$9M pay package for GM chief
DETROIT, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- General Motors will pay Chairman Ed Whitacre $1.7 million a year plus $7.3 million in stock shares at a later date, company officials announced.
The U.S. government, which gave GM billions of bailout dollars last year and now has a large stake in the company, has approved the salary, Ward's Automotive reported Friday.
Former President and CEO Fritz Henderson will continue to receive $59,090 per month as a consultant for the remainder of 2010.
During the recession, GM turned to the government for bailout money and had to enter bankruptcy in June 2009. The company received a total of $60 billion in loans, with the government assuming a 62 percent share in the company.
'Pockets of resistance' in Marja
MARJA, Afghanistan, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Securing the former Taliban stronghold of Marja could take several weeks, military officials in Afghanistan said Friday.
In a statement, NATO said U.S. and British Marines have been running into "determined pockets of resistance," The New York Times reported. Six soldiers were killed Thursday by roadside bombs and Taliban sharpshooters, bringing the death toll for NATO to 12, one of them a member of Afghan forces.
The operation began Saturday with Marines airlifted to the town. Commanders on the scene say the offensive is on track to meet its goals.
The sharpshooters have been more effective than in the past, officials said. NATO began publicizing its plans well ahead of time to give civilians a chance to leave Marja but also giving the Taliban time to bring in more forces, including sharpshooters.
NATO said "stabilization projects," including building dams and repairing schools, have begun outside Marja. NATO plans to install a government in the town as soon as it is secure enough.
Google cyberattacks linked to China
NEW YORK, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Cyberattacks on Google and other U.S. corporations allegedly have been traced to computers at two Chinese institutions -- one tied to the military, experts say.
Computer experts at the U.S. National Security Agency have been investigating a series of online attacks allegedly focused on capturing the e-mail messages of Chinese human-rights activists, stealing computer codes and trade secrets, The New York Times reported Thursday.
The investigators say several people with knowledge of the attacks have come forth under conditions of anonymity allegedly naming Shanghai Jiaotong University and Lanxiang Vocational School.
U.S. intelligence officials differ in their analyses of their findings. Some say they think the Chinese government is behind the attacks, while others say it's possible the schools are covers for intelligence operations run by a third country, the Times said.
A man identifying himself as dean of the computer science department at Lanxiang, Mr. Shao, downplayed the ability of his school's students to hack at the accused level.
"I think it's impossible for our students to hack Google or other U.S. companies because they are just high school graduates and not at an advanced level," he said. "Also, because our school adopts close management, outsiders cannot easily come into our school."
Shao, who refused to give a first name, did say each year four or five students from his computer science department were recruited into the military, the Times said.
Endeavor leaves space station for home
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Space shuttle Endeavor left the International Space Station Friday after delivering the last major part of the orbiting outpost's U.S. section, officials said.
The departure finished a 10-day stay that featured three spacewalks to install the Tranquility module, which houses life-support systems, exercise equipment and a bathroom, Florida Today reported.
"It's an amazing milestone, and this is just an absolutely incredible facility," station commander Jeffrey Williams said.
Endeavor also delivered an observation deck that will serve as a control center for station robot arm operations and will monitor arrivals and departures of future missions.
"The view is amazing," shuttle pilot Terry Virts said of the deck. "It took my breath away."
Before departing, the shuttle's six astronauts inspected Endeavor's heat-shield components with a sensor-tipped inspection boom, the newspaper said.
Endeavor is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center in Florida Sunday.
Midwest airports rated best in survey
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The three top-rated airports in North America for customer satisfaction are located in the Midwest United States, a survey released Thursday shows.
A survey by J.D. Power and Associates said the best large facility is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport, Kansas City International is the best midsize airport, and Indianapolis International was named the best small airport.
The survey took responses from more than 12,000 passengers who took round-trip flights and were based on six factors: check-in and baggage-check process, food and retail services, terminal facilities, security check, baggage claim and accessibility.
"Airports that rated the highest are raising the performance bar," says Stuart Greif, a J.D. Power vice president. "They exceeded the scores of the highest-rated airports in our last study two years ago."
This year's survey found respondents noted comfort in terminals, amount of time to pass through security, ease of check-in and bag check, and speed of baggage delivery as the areas most affecting passenger satisfaction.
"For many passengers, basic needs such as seating comfort and ease of moving through the airport are not consistently being met," Greif says.
