SCIENCE News, Jul 09, 2011

End of shuttle program could be boon for startup SpaceX, others Fri,8 Jul 2011 10:47 AM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - After the U.S. space shuttle program ends this month, NASA will rely on Russia and its Soyuz craft to deliver Americans to the International Space Station -- at a cost of more than $50 million a seat. Full Story1

Factbox: Space shuttle Atlantis' final mission Fri,8 Jul 2011 10:05 AM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - Space shuttle Atlantis is due to launch on Friday on the 135th and final flight in NASA's shuttle program. The mission, scheduled to last 12 days, is intended to stockpile a year's worth of supplies on the International Space Station. Full Story1

Analysis: Summer to test Japan resolve over nuclear power Thu,7 Jul 2011 08:31 PM PDT Reuters - TOKYO (Reuters) - Two months of baking heat will test Japan's resolve to wean itself off nuclear power and show whether an energy-saving drive set off by meltdowns at the Fukushima plant will bring lasting efficiency gains the way the 1970s oil crisis did. Full Story1

Shuttle's end a blow to Florida's "Space Coast" Thu,7 Jul 2011 07:50 PM PDT Reuters - TITUSVILLE, Florida (Reuters) - The end of the U.S. space shuttle program is the end of the line for Tom Brown and other workers like him at the Kennedy Space Center in central Florida. He is about to join the ranks of the unemployed. Full Story1

Experts find rogue stem cells in liver cancer Thu,7 Jul 2011 04:10 AM PDT Reuters - HONG KONG (Reuters) - Liver cancers are embedded with a type of super cancer stem cells that make them resistant to chemotherapy, spread to other body parts and stage a comeback even after they are surgically removed, researchers in Hong Kong reported on Thursday. Full Story1

Last blastoff from Florida to end space shuttle era Wed,6 Jul 2011 02:07 PM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Space shuttle Atlantis, carrying a crew of four and food and other supplies critical for the International Space Station, is set to vault into orbit on Friday on the final flight in the 30-year U.S. shuttle program. Full Story1

NASA's "Final Four" astronauts close out shuttle era Wed,6 Jul 2011 12:11 PM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - It's been 28 years since NASA launched a four-person shuttle crew, but that will be the number of astronauts slated to fly on Atlantis for the program's last flight, a 12-day cargo run to the International Space Station. Full Story1

Shuttles' end stirs doubts about U.S. space program Wed,6 Jul 2011 11:48 AM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - As the clock ticks down to this week's final space shuttle launch, there is a mounting sense of uncertainty about future U.S. dominance in space. Full Story1

Final space shuttle flight crew arrives for launch Tue,5 Jul 2011 09:10 AM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Four veteran astronauts landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday to prepare for the launch of NASA's last space shuttle on a cargo run to the International Space Station. Full Story1

Witness: Practice key to risky, high-speed shuttle landing Tue,5 Jul 2011 09:09 AM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - I have watched as space shuttles nosedive toward the runway more than 100 times, knowing that there are no engines available to carry them back into the sky if something goes wrong. Full Story1

U.S. looks to private sector as shuttle program ends Tue,5 Jul 2011 08:05 AM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - After the U.S. space shuttle program ends this month, NASA will rely on Russia and its Soyuz craft to deliver Americans to the International Space Station -- at a cost of more than $50 million a seat. Full Story1

Huge rare earth deposits found in Pacific: Japan Tue,5 Jul 2011 05:58 AM PDT Reuters - TOKYO (Reuters) - Vast deposits of rare earth minerals, crucial in making high-tech electronics products, have been found on the floor of the Pacific Ocean and can be readily extracted, Japanese scientists said on Monday. Full Story1

Asia pollution blamed for halt in warming: study Tue,5 Jul 2011 01:18 AM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Smoke belching from Asia's rapidly growing economies is largely responsible for a halt in global warming in the decade after 1998 because of sulfur's cooling effect, even though greenhouse gas emissions soared, a U.S. study said on Monday. Full Story1

Plastic solar cells in 5-10 years, new step forward Mon,4 Jul 2011 08:16 AM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Plastic solar cells may be commercially available in five to 10 years, said a British scientist whose group announced on Monday a new understanding of how to produce the cheaper alternative to silicon solar panels. Full Story1

Investigators turn to final vault at Indian treasure temple Mon,4 Jul 2011 04:49 AM PDT Reuters - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (Reuters) - Investigators plan to pry open the final vault hidden deep under a centuries-old Indian Hindu temple as police guarded round the clock the shrine where billions of dollars worth of treasure has been discovered. Full Story1

email: info@als-alexander.org or interalex2@gmail.com

TECHNOLOGY News, Jul 09, 2011

Exclusive: WikiLeaks loses Icelandic financial lifeline Fri,8 Jul 2011 02:18 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has lost a financial lifeline. Since December, bans by the world's major credit card networks, it has been difficult for supporters of the controversial whistleblower to send him donations. But this week, WikiLeaks gained a brief respite with the unwitting help of an Icelandic bank. Full Story1

U.S. Internet providers to act against online pirates Fri,8 Jul 2011 10:22 AM PDT Reuters - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Consumers who illegally download copyrighted films, music or television shows might see their Internet speed slowed or access restricted under an industry anti-piracy effort announced on Thursday. Full Story1

At chipmaker trial, investors play Rambus roulette Fri,8 Jul 2011 10:02 AM PDT Reuters - SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Chun Ming has spent the past two weeks in a cramped San Francisco courtroom, sending notes from his laptop to a tight-knit group of investors glued to a $4 billion antitrust battle involving some of the world's biggest chipmakers. Full Story1

Baidu realigns business lines, senior exec to leave Fri,8 Jul 2011 01:46 AM PDT Reuters - SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's Baidu Inc announced on Friday a major restructuring of its business lines and said Shen Haoyu, its senior vice president of business operations will leave for personal reasons. Full Story1

Google's Schmidt sees room for several social networks Thu,7 Jul 2011 08:02 PM PDT Reuters - SUN VALLEY, Idaho, July 7 (Reuters) - Google Inc is leaving open the door to more co-operation with social-media giants Facebook and Twitter, and believes there is room for multiple social networks as it rolls out its own, executive chairman Eric Schmidt said. Full Story1

Twitter security lags some other sites: experts Thu,7 Jul 2011 06:07 PM PDT Reuters - BOSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The fast-growing microblogging site Twitter has fallen behind some other Internet services in introducing tools to help secure the accounts of users, security experts say. Full Story1

Proxy firm unimpressed by RIM promise about board Thu,7 Jul 2011 03:24 PM PDT Reuters - TORONTO (Reuters) - Proxy firm Glass Lewis was left unimpressed by Research In Motion Ltd's promise to study board changes while avoiding an imminent shareholder vote on the matter. Full Story1

Cell phones, devices biggest driving distractions Thu,7 Jul 2011 01:21 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Driving distractions, primarily by cell phones and other electronic devices, are associated with up to 25 percent of U.S. car crashes, according to a report released on Thursday. Full Story1

RIM says adds 1 million EMEA subscribers in 3 weeks Thu,7 Jul 2011 12:32 PM PDT Reuters - TORONTO (Reuters) - BlackBerry maker Research In Motion said on Thursday it has added more than one million subscribers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in less than three weeks. Full Story1

Canada eyes Nortel patent sale review: minister Thu,7 Jul 2011 12:30 PM PDT Reuters - OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Industry Minister Christian Paradissaid on Thursday that officials in his office are studying whether to formally review a sale of Nortel patents to ensure investment law was properly applied. Full Story1

Court OKs TerreStar's $1.38 billion sale to Dish Thu,7 Jul 2011 12:29 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - A judge on Thursday approved TerreStar Networks Inc's proposed $1.375 billion sale to Dish Network Corp, pushing the satellite communications company a major step closer to emerging from a 9-month stint in bankruptcy. Full Story1

James Murdoch defends executive Brooks Thu,7 Jul 2011 12:03 PM PDT Reuters - LONDON, Jul (Reuters) - News International Chairman James Murdoch said on Thursday he regretted the phone-hacking scandal that has led to the closure of the News of the World tabloid and defended his chief executive Rebekah Brooks, a former editor of the paper. Full Story1

DragonWave hopes India can offset Clearwire woes Thu,7 Jul 2011 10:25 AM PDT Reuters - TORONTO (Reuters) - DragonWave, a Canadian supplier of microwave technology for telecoms companies, is pinning its hopes on growth in India to make up for a spending pullback at its main customer, U.S.-based Clearwire, that has left it reporting losses for three straight quarters. Full Story1

Factbox: Advertisers drop Murdoch paper over hacking claims Thu,7 Jul 2011 08:54 AM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Supermarket Sainsbury, cellphone operator O2 and a war veterans charity whose patron is Britain's Queen Elizabeth have joined a growing list of organizations to suspend ties with the News of the World as a scandal over hacking allegations deepens. Full Story1

UK to probe court evidence from former Murdoch editor Thu,7 Jul 2011 08:54 AM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Scottish police were asked on Thursday to investigate evidence given in court by witnesses including former News of the World editor Andy Coulson following the latest developments in the phone hacking scandal engulfing the newspaper. Full Story1

 

email: info@als-alexander.org or interalex2@gmail.com

BLOOMBERG News, Jul 09, 2011

Obama taps insider as fossil energy chief Fri,8 Jul 2011 08:13 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has tapped the current chief operating officer at the Energy Department's office of fossil energy to lead the unit as assistant secretary. Full Story1

NY and Connecticut governors push unions on layoffs Fri,8 Jul 2011 04:33 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Though the governors of New York and Connecticut parted company on some of their budget-fixing strategies, both Democrats are still struggling to persuade their unionized workers to accept cuts. Full Story1

Exclusive: Healthcare tax break on debt talks table Fri,8 Jul 2011 11:52 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Limiting the tax break for employer-provided health insurance became a bargaining chip on Friday in congressional negotiations to beat an August 2 deadline for averting a U.S. default. Full Story1

U.S. considers removing all tariffs for poor nations Fri,8 Jul 2011 11:45 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government said on Friday it is investigating the probable economic effects of eliminating all tariffs and quotas on goods from the world's least-developed countries (LDCs). Full Story1

Analysis: Can Romney capitalize on weak jobs numbers? Fri,8 Jul 2011 11:26 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Friday's bleak unemployment report boosts Republicans hoping to oust President Barack Obama from the White House next year, but translating a difficult economy into election results will not be easy. Full Story1

House approves $649 billion for defense in 2012 Fri,8 Jul 2011 11:03 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A $649 billion defense spending bill for next year easily passed the House of Representatives on Friday after four days of debate in which war-weary lawmakers sought to curb President Barack Obama's combat operations in Afghanistan and Libya. Full Story1

Democrats back power to block state consumer laws Fri,8 Jul 2011 09:33 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Democratic senators are defending a top U.S. regulator's power to shield the nation's largest banks from certain state consumer financial laws. Full Story1

Debt limit fight fuels economic uncertainty: Obama Fri,8 Jul 2011 08:41 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama cited gloomy jobs numbers as one more reason lawmakers must strike a deal soon to raise the debt limit, saying the impasse was fueling uncertainty within financial markets and in the business sector. Full Story1

Tea Party leader DeMint says new book is "recruitment tool" Fri,8 Jul 2011 08:40 AM PDT Reuters - CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - Tea party kingmaker Senator Jim DeMint said he will use a new book about his lonely campaign to cut government spending and reduce the size of government as a tool to recruit more Americans to his cause. Full Story1

Minnesota shutdown, impasse draws debt downgrade Thu,7 Jul 2011 05:45 PM PDT Reuters - MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Minnesota's government shutdown reached a seventh day on Thursday with no end in sight, and a major debt rating agency stripped the state of its AAA bond rating, citing the budget battle as a reason. Full Story1

China warns U.S. officials not to meet Dalai Lama Thu,7 Jul 2011 04:12 PM PDT Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Foreign Ministry warned U.S. officials on Thursday not to meet with visiting exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying it hoped Washington "appropriately dealt" with Tibet-related issues. Full Story1

Minnesota shutdown, impasse draws debt downgrade Thu,7 Jul 2011 04:10 PM PDT Reuters - MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Minnesota's government shutdown reached a seventh day on Thursday with no end in sight, and a major debt rating agency stripped the state of its AAA bond rating citing the budget battle as a reason. Full Story1

New York governor pressures union with more layoffs Thu,7 Jul 2011 03:46 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ramped up the pressure on union officials to concede hundreds of millions of dollars in savings on Thursday with the delivery of layoff notices to more than 300 state workers. Full Story1

California credit outlook revised to stable by S&P Thu,7 Jul 2011 03:45 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's revised California's credit outlook to stable on Thursday, one of the first significant pieces of good news for U.S. state and local governments as they work their way out of the Great Recession. Full Story1

US trade bills advance but clash clouds future Thu,7 Jul 2011 03:43 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama cleared initial hurdles in Congress on Thursday, but a party-line clash over a program to help workers displaced by trade threatened future action. Full Story1

Analysis: Taxes only symbolic in debt talks so far Thu,7 Jul 2011 02:18 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Symbolic gestures and agreements in principle, but not substantive reforms, are likely to be the main tax policy result of urgent talks about raising the U.S. debt ceiling. Full Story1

Union campaign spending off sharply in 2011: report Thu,7 Jul 2011 02:03 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donations to federal political candidates by labor unions are down sharply this year, an analysis found on Thursday, in an ominous sign for the Democratic Party heading into next year's elections. Full Story1

Minnesota loses AAA rating on Fitch downgrade Thu,7 Jul 2011 02:00 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Minnesota lost its top credit rating on Thursday as Fitch Ratings downgraded the state's general obligation bonds one notch to AA-plus, citing the budget impasse. Full Story1

China warns U.S. officials not to meet Dalai Lama Thu,7 Jul 2011 12:57 PM PDT Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Foreign Ministry warned U.S. officials on Thursday not to meet with visiting exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying it hoped Washington "appropriately dealt" with Tibet-related issues. Full Story1

U.S. ambassador in Hama to support Syria protesters Thu,7 Jul 2011 12:37 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to Syria traveled to the restive city of Hama on Thursday to show solidarity with protesters concerned that Syrian security forces ringing the city could stage a new crackdown. Full Story1

Texas Governor Perry likely to run in 2012 Thu,7 Jul 2011 12:32 PM PDT Reuters - AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Among political insiders in the Texas state capital, one thing is considered certain: Governor Rick Perry will jump into the Republican presidential race in the next few weeks. Full Story1

Factbox: Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry Thu,7 Jul 2011 12:11 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Texas Governor Rick Perry is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Full Story1

Senate deal would axe $6 billion ethanol tax credit Thu,7 Jul 2011 10:46 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three senators reached a deal on Thursday to repeal the $6 billion per year ethanol tax credit by the end of July, an agreement that must still be passed by Congress. Full Story1

Obama expects "bottom lines" on debt limit on Sunday Thu,7 Jul 2011 10:38 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional leaders are still far apart on a wide range of budget issues but agree on the need to raise the debt ceiling, and will meet again in three days, President Barack Obama said on Thursday. Full Story1

Tax reform on the table in debt talks: Boehner Thu,7 Jul 2011 07:37 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Comprehensive tax reform that would close breaks and lower rates for businesses and individuals is under discussion in budget talks, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said on Thursday. Full Story1

Cantor says hopes both sides can come together on debt Thu,7 Jul 2011 05:38 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Republican leader Eric Cantor said on Thursday he believed "both sides can come together" to reduce the debt. Full Story1

China warns U.S. officials not to meet Dalai Lama Thu,7 Jul 2011 02:47 AM PDT Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Foreign Ministry warned U.S. officials on Thursday not to meet with visiting exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying it hoped Washington "appropriately dealt" with Tibet-related issues. Full Story1

Varney to step down as top antitrust official Thu,7 Jul 2011 02:06 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Christine Varney, the top antitrust official in the U.S. Justice Department, is stepping down, the department said on Wednesday. Full Story1

Democrats challenge Obama's Afghan withdrawal plan Wed,6 Jul 2011 09:35 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic lawmakers fed up with the lingering war in Afghanistan launched a new challenge to President Barack Obama's plan for a measured U.S. troop withdrawal over the next year as they resumed debate on Wednesday on a $649 billion defense spending bill. Full Story1

Minnesota governor offers ideas, Republicans balk Wed,6 Jul 2011 06:48 PM PDT Reuters - MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Minnesota's Democratic Governor Mark Dayton offered two tax proposals on Wednesday to end a budget impasse that has shut down the government, but Republicans rejected the ideas as a step backward. Full Story1

Deal to end 45-cent ethanol credit seen this week Wed,6 Jul 2011 04:06 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three U.S. senators working on a framework to replace the $6 billion a year ethanol tax credit with far less costly incentives could strike a deal as soon as Thursday, Senate and industry sources said. Full Story1

Obama tweets for the first time, tweaks Republicans Wed,6 Jul 2011 02:04 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama took to Twitter on Wednesday to press his economic agenda, using the popular social media site to tweak Republicans and advocate for a deal to reduce the deficit. Full Story1

Senate panel to try again to move trade deals Wed,6 Jul 2011 01:59 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said on Wednesday the panel would try to restart action on Thursday on three long-delayed free trade deals, after Republicans boycotted talks over a program to help workers displaced by trade. Full Story1

U.S. firearms head admits Mexico gun sting mistakes Wed,6 Jul 2011 12:43 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The acting head of the U.S. firearms agency admitted during secret talks at Congress that mistakes were made in a botched operation to track the illegal movement of guns to Mexico, lawmakers said on Wednesday. Full Story1

Analysis: Easing economy will offer some respite to Obama Wed,6 Jul 2011 12:28 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Signs of economic improvement could bolster President Barack Obama's re-election hopes as he tries to beat back Republican attacks over his failure to create enough jobs. Full Story1

Obama changes protocol on troop suicides Wed,6 Jul 2011 12:25 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Announcing a change of protocol, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he would write condolence letters to families of military personnel who take their own lives in combat zones. Full Story1

Obama: debt debate not a weapon for tax breaks Wed,6 Jul 2011 11:50 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the debate over raising the debt ceiling should not be used as a gun against the heads of American people in an effort to secure tax breaks. Full Story1

Militants may try bomb implants to attack Wed,6 Jul 2011 11:47 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Militants are showing renewed interest in using a bomb surgically implanted inside a passenger's body to blow up a commercial flight, though there is no indication an attack is imminent, a U.S. security official said on Wednesday. Full Story1

Romney raises $18 million for White House bid Wed,6 Jul 2011 11:46 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney raised more than $18 million over the last three months, a total that dwarfed his Republican rivals but lagged some predictions. Full Story1

Analysis: Worries on debt ceiling bubble beneath surface Wed,6 Jul 2011 11:38 AM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the standoff over raising the government's borrowing limit enters its final month, it's becoming harder for investors to avoid thinking the unthinkable: the world's most trusted borrower could soon renege on its debt. Full Story1

email: info@als-alexander.org or interalex2@gmail.com