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BEIJING (AP) -- China's government has ordered minimum wages raised to help the poor cope with soaring food costs, a state news agency reported Friday. Chinese leaders have been alarmed by a spike in inflation that saw the price of eggs rise 37.1 percent in May from their price in the same month last year. Meat and poultry were 26.5 percent more expensive in May compared to a year ago. The increase "would have a great impact on low-income families," the Xinhua News Agency said. Local authori...

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NEW YORK (AP) -- Greg Oden beat Kevin Durant in the race to be the No. 1 pick. Oden is already looking ahead to winning the race for rings. The Portland Trail Blazers ended months of debate Thursday night when they chose the Ohio State center over fellow college freshman Durant with the top pick in a highly anticipated NBA draft. "I know we're going to be connected for a long time. Kevin Durant, Greg Oden," Oden said. "He's a really, really good player. I'm a pretty decent player. So I hope ...

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WASHINGTON (AP) ? Farmed seafood has now joined tires, toothpaste and toy trains on the list of tainted and defective products from China that could be hazardous to a person's health.

Federal health officials said Thursday they were detaining three types of Chinese fish ? catfish, basa and dace ? as well as shrimp and eel after repeated testing turned up contamination with drugs unapproved in the United States for use in farmed seafood.

The officials said there have been no reports of illnesses nor do the products pose any immediate health risk. They stopped short of ordering a ban on the fresh and frozen seafood.

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WASHINGTON (AP) ? Manufacturers will have more leeway to set minimum prices at the retail level without violating antitrust laws under a Supreme Court ruling that could hurt consumers and small merchants.

By allowing minimum price agreements, the court's 5-4 decision on Thursday could lead to higher prices, dissenting justices said. The ruling could also make it harder for new retailers to enter the market, according to consumer advocates, because most innovative retailers begin as lower-cost alternatives.

Supporters of the ruling argue that it will enable retailers to pay for better customer service by charging more without fear of being undercut by discounters.

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BEIJING (AP) -- China passed a new contract labor law on Friday in a bid to improve basic workers' rights amid widespread complaints of unpaid wages, forced labor and other abuses, state media said Friday. The approval follows 18 months of deliberation and a rare government request for public comment on the law. It is expected to be the most significant change in Chinese labor rules in more than a decade by setting standards for labor contracts, use of temporary workers and severance pay. Th...

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