In his weekly radio address President Bush said, “Last weekend, the people of Iraq formed a national unity government. This is an important milestone on the road to democracy in Iraq, and it marks the beginning of a new chapter in America’s involvement. … Iraqi leaders agree that the new government must continue to build up the Iraqi Security Forces to defeat the terrorists and must establish control over militias. They also agree that the new government must rebuild critical infrastructure, strengthen the Iraqi economy, and ensure that all Iraqis benefit as their nation grows in security and prosperity.”

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, “As Congress returns from its recess, its members have important and consequential work before them. I urge them to act on my initiatives to keep America competitive, to promote alternative sources of energy, reform our immigration system, and continue their support of our troops fighting in the global war on terror.”

As Venus Express arrives at its namesake destination, long-time ESA astronaut Claude Nicollier discusses the enigmatic planet and muses on its beauty and fascinating planetary evolution.
ESApod audio programme

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, “Our economy prospers when Americans like you make the decisions on how to spend, save, and invest your money. So the tax relief we passed cut taxes for everyone who pays income taxes. … By keeping taxes low and adopting sound policies that help our workers to compete and our businesses to grow and expand, we will keep the economy moving forward and extend prosperity and hope in our country.”

Confirmation that Venus Express had successfully entered orbit came from ESOC, ESA’s Space Operations Centre, in Germany, today at 11:12 CEST. After a tense engine burn and blackout while the spacecraft swung behind Venus, mission controllers re-established the radio telemetry link with Venus Express marking successful arrival at the planet.
ESApod video programme