Business
Boeing 787 safety regulations eased by Japan in aim to fast track Dreamliner’s rollout
Japan’s government stepped in to give Boeing’s now-grounded 787 Dreamliner and its made-in-Japan technology a boost in 2008 by easing safety regulations, fast-tracking the rollout of the groundbreaking jet for Japan’s biggest airlines, according to records and participants in the process.
Airbus warned of lithium battery risks a year ago: presentation
Airbus warned the airline industry of risks related to lithium batteries almost a year before two safety incidents grounded 787 Dreamliners built by its chief rival Boeing, according to a presentation seen by Reuters.
Lockheed F-35B problem tied to manufacturing
The failure of a Lockheed Martin F-35B fighter jet’s engine shortly before takeoff was due to a manufacturing problem, Pentagon investigators have concluded, according to Reuters sources.
It is named after the Celtic god of thunder, can fly faster than the speed of sound and evades enemy radar with its single-wing stealth design.
This is Taranis, Britain’s latest pilotless combat aircraft, which is even capable of selecting its own targets.
Space
Iran launches monkey into space, showing missile progress
Iran said Jan. 28 it had launched a live monkey into space, seeking to show off missile systems that have alarmed the West because the technology could potentially be used to deliver a nuclear warhead.
Viewpoint
by Gary Hart
President, Hart International, Ltd.
There is a distinct pattern for Democratic presidents to select Republicans as Secretaries of Defense. These include: Bill Cohen, Robert Gates, Leon Panetta (a Democrat who began as a Republican), and now Chuck Hagel. All of these were good Secretaries. Bill Cohen is a friend of many years, and I strongly support Chuck Hagel.
Counting down to 2014 in Afghanistan
by Ann Jones
Journalist, photographer, author
KABUL, Afghanistan – Compromise, conflict, or collapse: ask an Afghan what to expect in 2014 and you’re likely to get a scenario that falls under one of those three headings.
