UN urges parties to elect president now

UN urges parties to elect president now

Political parties must elect a new president without further delay, Derek Plumbly says, while reiterating his support...

Lebanon's speaker sounds alarm over threats, power vacuum

Israel to lobby US ahead of new Iran nuclear talks

An Israeli delegation is to travel to Washington next week to lobby U.S. officials for a tough line in renewed talks...

Firefighters put out fire near gas tanks in Lebanon's Zalka

Firefighters put out fire near gas tanks in Zalka

Firefighters successfully contained a fire that erupted near a port along Beirut's seaside road, preventing the blaze...

Netherlands king to attend ethanol plant opening

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The opening of one of the nation's first commercial size cellulosic ethanol plants is drawing royalty along with top federal and state officials to Emmetsburg.

Project Liberty is a $250 million plant that will make 25 million gallons of ethanol a year from corn cobs, stalks, leaves and other plant residue. It is holding a grand opening Wednesday to be attended by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, and U.S. Department of Energy Undersecretary for Science and Energy Michael Knotek.

The project is a joint venture of Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based ethanol-maker POET and Royal DSM, a Netherlands biotechnology company.

The plant is among the first facilities of its size in the United States to make ethanol from plant material.

New routes could boost numbers at Detroit airport

ROMULUS, Mich. -- At least 10 new nonstop routes being offered by low-cost airlines could help boost numbers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The Detroit News reports (http://bit.ly/YaXU49 ) that airlines such as Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines are bringing more options for travelers. For the past four years, the airport in Romulus has seen about 32 million passengers annually and growth has been sluggish.

Al Glancy, chairman of the Wayne County Airport Authority Board, says the expansion of low-cost carriers doesn't add much in terms of significant revenue for the airport but "they add value for customers who want to fly relatively short distances."

The airport says it has had success attracting JetBlue and Alaska Airlines. Delta Airlines, the airport's largest carrier, also is adding service at Detroit Metro.

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Online:

http://bit.ly/1kBSh2q

Study: Maine has room for more casinos

AUGUSTA, Maine -- A study commissioned by the Legislature suggests that Maine could sustain more casinos depending on their size and location.

The study released Aug. 30 shows the state's economy could handle one more casino as long as it is in southern Maine, close to Interstate 95 and popular summer tourist attractions.

The study also suggests a smaller casino in northern Maine, in either Washington or Aroostook county, close to the Canadian border.

Members of the Legislature's Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee are expected to review the study Sept. 10.

Republican State Sen. Garrett Mason of Lisbon tells the Sun Journal (http://bit.ly/1xadrQR ) the $110,000 study gives lawmakers a clean slate for developing workable policy proposals that aren't based on a particular set of constituents' desires.

Maine already has casinos in Oxford and Bangor.

Missouri workers' comp insurance costs could fall

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri businesses could see a decline in their workers' compensation insurance premiums next year.

The state insurance department says a new report by the National Council on Compensation Insurance indicates that insurers are likely to see a 3.7 percent drop in their "loss costs" for claims in 2015. Those loss projections typically are used by insurers when setting rates.

Insurance Department Director John Huff says the potential decline in workers' compensation premiums is due largely to a decrease in the overall costs of medical claims.

At this time last year, the national council was projecting an 11.6 percent increase in "loss costs" for Missouri's workers' compensation insurers. That was due partly to a new law that shifted some injury claims to the workers' compensation system from the state's Second Injury Fund.