Nobel-winning US energy secretary steps down

Four years after his appointment as part of President Barack Obama's scientific dream team, US energy secretary Steven Chu is about to step down. How well did he perform in office, and who should fill his shoes? With budget cuts and continued attacks by climate sceptics likely to dog Obama's second term, a politician might be a better choice than...

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MDA introduces new scholarship for film-makers

SINGAPORE: The Media Development Authority (MDA) has introduced a special film category for its Media Education Scheme (MES). The MES (Film) scholarship is tailored for screenwriters, directors and film-makers, who tend to operate on a freelance basis. On top of full scholarship and an annual living allowance, MES (Film) scholars will be assigned to mentors who will coach, guide and provide...

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Ethan 'doing fine' after Alabama standoff ends

STORY HIGHLIGHTS Rescued child is in good spirits at hospital, authorities sayFBI says boy was rescued after negotiators felt he was in dangerWitness said he heard explosion followed by gunshotsA family member says Ethan will stay overnight in the hospitalMidland City, Alabama (CNN) -- At least Ethan is safe.That is the sentiment many were expressing in Midland City, Alabama, and beyond. But what...

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Signs of runaway heat seen in Dreamliner batteries

TOKYO An investigation into a lithium ion battery that overheated on a Boeing 787 flight in Japan last month found evidence of the same type of "thermal runaway" seen in a similar incident in Boston, officials said Tuesday. The Japan Transportation Safety Board said that CAT scans and other analysis found damage to all eight cells in the battery that overheated on the All Nippon Airways 787 on Jan....

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Boy Rescued in Ala. Standoff 'Laughing, Joking'

The 5-year-old boy held hostage in a nearly week-long standoff in Alabama is in good spirits and apparently unharmed after being reunited with his family at a hospital, according to his family and law enforcement officials.The boy, identified only as Ethan, was rescued by the FBI Monday afternoon after they rushed the underground bunker where suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, was...

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Bug protects itself by turning its environment to gold

Mythical King Midas was ultimately doomed because everything he touched turned to gold. Now, the reverse has been found in bacteria that owe their survival to a natural Midas touch. Delftia acidovorans lives in sticky biofilms that...

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2.2 first-timer applicants for each unit in latest BTO sales exercise

SINGAPORE: Application rates for first-timers rose marginally in the latest Build-To-Order flats sales exercise, the first BTO offering this year. Applications close at midnight but overall as of 5pm, there were 2.2 first-timers applying for each new unit. This is higher than the 1.8 in the previous exercise in November last year.It is also the first time since March last year that the...

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English king's body found under parking lot

Royal remains: Skull of the skeleton found at the Grey Friars excavation in LeicesterSTORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: DNA evidence says remains found under parking lot are those of Richard IIIArchaeologists found the body of a man buried beneath a car park in Leicester last yearDNA tests confirm "beyond reasonable doubt" the identity of the bonesSupporters of Richard III hope the discovery will mean history has...

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Tour bus crash kills at least 8 in California

Updated 6 a.m. EST YUCAIPA, Calif. At least eight people were killed and 38 injured Sunday when a tour bus careened out of control while traveling down a Southern California mountain road, struck a car, flipped and plowed into a pickup truck, authorities said. Play VideoCalif. tour bus crash kills at least 8 The accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. about 80 miles east of Los Angeles and left State...

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Ravens Defeat 49ers in Historic, Unusual Super Bowl

The Baltimore Ravens emerged Super Bowl champions after one of the strangest and most incredible Super Bowl games in recent memory.It's the second championship for the Ravens, who pulled out a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers at the Superdome in New Orleans.The Super Bowl is the biggest spectacle in American sports, and each year becomes the most watched television event...

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