Google bids $900 million for all patents of Nortel Networks
SAN FRANCISCO — Google has bid $900 million for the patent portfolio of Nortel Networks, the Canadian telecom equipment maker, as part of a strategy to defend itself against patent litigation.
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TOKYO — Tokyo Electric Power Co. began dumping more than 11,000 tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Monday, mostly to make room in storage containers for increasing amounts of far more contaminated runoff.
Wild weather
Tornadoes were reported in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky yesterday as the eastern half of the U.S. experienced some exceptional weather. A strong cold front extending from Louisiana to Ohio brought heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hail to more than 15 states.
Old Boeing 737s to be taken out of sky to inspect for cracks and holes in hulls
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that it would require extensive inspections of some older-model Boeing 737s for cracks in the planes’ fragile skin that can be caused by pressurization and depressurization of the cabin over tens of thousands of takeoffs and landings.
Verizon, MetroPCS challenge to net neutrality shot down by court
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Monday rejected as “premature” a lawsuit by Verizon and MetroPCS challenging the Federal Communications Commission’s pending rules aimed at keeping Internet service providers from blocking access to certain websites or applications.
Japan business conditions sink as post-disaster devastation remains
HONG KONG — The devastating natural disasters that struck Japan last month have caused widespread concern about business conditions in coming months among Japanese companies, according to survey results released Monday by the Japanese central bank.
Thought winter was over? April Fools!
Although spring officially started more than 10 days ago, we have not yet quite escaped the grasp of wintry weather. A nor’easter storm coming up the coast will bring a mix of snow and rain as well as blustery winds and chilly temperatures today, making for a rather miserable first day of April. The wintry mixture began yesterday evening, and it will intensify as the center of the storm passes over eastern Massachusetts. The heaviest precipitation will likely fall as rain this morning, but rain and snow could continue to fall all day, potentially putting a damper on the Red Sox’s scheduled opening day.
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Ten years ago, Goldman Sachs proclaimed that Brazil was among the new economic powerhouses. Now it is the next frontier for hedge funds.
Shorts (left)
A group of 16 people who filed a Title IX complaint against Yale University last month said Thursday that the federal Department of Education had launched an investigation to review Yale’s policies for dealing with sexual harassment and assault cases.
Syria offers changes to ward off anti-government protests
CAIRO — As Syria braced for renewed anti-government demonstrations, the government announced new measures on Thursday seemingly aimed at addressing the protesters’ demands.
NATO warns Libyan rebels not to attack civilians
WASHINGTON — Members of the NATO alliance have sternly warned the rebels in Libya not to attack civilians as they push against the regime of Moammar Gadhafi, according to senior military and government officials.
Gbagbo, leader of Ivory Coast, seems poised to fall
DAKAR, Senegal — The end of Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo’s rule appeared to be nearing Thursday as his rival’s troops approached the country’s main city of Abidjan, his own army chief of staff abandoned his post, and his opponents claimed substantial defections of his troops and police officers.
Geithner again urges China to adopt a flexible currency exchange rate
NANJING, China — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged China again Thursday to adopt a more flexible exchange rate policy, saying failing to do so could worsen inflation in China and impede growth elsewhere.
Fed emergency loans saved many banks during financial crisis
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve’s huge lending programs, which saved Wall Street in fall 2008, also benefited a wide range of other financial companies, including community banks, credit unions, and foreign banks, according to documents released Thursday by the Fed.
Facebook prepares for lobbying push in Washington
Facebook is hoping to do something better and faster than any other technology start-up-turned-Internet superpower.
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DAMASCUS, Syria — The political crisis in Syria deepened Monday as the armed forces in the restive southern city of Daraa fired live ammunition in the air to disperse hundreds of pro-democracy protesters.
Libyan rebel advance halted outside Gadhafi’s hometown
BIN JAWWAD, Libya — The Libyan rebel forces’ westward charge was repulsed Monday by a barrage of tank and artillery fire from forces guarding one of Moammar Gadhafi’s most crucial bastions of support, while the U.S. military warned on Monday that the insurgents’ rapid advances could quickly be reversed without continued coalition air support.
Indiana Democrats end standoff and return to State
CHICAGO — The political standoff over union rights and school vouchers in Indiana ended Monday as House Democrats returned to the Capitol almost five weeks after they fled the state.
Pleasant week ahead, temperature set to rise
The huge snow pile on Briggs Field has started to melt and sports practices have moved outside, but if you just came back from somewhere tropical you might have noticed that Boston weather remains a bit chilly. Temperatures will linger below the springtime average but gradually increase over the next few days. A stationary high pressure system will keep the sun shining and the clouds at bay at least through Thursday. Get outdoors during the week if you can because a significant rainstorm may head our direction over the weekend.
Blast at Yemeni arms factory follows government’s retreat
SANAA, Yemen — Yemen’s political crisis deepened Monday when an explosion tore through a crowd of looters at an abandoned government weapons factory in the south, killing at least 110 people and underscoring an ominous collapse of authority after six weeks of rising protests.