Новости за 17.09.2015

LYON, France (AP) — A French startup working with a top government lab said it has developed in-vitro human sperm, claiming a breakthrough in infertility treatment sought for more than a decade. Philippe Durand, the chief Kallistem researcher, said the genesis of the research was indications that male fertility was declining, which he said could be attributed to environmental factors. Since "at the heart of the problem is the interior of the testicle," he said, that was what they first tried to replicate in the lab. Читать дальше...

The association survey found retail gasoline prices nationwide are down 7 cents, to reach $2.30 per gallon. AAA experts say retail gas prices remain much cheaper than last year due to the relatively low price of crude oil in a trend expected to continue into autumn.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Builders broke ground on fewer houses and apartment complexes in August, a possible sign that the housing market may be levelling off after accelerating for much of the year. Housing starts last month fell 3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.13 million homes, the Commerce Department said Thursday. [...] median rental prices are rising annually at 4.2 percent — roughly double the increase in average hourly wages — because of an influx of downsizing baby boomers and millennials entering the job market. Читать дальше...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota school bus companies are offering signing bonuses and attempting to lure employees from competitors to fill a critical shortage of drivers. Ronna Weber, executive director of the National School Transportation Association, said that when the economy is strong and unemployment is low, potential drivers might balk at job qualifications, which include a commercial driver's license, physical exam, drug test, background and driver's history checks. Parents had to organize... Читать дальше...

During one of the busiest weeks near the end of filming "The Scorch Trials," the second movie in the "Maze Runner" trilogy, Ball thought he might try out a new hat, and everything went haywire. Not only were they shooting the most complicated sequence in the shortest amount of time, it was also at night in the New Mexico desert, where the temperature sometimes dropped to the single digits. [...] this perfect storm of chaos only added two days to the schedule and they still came in under budget. Читать дальше...

U.S. cable companies have been in a merger frenzy over the past few years as people increasingly drop their TV packages and watch video online from competitors like Netflix, while cable companies' costs for sports and other channels rise. Altice SA is controlled by founder and French billionaire Patrick Drahi, who has a long track record of expanding businesses through aggressive acquisition campaigns. Drahi expanded Altice from a small Internet and cable provider in France's Alsace region to making... Читать дальше...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In any other year, a pair of speeches by Vice President Joe Biden on transportation and sexual assault would raise few eyebrows in the political world. The Obama administration refused to bail out Detroit when it declared bankruptcy, but has helped its bus system in line with its call for improved U.S. infrastructure. Biden will close his trip in Columbus at Ohio State University, which is announcing new steps on sexual violence prevention including mandatory awareness training for all freshmen next year. Читать дальше...

SEATTLE (AP) — It doesn't always rain in Seattle, despite its reputation, so pack sunglasses for your next visit, and be sure to catch new attractions like the Great Wheel along with classics like the chewing gum wall. [...] the attached Collections Cafe is fun, offering a look at the artist's personal collections of everything from ceramic dogs to bottle openers. Some adult visitors will enjoy a stop at one of Seattle's new recreational marijuana shops, but be warned that public smoking is outlawed. Читать дальше...

The Swedish-Finnish telecommunications operator says that despite making substantial improvements to operations in the region since 2013 it was important "to enter markets in a correct way." In 2013, the company fired several executives for their role in questionable deals amid allegations of bribery and money laundering, particularly in Uzbekistan.

Oregon Sports News football writers Julian Rogers and Jessica Ridpath preview the week two matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers. When: 5:30 p.m. PT Sunday, Sept. 20 Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis. Rogers: It’s old news now, but let’s revisit the final play the Seahawks ran against the St. Louis […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in two months, suggesting employers remain confident enough in the economy to hold onto their workers. The health of the job market will play a crucial role in the Federal Reserve's deliberations Thursday as it wraps up a two-day meeting. Fed policymakers may decide to raise the short-term interest rate they control for the first time in nine years.

NFC champions and would-be NFC champions face off again in week two Who really should have won the NFC title game on January 18, 2015? The Seattle Seahawks, by virtue of the worst (almost) full game by quarterback Russell Wilson (14/29 passing, 4 interceptions, 1 touchdown) managed to pull out a win for the ages […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cheaper oil imports and greater U.S. exports lowered the deficit in the broadest measure of U.S. trade in the April-June quarter. The current account tracks not only trade in goods and services but also investment flows. Falling oil prices helped reduce the value of oil imports, lowering the trade deficit to $130 billion from $134.3 billion in the first quarter.

A movie with that title, which hits theaters in the United States on Friday, tells the harrowing story of Sept. 26, 1983, when Stanislav Petrov made a decision credited by many with averting a nuclear war. An alarm had gone off that night, signaling the launch of U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles, and it was up to the 44-year-old lieutenant colonel to determine, and quickly, whether the attack on the Soviet Union was real. What made this even more dangerous was that the Soviet Union appears... Читать дальше...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matt Damon has apologized for comments regarding diversity in filmmaking that sparked widespread backlash, after a portion of a conversation from HBO's "Project Greenlight" circulated online. In the segment, Damon was shown shutting down producer Effie Brown ("Dear White People") who made a case that a script dealing with sensitive subjects like prostitution should have a diverse directing team behind it.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Applications for US unemployment benefits fall to 264,000 last week, lowest in 8 weeks .

WASHINGTON (AP) — US current account deficit shrinks to just under $110B in 2nd quarter as oil prices fall.

WASHINGTON (AP) — US housing starts tumble 3 percent in August; sharp drops in Northeast and Midwest.

Smartphone users now have more than 165,000 apps available to help them stay healthy or monitor a medical condition, but just three dozen account for nearly half of all downloads, according to a new report. Doctors and other care providers also are taking a growing interest in using apps to help patients, but concerns about a lack of research and data protection are limiting wider use of the technology, the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics said. The institute, which sells software that ranks apps... Читать дальше...

About half of young Greeks seeking jobs were out of work, with the unemployment rate in the 15-24 age group standing at 49.5 percent, down from 52 percent in the same quarter last year. Greece has been struggling through an economic crisis since 2010, and its financial situation worsened this year when concerns rose again about its future in the euro.

In his debut screenplay, Taylor Sheridan (best known for his recurring role on "Sons of Anarchy") explores the complicated legal and moral territory tread by officials on both sides of the border. Director Denis Villeneuve skillfully brings Sheridan's story to life, setting finely tuned performances to a cacophonous soundtrack under Roger Deakins' masterful lens to create a searing and timely thriller. Kate (Emily Blunt) is a by-the-books FBI agent invited to join a covert operation after discovering... Читать дальше...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials have approved new rules to allow drivers using app-based ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft to pick up and drop off passengers at Reagan National and Dulles International airports. Under the new guidelines, the companies will pay a $5,000 one-time fee for a special permit to operate on airport premises.

The Journal News says (http://lohud.us/1gtFwvE ) Jill Shiner Vandercar claims a dangerous grade crossing, defective emergency exits and poor decision-making contributed to her husband Eric's death. The 53-year-old money manager was killed Feb. 3 when the Metro-North train he was riding crashed into an SUV stopped on the tracks in Valhalla.

Chinese authorities have launched investigations of brokerages, government employees and a reporter for a prominent business magazine following the collapse in prices that began in early June. On Tuesday, the police ministry announced executives of China's biggest stock brokerage, state-owned Citic Securities Ltd., were suspected of insider trading and leaking sensitive information.