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Landing on the 4th of July The Pathfinder made it to Mars on United State's Independence Day. And scientists say, so far, the mission to Mars is "operating perfectly." For up to date information on Rover's status, link on to www.ksc.nasa.gov/mars/ or link onto this site: mars.sgi.com These are only two of many Mars Pathfinder sites. Raytheon's acquisition of Texas Instruments approved Back in January, Raytheon claimed it reached a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of Texas Instruments' defense operations for $2.95 billion in cash. Last Wednesday, the Department of Justice approved its acquisition of Texas Instruments' Defense Systems & Electronics Group. Before the Justice Department had approved the deal, it was speculated that the Pentagon feared that such a move would give Raytheon a near-monopoly on the technology. But it passed and Texas Instruments' business will bring its annual revenues to about $14 billion, its defense electronics revenues to about $7 billion, and defense electronics backlog to about $9.3 billion (all on 1996 pro-forma basis). KLM shedding Northwest? It seems KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is pondering the sale of its 19 percent stake in Northwest Airlines. The airline has been negotiating with its US partner to shed the stake. But reports indicate that KLM outgoing president Pieter Bouw has declined to comment about KLM's plan to sell its stake in return for a multi-year partnership agreement. Bouw will be replaced by incoming KLM president Leo van Wijk on August 5. Wijk hopes to eliminate KLM's stake in an attempt to save the financially failing transatlantic alliance. Last Wednesday, KLM claimed that sale of its shares is still an option that it is keeping open in an attempt to resolve the dispute over KLM's Northwest holding. Although, officials claim this is only an option and no definite plans to sell the shares have been reported. NATO candidates in no rush for new arms It looks like Western arms makers, eager for a piece of a new multi-billion dollar market, are looking for prospective new NATO members. But former communist states expected to be invited to join Madrid NATO are putting other priorities above $20 million fighter jets. Priorities such as consumer happiness rather than costly arms. All the while, experts have estimated that warplane buys alone may total more than $10 billion.