News

Chances of WMD attack in big city greater: report

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:11:00 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chances of a terror attack on a major city somewhere in the world using weapons of mass destruction are better than even, according to a task force mandated by the U.S. Congress, The Washington Post reported in its Tuesday edition.

Downturn hits U.S. corporate meetings

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:10:58 +0000

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - The storm buffeting the U.S. economy threatens to swamp the $175 billion corporate meetings industry as companies seek to cut back on expenditure by reducing the number of conferences they hold.

Lots of TV and Web harms kids’ health

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:10:55 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Spending a lot of time watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Web makes children more prone to a range of health problems including obesity and smoking, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Bargain-hunters fail to save retail sales

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:10:53 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Bargain-hunting holiday shoppers did not save U.S. retail sales in November, which will likely represent a second straight month of declines for the industry.

Business could learn from Obama style, experts say

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:10:49 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - If Barack Obama were a corporate chief executive, the incoming U.S. president already would be winning high marks for his management style, experts say.

U.S. study weighs lifetime risks from CT scans

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:10:47 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters) - As many as 7 percent of patients from a large U.S. hospital system had enough radiation exposure from CT scans during their lifetime to slightly raise their risk of cancer, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

J.K. Rowling back in stores with charity book

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:10:37 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - A new book by British author J.K. Rowling, her unofficial farewell to the adventures of boy wizard Harry Potter which made her the world’s wealthiest writer, goes on sale on Thursday.

Giants receiver Burress faces criminal gun charges

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:10:35 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress faced charges of criminal possession of a handgun on Monday following an apparent accidental shooting in a Manhattan nightclub, prosecutors said.

Banks charged $27 for overdraft fees in 2006

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:09:28 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Banks typically charged a customer $27 for overdrawing on accounts in 2006 and failed to notify of the fee until after the transaction, according to a U.S. regulatory report likely to draw congressional criticism.

Georgia votes in key Senate run-off election

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:06:56 +0000

DULUTH, Georgia (Reuters) - The state of Georgia voted in a run-off election for U.S. Senate on Tuesday that will help decide whether Democrats gain a big enough majority in the chamber to more easily pass their legislation agenda.

White House will take time to review automakers’ plan

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:06:54 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Tuesday it will take time to review the plans by ailing U.S. automakers as they seek government aid, and that no one should expect a quick judgment.

Condoleezza Rice plays piano for Queen at palace

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:06:52 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice played the piano for Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace Monday as a farewell gesture before the end of the Bush administration’s term next month.

U.S. says Pakistani-based group likely hit Mumbai

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:06:48 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group based in Pakistan may have been responsible for the attacks by militants in India’s financial hub of Mumbai that killed 183 people, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday.

Pentagon: Pakistan force near Afghanistan unchanged

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:06:46 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon has seen no signs that Pakistan is preparing to shift troops out of its tribal region near the Afghanistan border due to rising tensions with India, a U.S. defense official said on Tuesday.

Women see Clinton job as triumph, disappointment

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:06:45 +0000

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - In what was billed as the Year of the Women in U.S. politics, the choice of Hillary Clinton as President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state somehow seems both more and less than her supporters had hoped for.

Big Three automaker plans hit congressional desks

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:05:11 +0000

DETROIT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. automakers started to submit plans demanded by Congress as the Big Three’s CEOs and lawmakers gird for debate over a $25 billion bailout the industry says it needs to survive.

Ford sales drop 31 percent

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:05:10 +0000

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co on Tuesday reported a nearly 31 percent drop in overall sales for November, saying that the economy was continuing to weaken.

Bargain-hunters fail to save retail sales

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:05:07 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Bargain-hunting holiday shoppers did not save U.S. retail sales in November, which will likely represent a second straight month of declines for the industry.

Goldman shares fall as analysts see bigger loss

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:05:06 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc shares fell Tuesday on speculation the bank’s fourth-quarter loss could be much larger than expected — more than $2.5 billion — fueled by the plunging value of many Goldman investments.

Greenberg wants more info from AIG on U.S. deal

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:05:06 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, the former chief executive of American International Group Inc , is seeking more information from the company on its agreement with the U.S. government over assets that have cost the giant insurer dearly.

Staples posts higher-than-expected quarterly profit

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:05:05 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Staples , the world’s largest office products retailer, posted a slightly higher-than-expected quarterly profit, aided by sales from the acquisition of Dutch peer Corporate Express.

Sears Holdings posts loss, sets store closures

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:05:04 +0000

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday as the weak economy hurt sales, but announced that it was closing underperforming stores and its shares rose 16 percent.

Bad back may stop cane toad invasion

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:51 +0000

SYDNEY (Reuters) - It seems a bad back might be the only thing that can stop the relentless spread of Australia’s poisonous cane toads, which are killing native animals as they hop across the nation, researchers say.

Researchers link C-section babies to asthma risk

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:51 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Babies born by Caesarean section are more likely to develop asthma than children delivered naturally, Swiss researchers said on Tuesday.

Canada’s Pacific coast killer whales still at risk

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:50 +0000

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Canada’s killer whale population on the Pacific Coast remains at risk of extinction as its main food source continues to decline, a government panel said on Monday.

First days after HIV infection may hold vaccine key

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:49 +0000

GENEVA (Reuters) - The body’s initial response to contracting HIV could provide the answers scientists need to develop a vaccine for the AIDS-causing virus, a Nobel-winning expert said on Monday.

Brains of autistic slower to react to sounds: study

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:48 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The brains of autistic children react to sounds a fraction of a second slower than those of normal children, which may help explain the communication problems associated with autism, researchers said on Monday.

150 whales die in stranding off Australian coast

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:48 +0000

SYDNEY (Reuters) - At least 150 whales have died in a mass stranding off Tasmania’s west coast, Australian authorities said on Sunday, despite the efforts of rescuers who managed to shepherd a small number back to the ocean.

Sleep terrors may have genetic roots

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:47 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Sleep terrors may run in the family, new research in twins shows.

Endeavour touches down in California

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:46 +0000

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour wrapped up a 16-day mission to prepare the International Space Station for its first six-member crew with a flawless touchdown at NASA’s backup landing site in California.

Research on mice links fast food to Alzheimer’s

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:45 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Mice fed junk food for nine months showed signs of developing the abnormal brain tangles strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a Swedish researcher said on Friday.

Searchers find remains of fireball meteor

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:02:44 +0000

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Searchers have found the remains of a 10-ton meteor that produced a dramatic fireball in the skies over the Canadian Prairies this month, researchers said on Friday.

Lots of TV and Web harms kids’ health

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:41 +0000

Researchers link C-section babies to asthma risk

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:40 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Babies born by Caesarean section are more likely to develop asthma than children delivered naturally, Swiss researchers said on Tuesday.

U.S. study weighs lifetime risks from CT scans

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:39 +0000

Folate in pregnancy linked to respiratory illness

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:37 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The infants of mothers who used folate supplements during their first trimester appear to have a slightly higher incidence of wheeze and lower respiratory tract infections up to 18 months of age, according to findings of a study conducted in Norway.

Exercise improves brain blood flow in older adults

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:34 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters Health) - In older individuals, exercise is associated with an increase in the number of large-diameter vessels in the cerebral region of the brain and with an increase in blood flow in the three major cerebral arteries, researchers announced at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, which is being held here this week.

More HIV testing can save babies’ lives: U.N. report

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:34 +0000

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations on Monday urged countries across the world to expand screening of newborn infants exposed to the virus that causes AIDS, saying it could save the lives of countless children.

Patient photos boost radiologists’ performance

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:33 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An old-fashioned technology — the photograph — may help improve the performance of radiologists reading test results from high-tech medical scanners, Israeli researchers said on Tuesday.

China raises death estimate from tainted milk to six

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:32 +0000

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has lifted to six the number of babies believed killed from drinking toxic milk formula and raised the number affected to 294,000, months after a scare that has battered confidence among local and foreign consumers.

Acupuncture beats aspirin for chronic headache

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:29 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Acupuncture works better than drugs like aspirin to reduce the severity and frequency of chronic headaches, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

Partial vaccine dose may work as well as full shot

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:00:28 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Giving just one fifth the dose of a commonly used meningitis vaccine may be as effective as using the full dose, researchers said on Tuesday.

Croat police turn on anti-government Facebookers: media

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:59:44 +0000

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatian police have detained and questioned Web activists who are criticizing or ridiculing the government, media and the opposition say, accusing authorities of violating basic civil rights.

Classical musicians get shot at fame on YouTube

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:59:43 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The video-sharing website YouTube will take classical music out of pricey concert halls and bring it to the masses by holding an online competition where the public chooses musicians to play at Carnegie Hall.

Nokia eyes wider use of Linux software in phones

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:59:42 +0000

BARCELONA (Reuters) - The world’s biggest mobile phone maker, Nokia, could start to use open-source Linux software on its more expensive phone models, a senior company official said on Tuesday.

Hitachi to enter memory-based drive business with Intel

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:59:42 +0000

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese electronics conglomerate Hitachi Ltd said it and U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp would jointly develop solid state drive (SSD) memory devices, which are seen as a promising alternative to hard disk drives.

Qualcomm ruling affirmed, vacated in part: U.S. court

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:59:40 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. federal court on Monday affirmed a ruling against Qualcomm Inc in its long-running battle with Broadcom Corp over some video technology patents, but voided a part of the lower-court decision that said Qualcomm could not enforce the patents.

Clearwire may slow WiMax build to cut funding gap

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:59:39 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Clearwire Corp may build its high-speed WiMax wireless network more slowly than originally planned if credit markets do not improve by early 2010, Chief Executive Benjamin Wolff said on Monday.

Time Warner Cable CFO sees tougher 2009

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:59:38 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Time Warner Cable Inc will likely sell fewer than expected video, Internet and phone subscriptions this year, and expects a further decline next year due to the worsening U.S. economy, Chief Financial Officer Rob Marcus said on Monday.

Ex-AOL boss looking to raise cash for Yahoo bid

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:46:21 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The former chief executive of AOL Jonathan Miller is trying to raise money to buy part or all of Yahoo, according to the Wall Street Journal.