Obama urges Europeans, Americans to defeat terror (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:38:10 GMT]

AP - Cheered by an enormous international crowd, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Thursday summoned Europeans and Americans together to "defeat terror and dry up the well of extremism that supports it" as surely as they conquered communism a generation ago.

Secret Service wants more money for candidates (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:36:47 GMT]

AP - The Secret Service has asked for an extra $9.5 million to cover unexpected costs of protecting the presidential candidates during what has turned into an historic year for the agency's campaign security job.

Air Force nuclear missile launch crew fell asleep (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:36:46 GMT]

AP - Three ballistic missile crew members in North Dakota fell asleep while holding classified launch code devices this month, triggering an investigation by military and National Security Agency experts, the Air Force said Thursday.

Texas officials urge residents to stay home (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:32:22 GMT]

AP - Residents across south Texas slogged through knee-deep muddy waters, tiptoed around downed power lines and dug through debris Thursday, but were thankful that Hurricane Dolly didn't pack the wallop they had feared.

2002 Justice memo OKs CIA interrogation tactics (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:31:57 GMT]

AP - The Justice Department in 2002 told the CIA that its interrogators would be safe from prosecution for violations of anti-torture laws if they believed "in good faith" that harsh techniques used to break prisoners' will would not cause "prolonged mental harm."

Okla. crane fall kills man watching construction (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:34:49 GMT]

AP - Church members watching the steeple being raised on their new building looked on in horror Thursday as a crane holding the structure toppled, crushing a car and killing a 79-year-old man who had been watching from inside the vehicle, firefighters said.

Scientists expose mystery behind northern lights (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:30:43 GMT]

AP - Scientists have exposed some of the mystery behind the northern lights. On Thursday, NASA released findings that indicate magnetic explosions about one-third of the way to the moon cause the northern lights, or aurora borealis, to burst in spectacular shapes and colors, and dance across the sky.

Amy Adams engaged to acting-class sweetie (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:29:13 GMT]

AP - Now Amy Adams' love life is "Enchanted," too. The Oscar-nominated Adams is engaged to fellow actor Darren Legallo, her publicist, Cari Ross, confirmed Thursday. Ross did not immediately provide further details.

Boy, 11, bites pit bull to fend off attack (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:36:50 GMT]
AP - An 11-year old boy is in Brazil's media spotlight after sinking his teeth into the neck of a dog that attacked him. Local newspapers reported on Thursday that Gabriel Almeida was playing in his uncle's backyard in the city of Belo Horizonte when a pit bull named Tita lunged at him and bit him in the left arm.

Packers might postpone Favre's jersey retirement (AP)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:27:32 GMT]

AP - With Brett Favre's retirement up in the air, it goes without saying that the Green Bay Packers might have to put off retiring the three-time MVP's jersey.

Obama presses Europe on Afghanistan in Berlin (Reuters)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:15:38 GMT]

Reuters - U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama urged Europe to stand by the United States in stabilizing Afghanistan in a speech to over 200,000 in Berlin that stressed the need for unity in the face of new threats.

Senate on course to vote Saturday on housing bill (Reuters)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:08:14 GMT]

Reuters - The Senate was on course for a Saturday vote to approve a major housing market rescue bill offering a lifeline to mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and bond market action on Thursday indicated investors were encouraged by the progress.

Pentagon agency faulted for jeopardizing ID data (Reuters)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:25:16 GMT]

Reuters - Personal data collected on military, civilian and contractor employees seeking federal security clearances between 1997 and 2005 could be at risk due to inaccurate record-keeping by the Pentagon agency that did the investigations, an audit showed on Thursday.

House bid to sell oil from reserve fails (Reuters)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:35:38 GMT]

Reuters - The House of Representatives on Thursday failed to pass legislation intended to cool off gasoline prices by requiring the government to sell 70 million barrels of light sweet crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the national stockpile.

U.S.- Mexico border bracing for Dolly flooding (Reuters)
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:17:34 GMT]

Reuters - Hurricane Dolly, which lashed the U.S.-Mexico coastline, weakened to a tropical depression on Thursday over South Texas, but concern remained over flooding along the populous Rio Grande Valley.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Kay Bailey Hutchison
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:09:00 -0400]
The Texas senator is potential running mate for John McCain.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Fred Smith
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:07:00 -0400]
The FedEx chairman is a potential vice presidential pick for John McCain.

Backblaze Is Simplest Way Yet to Back Up PC Files
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:55:00 -0400]
The online service automatically copies files across the Internet for a $5 monthly fee.

Feds Warn That Data Thieves Can Crack Bluetooth
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:53:00 -0400]
Homeland Security offers tips to avoid ‘bluesnarfing’ from cellphones and other devices.

Long-Term Care Insurance: Not Always a Good Buy
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:27:00 -0400]
Private plans are available, but getting one isn't necessarily a good idea.

Stocks Drop Sharply; Banks Lead Decline
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:31:00 GMT]
Widespread fear about the financial sector brought an end to a stock rally, sending the Dow Jones industrials down 283 points.

Ford Posts Loss of $8.7 Billion
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:31:47 GMT]
The automaker, stunned by abysmal sales of its most profitable vehicles and a sudden shift in consumers’ tastes, suffered its worst quarter ever.

City Room: 4 Spitzer Officials Broke the Law, Commission Finds
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:03:15 GMT]
The governor’s aides face charges over an attempt to use the state police to collect damaging information about the former state senator Joseph L. Bruno.

Obama Speaks to Germany on European Ties
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:37:24 GMT]
In Berlin, Senator Barack Obama implored America and Europe to bridge differences and rekindle old alliances to restore global stability and security.

Complaining Bloggers Have a Cable Company’s Ear
[Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:22:31 GMT]
Comcast is reaching out to customers who complain about its service online. Some like it; others say it’s an annoying, sometimes eerie version of “Big Brother.”

Company Interview Excerpt: Liane Pelletier – Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (ALSK)
[]

Company Interview Excerpt: Juan Carlos Ramos – Cortelco Systems Puerto Rico, Inc. (CPROF)
[]

Analyst Interview Excerpt: Canadian Biotechnology: AN Overview – Douglas Loe – Versant Partners Inc.
[]

Analyst Interview Excerpt: Outlook For Canadian Biotechnology – Neil Marouka – Canaccord Adams Inc.
[]

Company Interview Excerpt: Regis Kwong – Jingwei International Limited (JNGW)
[]

Mosley wins court case over orgy
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:29:37 GMT]
Motorsport boss Max Mosley wins a legal action against a newspaper over claims an orgy he took part in had Nazi overtones.

Obama seeks stronger Europe ties
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:18:52 GMT]
Barack Obama tells Berliners the US and Europe have drifted apart and it is time for them to come together again.

Glasgow by-election polls close
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:50:23 GMT]
The polls close in the Glasgow East by-election as nine candidates contest the Westminster seat.

Painter fined for smoking in van
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:05:08 GMT]
A painter and decorator says he is fuming after being handed an on-the-spot fine for smoking in his own private van.

Lifestyle 'should hit' IVF access
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:06:28 GMT]
Almost half of fertility experts say access to IVF should be conditional, a survey finds.

Loch Fyne wages 'below minimum'
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:12:16 GMT]
Staff at the ethical restaurant chain Loch Fyne are being paid less than half the national minimum wage, the BBC finds.

British Energy close to sale deal
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:54:35 GMT]
French energy firm EDF and British Gas owner Centrica are close to buying British Energy, the BBC learns.

Separate bills for fraud couple
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:02:11 GMT]
Canoe fraud John and Anne Darwin will face separate bills from lawyers seeking to recover assets.

Mother in court over baby's death
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:17:45 GMT]
A British woman appears in court in Crete charged with causing the death of her newborn baby son in a hotel room.

Oops - drilled Chinese vase 'only' fetches £25,000 at sale
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:36:09 GMT]
A rare Chinese vase valued at £50,000 in mint condition sells for £25,000 after a hole was drilled in its base so it could be used as a lamp.

U.S.: Iraq insurgency has lost its clout
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:25:18 GMT]

The insurgency that bedeviled U.S. forces for years and killed thousands of Iraqis and Americans is "not even much of a challenge any more" to Iraq's future, the American ambassador says.

Iran ends cooperation on nuke probe
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:29:04 GMT]

Iran signaled Thursday that it will no longer cooperate with U.N. experts probing for signs of clandestine nuclear weapons work, confirming the investigation is at a dead end.

China marshals Olympic spirit to rebuild
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:32:37 GMT]

The streets of Yingxiu, China, are alive with the sounds of a town being brought back from the dead — part of a huge quake recovery push that matches the nation's Olympic effort.

Man stunned that Karadzic used his ID
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:26:04 GMT]

The real Dragan Dabic has emerged — and the 66-year construction worker was shocked Thursday to discover his identity had apparently been stolen by one of the world's most notorious war crimes suspects.

Cyclone-hit fisheries hurt Myanmar
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:17:49 GMT]

When Cyclone Nargis struck Myamar in early May, it killed thousands of fishermen and destroyed the fishing grounds and ponds of those that survived, leaving families destitute.

Asteroid Crash May Have Demagnified Mars
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:20:30 GMT]
An asteroid may have switched on Mars' magnetic field, and then ended it by crashing.

Whale Playground Sheds Light on Melting Arctic
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:20:30 GMT]
Beluga whales are a "bellwether species" for Russia's melting Arctic.

Power From Poop: Putting Manure to Use
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:12:30 GMT]
Converting methane waste into energy is becoming an increasingly feasible proposition.

Explorers Map 'Snowy River' Cave
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:32:30 GMT]
A calcite crystal cave is several thousand feet longer than previous records showed.

Lost in Space? Not With Lunar GPS
[Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:25:30 GMT]
A lunar navigation system is in the works to help future explorers keep their bearings.

Blog: Pinwheel Galaxy's Ring of Fire
[Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:25:30 GMT]
Looking for life in the universe? Here's one place you can skip.

From Garbage to Gas Tank: Trash as Biofuel
[Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:39:30 GMT]
Can you run a car on trash? Yes, and within two years, say biofuel companies.

Dinosaurs Diversified Over Time, Not Suddenly
[Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:39:30 GMT]
Dinosaurs had already evolved into many different species before the Cretaceous.

Shrimp-Like Fossil Confirms Antarctica Was Warmer
[Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:45:30 GMT]
A fossil found in Antarctica's dry valley shows the continent was once much warmer.

Gulf Dead Zone Grows Bigger Than Ever
[Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:08:30 GMT]
An oxygen-depleted dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is hundreds of miles wide.

Wildfire Smoke May Cause Arctic Cooling
[Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:22:30 GMT]
Wildfire smoke from North America may cool the Arctic for weeks or months.

Frog's Ears Can Switch Frequencies Like Radios
[]
A frog can tune its ears to different sound frequencies, like the tuner on a radio.

Portraits: Michelangelo Was No Beauty
[Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:26:30 GMT]
Michelangelo was a master at sculpting male beauty, but he was not one, himself.

Cuckoo Chicks Change Calls to Mimic Host
[Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EST]
Chicks of Australian cuckoos are found to be masters of deception.

Frog's Ears Can Switch Frequencies Like Radios
[Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:30:00 EST]
A frog can tune its ears to different sound frequencies, like the tuner on a radio.

Gray Wolves Returned to Endangered List
[Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:30:30 EST]
A federal judge restores endangered species protections for Rockies gray wolves.

Coral-Wrecking Starfish Curbed by Fishing Regs
[Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:00:30 EST]
No-take marine reserves protect coral by controlling invasive starfish.

Dead Baby Penguins Wash Ashore by the Hundreds
[Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:00:30 EST]
Hundreds of penguins are found dead on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.

Vestigial Vocal Organ Muffles Human Speech
[Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:45:30 EST]
The human voice box bears a relic from our very vocal primate past.

Ancient Soul of Iran
[]
The glories of Persia inspire the modern nation.

Monkey Paradise
[]
The bush-meat trade stalks an African island ark.

Between Volcanoes
[]
Fire and water collide in Japan's largest national park.

Moscow Never Sleeps
[]
When the sun sets, the Russian capital heats up.

Target Earth
[]
A killer asteroid may be headed our way.

International Photo Contest
[]
National Geographic's international photo contest will be open for entries starting August 1.

Editor's Note
[]
Editor in Chief Chris Johns writes about raising awareness of the need for conservation on Bioko Island.

Flashback
[]
Slogans honoring writer Maksim Gorky draped balconies at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre in 1928.

Your Shot
[]
Submit your photo, check out Your Shot jigsaw puzzles, and see reader photos that were recently published in National Geographic.

Desktop Wallpaper
[]
Decorate your desktop with beautiful images from this month's issue of the magazine.

Visions of Earth
[]
Each month, National Geographic magazine features breathtaking photographs in Visions of Earth. Browse through this view of the world through a photographer's eye.

Blog Central
[]
Carbon footprints, digital photography, style, pop culture, life in the field--meet our bloggers and hear what they have to say on a variety of topics.

Ancient Soul of Iran
[]
The glories of Persia inspire the modern nation.

Monkey Paradise
[]
The bush-meat trade stalks an African island ark.

Between Volcanoes
[]
Fire and water collide in Japan's largest national park.

Moscow Never Sleeps
[]
When the sun sets, the Russian capital heats up.

Target Earth
[]
A killer asteroid may be headed our way.

International Photo Contest
[]
National Geographic's international photo contest will be open for entries starting August 1.

Editor's Note
[]
Editor in Chief Chris Johns writes about raising awareness of the need for conservation on Bioko Island.

Flashback
[]
Slogans honoring writer Maksim Gorky draped balconies at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre in 1928.

Your Shot
[]
Submit your photo, check out Your Shot jigsaw puzzles, and see reader photos that were recently published in National Geographic.

Desktop Wallpaper
[]
Decorate your desktop with beautiful images from this month's issue of the magazine.

Visions of Earth
[]
Each month, National Geographic magazine features breathtaking photographs in Visions of Earth. Browse through this view of the world through a photographer's eye.

Blog Central
[]
Carbon footprints, digital photography, style, pop culture, life in the field--meet our bloggers and hear what they have to say on a variety of topics.

Obama warns Germans of potential 'new walls'
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:31:45 GMT]
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, speaking to thousands of Germans crowded into the heart of the city, warned Thursday ...

Hijacker returns to Croatia after serving 30 years in USA
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:12:11 GMT]
A man who served 32 years in a U.S. prison for hijacking a plane and planting a bomb that killed a policeman was granted parole.

Spanish cops: Basque explosives cache belongs to ETA
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:56:52 GMT]
Spanish police say they have found a cache of some 220 pounds of explosives belonging to the Basque group ETA.

Storms sweep N.H.; 1 dead, at least 100 homes damaged
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:58:18 GMT]
Violent storms swept through central New Hampshire on Thursday and destroyed several homes, killing a woman inside her home with ...

Bush reaches out to India, hopes to break WTO impasse
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:58:02 GMT]
President Bush placed a private call to India's prime minister as their negotiators tried to break a deadlock on world trade ...

Argentine ex-general gets life sentence for 'dirty war' acts
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:56:20 GMT]
Luciano Benjamin Menendez, 81, was commander of the regional Third Army Corps in Cordoba for five years during Argentina's 1976-83 ...

Iran ends cooperation with IAEA
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:20:46 GMT]
Iran signaled it will no longer cooperate with U.N. experts probing for signs of clandestine nuclear weapons work.

Postal Service sets new mark for 1st-class on-time rates
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:12:44 GMT]
More first-class mail items are getting to their destinations on time than ever before, the Postal Service said.

Obama scraps visit to wounded troops
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:31:56 GMT]
Sen. Barack Obama scrapped plans to visit wounded members of the armed forces in Germany as part of his overseas trip, a decision ...

EU pushes for anti-terror measure
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:06:32 GMT]
European Union ministers agreed in principle on Thursday to set up a U.S.-style passenger data recording system for commercial ...

Obama warns Germans of potential 'new walls'
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:31:45 GMT]
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, speaking to thousands of Germans crowded into the heart of the city, warned Thursday ...

Spanish cops: Basque explosives cache belongs to ETA
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:56:52 GMT]
Spanish police say they have found a cache of some 220 pounds of explosives belonging to the Basque group ETA.

Bush reaches out to India, hopes to break WTO impasse
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:58:02 GMT]
President Bush placed a private call to India's prime minister as their negotiators tried to break a deadlock on world trade ...

Argentine ex-general gets life sentence for 'dirty war' acts
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:56:20 GMT]
Luciano Benjamin Menendez, 81, was commander of the regional Third Army Corps in Cordoba for five years during Argentina's 1976-83 ...

Iran ends cooperation with IAEA
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:20:46 GMT]
Iran signaled it will no longer cooperate with U.N. experts probing for signs of clandestine nuclear weapons work.

Obama scraps visit to wounded troops
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:31:56 GMT]
Sen. Barack Obama scrapped plans to visit wounded members of the armed forces in Germany as part of his overseas trip, a decision ...

EU pushes for anti-terror measure
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:06:32 GMT]
European Union ministers agreed in principle on Thursday to set up a U.S.-style passenger data recording system for commercial ...

Political feuds in Baghdad close door to Olympics
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:41:47 GMT]
Just two weeks before the start of the Olympics, Iraq was told Thursday it's not welcome in Beijing because of a political feud ...

China clamps down on business visas
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:46:02 GMT]
Business travel appears to be the latest victim of China's ever-tightening security crackdown before the Beijing Olympics.

8 killed by female suicide bomber in Iraq
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:35:36 GMT]
Iraqi police say at least eight people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a checkpoint manned by U.S.-allied Sunni guards ...

Memo: 'Good faith' OK defense for torture charges
[Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:54:29 GMT]
The U.S. Justice Department in 2002 told the CIA that its interrogators would be safe from prosecution for violations of anti-torture ...