Death toll from dengue rises to 501

MANILA, Philippines – Climate change could be one of the reasons behind the alarming rise in the number of dengue cases in the country, a health official said Saturday.
Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the Department of Health’s (DOH) National Epidemiology Center, said mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus now have more areas to breed.

Obama backs plans to build mosque near Ground Zero

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has backed controversial plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero, the site of 9/11 terror attacks in New York, arguing that if one can build a Hindu temple, why not a mosque.

Islam controversies cast shadow over 9/11 events

China puts off talks with Japan amid diplomatic row

BEIJING: China has put off its mid-September talks with Japan on the controversial East China Sea issue in protest against seizure of a Chinese fishing boat which had collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near disputed islands, deepening the diplomatic row over the matter.

US pastor says he will never burn Quran

NEW YORK: A US pastor, who had threatened to burn Quran, on Saturday said he never burn copies of the holy book, even if a mosque is built near ground zero in this America's commercial capital.
"We will definitely not burn the Quran, no," Pastor Terry Jones of Florida told NBC.
"Not today, not ever," he said when pressed whether his planned demonstration might happen at a later date.

Yahoo News

• Nadal reaches first US Open final (AP)
• No. 2 Ohio State hosts 12th-ranked Miami (AP)
• Durant's 38 lift US into gold-medal game (AP)
• NFL union considers decertification vote (AP)
• Lattimore leads Gamecocks by Georgia (AP)
• Pearl misled NCAA, Vols reduce his pay (AP)

» More News

Thousands of Afghans in anti-Quran-burning protest

AP – An Afghan man lies in hospital after being injured at a protest in reaction to a small American church's …
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghans set fire to tires in the streets and shouted "Death to America" for a second day Saturday despite a decision by an American pastor to call off plans to burn copies of the Islamic holy book.
The protests, the largest drawing a crowd estimated at more than 10,000 people, continued despite a decision by a Florida pastor to call off

Bill Nye Given the World(s) - The Planetary Society Blog | The Planetary Society

Bill also presented Lou, a dyed-in-the-wool Yankees fan, with a special retirement gift from himself, the staff and the board -- two original seats from Yankee Stadium. After trying them out with his wife Connie, Lou later quipped, "Hmmm -- maybe I will REALLY retire!" While Lou is stepping down as executive director, he plans to stay actively involved with the Planetary Society, overseeing the Lightsail project and working with other programs.

A full-disk multiwavelength extreme ultraviolet image of the ... - Yahoo! News Photos

Happy Birthday, Ray Bradbury! - | The Planetary Society

Celebrating Ray Bradbury's 90th Birthday
The Planetary Society presented a giant birthday card reflecting some of the 1600 birthday wishes collected from members and fans. Pictured here with the card (left to right): Ray Bradbury Week organizer Steven Leiva, Louis Friedman, Ray Bradbury, and Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti. Credit: The Planetary Society