U.S. budget cuts sharpen battle for fighter jet exports

U.S. budget cuts sharpen battle for fighter jet exports


U.S. budget cuts sharpen battle for fighter jet exports

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 10:18 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Competition is heating up in the global fighter jet market, prompting accusations of aggressive tactics as major arms makers jostle for export business to offset domestic spending cuts. Purchase decisions in the coming months from South Korea and Brazil, as well as the finalization of a huge Indian contract tentatively awarded to France, could shape the balance of power in the aerial combat market for years to come. ...


Japan energy deadlock deepens; government fails to announce policy mix

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 10:57 PM PDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Deadlock in Japan between anti-nuclear activists and advocates of atomic power deepened on Monday as the government failed to produce an expected proposal to reduce the role of nuclear power in the country's energy porfolio after the Fukushima disaster. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's government had been widely expected to announce a decision on energy policy and a reduction of the share of nuclear power to 15 percent or less by 2030. A government source, however, said the announcement was unlikely to take place. ...


Germans trust pragmatic top judge to walk euro tightrope

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 11:01 PM PDT

BERLIN (Reuters) - Angela Merkel may be the most powerful woman in Europe, but this week the chancellor's plans to save the euro lie in the hands of Andreas Vosskuhle, the supreme court judge known as Germany's most powerful man. In a ruling with global ramifications, the Constitutional Court is expected on Wednesday to allow an EU bailout fund and budget pact, although most legal experts expect it to impose conditions to show that parliament controls Germany's budget. ...


Tropical storm takes aim at Newfoundland

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 10:51 PM PDT

This NOAA satellite image taken Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012 at 1:45 a.m. EDT shows Tropical Storm Leslie about 180 miles southeast of Bermuda moving north at 8 mph. Max winds are currently at 65 mph and Leslie is forecast to become a hurricane by tonight. Hurricane Michael in the central Atlantic and has max winds of 100 mph. The hurricane is moving north-northwest at 6 mph. (AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)Tropical Storm Leslie headed on a northward track toward Canada's Newfoundland early Monday, after its outer bands buffeted Bermuda with a day of gusty winds and rain that caused little damage.



Japan energy deadlock deepens; government fails to announce policy mix

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 10:57 PM PDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Deadlock in Japan between anti-nuclear activists and advocates of atomic power deepened on Monday as the government failed to produce an expected proposal to reduce the role of nuclear power in the country's energy porfolio after the Fukushima disaster.


Germans trust pragmatic top judge to walk euro tightrope

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 11:02 PM PDT

BERLIN (Reuters) - Angela Merkel may be the most powerful woman in Europe, but this week the chancellor's plans to save the euro lie in the hands of Andreas Vosskuhle, the supreme court judge known as Germany's most powerful man.


What's America Thinking? Amazon And Qualtrics Will Tell You, Dirt Cheap

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 06:42 PM PDT

Amazon's Mechanical Turk service is making fast inroads into the pricy, not-so-efficient world of market research.


Hong Kong's pro-democracy leader steps down

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 11:03 PM PDT

Resignation follows Democratic Party's loss of half of its seats in the Legislative Council Election.


U.S. budget cuts sharpen battle for fighter jet exports

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 10:18 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Competition is heating up in the global fighter jet market, prompting accusations of aggressive tactics as major arms makers jostle for export business to offset domestic spending cuts.


On Facebook, Quilters Go For Romney, Gamers Like Obama

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 06:18 PM PDT

By the numbers, President Barack Obama is crushing Republican challenge Mitt Romney when it comes to a key constituency: Facebook fans. As of now, Obama claims 28.5 million Facebook fans, while Romney--whose ads for more fans appears on a Facebook search for Obama--has 6.6 million. But the details behind those numbers are [...]


Venezuela drops charges against U.S. crew

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 10:13 PM PDT

The crew of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, held more than a week and accused of arms trafficking, is expected to set sail Monday or Tuesday from Venezuela after authorities dropped charges against them.


Serena Williams wins U.S. Open final thriller

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 10:12 PM PDT

Serena Williams battled back from the brink of defeat to claim her 15th grand slam title and win the U.S. Open for the fourth time with a 6-2 2-6 7-5 victory over world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka on Sunday.


The Fracking Solution Is A Good Cement Job

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 06:12 PM PDT

Fracking of gas deposits is causing environmental and human health concerns, but it's the cement job that's the culprit, not the fracking.


Power failure darkens extensive area across Cuba

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 09:54 PM PDT

People sit at the door of their home during a power blackout in HavanaHAVANA (Reuters) - A large swath of Cuba was plunged into darkness on Sunday night in a widespread power failure, the cause of which was not disclosed. Electricity went out from the city of Ciego de Avila in southeastern Cuba all the way to Havana, 250 miles to the northwest, and beyond to the westernmost province of Pinar del Rio. Phone calls around the island indicated power was returning in many areas, but not yet in the Cuban capital, which is the Communist country's biggest city with 2.2 million people. ...



Power failure darkens extensive area across Cuba

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 09:54 PM PDT

HAVANA (Reuters) - A large swath of Cuba was plunged into darkness on Sunday night in a widespread power failure, the cause of which was not disclosed.


Pistorius ends Paralympics with 400M gold

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 09:49 PM PDT

South African "blade runner" Oscar Pistorius smashed a Paralympic record to win the men's 400m T44 in the final athletics event of the 2012 Games.


Pirate Party shakes up Germany

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 09:48 PM PDT

The Pirate Party is making waves in Germany and beyond. CNN's Jonathan Mann reports.


Japan-China Territorial Dispute Threatening Economic Relations; U.S. Also Feeling the Heat

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 05:15 PM PDT

The Japan-China territorial dispute has escalated from diplomatic standoff to serious threats of economic retaliation. For Japanese companies--and Japan's economy as a whole--the damage could be severe and prolonged.


U.S. probes reported record-shredding of fuel buys for Afghan army

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 09:27 PM PDT

Helicopter flies over paratroopers of 509th Infantry investigating source of mortar rounds, in Paktiya provinceWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Investigators are probing reports of record-shredding by officials in the U.S.-led NATO command that trains the Afghan army after learning that records of fuel purchases for the Afghans totaling nearly $475 million are gone. The training command has also not been tracking whether the fuel it delivers to the Afghan army is actually used or stored, leaving officials unable to determine whether any of it was stolen, said an interim report by the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, or SIGAR. ...



Bombs hit Syrian army compounds in Aleppo

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 08:52 PM PDT

Blast kills and wounds scores of President Bashar al-Assad's forces, residents and opposition activists say.