Chemical explosion may have caused BP refinery fatality

A U.S. agency said it plans to investigate the Monday death of an employee at BP PLC's Texas City, Texas, refinery, based on new information indicating a chemical explosion may have caused the incident.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said in a press release that BP identified the incident as a potential explosion Thursday, leading it to deploy a team to the site.

Earlier reports had suggested that water pressure was responsible for the incident, which occurred in a filter system associated with an ultracracking unit.

The CSB played a critical role in scrutinizing the company for two years after a fatal explosion in March …

Reindeer needs a name

There's a new addition to Santa's sleigh and children have beenasked to come up with a name.

A competition to find a suitable name for the life-sized woodensculpture of a reindeer is being held.

The nameless reindeer is on show at the Milton Studio in Crathes.

It was carved by local artist Carol Adams and is pulling arestored antique sleigh from Crathes Castle.

"It's the sort of art that appeals to everybody, even people …

Collaborating across the extended pharmaceutical enterprise: How sharing information leads to process enablement

To address the competitive pressures faced by companies developing pharmaceuticals, there is a new imperative across the industry to significantly increase internal and external collaboration capabilities. Aventis, for instance, has more than 200 differences alliances worldwide. As the pace of globalization accelerates, pharmaceutical companies must grapple with the challenges that accompany doing business in countries around the world: Infrastructures are stretched beyond their limits, inefficiencies are amplified in systems and processes, and the simplest tasks like accessing data become cumbersome.

This is further complicated by an increasing reliance on external partners in …

French diplomat named to job of UN peacekeeping chief

French diplomat Alain Le Roy is U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's choice to become the newest peacekeeping chief.

Le Roy, who has been helping French President Nicolas Sarkozy's administration bolster its ties with North Africa, was tapped Monday to succeed Jean-Marie Guehenno. Le Roy also has worked as an oil engineer for French energy company Total. He is not expected to start in his new job until late summer.

The decision keeps the high-profile job of U.N. undersecretary-general for peacekeeping operations within France's portfolio. France, which considers its support for peacekeeping and human rights among its top priorities, pays 7 percent of the …

Goldman Sachs analyst lowers Aeropostale rating

A Goldman Sachs analyst lowered her rating on Aeropostale Inc. Friday, saying the apparel retailer's stock will likely start to slow as competitors make headway.

Analyst Michelle Tan said the chain's shares have bested its rivals by 35 percent for the year to date, but that the gap may narrow on easing comparisons and improving inventory.

Tan said Aeropostale's inventory is not as trim as it was during the first …

ND's Roberts gets top Baylor job

WACO, Texas Dave Roberts, offensive coordinator under Lou Holtzat Notre Dame, was hired as Baylor's football coach Thursday.

Roberts, who also was a candidate for jobs at Minnesota andDivision I-AA Western Carolina, worked at Notre Dame for the pastthree years. He declined an offer to remain at the school afterHoltz's recent resignation.

In previous stops as coach at Western Kentucky and NortheastLouisiana, Roberts had a 10-year record of 63-50-3 with five playoffappearances.Roberts, 49, replaces Chuck Reedy, who was fired Nov. 24, oneday after a blowout loss that left the Bears at 4-7, their worstrecord since 1978. Baylor finished …

US workers saw wages and benefits rise in 2010 at second-slowest pace in nearly 3 decades

WASHINGTON (AP) — US workers saw wages and benefits …