USA and Canada

More than 1,000 of the world’s leading scientists and technicians will lose their jobs on October 1st as NASA’s space shuttle program winds down.

The immediate job cuts represent about 15 percent of the workforce, with more cuts expected. Only two final shuttle flights are planned to the International Space Station, one in November and another in February, although some Congressmen have discussed the possibility of an additional flight next summer which would delay further job losses.

The Canadian Wheat Board has said it will more than double wheat sales to China as poor weather downgrades the Asian country’s domestic crop.

The sale of 500,000 metric tonnes by the end of 2011 to COFCO, China's largest government food processor, will be worth C$130 million (US$123 million).

Despite the ailing economy, American consumers were still expected to spend big-time on Independence Day festivities this year.

The National Retail Federation's 2010 Independence Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (conducted by BIGresearch) predicted that 87.8 percent of all Americans would take part in some sort of Independence Day festivity, spending upward of $3 billion on holiday weekend parties, food, entertainment and travel.

Search giant Google has agreed to buy ITA Software Inc. for $700 million, giving it a foothold in the fast-growing online travel industry.

 Google’s offer beat that of rivals Microsoft and other travel and search related companies who were hoping to prevent Google from taking over ITA.

As the Mills-Peninsula Hospital nears completion, executive project manager E.J. Saucier shares with David Hendricks some of the things that went right on the project that might have gone wrong if not for an experienced project team and some creative thinking.

Timberline Resources is an emerging gold producer and a junior gold exploration company with a business model that includes a predictable cash flow, David Hendricks reports.

Seahawk Drilling plans to soar to international status within a few years. COO Kurt Hoffman talks with April Terreri about the shallow-water drilling company.

Sage Gold is in transition from an exploration company to a production company. President and CEO Nigel Lees explains the significance of the change to April Terreri.

Honeywell FM&T has been manufacturing and supplying components for national defense systems for more than 60 years. Operational excellence manager Barbara Rich tells Gay Sutton how the company has achieved this enviable record.

By positioning itself in a region already rich in mineral assets and infrastructure, Labrador Iron Mines is reviving a historic mining operation within the heart of Canada’s prolific Labrador Trough iron range. Keith Regan learns how this first mover of high-quality DSO product envisions a growing production profile at its deposits along the Quebec-Labrador border.