More time spent on Facebook than Google: comScore (AFP)

AFP - US Web surfers spent more time on Facebook than on Google sites in August, the first time the social network has surpassed the Internet titan, online tracking firm comScore said Friday.

New On the Menu: Genetically Modified Salmon? (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration may soon approve genetically modified salmon for humans to eat, a prospect that is raising concern among some consumer advocates who consider the fish a threat to both health and the environment.

Fiji government, opposition settle online censorship row (AFP)

AFP - Fiji's main opposition Labour Party said Friday it had resolved a stand-off with the nation's military government over whether it needed to submit online statements for vetting before publication.

Combat climate change with less gassy diet for cows: study (AFP)

AFP - Climate change can be curbed by changing the diet of livestock, whose feed crops, farting, belching and manure contribute a fifth of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, a new study said Friday.

Mozambique blocked text messaging after riots: report (AFP)

AFP - Mozambique's telecom authority ordered cell phone operators to block all text messages, after a viral campaign sparked riots last week, independent media said Friday.

Oil price surges after Midwest pipeline shuts down (AP)

AP - Oil prices surged Friday after a pipeline that delivered oil to Midwest refineries was shut down, raising questions about how long the supply may be disrupted.

Apple releases slew of printer driver updates (Macworld.com)

Macworld.com - Apple has released over half a dozen printer and scanner driver updates for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users. These updates are focused primarily on brands that cater to business and enterprise users.

NIH to resume funding stem cell research for now (AP)

AP - The government says it's back in the business of funding embryonic stem cell research — at least for now — after an appeals court temporarily lifted a judge's ban.

Wall Street rises with energy, consumer shares (Reuters)

Reuters - Stocks rose on Friday as energy shares were boosted by a jump in crude oil prices and wholesale inventory data pointed to rising consumer demand.

Non-radioactive leak shuts down NY nuclear reactor (AP)

AP - One of the reactors at New York's Indian Point nuclear power plant has been shut down because of a leak of non-radioactive water.

Oil rises to over $75 on U.S. supply outage (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. crude rose more than $1 a barrel to over $75 on Friday due to the shutdown of a major pipeline, but a leading forecaster said demand would stay tepid.

Gas blast, fire ravage US town, six reported dead (AFP)

AFP - California firefighters were battling a huge fire still raging Friday hours after a gas pipeline exploded destroying or damaging more than 170 homes, amid reports at least six people had been killed.

Nokia appoints Microsoft executive as new CEO (AFP)

AFP - The world's largest mobile phone maker Nokia on Friday named a new software-savvy chief executive from Microsoft to help it battle slumping profits and an eroding market share in the smartphone segment.

Revolutionize your vacation with TransPerfect TransImage (Appolicious)

Appolicious - TransPerfect has just launched TransPerfect TransImage, the iPhone app for, yes, translating. (Fun fact: TransPerfect was founded in an NYU dorm room by two business students, and is now one of the largest translation companies in the world!) The app, powered by Google Translate, can translate text from photographs or via manual input. So, let's say you're at a restaurant in Germany and you don't speak or read German. ...

US widens probe of HP bribery allegations (AP)

AP - U.S. investigators have widened their probe of alleged kickbacks paid to Russian authorities by employees of a Hewlett-Packard Co. subsidiary in Germany.

Nokia dumps CEO, turns to Microsoft exec (AP)

AP - Nokia Corp. is replacing CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo with top Microsoft executive Stephen Elop as the world's top handset maker aims to regain lost ground in the fiercely competitive smartphone market.

"Here You Have" Virus Demonstrates Need to Improve Malware Security (PC World)

PC World - A worm known affectionately as "Here You Have" based on the subject line of the infected e-mail used to propagate it has quickly spread into a global malware attack. The efficacy of the simple, and poorly worded e-mail luring users to click on a malicious link demonstrates why we need a whole new approach to malware defense.

US court lifts ban on state-funded stem cell studies (AFP)

AFP - A US appeals court suspended Thursday a ban on state-funding for embryonic stem cell research pending a full appeal of the case, in a major boost to President Barack Obama's administration.

Oil prices rise as IEA lifts demand forecast (AFP)

AFP - Oil prices rose on Friday as the International Energy Agency raised slightly its forecast for global oil demand this year and following the closure of a pipeline carrying crude to the United States.

FarmVille vs. Real Farms [INFOGRAPHIC] (Mashable)

Mashable - With all those millions of Facebook and iPhone users tending to virtual crops and sharing them with friends, have you ever wondered how their toils stack up against actual real-life farmers? How does our output of digital (and decidedly less tasty) tomatoes compare with our worldwide production of real tomatoes?

UN climate chief urges flexibility in talks (AP)

AP - The United Nations' climate chief on Friday urged countries to be flexible in order to make progress at weeklong climate talks in China next month, the last formal negotiations on climate change ahead of a major year-end meeting in Cancun, Mexico.

One-Third of Americans Back Ban on Synthetic Biology (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - Engineering new synthetic organisms offers promise of fighting disease and even global warming, but also comes with risk. Now two-thirds of Americans surveyed in a new poll say the field should move forward, while one-third supports a ban until researchers better understand the possible consequences.

Google Instant Is Cool, But Check Out YouTube Instant (Mashable)

Mashable - You've heard of Google Instant, well, how about YouTube Instant? Yes, this is a novelty toy built by a college student (Feross Aboukhadijeh of Stanford University), but it's a pretty fun way to pass a lazy Friday morning.

BP delays Q3 results due oil spill complexities (Reuters)

Reuters - BP Plc said it would delay the release of its third quarter results by a week because of added complexities in its accounts due to costs associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Oil climbs to near $76 on economic indicators (AP)

AP - Oil prices climbed to near $76 a barrel Friday in Asia as better economic indicators from Japan to the U.S. boosted confidence that demand for fuel will improve.

Nokia Names Microsoft's Elop as New CEO (PC World)

PC World - Nokia has named Stephen Elop, president of Microsoft's business software group, to become its new CEO effective from later this month.

Adobe Responds to Apple's New Rules (Mashable)

Mashable - Yesterday, seemingly out of the blue, Apple issued a statement saying it will ease up restrictions for development tools used to create iOS party apps. Now, Adobe has reacted with a statement of its own, calling Apple's decision "great news for developers."

Enbridge pipeline leaks oil in Chicago suburb (AP)

AP - Oil was sent onto a roadway and into a retention pond in suburban Chicago on Thursday when Enbridge Energy Partners officials said one of their pipelines in the area leaked.

EBay wins a round in court against Craigslist (AP)

AP - In a skirmish between two Internet heavy hitters with a tangled relationship, eBay Inc. has convinced a court that it was wronged by antitakeover moves adopted by Craigslist after eBay started encroaching on its online classifieds turf in the U.S.

'Frustration-free packaging' slow to catch on (Ben Patterson)

Ben Patterson - Just the other day, I got bitten by one of those hard plastic clamshell cases that retailers still seem to love. Even with a pair of heavy-duty scissors, it took me several minutes to pry the stubborn thing open, and as I sawed away, a jagged piece of plastic tore at my finger and gave me a good scratch. At least I didn’t bleed on my newly purchased USB hard drive (this time).

Hurd's Oracle gig: Is Ellison perk or problem? (AP)

AP - As co-president at Oracle Corp., ousted Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd will have to adapt to a new role playing second fiddle to one of Silicon Valley's most domineering bosses — Larry Ellison.

USDA sued over genetically modified beet permits (Reuters)

Reuters - Groups opposed to genetically modified foods announced a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday over the agency's recent decision to allow limited plantings of altered sugar beets.

Alaska sues to lift Arctic drilling suspension (AP)

AP - The state claimed Thursday that the Interior Department illegally halted offshore drilling in Artic waters, even though the department said there's no such moratorium in place.

EPA officials: Kan. must revise air permit process (AP)

AP - Federal officials told Kansas legislators Thursday that the state will be expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions as it considers air-quality permits for power plants, large factories, and oil refineries — and if it refuses, the Environmental Protection Agency could step in.

Okla. panel studies lesser prairie chicken habitat (AP)

AP - Conservationists and wind power developers told a legislative panel on Thursday that more study is needed to determine the impact of wind turbines and electrical transmission lines on the habitat of the lesser prairie chicken.

EPA wants to know chemicals used in gas drilling (AP)

AP - The Environmental Protection Agency asked nine natural gas companies Thursday to voluntarily disclose the chemical components used in a drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing.

EPA wants to know chemicals used in gas drilling (AP)

AP - The Environmental Protection Agency asked nine natural gas companies Thursday to voluntarily disclose the chemical components used in a drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing.

U.S. appeals court puts on hold stem cell funding ban (Reuters)

Reuters - A U.S. appeals court granted on Thursday an Obama administration request to temporarily lift a judge's ban on federal funding of research involving human embryonic stem cells.

Sanofi-Aventis sticking to first offer for Genzyme (AP)

AP - French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA is sticking to its original offer of $69 a share to buy U.S. biotech company Genzyme Corp., a Sanofi spokesman said Thursday.

Herb Quells Cows' Methane-Laden Belches (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - For scientists concerned about greenhouse gas emissions, cow farts are nowhere near as problematic as their methane-laden belches. Now a new oregano supplement could stem the burps and reduce the potent methane emissions.

Choose these healthy alternatives to sports drinks (Y! Green)

Y! Green - Our bodies are composed of 60 percent water and it is vital for the proper functioning of cells and organs to maintain optimal hydration, especially during hot summer months.

Union: China violating trade rules in clean energy (AP)

AP - A major U.S. union is asking the Obama administration to crack down on various Chinese trade practices that it says are robbing American workers of jobs in the burgeoning field of clean energy such as solar and wind power.

Teamsters Support Steelworkers Trade Case Against Illegal Activities By China (PR Newswire)

PR Newswire - USW Case Exposes Violations of Trade Law by China in Effort to Dominate Alternative and Renewable Energy Industry

Gulf oil dilemma: accept payout from BP or sue (AP)

AP - Alabama seafood market owner David Scott faces a difficult decision as he tries to rejuvenate his business after the Gulf oil spill: He can accept a piece of BP's $20 billion claims fund — relatively fast, easy money — or sue the oil giant for a bigger payday, wait years and risk ending up with nothing.

Gulf oil dilemma: accept payout from BP or sue (AP)

AP - Alabama seafood market owner David Scott faces a difficult decision as he tries to rejuvenate his business after the Gulf oil spill: He can accept a piece of BP's $20 billion claims fund — relatively fast, easy money — or sue the oil giant for a bigger payday, wait years and risk ending up with nothing.

Rural Pennsylvania town fights big gas (Reuters)

Reuters - In the rush to develop America's biggest new source of domestic energy, one community is fighting to protect its rural way of life from the environmental strains that accompany shale gas drilling.

Apple opens up on iOS app review guidelines, relaxes development restrictions (Ben Patterson)

Ben Patterson - Apple’s criteria for approving or rejecting a given iPhone or iPad app have long been a perplexing, maddening mystery to developers — but now Apple is abruptly making public its once-secret iOS app review guidelines. Among the highlights: No content that’s "over the line," nothing "cobbled together in a few days," and above all, "We don't need any more Fart apps."

Fact or Fiction? Top 8 Linux Myths Debunked (PC World)

PC World - If the idea of using Linux in your business is one that makes you nervous, chances are you've fallen prey to one or more of the many myths out there that are frequently disseminated by competing vendors such as Microsoft. After all, each Linux user means one less sale for such companies, so they have a powerful motivation to spread such FUD.

ECTunes pioneers pedestrian-safety sounds for electric cars (Y! Green)

Y! Green - ECTunes founders Jesper Rasmussen and Thomas Gadegaard (in car): a business opportunity. (Credit: ECTunes)

Feds plan more sea turtle releases in Gulf (AP)

AP - Federal officials say they're stepping up plans to release sea turtles that were stranded and rescued during the Gulf oil spill and study how they've been affected.