Obama Today | Following Barack Obama - Engaging the World

The Obamas visited New Orleans this past weekend to mark the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, a powerful storm that devastated much of the Gulf Coast and killed more than 1800 people. The anniversary also comes after months of cleanup from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Obama Today | Following Barack Obama - Engaging the World - America.gov

The United States has ended its seven-and-a-half-year military operation in Iraq and is shifting to a civilian-led mission to build a partnership with the country that will strengthen its government, industry and people, President Obama told the American people in nationally televised address August 31.

Solar Sail Spacecraft Could Explore Beyond Solar System

Solar Sail Spacecraft Could Explore Beyond Solar System
By Prachi Patel
Astrobiology Magazine
posted: 02 September 2010
By rigging large pieces of cloth atop boats, early explorers harnessed the wind to voyage across oceans. Now, modern space explorers want to use sails to send spacecraft to the far reaches of the solar system and beyond.

NASA and ATK successfully test five-segment solid rocket motor

Ignition of Development Motor-2. (Credit: NASA)

ScienceDaily (Sep. 5, 2010) — With a loud roar and mighty column of flame, NASA and ATK Aerospace Systems successfully completed a two-minute, full-scale test of the largest and most powerful solid rocket motor designed for flight. The motor is potentially transferable to future heavy-lift launch vehicle designs.

Did Viking Mars landers find life's building blocks? Missing piece inspires new look at puzzle

In this artist's concept illustration, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander begins to shut down operations as winter sets in. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona)

New mission to skim the Sun: NASA selects science investigations for Solar Probe Plus

The Solar Probe Plus spacecraft with solar panels folded into the shadows of its protective shield, gathers data on its approach to the Sun. (Credit: JHU/APL)

Colorful mix of asteroids discovered, may aid future space travel

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This image, taken by NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission in 2000, shows a close-up view of Eros, an asteroid with an orbit that takes it somewhat close to Earth. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope observed Eros and dozens of other near-Earth asteroids as part of an ongoing survey to study their sizes and compositions using infrared light. (Credit: NASA/JHUAPL)

Saturn Pictures, Saturn, Rings, Photos -- National Geographic

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Photograph courtesy NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Two of Saturn's 48 known moons are barely visible in this picture of the ringed planet. Mimas, at the upper right, has an enormous impact crater on one side, and Tethys, at the bottom, has a huge rift zone called Ithaca Chasma that runs nearly three-quarters of the way around the moon.

Washington Times World News

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  Suicide attack in northwest Pakistan kills 17

  By Riaz Khan - Associated Press
  A Taliban suicide bomber detonated a car in an alley behind a police station in a strategically important town in northwest Pakistan on Monday, killing at least 17 police and civilians in an explosion that shattered the station and neighboring homes. Published 8:44 a.m. September 6, 2010 - 1 Comments
  
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  Taliban threatens to attack Afghan polling places

  By Rahim Faiez and Christopher Bodeen - Associated Press
  The Taliban vowed Sunday to attack polling places in Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, warning Afghans not to participate in what it called a sham vote. Published 5:38 p.m. September 5, 2010 - 2 Comments
  
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  China, U.S. meet amid tensions over trade, military

  By Anita Chang - Associated Press
  Senior U.S. and Chinese officials met Monday to steady relations upset by disputes over currency, trade and military affairs despite calls for a tougher line on Chinese economic policies that some say are contributing to American unemployment. Published 10:05 a.m. September 6, 2010 - 1 Comments
  
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  Son: Iranian woman who faced stoning death to be lashed

  By Associated Press
  updated 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
  An Iranian woman who faced death by stoning for adultery now has received a new sentence of 99 lashes after a British newspaper ran a picture of an unveiled woman mistakenly identified as her, the woman's son said Monday. Published 9:23 a.m. September 6, 2010 - 0 Comments
  
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  Bahamas drops charges in Travolta extortion case

  By Associated Press
  A judge in the Bahamas dismissed charges Monday against two people accused of trying to extort money from actor John Travolta after the prosecutor said Mr. Travolta no longer wanted to pursue a case stemming from the death of his teenage son. Published 11:14 a.m. September 6, 2010 - 0 Comments
  
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  Mideast crisis looms over Israeli settlements

  By Karin Laub and Mohammed Daraghmeh - Associated Press
  Just days after Mideast peace talks began in Washington, the first major crisis already is looming: Israel hinted Sunday it will ease restrictions on building in West Bank settlements, while the Palestinian president warned he'll quit the talks if Israel resumes construction. Published 5:31 p.m. September 5, 2010 - 7 Comments
  
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  Embassy Row

  By James Morrison - The Washington Times
  Top Israeli defense officials privately support President Obama's decision to send a U.S. ambassador to Syria with the hopes that U.S. diplomatic pressure and financial aid will persuade President Bashar Assad to break ties with Iran and Hezbollah terrorists. Published 4:33 p.m. September 5, 2010 - 0 Comments
  

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  Afghans protest Fla. church's plans to burn Quran

  By Rahim Faiez - Associated Press
  Hundreds of Afghans railed against the United States and called for President Obama's death at a rally in Kabul on Monday to denounce a Florida church's plans to burn the Islamic holy book on Sept. 11. Published 9:44 a.m. September 6, 2010 - 5 Comments
  
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  Report: Van der Sloot concedes extorting Holloways

  By Associated Press
  The Dutchman charged with killing a 21-year-old Peruvian woman and suspected in the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway has acknowledged extorting money from Holloway's parents and says he did it to get back at them. Published 11:24 a.m. September 6, 2010 - 0 Comments
  
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  Report: 2,000 more NATO troops may be Afghan-bound

  By Slobodan Lekic - Associated Press
  NATO may deploy 2,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan to join the 140,000-strong international force already there, an official said Monday. Published 11:50 a.m. September 6, 2010 - 0 Comments
  
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  Vatican: Stoning in Iran adultery case 'brutal'

  By Frances D'Emilio - Associated Press
  The Vatican raised the possibility Sunday of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to save the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery. Published 3:33 p.m. September 5, 2010 - 4 Comments
  
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  Briefly

  By THE WASHINGTON TIMES
  A study chaired by the chief economist of the International Energy Agency (IEA) is making a strong case for the introduction of nuclear energy in Italy. Published 4:31 p.m. September 5, 2010 - 0 Comments
  
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  World Scene

  By THE WASHINGTON TIMES
  Authorities have detained the reputed smuggler of an Ecuadorean man who told police he survived a massacre of 72 fellow migrants in Mexico, the justice minister confirmed Sunday. Published 4:38 p.m. September 5, 2010 - 0 Comments
  
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  Assault on Iraq army headquarters kills 12

  By Sinan Salaheddin - Associated Press
  updated 1 day ago
  Suicide bombers hit a Baghdad military headquarters on Sunday and killed 12 people, two weeks after an attack on the same site pointed to the failure of Iraqi forces to plug even the most obvious holes in their security. Published 8:12 a.m. September 5, 2010 - 2 Comments
  
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  French cowed by Islamic burgers

  By Angela Doland - Associated Press
  Last month, popular French fast-food chain Quick, the No. 2 burger chain in France after McDonald's, started serving halal-only food in 22 of its French outlets, targeting France's large Muslim population, an underexploited market that has long been ignored by big business. Published 5:34 p.m. September 5, 2010 - 10 Comments
  
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  Despite formal combat end, U.S. joins Baghdad battle

  By Barbara Surk - Associated Press
  updated 3 hours ago
  Days after the United States officially ended combat operations and touted Iraq's ability to defend itself, American troops found themselves battling heavily armed militants assaulting an Iraqi military headquarters in the center of Baghdad on Sunday. The fighting killed 12 people and wounded dozens. Published 6:09 p.m. September 5, 2010 - 2 Comments
  

Washington Post News

Obama to call for $50B in infrastructure spending President asks Congress to approve investments in roads, railways and runways in a pre-election effort to show he's trying to boost the economy.

Associated Press | 12:21 p.m. ET

A squeeze for small businesses Why many owners say Obama's plan for help is as much a hindrance to hiring as the slow economy.

V. Dion Haynes

• President will call for $100B business tax credit
• Key players shaping economic policy

Officials: Kabul bank 'normalized' Despite crowds demanding money back, financial officials insist bank does not require a bailout.

David Nakamura | 9:53 a.m. ET

GOP fears the echoes of AlaskaTHE FIX | After Murkowski's loss, establishment GOPers are nervous about a repeat in Delaware.

Chris Cillizza

• Names and faces to know in November

In tough times, chasing a dream Many struggling economically have found time and incentive to explore long-lost aspirations.

Steve Hendrix

• Your Take: What is your dream job?

Newspaper's fate hangs on deal A fraternal rivalry has come perilously close to claiming as its victim the Washington Times.

Ian Shapira

Parents turn to 'digital' grounding
Not so long ago, teenagers in trouble lost their evenings out, maybe the keys to the family car. Punishment has taken a new turn.
Donna St. George