David Magee

In writing the only book so far on GE leader Jeff Immelt -- Jeff Immelt and the New GE Way -- it was evident the leader was marked from the start by two distinct things. One was quite obvious, that Immelt followed Jack Welch, a man hailed at the end of the 20th century as one of the greatest business leaders of that century.

Experts predict the world's cities will double by 2050 -- from 3.3 billion people today, to 6.4 billion in 39 years. Synonymous with this growth is the need for sustainable, reliant resources -- the need for smarter energy. And India is already ahead of the curve.

We knew that moment terrorists attacked the U.S. on 9/11 and we all stopped, literally, in our tracks, watching the horror and grieving over the death of so many individuals and a freedom that had for so long seemed so easy.We knew then that America would never be the same. We didn't exactly know what that meant. But we knew it would never be the same, that we would never be the same. We tried to pick ourselves up, best we could, embossing our lives for a bit in the national colors of red...

The iPhone may be a cash cow for Apple but it is certainly turning into an embarrassment for the San Francisco Police Department. The latest report only confirms that the police department messed up, in some way at least, and has gotten pulled entirely too far into the apparent missing iPhone 5 prototype report.

As Hurricane Katia's path moves away from the U.S.,Tropical Storm Maria is cranking up with good odds of becoming a hurricane and eventually striking the U.S., forecasters say. Already, the storm's short-term forecast path takes Maria much father south than Katia, meaning an eventual northern turn lands close to or on the U.S. East Coast.

Tropical Storm Maria has formed in the Atlantic, becoming the 13th named system of the 2011 season. The storm isn't likely to increase to explosive strength, but it could possibly threaten the U.S. East Coast, forecasters say.

A Russian jet carrying a top hockey team crashed just after takeoff Wednesday, killing at least 43 people and leaving two others critically injured. It was one of the worst crashes ever involving a sports team. The plane was carrying the Lokomotiv ice hockey team, leaving to play its opening game of the season. Lokomotiv plays in the Kontinental Hockey League. Here are statements released from the KHL and and the IIHF, the International Ice Hockey Federation:

A Russian jet carrying a top hockey team crashed just after takeoff Wednesday, killing at least 43 people and leaving two others critically injured. It was one of the worst crashes ever involving a sports team. The plane was carrying the Lokomotiv ice hockey team, leaving plays its opening game of the season. Lokomotiv plays in the Kontinental Hockey League. Here are statements released from the KHL and and the IIHF, the International Ice Hockey Federation.

President Barack Obama's anticipated jobs speech is still more than a day away but already it's causing a controversial rift among Republican and Democratic leaders. Republicans have decided not to give a rebuttal to the Obama's speech Thursday before Congress, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says the lack of response will be disrespectful to the President and to the American people.

The U.S. has likely escaped Hurricane Katia's path but in this busy Atlantic Hurricane Season 2011 current models show the East Coast is at much higher risk from at least two more developing systems through mid-September.The next two names on the list of tropical cyclones are Maria and Nate, and each is potentially developing already and models show each has a shot at impacting the U.S.

So many tech journalists writing lately that Amazon's new Kindle tablet won't really be a direct, serious threat to Apple's tablet industry-leading iPad because the company's first unit will be a 7-inch touchscreen instead of a 10-inch touchscreen miss one very valuable point.

News that daily social network coupon company Groupon has reportedly canceled a roadshow scheduled for next week in advance of a planned IPO and is reevaluating plans to take the company's stock public is not that big of a surprise. After all, CEO Andrew Mason has been hailed for being a young genius but sooner or later one had to figure inexperience might catch up with him and the company.

A headline today grabbed my attention: Is Michele Bachmann's campaign in danger? I paused, and thought: Is Michele Bachmann still running a campaign?

Investors as well as donut and coffee fans might remember last month when Dunkin Donuts' IPO was the hottest thing on Wall Street. The stock had gained 42 percent since Dunkin' Brands Group Inc.'s initial public offering in July. But now one of the banks that managed the IPO has issued a "sell" rating on the company which operates Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins stores.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry plans to attend the GOP presidential tomorrow after all. Mark Miner, Perry's spokesman, said in a one-line email to USA Today's Jackie Kucinich Tuesday that Perry plans to attend the GOP presidential debate. Previously, the Texas governor had said he wasn't sure if he would attend or not because of the raging wildfires plaguing Texas amid a prolonged drought.

The U.S. Postal Service may lose $10 billion this fiscal year ending Sept. 30, and the agency is nearing default. It even has the potential to close, if Congress doesn't step in with help.

Amazon is nearing release of its first tablet, and the Amazon Kindle is creating a storm on the Internet as news and speculation about the forthcoming product rivals what Apple has experienced with its popular iPad and iPhone. Also, Amazon's new Kindle tablet is expected to be the first serious contender to Apple's global tablet-industry leading iPad. In preparation of Amazon's tablet release, here are 5 things to know.

U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe will appeal to Congress Tuesday to help find ways to save the struggling agency, which is nearing default and possibly even facing closure by the end of this year, according to one lawmaker.

Apple is closer to launching its iPad 2 tablet with cellular network compatability for the first time in China, and the company is embarking upon an aggressive expansion in the fast-growth market, opening its first retail store in Hong Kong while adding another in Shanghai.

While forecasters suggest that the path of Hurricane Katia 2011 may only graze the U.S. East Coast, one weather scenario suggests a more severe impact. A Category 3 storm with winds of 125 miles per hour, Katia is moving steadily northwest in the Atlantic at 10 miles per hour, still far from land and not posing an immediate threat.

Rumors have abounded for months about when Apple might release its new iPhone 5 but now there's a worthy fact suggesting October is the launch date for the highly-anticipated iPhone 5 smartphone.Apple has confirmed the company will launch its first store in Hong Kong as the company seeks growth in Asia and nears release of its highly-anticipated iPhone 5.

Apple will launch its first store in Hong Kong as the company seeks growth in Asia and nears release of its highly-anticipated iPhone 5.Apple's iPhone, first launched in 2007, is the world's bestselling smartphone -- owned by more than 110 global consumers and growing fast every day. The company is nearing the launch of its latest version, the iPhone 5

European stocks got hammered on Monday and the euro tumbled as well, as investors moved into safe assets. Rising fears over Europe's sovereign debt crisis and economic growth concerns in Europe and the U.S. is driving the move away from equities. The yield on the benchmark 10-year German government bond fell to well below two percent -- a new record. The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 4.1 percent Monday, closing at 223.45.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has one victory under his belt before the NFL season officially kicks off Thursday night. The Saints have given Payton a contract extension that 2015, the team said Monday. The Saints organization says Payton has agreed to the deal. Speculation is now focused on whether the Saints will reach a new deal with quarterback Drew Brees, currently in talks with the organization.

Jeff Bezos showed a striking mechanical aptitude and insatiable curiosity as a child. Bezos dismantled his crib with a screwdriver, and he developed intense and multiple scientific interests, converting his parents' garage into a laboratory. Even as an adult, the founder and CEO of Amazon is dreaming of launching space tourism by funding the development of a spacecraft.

Hurricane Katia 2011 is growing stronger, and while the storm's path still leaves unaswered questions some along the U.S. East Coast from Florida to the Carolinas could feel its impact before it's all over with late next week.

As America nears a 10th anniversary memorial for the deadly 9/11 attacks from Al Qaeda, the U.S. is close to proclaiming victory in the war against the terrorist organization. In the latest development, with help from the U.S., Pakistan's main intelligence agency has captured a top al Qaeda commander suspected of planning attacks on American oil pipelines, tankers and other key economic targets.

Before the National Football League regular season even begins, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has notched a victory. The Saints have given Payton a contract extension that 2015, the team said Monday.

Here's a sad tale to tie into Americans: The United States Postal Service, which has been a national institution since Benjamin Franklin was installed in 1775 as the first postmaster general, is going, going, going and almost gone. In fact, one legislator says if Congress doesn't act and do something about the post office's problems, the agency could literally close later this year.