Fenway plays defense

The Red Sox are beefing up perimeter security at Fenway Park to defend the historic ball field from terrorist car-bomb attacks.

Fifty-four security bollards will be installed in front of Gates B and C to prevent explosive-laden vehicles from being driven into the park during events.

"The weapon of choice for terrorists is still … to (take) a vehicle laden with explosives and drive it into a building," said Charlie Cellucci, Fenway's director of security and emergency services. "That happens quite frequently in other parts of the world. It's just steps to prevent that at Fenway Park."

The concrete-encased steel barriers, in the planning stages before April's Boston Marathon bombings, were among recommendations that emerged from a December security assessment of Fenway conducted with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Gates B and C are considered Fenway's most vulnerable areas for threats, according to Cellucci. Car traffic on Ipswich Street, for example, flows directly at Gate B. "(It) could continue on a straight path right into that gate," he said. "Gate C was selected because of the large number of fans that would be affected by an incident at that ... gate."

While the Red Sox conduct yearly risk assessments of Fenway, December's DHS assessment was a first. Major League Baseball has asked all clubs to obtain SAFETY (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies) Act certification from the DHS, Cellucci noted.

The Red Sox, which are paying for the bollards, are going through city permitting with the goal of completing the first-phase installation by Aug. 15.

"We'll be looking at other vulnerable areas around the perimeter of the ballpark," Cellucci said.

Fenway also beefed up security after the Boston Marathon bombings, a Red Sox spokeswoman said. The Boston Police Department Bomb Squad sweeps the park before every home game and remains on hand with an explosives-sniffing dog.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Oil near $98 as protests rock Egypt government

BANGKOK — Oil hovered near $98 a barrel Tuesday, underpinned by political unrest in Egypt that raised fears of disruption to global crude supplies.

Benchmark crude for August delivery was down 3 cents to $97.96 a barrel at early afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract jumped $1.43 to close at $97.99 in New York on Monday.

After massive weekend protests in Egypt that continued Monday, the country's military issued an ultimatum to President Mohammed Morsi that gives him 48 hours to meet the demands of the millions who have taken to the streets seeking his ouster.

The ultimatum, rebuffed by Morsi, raised worries on both sides the military could outright take over, as it did after the 2011 ouster of autocrat Hosni Mubarak. It also raised the risk of a backlash from Morsi's Islamist backers, including his powerful Muslim Brotherhood and hard-liners, some of whom once belonged to armed militant groups.

Traders were concerned that the protests in Egypt and the civil war in Syria could affect the production and transport of oil supplies in the Middle East and North Africa.

"Egypt may not be an oil producer, but they are an important passageway for everything from the Middle East to the rest of the world," said Carl Larry of Oil Outlooks in a commentary.

Brent crude was up 12 cents at $103.12 a barrel on the ICE futures exchange in London.

In other energy futures trading on Nymex:

— Natural gas was up 0.2 cent at $3.579 per 1,000 cubic feet.

— Heating oil added 0.3 cent to $2.876 per gallon.

— Wholesale gasoline rose 1.1 cent to $2.745 per gallon.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Asia stocks gain as Fed, China slowdown weighed

BANGKOK — Asian stock markets were mostly higher Tuesday as speculation that lukewarm U.S. economic indicators would keep the Federal Reserve from ending its stimulus program early offset pessimism about China's economy. Major European markets opened slightly down.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225, the region's heavyweight index, jumped 1.8 percent to 14,098.74. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 2.6 percent at 4,834.00 after the country's central bank left interest rates unchanged and said the Australian dollar is likely to continue falling, easing pressure on the economy.

Singapore's Straits Times Index was up 0.9 percent to 3,170.10. Seoul's Kospi was almost unchanged at 1,855.02.

In China, the Shanghai Composite Index reversed early losses to rise 0.6 percent to 2,006.56 after reports on Monday that Chinese manufacturing weakened in June amid a credit crunch. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.7 percent to 20,658.65.

Much of the decline in Hong Kong was led by Chinese banks, which are facing central bank credit restrictions that have caused interest rates on loans by banks to other banks to sharply rise.

"The market is still worrying that the liquidity crisis in Chinese banks is not over," said Francis Lun, chief economist of GE Oriental Financial Group.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.4 percent to 6,281.53 shortly after opening. Germany's DAX index dropped 0.9 percent to 7,913.40 while France's CAC-40 shed 0.7 percent to 3,741.77. All three indexes had risen the previous day.

Futures augured gains on Wall Street. Dow futures rose 0.2 percent to 14,915 and broader S&P 500 futures added 0.3 percent to 1,611.

Tuesday's gains in Asian markets followed a rally on Wall Street after an ISM manufacturing survey for the U.S. that showed a weak rebound in June thanks to new orders and higher production. The survey boosted stock markets as investors estimated it was strong enough to show the recovery is on track, but not so strong as to encourage the Federal Reserve to start ending its monetary stimulus program ahead of time.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.4 percent to 14,974.96 by day's end, while the broader S&P 500 index rose 0.5 percent to 1,614.96 and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9 percent to 3,434.

"This rebound in the ISM and moderate employment growth in June would leave the Fed on track to start tapering" its bond purchases in September, said Paul Dales, analyst at Capital Economics.

U.S. economic indicators have been one of the main market drivers in recent weeks as investors gauge when the Fed is likely to wind down its stimulus.

After a volatile few weeks, Fed officials are trying to calm investors' concerns about the central bank's planned reduction in monthly purchases of financial assets. Those purchases are aimed at stimulating the economy by pushing down market interest rates, and investors worry that as the economy improves, a pullback could deprive them of cheap borrowing rates.

In that vein, the U.S. monthly jobs report due Friday will get huge attention as it is the most closely watched indicator for the world's largest economy.

Benchmark oil for August delivery was up 5 cents to $98.05 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.43 to close at $97.99 a barrel on Monday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3026 from $1.3065 late Monday in New York. The dollar rose to 99.75 yen from 99.63 yen.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

China's manufacturing weakens in credit crunch

BEIJING — China's manufacturing weakened again in June amid a credit crunch and slower U.S. and European orders, two surveys showed Monday, adding to signs that growth in the world's second-largest economy is decelerating.

HSBC's purchasing managers' index declined to 48.2 from May's 49.2 on a 50-point scale on which numbers below 50 show a contraction. A separate measure by an industry group, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, showed activity declined to 50.1 from May's 50.8.

The numbers follow data showing May export growth weakened while retail sales growth failed to meet government projections.

The slowdown in Chinese manufacturing could have global repercussions, depressing demand for iron ore and other commodities from Australia and Brazil and for industrial components from Southeast Asia, Taiwan and South Korea.

Manufacturers were hurt by falling orders and a shortage of credit in June as Chinese regulators try to cool a lending boom they worry could race out of control. A shortage of cash in financial markets caused interest rates paid by banks for loans from other banks to spike to a record high.

"As Beijing refrains from using stimulus, the ongoing growth slowdown is likely to continue in the coming months," said HSBC Corp. economist Hongbin Qu in a statement.

New export orders suffered their sharpest decline in nine months, and manufacturers shed jobs at their fastest rate in 10 months, according to HSBC. Its measure is based on a survey of 420 manufacturing companies.

The logistics federation said its survey also showed production and new export orders declined.

"The June PMI declined, mostly in the main index, indicating the economy in the future will face downward pressure," said economist Zhang Liqun in a statement issued by the federation.

China's economic growth decelerated to 7.7 percent in the first quarter from 7.9 percent the previous quarter. Forecasters have said the clampdown on bank lending could cause growth to dip below 7 percent in coming quarters. That would be China's weakest performance since the early 1990s.

Beijing is in the midst of a marathon campaign to build up self-sustaining economic growth based on domestic consumption instead of investment and exports.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was quoted by state media on Saturday as saying officials should not be judged just by increases in economic output, an indication that China's Communist leaders are prepared to tolerate slower growth.

China's vast industry of privately owned small manufacturers could be hit especially hard by credit controls. Regulators want banks to reduce profitable but risky unreported lending, much of which goes to entrepreneurs who cannot qualify for formal loans.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

SF transit agency warns riders of possible strike

OAKLAND, Calif. — San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit warned that passenger trains may not run Monday after contract talks with its two biggest unions apparently stalled as a midnight deadline approached.

BART has not received official word from the unions about a strike, but it began posting electronic signs at stations and on its social media sites that a strike may begin after the end of Sunday's regularly scheduled service. The move came as BART accused union negotiators of walking away from bargaining table while union negotiators countered that were taking a break.

Representatives for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and Service Employees International Union Local 1021 said the unions told management they had until midnight, when the unions' contracts are set to expire, to offer a new proposal for them to consider.

"If there are no new proposals by midnight, then workers will walk off the job as soon as the trains are safely put to bed," Josie Mooney, a negotiator for the SEIU, told the Associated Press.

BART spokesman Rick Rice declined to comment further.

A strike would cripple the region's Monday morning commute. Transportation officials say another 60,000 vehicles could be on the road, clogging highways and bridges throughout the Bay Area.

As the deadline neared, both sides made an 11th-hour attempt to resume talks Sunday afternoon though they said they were far apart on key sticking points including salary, pensions, health care and safety. Anticipated around-the-clock negotiations had fallen apart Saturday as the unions packed up and left after talks stalled amid claims that the parties met face-to-face once in 36 hours.

Sunday's last-ditch talks also came after Gov. Jerry Brown's secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Marty Morgenstern, requested the parties continue negotiating to prevent a work stoppage of the nation's fifth-largest rail system.

"Our team is not encouraged by BART's proposal, but we are going to bargain at the request of the labor secretary in good faith as we have all along," said Josie Mooney, an SEIU chief negotiator. "But if BART continues to do 'surface bargaining,' then we will not come to an agreement."

Brown spokesman Evan Westrup said Sunday that the governor will not call for a "cooling off period at this time" as state mediators will continue assisting the negotiating parties.

"BART and its labor unions owe the public a swift resolution of their differences," Westrup said. "All parties should be at the table doing their best to find common ground."

The two unions, which represent nearly 2,400 train operators, station agents, mechanics, maintenance workers and professional staff, want a 5 percent raise each year over the next three years.

BART said that train operators and station agents in the unions average about $71,000 in base salary and $11,000 in overtime annually. The workers also pay a flat $92 monthly fee for health insurance.

Rice said BART's latest proposal offered a total of an 8 percent salary raise over the next four years, instead of its original offer of a total of 4 percent over the same period. The proposed salary increase is on top of a 1 percent raise employees were scheduled to receive Monday, Rice added.

The transit agency also said it offered to reduce the contribution employees would have to make to their pensions, and lower the costs of health care premiums they would have to pay.

Rice said Sunday that BART's latest proposal may not be its best last offer.

"We need to have some substantial discussions," Rice said. "I hope we can make some progress."

BART's last strike lasted six days in 1997. The transit agency handles more than 40 percent of commuters coming from the East Bay to San Francisco with the Bay Bridge handling another 50 percent said John Goodwin, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Goodwin said commuters should consider carpooling, taking extra buses or ferries available and working from home if the trains stop. And, if commuters must drive to work, leave earlier or even later than usual, he said.

"We simply don't know what the status is," Goodwin said. "Unfortunately, we have to go with the assumption that BART will not be in operation."

Meanwhile, commuters such as Richard Graham, 43, of Pleasant Hill who works as a hotel banquet manager in downtown San Francisco, is left pondering his options, including a three-hour drive to work.

"I can't stop thinking about it," Graham said Sunday as he got off a train. "It would make take me 2 ½ to 3 hours if I drive in to work. Then I've got to find parking, and that might cost me another 40 bucks, if there are any spots left."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nokia buys network operations from Siemens

HELSINKI — Nokia said Monday that it will buy Siemens' half of their joint network operations in a 1.7 billion euros ($2.22 billion) deal.

The transaction, to be completed during the third quarter this year, will mean that the joint venture between Nokia Corp. and Germany's Siemens AG. will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Finland-based company.

The network operations was loss making for years but recently has shown signs of improvement after restructuring and substantial job cuts.

CEO Stephen Elop said the company had also made strides in developing LTE, or long-term evolution, high-speed data.

"Nokia Siemens Networks has established a clear leadership position in LTE, which provides an attractive growth opportunity," Elop said. "Nokia is pleased with these developments and looks forward to continue supporting these efforts to create more shareholder value for the Nokia group."

Nokia, once the dominant cellphone maker, is struggling in the smartphone market against Samsung, Apple's iPhone and handsets that use Google's Android software. It is also being squeezed at the lower end against Asian manufacturers making cheaper handsets.

Nokia said that the operational headquarters of the networks sector will remain in Espoo, near the Finnish capital of Helsinki. But Nokia said, it "will continue to have a strong regional presence in Germany."

The Siemens name will be phased out from Nokia Siemens Networks' company name and branding, with the company's new name to be announced at the closing of the transaction.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

FDA to detain import of firm's pomegranate seeds

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration plans to detain shipments of pomegranate seeds from a Turkish company when they are offered for import into the U.S. because of a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses associated with a frozen-food blend containing pomegranate seed mix. Products linked to the illnesses have already been recalled.

The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that the most likely vehicle for the hepatitis A virus appears to be a common shipment of pomegranate seeds from the Turkish company, Goknur Foodstuffs Import Export Trading, the FDA said in a statement Saturday.

The food company Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., used those pomegranate seeds to make the Townsend Farms and Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Blends that were recalled in June, the FDA said. Those seeds were also used by Scenic Fruit Co. of Gresham, Ore., to make their recently recalled Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels, according to the federal agency.

As of Thursday, 127 people in eight states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wisconsin — were reported to have been exposed to Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend, the FDA said. Those reported ill in Wisconsin were exposed to the product in California.

The illnesses date back to mid-March, the CDC has reported. In early June, Townsend Farms recalled its frozen Organic Antioxidant Blend, packaged under the Townsend Farms label at Costco and under the Harris Teeter brand at those stores.

The outbreak strain of hepatitis A virus, belonging to genotype 1B, was found in clinical specimens of 56 people in seven states, according to a CDC report. That strain is rarely seen in the Americas but circulates in North Africa and the Middle East.

"This outbreak highlights the food safety challenge posed by today's global food system," said Michael R. Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine.

"The presence in a single product of multiple ingredients from multiple countries compounds the difficulty of finding the cause of an illness outbreak. The Hepatitis A outbreak shows how we have improved our ability to investigate and respond to outbreaks, but also why we are working to build a food safety system that more effectively prevents them," Taylor said.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

New rule targets drug shortages

Federal regulators, trying to head off drug shortages, are poised to release a proposed rule that would require manufacturers to notify them if they stop or delay production of critical drugs.

The rule would require manufacturers to give the Food and Drug Administration six months' notice before discontinuing or interrupting the production of drugs that are life-sustaining, or that treat or prevent debilitating diseases.

"Early notification of supply disruptions or other potential problems that could lead to a shortage will enable the FDA to work with manufacturers and stakeholders to prevent a shortage or mitigate its impact," said FDA spokesman Christopher C. Kelly.

The FDA will consider public comments before finalizing the rule by Jan. 9.

Last year, there were 117 drug shortages, Kelly said, and the FDA was able to prevent another 282, up from 195 in 2011.

Shortages can be agonizing for patients whose lives hang in the balance.

"For many patients, these drugs are life-saving, so the impact (of a shortage) can be tremendous," said Dr. Jack Erban, clinical director of the Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. "We don't have the luxury of delaying. It's already extremely stressful to go through chemotherapy. Any deviation is a major source of anxiety and distress for the patient. Occasionally, drugs have to be substituted, sometimes with ones that are not as effective or that have more side effects."

About two years ago, there was a nationwide shortage of Doxil, which is used to treat ovarian, breast and endometrial cancer.

"It affected a lot of women," said Dr. Michael Birrer, director of gynecologic medical oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "We switched to prescribing a parent compound, which is more toxic and not as effective."

Birrer doesn't believe the proposed FDA rule goes far enough.

"Why do we have only one company producing a drug?" he said. "Either we need to stimulate the market by providing a bigger profit margin on generic drugs, or the federal government gets into the drug-making business, which I don't think is smart."

Marjorie Moeling, a spokeswoman for Bedford Laboratories, which makes generic injectable drugs, said, "I can tell you that we understand the urgent need for critical medicines and, in partnership with the FDA, are committed to addressing drug shortage and ensuring our products are safe, effective and reach the people who need them."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

A taste of the real world

Faced with a difficult job market and employers demanding more than a traditional skill set, entrepreneurial programs at colleges and universities have more value than ever, students, professors and officials say.

Dozens of student-founded companies take part in business incubators, accelerators and challenges organized by schools, including Harvard University, Emerson College and Babson College.

"I know I would not be this far without the program," said Emerson College senior Jon Allen, winner of this year's E3 Expo at Emerson. Allen is getting ready to launch his line of natural Shirley Temples.

Allen, like many who go through accelerator programs, started with an idea for a business and spent the next two semesters fine-tuning and perfecting it. While improving the business plan, the budding entrepreneurs get exposure to professionals who are able to offer advice about key business skills, such as marketing, presenting to investors and legal issues.

For many involved in these programs, the skills learned are just as important as any potential money students can win.

"It's this concept of getting direct and relatively easy access to resources they need," said Andrew Corbett, faculty director of John E. & Alice L. Butler Venture Accelerator program at Babson College.

"Even people that don't win end up doing great things," said Paul Bottino, founder and executive director of Harvard's I3 challenge.

James DiSabatino, owner of the Roxy's Grilled Cheese food truck in Boston, went through the E3 program when he was an Emerson student, but with a different business idea. Through the program, he figured out that his idea — an environmentally focused shuttle company — was not viable.

"That was the learning experience I needed," he said. "It helped me make those really essential mistakes first."

Sara Gragnolati of Boston was in Babson's accelerator program while pursuing her MBA and launched her soon-to-expand gluten-free food company Cocomama thanks to the program. She said the best part of the program was being surrounded by others who were also trying to start a business.

"When you're looking at and evaluating other business, it also teaches you about your own" she said. "You know people are giving you feedback because they want to help you."

Many students and professors recognize that a new kind of skill set is necessary post-graduation, regardless of the kind of job.

"The reality of working has changed," said Karl Baehr, director of the E3 program. "If you're going to prepare a student for a career today, they have to learn how to think entrepreneurially about their career."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Back Bay brownstone makes break from past

When you think of a 19th century brownstone located in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, the last thing that comes to mind is a contemporary-style home.

But Boston firm Ruhl Walker Architects did just that for a triplex penthouse, where combined upper-floor units were designed and rebuilt into 3,100 square feet of living space. The condo has three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms as well as one deeded parking space.

What makes the property special is a palette of whites and grays, complemented by the white oak plank floors with a gray stain and custom Tabu Caleidolegno wood cabinetry.

The condo is now on the market for just over $3 million.

The first level is completely open and airy, with the living area on one side of the 9-foot entry and dining area and kitchen on the other side. The ceiling height is close to 12 feet that is further enhanced by the internal atrium that soars to the top floor where a large skylight brightens the entire space even on a cloudy day.

The dining area features a three-story panel of silver quartzite cladding by Island Stone behind a long, custom-designed white lacquered banquette with uplighting.

The kitchen has the same color scheme. A long center island is wrapped in white Carrara marble. Appliances include a Miele dishwasher and a U-Line wine cooler, as well as a professional Wolf six-burner gas range.

The living room faces north, and its two large windows look out to the Esplanade and the Charles River. Dominating one wall is a nearly 12-foot-wide mantelpiece of Blue Savoy marble with an Absolute black granite surround for a raised fireplace. Above it is a 6-inch recess that holds a 60-inch flat screen TV. On the other side of the range counters are glossy white cabinets with a large Sub-Zero refrigerator, paneled to match the cabinetry. Hidden behind a paneled wall of Tabu Caleidolegno is a sleek powder room with a contemporary one-piece, custom-designed Corian sink with a waterfall faucet and a dual-flush toilet.

Within the internal atrium, you will find a cable and steel staircase that rises to the top floor against ledge stone that includes tiny step lights. On this level you will find two more rooms and another bath. There's a home office featuring a desk fabricated from Tabu Caleidolegno and black oxide steel with French doors behind the desk leading onto a copper-clad balcony.

Finally, stairs lead to the roof deck, which has a copper head house that holds the six-panel skylight. The tiered deck is equipped with an outdoor stainless- steel Viking gas grill and water and electric service. Two long built-in slat benches are fixed on the deck, and in the middle of this outdoor space is a small fire pit.

Charlie Abrahams is a licensed real estate agent in Boston who works with buyers and sellers and can be reached at: Bostonrealestate@charlieabrahams.com

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More