U.S. has declined over the previous three year period. Yet, the annual cost of health-care per person ($6700) in America still hovers at almost three times more than the rest of those among other developed nations.
Many health-care experts and policy makers estimate, of nearly $2 trillion in 2005 spent on health-care in America, over 30% never came close to its target objective due to waste, mismanagement and administrative boondoggling.
This ABC News Video goes on to dissect some the issues.
If you can't get enough Premium News Video content, like us, subscribe to ABC News Now on Demand, the Internet's only 24/7 broadband video news channel. Your browser or desktop will be brimming with a nearly unlimited reserve of premium ABC News Video content and programming, to fit your schedule. With the likes of Good Morning America, 20/20, Primetime, hourly news briefs, live breaking news events, World News and Nightline in their entirety, without interruptions, and a full load of original reports by ABC News correspondents from around the globe, for virtually pennies a day, you can't miss. Check it out. The first month is free.
(Katie Couric: Eye to Eye) Couric speaks with Michelle Obama about how her two young daughters are coping with their father's surge in popularity as his presidential campaign gains momentum. (CBS News On Demand)
The Silent Congo War: With over 1,000 people continuing to die each day from conflict-related causes, five million have perished in seven years, more than any other conflict since WWII. Perhaps the most unimaginable aspect of all is the widespread use of genocidal rape as an instrument of war by both sides of the conflict.
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