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NEW YORK – After Hurricane Katrina, Americans sent waves of trucks loaded with food to the many thousands of people driven from their homes by the storm. But that generosity may have had a hidden cost. Some hunger-relief charities in cities far from the disaster are reporting a decline in …

HOUSTON – Merck & Co.’s (MRK) former blockbuster drug Vioxx helped cause a blood clot that triggered the fatal heart attack of a Florida man, a pathologist testified on Wednesday at the first federal trial concerning the pain killer’s safety. “It is my opinion that it contributed to his death,” …

SEOUL, South Korea – For the past few decades, Kim Young-ja lived with the thought she would never walk again. Seeking what she sees as a chance for a cure, the 55-year-old South Korean joined hundreds of patients who applied Tuesday to take part in research with a worldwide stem …

WASHINGTON – A plan to send three U.S. relief specialists to Cuba (search) to assess damage from Hurricane Wilma has been put on hold because Cuba wanted to turn the visit into a discussion of unrelated issues, the State Department said Wednesday. Cuban officials insisted on using the mission to …

WASHINGTON – The number of U.S. workers filing for initial jobless aid fell sharply last week, a government report showed Thursday, pushing the claims total to its lowest point since April. First-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits dropped 25,000 to 303,000 the week ended Nov. 12, from an upwardly …

WASHINGTON – An influential House Democrat who voted for the Iraq war called Thursday for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops, another sign of growing unease in Congress about the conflict. “It is time for a change in direction,” said Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., one of Congress’ most hawkish Democrats. …

HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam, the country hit hardest by bird flu, reported another death on Tuesday, and the Swiss maker of Tamiflu said it had stopped selling the antiviral drug in China and was turning over supplies to the government. Tamiflu is one of few drugs believed to be effective …

NEW YORK – U.S. stocks are poised for a rally next week as lower crude prices fuel investors’ optimism that businesses and consumers will get a break from high energy costs and have more cash to spend this holiday season. With the quarterly earnings period almost over, investors will have …

DETROIT – A seven-hour funeral celebrating the life of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks (search) was not only a day of remembrance for the 4,000 mourners who gathered, but also a call to action. As more than three dozen people spoke of how Parks’ historic act of defiance on a …

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Merck & Co. (MRK) on Thursday took a major victory in the case of its controversial painkiller, Vioxx, with a New Jersey jury deciding the drug maker had adequately warned consumers of risks associated with Vioxx (search). As a result, Merck will not be held liable …