Richard Branson Opens Virgin Galactic’s Spaceport – Four years later than expected, Richard Branson and New Mexico governor Susana Martinez finally dedicated the just completed Spaceport America terminal hanger facility on Monday morning. Funded by both Branson’s company and taxpayer dollars, there’s something very American about the $209 million building and accompanying 2-mile-long runway. [atlanticwire]

World’s Population To Reach 7 Billion This Month -The world’s population is due to reach 7 billion on Oct 31, according to the UN Population Fund. In Western Europe, Japan and Russia, the milestone comes amid worries about low birthrates and aging populations. In China and India, the two most populous nations, it’s an occasion to reassess policies that have already slowed once-rapid growth. [telegraph]

Terre’Blanche Murder Trial: More Police Blunders Exposed – The state’s case linking the minor accused of killing Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging leader Eugene Terre’Blanche to the crime was pulled apart by the teenager’s lawyer on Monday afternoon, as the second week of the murder trial got underway in Ventersdorp. [mail&guardian]

iPhone 4S Shows Off ‘Astounding’ Video Quality – Just how good is the video camera on the iPhone 4S? If a short video from Benjamin Dowie is any indication, we’re going to chalk it up to “amazing.” Dowie shot the footage just after getting his iPhone 4S and as he writes on Vimeo, “Couldn’t believe it came out of a phone.” Looking at the footage, we’re inclined to agree. [mashable]

How Many Turtleneck Sweaters Did Steve Jobs Own? – Finally someone has delved into the most important questions of them all. How many of those sweaters did Steve own and where can I get one for myself? [popyacollar]

Four UB40 Band Members Declared Bankrupt – Former chart toppers UB40, who notched up more than 50 chart hits in Britain, have been declared bankrupt. Despite their glittering 33-year career, four leading members of the reggae band have been declared penniless. [dailymail]

Scarlett Johansson Was Too Sexy For ‘Dragon Tattoo’ – As the clock ticks down to its highly anticipated premiere, “The Girl WIth The Dragon Tattoo” will not only take theaters by storm, it will sweep up and entirely change the life of its star, Rooney Mara. [huffpo]

Powerball Lottery Jackpot Sitting On R1 Billion – There is still time to buy tickets safely online for the $124 Million (R1 Billion) US Powerball lottery jackpot which takes place on Wednesday. How could you risk not playing? [2ovlottos]

Dalai Lama Comes Back To Haunt Zuma – The Dalai Lama is to apply for a South African visa for the third time in two years – IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi has invited him to attend a prayer meeting on Human Rights Day next year. The fresh application will be yet another headache for President Jacob Zuma. [timeslive]

A Second Great-Grandchild For The Queen – Peter and Autumn Phillips are expecting their second child. The son and daughter-in-law of Princess Anne have one child Savannah, born on December 29th, 2010, who is the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh‘s first great-grandchild. Autumn, who was born in Canada, is due in March of 2012. Liz is ‘delighted.’ [bscuddler]

New Book Suggests Van Gogh Did Not Commit Suicide – A new biography on Vincent van Gogh has just been released, and it’s already stirring up controversy. The authors argue that a teenaged boy named Rene Secretan, who had a history of harassing the artist, and his brother Gaston accidentally shot van Gogh while the three were out drinking together. [time]

Early McCartney Letter Surfaces At Yard Sale – A newly discovered letter found folded in a book at a Liverpool yard sale has shed new light on the Beatles’ early days, revealing that Paul McCartney offered an audition to a mystery drummer in 1960, just a few days before the band left for a formative two-month gig in Hamburg, Germany. The letter, to be auctioned next month by Christie’s, has surprised Beatles scholars. It was written two years before the band bounced drummer Pete Best in favor of Ringo Starr. [newser]

With Siri, Apple Could Build Real Artificial Intelligence – As iPhone 4S’s flood into the hands of the public, users are coming face-to-face with something that they weren’t quite expecting: Apple’s new voice interface, Siri, has an attitude. Ask Siri where to hide a body, for instance, and she’ll give you a list of choices that include a reservoir, a mine, and a swamp. [wired]

Hunter S Thompson’s Hangover Cure – Playboy’s published its entire correspondence with the late journalist Hunter S. Thompson, and while most of it’s not quite as fascinatingly deranged as the various letters (and other documents) from Thompson that have surfaced over the years, the cache does contain this amazing hangover cure, undated and scrawled on the stationery of the Beverly Hills Hotel. [gawker]

live – every day – 1-click to tune in.