A Russian tanker has muscled its way through hundreds of miles of Bering Sea ice several feet thick to deliver fuel to Nome. Now comes the tricky part: getting more than a million gallons of diesel and gasoline to shore through a mile-long hose without a spill.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tricky transfer awaits tanker inching to Alaska
Rate on 30-year mortgage drops to record 3.89 pct.
Fixed mortgage rates fell once again to a record low, offering a great opportunity for those who can afford to buy or refinance homes. But few are able to take advantage of the historic rates.
Arrests in Oakland protests rise to more than 400
OAKLAND, Calif (Reuters) - More than 400 anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested in Oakland during a night of skirmishes in which police fired tear gas and bean bag projectiles, the city said on Sunday, marking one of the biggest mass arrests since nationwide economic protests began last year. Earlier on Sunday, authorities had said that the arrest figure was between 200 and 300. But the Oakland emergency operations center said in a statement that revised that up to more than 400, and said that Oakland Police were expected to announce a more precise number later on Sunday. ...
St. Louis parade on Iraq War's end draws thousands
Looking around at the tens of thousands of people waving American flags and cheering, Army Maj. Rich Radford was moved that so many braved a cold January wind Saturday in St. Louis to honor people like him: Iraq War veterans.
Italy captain says was told to approach shore: transcripts
GIGLIO, Italy (Reuters) - The captain of the Italian liner Costa Concordia said he was told by managers to take his ship close to shore on the night it ran aground and capsized, but the company denied having any prior knowledge of the maneuver. The daily La Repubblica published transcripts of a conversation Captain Francesco Schettino had with a person identified only as Fabrizio in which he implicates an unnamed manager of the vessel's owners, Costa Cruises. "Fabri ... ...
Greek creditors urge quick deal after eurozone knockback
ZURICH/ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's private creditors pleaded Tuesday with European officials who rejected their bond swap offer to hammer together a deal before Athens tumbles into a chaotic default. Athens' hopes for a swift deal with lenders were evaporating after euro zone ministers Monday rejected creditors' demand for a 4 percent coupon, or interest rate, on new, longer-dated bonds in exchange for existing debt. The country is desperate for a deal to ensure funds from a 130 billion euro rescue plan drawn up by European partners and the International Monetary Fund arrive before 14. ...
BlackBerry maker's CEOs hand reins to insider
WATERLOO, Ontario (Reuters) - Research In Motion's Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have bowed to investor pressure and resigned as co-CEOs, handing the top job to an insider with four years at the struggling BlackBerry maker. Thorsten Heins, a former Siemens AG executive who has risen steadily through RIM's upper management ranks since joining the Canadian company in late 2007, took over as CEO on Saturday, RIM said on Sunday. The shift ends the two-decade long partnership of Lazaridis and Balsillie atop a once-pioneering technology company that now struggles against Apple and Google. ...
Greek fears aid German debt sale; Spain the big test
LONDON (Reuters) - Investors sought refuge in short-term German debt on Wednesday as Greece and its creditors met in a fresh attempt to stave off a messy default, while ample European Central Bank cash helped a Portuguese bill sale. Nearly half trillion euros in three-year ECB loans to banks have eased sales of short-dated euro zone debt in recent weeks but the year's biggest test so far comes on Thursday when Spain seeks to sell bonds with maturities up to 10 years. Germany saw the strongest demand for its two-year paper in more than six months, even though it offered rock-bottom returns. ...
Bank of Canada holds rates, sees faster recovery
OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada held its key policy rate at 1 percent on Tuesday, but forecast a faster Canadian recovery than expected despite an increasingly worrying outlook for the global economy. Governor Mark Carney has held the central bank's rate unchanged for 16 months, the longest period without a rate change since the bank began targeting the overnight rate in 1994. A below-inflation 1 percent rate is providing considerable stimulus to the domestic economy, it says. "For the Bank of Canada, 2011 was the year of 'copy and paste' when setting the overnight rate. ...
Russia: UN resolution on Syria is path to war
A senior Russian diplomat Tuesday said a draft U.N. resolution demanding Syrian President Bashar Assad step aside is a "path to civil war," as Syrian troops besieged rebellious areas with hours of shelling and machine-gun fire.
Pinkberry co-founder pleads not guilty to beating
A co-founder of the popular frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry has pleaded not guilty to beating a homeless man with a tire iron in Los Angeles.
Fla. highway patrol defends reopening I-75
A split decision between two pastors regarding when to return to the Atlanta area from Florida was the difference between life and death.
Marine gets jail time, reduced rank in hazing case
A Hawaii-based Marine lance corporal will spend 30 days in jail and have his rank reduced to private first class for punching and kicking a fellow Marine who killed himself shortly afterward, a judge ruled late Monday, saying she found no evidence the abuse led to the suicide.
Police: Dad of missing Maine tot not telling all
Unable to find any evidence missing toddler Ayla Reynolds was abducted, police on Monday pressed the three adults who were home with her on the night she disappeared to provide a full account of what happened.
Nigeria troops appear; president offers concession
For the first time since protests erupted over spiraling fuel prices, soldiers barricaded key roads Monday in Nigeria's two biggest cities as the president offered a concession to stem demonstrations that he said were being stoked by provocateurs seeking anarchy.
Officials investigating Illinois reactor shutdown
Officials are investigating the events surrounding a power failure at a nuclear reactor in northern Illinois, but believe they may have traced the cause to a piece of equipment at a switchyard.
Pastors split on when to go home; 1 lives, 1 dies
A split decision between two pastors regarding when to return to the Atlanta area from Florida was the difference between life and death.
JPMorgan could lose $5 billion from PIIGS exposure: report
MILAN (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co could lose up to $5 billion from its exposure to Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain, Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said in an interview with Class CNBC, carried in Italian newspaper Milano Finanza on Saturday. Dimon said the bank was exposed to the five countries (PIIGS) to the tune of around $15 billion. "We fear we could lose up to $5 billion ... We hope the worst won't happen, but even if it did happen, I wouldn't be pulling my hair out," he said. Dimon said Europe was the worst problem for the banking sector. ...
Stock futures rise after Europe debt auctions
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures rose on Thursday after well-received European sovereign debt auctions encouraged investors ahead of job market and retail sales data expected to show the U.S. economy is steadily recovering. * Italian and Spanish government bond yields fell sharply after strong auctions were taken as an encouraging sign in their 2012 funding quest. * S&P 500 futures hit fresh 5-month highs after the auctions as investors awaited an interest rate decision from the European Central Bank. The ECB was seen taking a breather this month after back-to-back interest rate cuts. ...
Arab League suspends Syria mission as violence rages
CAIRO/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Arab League suspended its monitoring mission in Syria on Saturday because of worsening violence, a move Damascus said was an attempt to draw foreign intervention as it struggles to quell a 10-month revolt against President Bashar al-Assad's rule. The Arab League took the decision days after calling, unsuccessfully, for Assad to step down and make way for a government of national unity. It will take an Arab peace plan to the U.N. Security Council next week. The rising violence in Syria took a dramatic turn this week when rebels seized three Damascus suburbs. ...
Starbucks expanding beer, wine sales this year
(Reuters) - Starbucks Corp , which sells the coffee that helps many Americans get wound up for their day, is offering more of their customers a way to wind down. The world's biggest coffee chain plans to sell beer and wine in as many as 12 cafes in Atlanta and Southern California by the end of the year, as it expands beyond its well-known coffee. Starbucks introduced those beverages to a Seattle cafe in October 2010. It now sells beer and wine, as well as evening snacks like cheese plates, flatbread and desserts, in five Seattle-area stores and in one cafe in Portland, Oregon. ...
Ill. nuclear reactor loses power, venting steam
A nuclear reactor at a northern Illinois plant shut down Monday after losing power, and steam was being vented to reduce pressure, according to officials from Exelon Nuclear and federal regulators.
Euro zone inflation dips, opens door to ECB cut
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Consumer prices in the euro zone fell more than previously expected in December, the start of a retreat from a November peak that should give the European Central Bank more room to cut interest rates as the economy heads for recession. Inflation in the 17 countries sharing the euro was 2.7 percent in December on an annual basis, revised down from an earlier estimate of 2.8 percent for the month, the European Union's statistics office Eurostat said. "The pressure is abating although the risks from energy are still there," said Fabio Fois, an economist at Barclay's Capital. ...
Monday, January 30, 2012
Ontario economy rebounds modestly in third quarter
TORONTO (Reuters) - Ontario's economy expanded modestly in the third quarter, overcoming a slight decline in the prior quarter and steering Canada's manufacturing heartland further away from the threat of another recession. An Ontario government report released on Monday showed the economy of Canada's most populous province grew by 0.7 percent in the July-September period, reversing a 0.2 percent second-quarter slide. The province, which relies heavily on the shipment of autos and parts to the United States, saw exports rise 1.1 percent, while imports fell 0.6 percent. ...
A welcome return to weekly TV by Bill Moyers
Wearing what is meant to be a sheepish smile, Bill Moyers greets a reporter by acknowledging that, yes, twice before just in the past decade, he has launched a much-acclaimed public affairs TV series, then called it quits, professing to be done with television â€" only to launch yet another such show a couple of years later.
In campaign, Romney rarely notes Mexican heritage
Mitt Romney leaves out one tiny detail as he campaigns to win Florida's Hispanic vote: his Mexican heritage.
Greek creditors urge quick deal after eurozone rejection
ZURICH/ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's private creditors pleaded on Tuesday with European officials who rejected their bond swap offer to hammer together a deal before Athens tumbles into a chaotic default. Athens' hopes for a swift deal with lenders were evaporating after euro zone ministers on Monday rejected creditors' demand for a 4 percent coupon, or interest rate, on new, longer-dated bonds in exchange for existing debt. The country is desperate for a deal to ensure funds from a 130 billion euro rescue plan drawn up by European partners and the International Monetary Fund arrive before 14. ...
Actor who was Mr. Pitt on 'Seinfeld' dies at 77
Ian Abercrombie, a veteran British stage and screen actor whose TV roles included Elaine's boss Mr. Pitt on "Seinfeld" and the voice of Chancellor Palpatine in the animated TV series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," has died. He was 77.
Greek creditors urge quick deal after eurozone
ZURICH/ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's private creditors pleaded on Tuesday with European officials who rejected their bond swap offer to hammer together a deal before Athens tumbles into a chaotic default. Athens' hopes for a swift deal with lenders were evaporating after euro zone ministers on Monday rejected creditors' demand for a 4 percent coupon, or interest rate, on new, longer-dated bonds in exchange for existing debt. The country is desperate for a deal to ensure funds from a 130 billion euro rescue plan drawn up by European partners and the International Monetary Fund arrive before 14. ...
Bank of New York Mellon 4Q profit falls 26 pct
Bank of New York Mellon Corp.'s fourth-quarter net income fell 26 percent, hurt by restructuring charges and a decline revenue stemming from less client activity and a seasonal slowdown in one of its businesses.
Police: No evidence to support Maine tot abduction
Police who confirmed the discovery of blood from a missing toddler in the basement of her father's home said Monday that they've found no evidence to support an abduction and that they believe adults in the home know more than what they're telling investigators.
Pythons apparently wiping out Everglades mammals
A burgeoning population of huge pythons â€" many of them pets that were turned loose by their owners when they got too big â€" appears to be wiping out large numbers of raccoons, opossums, bobcats and other mammals in the Everglades, a study says.
Car being hawked a character in 'The Middle'
Frankie Heck settled into the driver's seat of a new Volkswagen on a recent episode of ABC's "The Middle," caressing the steering wheel as celestial music played. Her face was a mask of such pure pleasure that you almost wanted to avert your eyes.
John Rich, director of TV comedies, dies at 86
Television director John Rich, who won an Emmy Award for the memorable "All in the Family" scene showing Sammy Davis Jr. planting a kiss on Archie Bunker, has died in Los Angeles at 86.
Fla. highway open after chain crashes kill 10
Fog and brushfire smoke cleared enough Monday to reopen all lanes of a Florida interstate where 10 people died in a mass pileup that tossed wreckage across the asphalt and left rescuers to search for survivors in the dark by listening for their screams.
Yosemite planning to limit access to Half Dome
There was a time not long ago when a climb to the top of Yosemite National Park's Half Dome was a solitary trek attempted by only the most daring adventurers.
Afghan woman killed, apparently for bearing girl
An Afghan woman has been strangled to death, apparently by her husband, who was upset that she gave birth to a second daughter rather than the son he wanted, police said Monday.
New York police spokesman comes under fire
When word leaked out last year that New York police were showing an inflammatory movie about Muslims to trainees, news reporters flipped open their notebooks, picked up their phones and hit the speed dial for a man named Paul Browne.
Cause sought for deadly Fla. highway pileup
Authorities are still trying to determine what caused a horrific pileup on Interstate 75 in north-central Florida that left at least 10 people dead and injured at least 18 others.
Ex-Pakistani envoy to US wins court victory
Pakistan's top court Monday lifted a travel ban imposed on the country's former ambassador to the U.S. during an investigation into a memo sent to Washington that had enraged the army, in a sign that a scandal that once looked capable of bringing down the government may be losing steam.
Pentagon prepares for new military talks with Iraq
The Obama administration is preparing to begin talks with Iraq on defining a long-term defense relationship that may include expanded U.S. training help, according to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's chief policy aide.
Citi helped by better loans, hurt by choppy market
Citigroup's loan portfolio improved late last year, partly because Americans were better about paying down credit card debt. But choppy financial markets hurt its investment banking profits, and the bank missed Wall Street expectations.
Egypt's Orascom, Nasr City scrap Tigan cooperation
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian group Orascom Development and local real estate firm Madinet Nasr Housing scrapped an agreement to cooperate in developing the Tigan real estate project, Orascom said on Monday. Swiss-based Orascom Development Holding through its subsidiary was managing the 3.5 million square metre development with Madinet Nasr but said in a statement the two firms had reached a joint decision to cancel the agreement because the time was unsuitable to launch the project. The fate of the Tigan project was not immediately clear after Orascom withdrew from managing the development. ...
Detroit's best-dressed man aims to mend Motown
(Reuters) - The Big Three automakers may be on the rebound but the original Motor City, Detroit, is still battling to turn the tide of decline. One of the people leading the fight is Charles Pugh. An ex-television broadcaster known for a swanky wardrobe and outspoken presence, he was solidly voted in as president of Detroit's city council two years ago, carrying a mandate to clean up corruption and undo decades of mismanagement. But battles over strip-club legislation, water bills and inflated budgets defined his early days in office. "We were the public piñata," he recalls. "I wanted to quit. ...
Stocks mixed after unemployment, retail reports
Stocks were mixed in afternoon trading Thursday after an increase in unemployment claims and tepid retail sales dampened optimism about strong bond auctions in Italy and Spain.
Democrats spend big in Ore. special election
Determined not to lose another friendly district because of a sex scandal, Democrats and their allies have pumped more than $1 million into an Oregon special election race that has turned into a vicious exchange of attacks over the airwaves.
29 Chinese missing after militant attack in Sudan
Militants apparently captured 29 Chinese workers after attacking a remote worksite in a volatile region of Sudan, and Sudanese forces were increasing security for Chinese projects and personnel there, China said Sunday.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Davis, Dujardin win lead honors at SAG awards
Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were the maids of honor at Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards, where their Deep South drama "The Help" won them acting prizes and earned the trophy for overall cast performance.
Missing ME toddler's blood found in father's home
Some of the blood found in a Maine home where a missing toddler was last seen six weeks ago belonged to the little girl, an official said Sunday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)