Even with government aid, middle class would still pay thousands for health insurance

Middle class would pay thousands for health care

Estee Lauder 1st-quarter profit more than doubles on strong skin care sales

Estee Lauder 1Q profit more than doubles

NEW YORK — A strong relaunch of a skin-care line and better-than-expected sales at airport stores helped Estee Lauder Cos. more than double its fiscal first-quarter profit, the company said Friday, but it remained cautious on the upcoming holiday season.

With time growing short, Democratic leaders face critical decisions on health care bills

Clock ticking on Democrats for health care reform

Perfume maker Inter Parfums 3Q sales fell 5 percent, expects to update ‘09 profit guidance

NEW YORK — Perfume maker Inter Parfums Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter sales fell 5 percent to $117.5 million from $123.5 million a year earlier, and it expects to update its 2009 profit expectation.

Bomb explodes inside hair salon south of Baghdad, kills 5, Iraqi police say

BAGHDAD — An Iraqi police official says a bomb has exploded inside a crowded barber shop south of Baghdad, killing at least five people.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International acquires Private Formula International Holdings

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Valeant Pharmaceuticals International said Wednesday it will buy Private Formula International Holdings Pty Ltd., a skin care company, to boost its dermatology portfolio.

Berlusconi deja vu: calls Obama ‘tanned’ again, this time says First Lady is ‘tanned’ too

ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is poking fun at President Barack Obama again.

CAPITAL CULTURE: Since becoming president, Obama spends little time on Chicago’s South Side

CHICAGO — A jogger has to alter his route because of security barricades. But a local barber shop is enjoying a tourism boom. And neighborhood residents have gained a reason to brag to friends — all thanks to President Barack Obama.

Bright spot for the tanning industry; bartering in the modern age; holiday shopping in advance

BARTERING IN THE MODERN AGE: It may be the oldest business strategy in the world, dating back to prehistoric times.

NM governor’s barber dies after found beaten near site of annual Santa Fe festival

SANTA FE, N.M. — Police are investigating the death of a man who was found beaten in the middle of the street just blocks from a huge Santa Fe festival.

New phase in fierce health care debate; focus now on a handful of legislative bottlenecks

WASHINGTON — The fierce national debate over health care is entering a new phase, with advocates on all sides focused on a few legislative bottlenecks that will determine the ultimate overhaul of the $2.5 trillion medical care system.

With Obama on board, push to overhaul health care faces crucial tests in Congress

WASHINGTON — The fierce national debate over health care is entering a new phase, with advocates on all sides focused on a handful of legislative bottlenecks that will determine the ultimate overhaul of the $2.5 trillion medical care system.

Medvedev: Russia’s democracy weak, its economy ineffective, demographics bad

MOSCOW — Russia’s democracy is weak, its economy is ailing and the country faces long-term problems with the health of its population, President Dmitry Medvedev said in an article published Friday.

Romania’s ‘King of the Gypsies’ praises Madonna for speaking out on behalf of Roma

BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s self-styled King of the Gypsies praised Madonna on Wednesday for using her “Sticky & Sweet” world tour to speak out on behalf of Gypsies.

Procter & Gamble’s pharma sale follows strategy

Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble Co. has been selling slower-growth brands to focus more on consumer businesses it thinks has higher potential. Some examples from the past year:

China’s Wen says economy faces possible new problems, Beijing will continue stimulus

BEIJING — China’s top economic official warned the country faces new problems and said Beijing will stick to its stimulus because the recovery lacks a solid foundation, according to comments reported Monday.

Cleveland barber returns to store to try and rob owner over bad beef jerky

CLEVELAND — Police said a Cleveland barber became so upset by what he considered bad beef jerky that he returned to the store where he bought it and tried to rob the owner. Police said the 28-year-old barber walked into the store where he bought the snack, just two doors down from his barbershop, and tried to rob the owner Thursday night.

Specter faces more questions on health care in Pa.; says protesters have right to organize

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Sen. Arlen Specter faced more jeers and taunts during another town hall meeting that turned into a vocal debate about health care reform.

Angry crowds greet members at health care events; congressman says swastika painted at office

LEBANON, Pa. — Jeers and taunts drowned out Democrats calling for a health care overhaul at town halls Tuesday, and one lawmaker said a swastika was spray-painted at his office as debate turned to noisy confrontation over President Barack Obama’s plan. The president himself was treated more respectfully.

For rural hospitals, move to digitize records on federal incentive carries costs, and risks

OSCEOLA, Mo. — Electronic medical records are a life-or-death issue at Sac-Osage Hospital — not necessarily just for the patients, but for the hospital itself.

Toxic cologne? 34 people hospitalized after co-worker sprays perfume at Texas call center

FORT WORTH, Texas — At first, fire officials suspected that carbon monoxide or some other toxic fumes had sickened almost 150 people at a Texas bank call center. It turned out that perfume was to blame.

Study: Tanning beds and UV radiation definitely cause cancer experts say

LONDON — International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category deeming both to be definite causes of cancer.

Study: Tanning beds and UV radiation as deadly as arsenic, mustard gas, experts say

LONDON — International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas. For years, scientists have described tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation as “probable carcinogens.”

Feds say HIV not a bar to becoming a barber, masseuse or health care aide

WASHINGTON — Aspiring barbers, masseuses, and home health care aides cannot be denied professional licenses because they have AIDS or HIV, federal authorities said Thursday.

Yemen executes barber for rape, death of 11-year-old who came to his shop for haircut

SAN’A, Yemen — The Yemen news agency reports that a barber has been publicly executed after he was found guilty of raping and killing an 11-year-old boy who came to his shop for a haircut.

Dispensing pricey glitter, Saudi and Libyan leaders were top gift-givers to US last year

WASHINGTON — When U.S. presidents and their diplomats meet some Arab leaders, they come away with more than an earful about foreign policy. They also get exquisite baubles, objects of gold, robes, art — even a papier mache Santa Claus.