Topic: Freight Transportation

National Spelling Bee: 10 winning business words

In the National Spelling Bee’s 85-year existence, a wide range of words have crowned the winners – from science words like ‘crustaceology,’ to musical terms such as ‘soubrette,’ and ‘appoggiatura.’ The list of winning words also includes several that could slide right into the pages of this newspaper’s business section. In honor of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee, here are 10 business words from past years that have determined the champion. Will this year’s winning word make the list?

Passenger train collides with freight train in India

At least 25 people died in a collision between two trains in India. Seventy survived. India has one of the largest railway networks in the world.

US Postal Service to close 140 mail processing centers

The US Postal Service will close 48 mail sorting facilities in August, and the rest will close next January and February, the Postmaster General announced Thursday. 

Europe launches airstrikes on Somalia to uproot pirate base

This is the first time the European-led naval expedition, Operation Atalanta, has attacked a pirate base on Somali territory.

Smartphones: Postal service bans foreign shipments

Smartphones with lithium batteries will no longer be accepted for international shipment beginning Wednesday because of fire risks. Shipments of smartphones to US troops abroad will have to go via UPS or FedEx. 

US Postal Service will keep open rural routes

The Post Office blinked in the face of public opposition; rural post offices were scheduled to close as soon as May 15.

Saudi's Al Qaeda intelligence coup and the perils of too much disclosure

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's second underwear bomb plot went nowhere thanks to great intelligence work. But this is a case where too much disclosure is a problem.

Secret CIA informant volunteered to be al-Qaeda bomber (+video)

The intelligence agency had planted a spy in the al-Qaeda organization behind the latest attempt at an underwear bomb; the informant's inside information was what allowed the CIA to bring down the plot and kill its organizer.

Postal Service closings? System faces cash crunch. Again.

Postal Service closings could mean longer lines and possibly slower delivery if Congress doesn't move to alleviate the system's cash crunch. But the alternative to Postal Service closings would mean using tax money. 

Massive, rocket-powered, robotic craft begins delivery mission to space station

The 13-ton cargo freighter is loaded with about 7.2 tons of supplies, including food, water, clothing, experiments and fuel for the space station, according to NASA.

UPS to buy Dutch delivery company TNT Express for $6.8 billion

Atlanta-based UPS is the world's largest delivery company, while TNT, headquartered in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, is the second-biggest express mail company in Europe behind Germany's DHL.

EU heaps new sanctions on Syria

The Council of the European Union is seeking to tighten a financial noose around the regime of Syria's Bashar al-Assad.

Online banking? Don't be afraid.

Online banking is commonplace these days, but many customers are hesitant to use it for fear of online scams, lack of computer skills, or difficulty finding convenient Internet access. Here's how to make online banking work for you.

Valentine's Day: cost of romance rising for flower delivery, 4 other things

When you arrange for flower delivery or take a special someone out for dinner this Valentine's Day, it'll cost more than it did a year ago. That's the cold hard fact about a warmhearted and festive day, according official US inflation data.

But the rising cost may actually be a relatively small one: Those chocolate or flower prices haven't been rising at gas-pump-fast rates. Here's the official inflation tally of five common Valentine's Day activities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Getting the Strait of Hormuz straight: an FAQ

Iran has caused a stir with its threat this week to close down the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions were imposed on Iranian oil exports. Here’s why this small body of water generates so much world attention.

Lieberman and Collins: Shipping industry must choose between Iran and the US

Iran thwarts economic sanctions through loopholes in international shipping regulations. 'Classification societies' give certifications (access to ports and international trade) to both Iranian and US vessels. These groups must end their conflicting role, which supports Iranian commerce.

Hot toys through the ages (VIDEO)

No one knows what turns a toy into a must-have phenomenon. Some years,something pops out of nowhere and is immediately snapped up. Other years are quiet (including 2011, retailers say). Here’s a look back at seven toys that became blockbusters in their day and left an imprint on American culture:

USPS to slow first class mail, close centers in Ga. and Ala.

The Postal Service's cuts would close 252 of the nation's 461 mail processing centers beginning next spring. They would result in the elimination of roughly 28,000 jobs.

Postal Service says cost-cutting will delay mail. How slow will it go?

The US Postal Service, facing billions in losses, proposes cuts to its processing facilities that will delay the delivery of stamped mail by one day. But the changes won't affect the busy holiday period.

Solyndra scandal probe widens as White House orders new review

Faced with a growing scandal over the bankrupt Solyndra solar power company, the Obama administration has ordered an independent review of government loans to energy companies. Republican lawmakers say they'll subpoena internal White House communications on Solyndra.

Stamp prices go up one penny. Is it enough to save the Postal Service?

Stamp prices: The price of a first-class postage stamp will go up one penny to 45 cents next year, as the US Postal Service struggles to address its financial crisis.

Stamp prices: Up another penny in 2012

Stamp prices will rise from 44 cents to 45 cents for a one-ounce first-class letter. Rise in stamp prices takes effect Jan. 22.

US, British forces rescue Italian ship from Somali pirates

The Italian crew steered the hijacked ship toward awaiting NATO forces in the Indian Ocean. Eleven Somali pirates were captured.

US Postal Service seeks reprieve from Congress to avert 'default'

Congress must act by Sept. 30 or the US Postal Service, running out of funds, will default on a $5.5 billion payment for retiree health benefits, US Postmaster General Patrick Donahue said Tuesday.

Crunch time at Postal Service: Five questions about post office closings.

The US Postal Service may shutter as many as 3,700 post offices nationwide, to help close a $20 billion revenue shortfall between now and 2015. How'd the venerable USPS get into this position? Here's the answer to that question and four others concerning what's next for the Postal Service.