Business - Industries

BOISE, Idaho - A Canadian mining company won initial federal approval for a plan to mine cobalt used in hybrid car batteries and jet engines from deep beneath the central Idaho mountains. Full Story »

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co has replaced the head of its mass-market Chevrolet brand as the management shake-up continues at the top U.S. automaker. Full Story »

NEW YORK - Immunogen Inc. said Wednesday its developing cancer treatment T-DM1 prompted a 32.7 percent response rate in a midstage study on breast cancer patients, pushing shares higher. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - A long-running effort to allow the import of lower-cost prescription drugs faces a new twist — President Barack Obama's administration is raising safety concerns that could effectively scuttle it, even though Obama backed the plan as a senator. Full Story »

Though it's only been available for a few weeks, Verizon Wireless already has released an update package for the Motorola Droid, an Android-based smartphone. A Verizon spokesperson said the update started Monday and will continue for about a week. Full Story »

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Cisco and British telecom giant BT Group on Wednesday announced a partnership aimed at a growing hunger by businesses worldwide for Internet-based communications services. Full Story »

WAYNE, N.J. - Toys R Us Inc. on Wednesday reported a narrower third-quarter loss as its CEO said the toy retailer saw its best operating performance since 2006. Full Story »

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The state is partnering with four large retail chains in an attempt to make sure all Ohioans have access to flu treatment drugs this flu season. Full Story »

HONOLULU - Central Pacific Bank will shut down its California operations by 2012 after suffering significant losses on bad loans to homebuilders in that state. Full Story »

LONDON (Reuters) - Angry London bankers and traders accused finance minister Alistair Darling on Wednesday of "lip service" to appease the poor with a levy on bank bonuses. Full Story »

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Film box offices were poised on Wednesday to eclipse 2007's record $9.68 billion in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales with Hollywood eyeing more than $10 billion this year as audiences flocked to theaters during the recession. Full Story »

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Even the prospect of a golf landscape temporarily minus Tiger Woods is not one PGA Tour officials, advertisers and sponsors care to ponder as speculation swirls around the popular athlete's private life, which has kept him secluded in his Florida home. Full Story »