Ford earnings hit hard by Europe loss

Ford earnings hit hard by Europe loss

By Emily Jane Fox @CNNMoney July 25, 2012



NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Ford Motor's second-quarter profit was weighed down by the economic crisis in Europe, but a persistent rebound in U.S. car sales helped the company top analysts' earnings forecasts.
Ford (F, Fortune 500) said Wednesday that net income dropped 57% to $1 billion, or 26 cents a share, from $2.4 billion, or 59 cents, in the second quarter of last year.
On an operating basis, Ford earned 30 cents a share in the latest quarter, topping the 29-cent consensus forecast of analysts surveyed by Briefing.com.
The decline in Europe erased gains in North America, as Ford reported a $404 million loss in pre-tax operating profit on the continent. Last year, Ford reported a $176 million pre-tax operating profit gain

New York Fed Faces Questions Over Policing Wall Street

New York Fed Faces Questions Over Policing Wall Street

BY BEN PROTESS AND JESSICA SILVER-GREENBERG
JULY 24, 2012,



As the Federal Reserve Bank of New York faced criticism for missing a multibillion-dollar trading loss at JPMorgan Chase, the regulator convened a town hall meeting in May to bolster employee morale.

Two months later, the New York Fed staff huddled again, after lawmakers questioned why the regulator had failed to rein in banks that manipulated key interest rates.

“We were told to keep our heads down and stay focused,” said one person present at the July meeting who requested anonymity because the gathering was not public.
The New York Fed, whose weaknesses were first exposed when the financial crisis hit, is undergoing a new trial by fire as it grapples with how to police Wall Street. While the regulator has revamped its

Minor 3.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Los Angeles

Minor 3.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Los Angeles

Updated 06:59 a.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2012
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seismologists say a mild earthquake widely felt throughout Southern California was centered along the coast west of downtown Los Angeles.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-3.8 quake struck at 3:18 a.m. Wednesday. The epicenter was 2 miles east-southeast of Marina del Rey near Culver City and Inglewood.

A Sheriff's Department dispatcher says it "wasn't much of a quake" and that he hasn't had any calls from the public about it.

Within half an hour of the quake hitting, hundreds of people from as far away as Riverside and the San Fernando Valley reported feeling the shaking on the USGS website.

Fire Department spokesman Matt Spence says firefighters rolled out of stations throughout the city and surveyed 470 square miles. No infrastructure damage was found and no injuries have been reported.

Romney, Obama dig in over 'you didn't build that' furor

Romney, Obama dig in over 'you didn't build that' furor

Published July 25, 2012
FoxNews.com
The campaign debate over President Obama's "you didn't build that" remark raged on Wednesday even as Mitt Romney arrived in London for his overseas trip -- with Obama conducting damage control in a new TV ad and Romney's campaign rejecting the president's claim that his words were taken out of context.
The president over the past several days has argued that Republicans twisted his words. While Romney claims Obama was talking about businesses when he said, "if you've got a business, you didn't build that," Obama now says he was actually trying to make the point that business owners "didn't build" roads and bridges -- something he had referred to earlier in the speech.

"Jeffersons" sitcom star Sherman Hemsley dies at 74

Jul. 25, 2012

"Jeffersons" sitcom star Sherman Hemsley dies at 74

By Michael D. Schaffer
Inquirer Staff Writer
Sherman Hemsley, 74, a onetime mail sorter from South Philadelphia who moved on up to the East Side of New York as George Jefferson in a celebrated 1970s sitcom, died yesterday at his home in El Paso, Texas.

Mr. Hemsley, who was found by his nurse, apparently died of natural causes, according to police.

The Jeffersons, which ran from 1975 to 1985, was one of several groundbreaking black sitcoms of that era, including Sanford and Son and Good Times. George Jefferson was a character unlike any seen on TV before, a proud and successful African American businessman, cocky, edgy, and opinionated, determined not to be pushed around.

When he was introduced as a character in the sitcom All in the Family, Jefferson stood up to his bigoted neighbor Archie Bunker without flinching, giving as good as he got. It wasn't just what Jefferson said, it was how he carried himself, with a swaggering gait that challenged the world.

midst of fourth world war

We are in midst of fourth world war: President Pranab

PTI | Jul 25, 2012
NEW DELHI: Fight against terrorism is the fourth world war and India has been on the frontlines of this, President Pranab Mukherjee today said while hailing the valour and conviction of the Indian armed forces.

Taking oath as the President, he said few minutes of peace will achieve far more than many years of war.

"...But the visible rewards of peace have also obscured the fact that the age of war is not over. We are in the midst of a fourth world war; the third was the Cold War, but it was very warm in Asia, Africa

Ghana's VP Sworn In as President Following Mills' Death

Ghana's VP Sworn In as President Following Mills' Death

VOA News
July 25, 2012

Ghana's vice president will serve out the term of the late leader John Atta Mills, who died suddenly Tuesday.

John Dramani Mahama, who was vice president, took the oath of office hours after officials announced the death of Mills.

Ghana is scheduled to hold a presidential election in December.
Political analyst Emmanuel Akwetey, executive director of the Institute for Democratic Governance, says he expects the ruling National Democratic Congress Party to name Mahama as its candidate. He

Gun sales surge in US following Colorado shooting

Gun sales surge in US following Colorado shooting

American buyers of firearms fear politicians may use the Aurora massacre to push for new ownership restrictions
Associated Press in Denver
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 25 July 2012
Firearms sales are surging in the US in the wake of the Colorado massacre as buyers express fears that politicians may use the shootings to seek new restrictions on owning weapons.

In Colorado – the scene of Friday's shooting during the screening of a Batman film that killed 12 and injured dozens of others – gun sales jumped in the three days that followed. The state approved background checks for 2,887 people who wanted to purchase a firearm – 25% more than the average Friday to Sunday period in 2012 and 43% more than the same period the week before.

Researchers report more condom use among teenagers

Researchers report more condom use among teenagers

By LAURAN NEERGAARD
AP Medical Writer / July 24, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) — More high school students are using condoms than 20 years ago — but progress has stalled with a lot of work still needed to protect young people from the AIDS virus, government researchers reported Tuesday.

Today, 4 of every 10 new HIV infections occur in people younger than 30, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — and the teen years, just as youths become sexually active, are key for getting across the safe-sex message.

Using a long-standing survey of high school students’ health, the CDC tracked how teen sexual behavior has changed over 20 years. The results are decidedly mixed.

Bachelorette: 'After the Final Rose' recap: Emily and Jef so in love

Bachelorette: 'After the Final Rose' recap: Emily and Jef so in love

Jul 24, 2012
LOS ANGELES - She accepted the ring. He accepted the final rose. So, now we get a glimpse into the lives of the newest Bachelorette love match, Emily Maynard and Jef Holm, on the post-finale special After the Final Rose.

But, first, let's bring out the man she dumped on national TV: Arie Luyendyk. Because that's not awkward at all.

Before being subjected to facing Luyendyk for the first time since she tearfully told him that Jef, and not he, was the man for her, Maynard tells host Chris Harrison that she was having mixed feelings

Mariah Carey Will Make $18 Million on American Idol

Mariah Carey Will Make $18 Million on American Idol

BY ALISON SCHWARTZ AND LIZ MCNEIL
Tuesday July 24, 2012
The newest face at the judges' table is taking home the biggest paycheck.

Mariah Carey, who has officially signed on to join American Idol, will reportedly earn about $18 million for the season.

"Her deal is rumored to be just under $18 million for one year with an option to renew," a source familiar with the negotiation tells PEOPLE.

Carey, 42, will reportedly be the highest paid judge on any reality show, although departed judge Jennifer Lopez raked in $20 million plus bonuses her second year, according to a source.

POLL: American Idol: Will Mariah Carey Be a Tougher Judge Than Jennifer Lopez?

With Lopez – whose exit had nothing to do with dollar signs, said a source – Steven Tyler and potentially Randy Jackson out of the mix, Carey's panel companions (and their pay rates) have yet to be confirmed.

iPhone 5: Apple profits slow amid customer anticipation

iPhone 5: Apple profits slow amid customer anticipation

Published: July 24, 2012 8:53 AM
By BLOOMBERG NEWS
As iPhone fans await the release of a new model, they are delaying purchases and may cause Apple Inc., the world’s largest company by market value, to post its slowest sales and profit growth in more than two years.
With a redesigned model probably arriving by October, analysts estimate that sales of iPhones — Apple’s biggest source of revenue — slid in the fiscal third quarter from prior periods.
While analysts predict that the next iPhone will be the best-selling smartphone yet from Cupertino, California-based Apple, the purchasing delays will probably weigh down results until the device hits

AT&T Profit Tops Estimates, Revenue Falls Short

AT&T Profit Tops Estimates, Revenue Falls Short

Published: Tuesday, 24 Jul 2012
By: Reuters
AT&T reported quarterly profit that beat Wall Street estimates Tuesday as the No. 2 U.S wireless phone provider managed to cut more costs than expected in its wireless business.
Shares in AT&T rose slightly on Tuesday after it posted a wireless service margin of 45 percent, based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization . This was well ahead of the average expectation of 42.58 percent from four analysts.

"If you dig into the numbers, there are definitely some things to like in this release. The margins are the biggest thing," said Hudson Square Research analyst Todd Rethemeier.

UPS Cuts 2012 Forecast As Slowing Economy Press Profit

UPS Cuts 2012 Forecast As Slowing Economy Press Profit

By Heather Perlberg - Jul 24, 2012
United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS), the world’s largest package-delivery company, cut its full-year forecast after a drop in international package sales dragged quarterly profit below analysts’ estimates.
Earnings for the full year may be $4.50 to $4.70 a share, down from a previous projection of $4.75 to $5, the Atlanta- based company said. Profit of $1.15 a share in the second quarter trailed the average estimate from analysts of $1.17.
UPS is considered an economic bellwether because it moves goods ranging from financial documents to pharmaceuticals and industrial parts. International Package sales dropped 4 percent and Supply Chain & Freight revenue declined 1.6 percent as excess capacity for Asian exports pressed pricing, the company said.

Back on the trail, Romney and Obama avoid gun control issue

July 24, 2012

Back on the trail, Romney and Obama avoid gun control issue

By CBS News Topics In The News ,Domestic Issues ,Campaign 2012
(CBS News) Despite calls to address the gun control issue, neither President Obama nor Mitt Romney brought the issue up as they returned to the campaign trail Monday.
Romney was asked during a CNBC interview about the issue, which became a subject of debate following last week's shooting in Aurora, Colo. Romney said he didn't believe new laws would have made a difference in last week's massacre.

"There are -- were, of course, very stringent laws which existed in Aurora, Colorado. Our challenge is not the laws, our challenge is people who, obviously, are distracted from reality and do unthinkable, unimaginable, inexplicable things," he said.

Mr. Obama, meantime, spoke to the Veterans' of Foreign Wars and attended three fundraisers in

UK PM's ex-media chief, friend charged over hacking

UK PM's ex-media chief, friend charged over hacking

By Michael Holden and Kate Holton

LONDON | Tue Jul 24, 2012
(Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron's ex-media chief and Rupert Murdoch's former UK newspaper boss are to be charged with phone-hacking offences in the most significant development in a scandal that has rocked Britain's establishment.
Prosecutors said on Tuesday that Andy Coulson, Cameron's communications director for four years until 2011, and Rebekah Brooks, who oversaw Murdoch's News International, would face charges of conspiracy to intercept communications.

The alleged offences were committed between 2000 and 2006 when both served as editor of the News of the World, the salacious Sunday tabloid which Murdoch was forced to close a year ago amid public

Romney puts focus on foreign policy with Israel trip

Romney puts focus on foreign policy with Israel trip

Published July 23, 2012 | Hannity | Sean Hannity
Special Guests: Tina Korbe, Ron Desantis

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," July 23, 2012. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
SEAN HANNITY, HOST: With 106 days to go until Election Day, the campaign is temporarily switching focus from the economy to foreign policy. Mitt Romney is planning to make his first appearance on the international stage with a trip to Israel, England and Poland.

Now it's no surprise that some of his stops will be with allies that the president has not exactly put on

Chemical weapons? Syria 'backpedaling furiously' over weapons threats

Chemical weapons? Syria 'backpedaling furiously' over weapons threats

One day after threatening to unleash chemical weapons if it were invaded, Syria denies having unconventional weapons, and says West is preparing an Iraq-style intervention.
By Arthur Bright, Correspondent / July 24, 2012
Syrian rebels have accused the Assad regime of moving its chemical weapons to the borders, even as the Syrian government has been "backpedalling furiously" from its warning yesterday that it would use its chemical arsenal against foreign intervention in the civil war gripping the nation.

Agence France-Presse reports that the Free Syrian Army warned in a statement today that President Bashar al-Assad's government has been moving its chemical weapons to new locations along the Syrian border.

"We in the joint command of the Free Syrian Army inside the country know very well the locations and positions of these weapons," the statement said. "We also reveal that Assad has transferred some of

Five Reasons The Avengers Is Way Better Than The Dark Knight Rises

Five Reasons The Avengers Is Way Better Than The Dark Knight Rises

by Peter Paras
2012/7/24

As Batman threequel The Dark Knight Rises tries to outrun high expectations (not to mention controversy and tragedy), it now heads into an intense box office competition with the summer's biggest and most-loved hit so far, The Avengers.
These megabucks superflicks have been the talk of the season, for much different reasons, but plenty of the chatter is—finally, now that we've seen 'em—about which is better.
Both are big ambitious adventures that deserve your hard-earned moola, but in the battle of superhero

Lost at sea: Hunt for Earhart's plane abandoned

Lost at sea: Hunt for Earhart's plane abandoned

Published July 24, 2012
Associated Press
HONOLULU – A $2.2 million expedition that hoped to find wreckage from famed aviator Amelia Earhart's final flight is on its way back to Hawaii without the dramatic, conclusive plane images searchers were hoping to attain.
But the group leading the search, The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, still believes

Swimming jellyfish built out of rat cells, silicone

Swimming jellyfish built out of rat cells, silicone

By Stephanie Pappas
Published July 23, 2012 LiveScience

Using rat heart cells and silicone polymer, researchers have bioengineered a "jellyfish" that knows how to swim.
The odd jellyfish mimic, dubbed a "Medusoid" by its creators, is more than a curiosity. It's a natural biological pump, just like the human heart. That makes it a good model to use to study cardiac physiology, said study researcher Kevin Kit Parker, a bioengineer at Harvard University.
"The idea is to look at a muscular pump other than the heart or other muscular organ and see if there are some fundamental similarities, or design principles, that are conserved across them," Parker told LiveScience. "This study revealed that there are." [10 Amazing Facts About Your Heart]
Building a jelly
Jellyfish propel themselves with a pumping action, as anyone who has ever watched them float around an aquarium tank can attest. Parker was looking for a way to tackle questions about the heart that aren't

Tony Robbins event ends in 'wails of pain' as attendees walk on hot coals

Tony Robbins event ends in 'wails of pain' as attendees walk on hot coals

Over 20 people treated for burns after multi-day motivational event encourages attendees to take a leap of faith on coals
by guardian.co.uk
2012/7/23
Burnt soles rather than cleansed souls awaited attendees at motivational speaker Tony Robbins's latest life coaching seminar, with 21 people needing treatment after a painful walk across coals.

During a four-day gathering in California entitled Unleash the Power Within, the famed lifestyle guru encouraged participants to take a leap of faith and test their luck on the red-hot surface.

Emergency services were called to deal with the fall-out, as many in the group suffered second- and third-degree burns. Three needed hospital treatment, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

"I heard wails of pain, screams of agony" one witness told the newspaper.

"First one person, then a couple minutes later another one, and there was just a line of people walking

Elliott Sadler wins Nationwide race despite stomach ailment

Elliott Sadler wins Nationwide race despite stomach ailment

By Benjamin Miraski / Chicago Tribune
Monday, July 23, 2012
JOLIET, Ill. — Elliott Sadler might have to make his favorite color yellow after Sunday’s NASCAR Nationwide series race at Chicagoland Speedway, even though he was a little green.

Sadler took advantage of two late cautions in the race and fought through a stomach virus that had bugged him all weekend to earn his third win of the season. "I kind of dug myself a hole yesterday. Richard (Childress) came to me and asked me, ’Should I think of a backup driver?"’ Sadler said. "I kind of put my foot in my mouth and told Richard I wasn’t going to need one. I knew I had to back that up."

He took over the lead following a caution flag, which came out when Brad Sweet spun with race leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the pits. A crash with five laps remaining brought out another caution, and

Barry Larkin, Ron Santo inducted

Barry Larkin, Ron Santo inducted

July 23, 2012
Associated Press
by espn.go.com
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Barry Larkin lost it before he even started. Vicki Santo never wavered as she honored her late husband, Ron.

Baseball's highest honor always seems to leave a special impression on those directly involved.
Larkin, the former star shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds, and Ron Santo, a standout third baseman for the Chicago Cubs and later a beloved broadcaster for the team, were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

After wiping away tears as his teenage daughter sang the national anthem, Larkin began a litany of thank-yous to the important people who helped him along his journey, none more important than his mom, Shirley, and father, Robert, who were seated in the first row.

"If we were going to do something, we were going to do it right," said Larkin, currently a baseball

The Open 2012: Adam Scott not the first player to choke at a major

The Open 2012: Adam Scott not the first player to choke at a major

Adam Scott wasted a four-shot lead with four holes to play to hand the 141st Open Championship to Ernie Els at Royal Lytham. Here, we look at other famous collapses in major championships over the years.
By Telegraph Sport 23 Jul 2012
Jean van de Velde - 1999 Open, Carnoustie
Van de Velde stood on the 18th tee with a three-shot lead but after missing the fairway with his drive, he saw his shot bounce off a grandstand and into heavy rough. From there he chipped into the Barry Burn and considered playing the ball out of the water, removing his shoes and wading in before thinking better of it. After a penalty drop he played his fifth shot into a greenside bunker and bravely got up and down for a seven. That forced a play-off with Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard, which Lawrie won.
Greg Norman - 1996 US Masters, Augusta

Taylor Swift wins five Teen Choice Awards

Taylor Swift wins five Teen Choice Awards

By: Bang Showbiz
Taylor Swift won five Teen Choice Awards last night (22.07.12).
The 22-year-old singer-and-actress took home authentic full-sized surfboard prizes for Choice Female Music Artist, Choice Country Artist and Choice Movie Voice for her performance as Audrey in the animated film adaptation of Dr. Seuss' book 'The Lorax' at the ceremony held at Los Angeles' Gibson Amphitheatre.
The blonde beauty narrowly beat Justin Bieber to be the biggest winner of the night.
The 18-year-old pop star went home with four prizes, including Choice Music Male Artist and Single for Male Artist for his latest hit 'Boyfriend', which he performed at the event.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1' had seven nominations and took home two accolades, the Ultimate Choice Award and Teen Choice Favourite Film, taking the franchise's total of Teen Choice Awards to

Katherine Jackson safe after reported missing, deputies say

Katherine Jackson safe after reported missing, deputies say

Originally published: July 22, 2012 

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES - Authorities said Sunday they believe Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson and the guardian of his three minor children, is safe in Arizona with family members after she was reported missing.
The disclosure came after another concerned family member officially reported her missing Saturday night amid a dispute over the estate of her superstar son.
A person familiar with Katherine Jackson's whereabouts said she is with her daughter Rebbie in Arizona and following a doctor's orders to rest. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The 82-year-old Jackson family matriarch was reported missing by a relative on Saturday night. Sheriff's officials later said they believe she is in Arizona with a relative, but they were still trying to establish contact with her.
Katherine Jackson's whereabouts caused concern for some family members in recent days, and her granddaughter Paris Jackson issued a frantic plea on Twitter early Sunday.
"I haven't spoken with her in a week I want her home now," she posted from her Twitter account. She also tweeted a number for people to contact in case they saw her grandmother.
Katherine Jackson also hadn't been in contact with her attorneys, who worked Sunday to learn more information about her whereabouts and why she had suddenly become incommunicado, including with

'Twilight,' Taylor Swift add to Teen Choice Awards hauls

'Twilight,' Taylor Swift add to Teen Choice Awards hauls

Originally published: July 22, 2012 9:16 PM
Updated: July 23, 2012 12:21 AM
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES - "The Twilight Saga" is gonna need a bigger garage.
It was announced at Sunday's Teen Choice Awards that the supernatural franchise has won 41 surfboard-shaped trophies since 2008, including awards earned this year for the penultimate film installment, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1."
"Twilight" stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner were on hand to pick up this year's batch of boards, as well as the ultimate choice award, the teen-fueled show's version of a lifetime achievement award.
"It's amazing you guys are still around and just as strong and just as loyal," Lautner said over screams

Samsung Galaxy S3 reaches 10 million sales

Samsung Galaxy S3 reaches 10 million sales

Hits milestone in less than two months
By Carly Page
Mon Jul 23 2012
AS PREDICTED, the Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone has reached 10 million sales in less than two months, the Korean phone maker has announced.
Samsung's head of mobile, Shin Jong-Kyun revealed the good news to the Yonhap news agency, claiming that the firm's Galaxy S3 has hit 10 million sales. As pointed out by the news site, this meant that around 190,000 Galaxy S3 handsets were flogged each day.
This news doesn't come as much of a surprise, as the Galaxy S3 has received rave reviews across the web and features an impressive set of specifications. These include a

Mitt Romney’s ‘exotic’ problem

Mitt Romney’s ‘exotic’ problem

Posted by Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake 07/23/2012
For years, President’s Obama’s political opponents have used his background — Kenyan father, Kansan mother, raised in Indonesia and Hawaii — to cast him as somehow exotic, someone whose life makes it hard for him to understand the average American.
And yet, it’s Mitt Romney, Obama’s general election opponent, who is now dealing with an “exotic” issue that is centered on his considerable wealth and being played out in the ongoing fight over whether he will release more than two years worth of tax returns.
“He is an extremely wealthy man,” Steve Schmidt, who managed Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign and was involved in the vetting of Romney for vice president, said during an appearance Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press”. “His tax returns do not look anything like the average American’s.”
Schmidt hit the nail on the head in assessing the political problem of Romney’s tax returns — and also

ECB's Draghi says euro not in danger

ECB's Draghi says euro not in danger

21 July 2012
by brecorder.com
PARIS: European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that the euro was not in danger despite some analysts' worse case scenarios for a break-up and said that greater financial, budgetary and political union among euro zone countries was inevitable.
Asked in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde if the euro were in danger, Draghi said: "No, absolutely not. We see analysts imagining the scenario of a euro zone blow-up."
"They don't recognise the political capital that our leaders have invested in this union and Europeans' support. The euro is irreversible," he added.
In the long term, the euro would need to rest on a foundation of greater integration among euro zone

Cnooc to Buy Nexen for $15 Billion

Cnooc to Buy Nexen for $15 Billion

BY DEALBOOK 2012/7/23
The great energy rush continues.

On Monday, Cnooc, the state-run oil giant, agreed to buy Nexen for $15 billion, as foreign players look to beef up their access to natural resources abroad.

Under the terms of the deal, Cnooc will pay $27.50 a share for the Canadian natural gas company. The price represents a 61 percent premium to Nexen’s closing price on Friday.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to build on our existing joint venture relationship with Nexen in Canada, and to acquire a leading international platform in the process,” Wang Yilin, chairman of

Daily Forecast

Your Daily Forecast

 Jul 23, 2012
Today... Mostly sunny with a stray storm possible. Highs in the mid 90s.

Tonight... Mostly clear with lows in the low-to-mid 70s.

Tuesday... Mostly sunny with isolated afternoon storms. Highs in the mid-to-upper 90s.

Tuesday Night... Mostly clear with a very slight chance for t-showers. Lows in the mid 70s.

Heaviest rains in 60 years kill 37 in Beijing

Heaviest rains in 60 years kill 37 in Beijing

BEIJING | Mon Jul 23, 2012
(Reuters) - The Chinese capital's heaviest rainstorm in six decades killed at least 37 people, flooded streets and stranded 80,000 people at the main airport, state media and the government said on Sunday.
The storm, which started on Saturday afternoon and continued late into the night, flooded major roads and sent torrents of water tumbling down steps into underpasses.

The Beijing city government said on its official microblog at least 37 people had died, including 25 drowned, six crushed in collapsing homes, five electrocuted and one struck by lightning.

More than 500 flights were cancelled at Beijing's Capital International Airport, the Beijing News

Syria Says Will Use Chemical Weapons If Attacked

Syria Says Will Use Chemical Weapons If Attacked

By BEN HUBBARD Associated Press
BEIRUT, Lebanon July 23, 2012 (AP)
The Syrian regime acknowledged for the first time Monday that it possessed stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and said it will only use them in case of a foreign attack and never internally against its own citizens .

Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the stockpiles are secure, in an apparent response to widespread international concerns that they could fall into the hands of the disparate bands of rebel forces fighting the government.

"No chemical or biological weapons will ever be used, and I repeat, will never be used, during the crisis in Syria no matter what the developments inside Syria," he said in conference broadcast on state TV. "All of these types of weapons are in storage and under security and the direct supervision of the Syrian armed forces and will never be used unless Syria is exposed to external aggression."

Colorado massacre suspect heads to court as Batman mask, poster found at apartment

Colorado massacre suspect heads to court as Batman mask, poster found at apartment

By Adam Housley
Published July 23, 2012
FoxNews.com
AURORA, Colo. – The suspected gunman in a massacre at a Colorado movie theater heads to court Monday as investigators reveal he is refusing to cooperate.
24-year-old James Holmes, who is accused of killing 12 and injuring 58 in a shooting massacre at a packed theater of moviegoers watching the premiere of the latest Batman movie, will be moved to a courtroom for a 9:30 a.m. MDT hearing where the charges against him of suspicion of first degree murder will be read.

European Agency Backs Approval of a Gene Therapy

European Agency Backs Approval of a Gene Therapy

By ANDREW POLLACK
Published: July 20, 2012
After more than two decades of dashed expectations, the field of gene therapy appears close to reaching a milestone: a regulatory approval.
The European Medicines Agency has recommended approval of a gene therapy to treat a rare genetic disease, according to the agency’s Web site.

If the European Commission follows the advice, as it usually does, this would be the first regulatory approval of a gene therapy drug in the Western world. That could give a boost to the field, which at

In First, Software Emulates Lifespan of Entire Organism

In First, Software Emulates Lifespan of Entire Organism

By JOHN MARKOFF
Published: July 20, 2012
STANFORD, Calif. — Scientists at Stanford University and the J. Craig Venter Institute have developed the first software simulation of an entire organism, a humble single-cell bacterium that lives in the human genital and respiratory tracts.
The scientists and other experts said the work was a giant step toward developing computerized laboratories that could carry out many thousands of experiments much faster than is possible now, helping scientists penetrate the mysteries of diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.

“You read in the paper just about every week, ‘Cancer gene discovered’ or ‘Alzheimer gene discovered,’ ” said the leader of the new research, Markus W. Covert, an assistant professor of bioengineering at Stanford. “A lot of the public wonders, ‘Why haven’t we cured all these things?’ The answer, of course, is that cancer is not a one-gene problem; it’s a many-thousands-of-factors problem.”

Doc Rivers' Presence Primary Reason Boston Has Become Desirable Free-Agent Destination by Ben

Doc Rivers' Presence Primary Reason Boston Has Become Desirable Free-Agent Destination by Ben Watanabe on Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 12:04AM

Unthinkable though it may be to the diehards who have a closet full of green jerseys and strain their vocal chords cheering at Celtics games, Boston traditionally has not been the NBA's prominent destination for players. The Celtics never came up on Dwight Howard's wish list over the last two years of Howard's ESPN daytime television drama. Kevin Garnett, for all the admiration he has expressed for the Celtics franchise over the last five years, had to be talked into agreeing to the trade that made the 2008 championship possible. Puzzlingly, in the era of superstars joining forces to chase banners, no free agents have conspired to team up for the franchise that has more banners than anybody. In the eight years Doc Rivers has been at the helm in Boston, that has gradually changed. Garnett and Ray Allen famously came together with Paul Pierce in 2007, while Eddie House and James Posey signed as

UFC 149 weigh-in results: Faber, Barao on the mark for interim title fight

UFC 149 weigh-in results: Faber, Barao on the mark for interim title fight

Jul 20, 2012
By MMAjunkie.com

CALGARY -- MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today's official UFC 149 fighter weigh-ins.

The festivities took place at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, the same venue that hosts Saturday's card.

Saturday's main card airs on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT). Prelims air on Facebook (7 p.m. ET) and FX (8 p.m. ET).

Main-event bantamweights Urijah Faber and Renan Barao each were on the mark at 135 pounds for their interim title fight. The two fight for the interim belt with champion Dominick Cruz on the shelf following knee surgery.

‘Parks and Rec’ stars, filming in D.C., engage in some monumental foolishness

‘Parks and Rec’ stars, filming in D.C., engage in some monumental foolishness

By Jen Chaney, Published: July 20

It’s a typical Friday afternoon in July at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Tourists in khaki shorts haul their digital camera gear from exhibit to exhibit. Security guards keep mindful, silent watch. And Chris Pratt and Aubrey Plaza, two of the stars of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” passionately make out on the floor a few feet from the famous Southern Railway 1401 steam locomotive.

Russian held over botnet attack on Amazon.com

Russian held over botnet attack on Amazon.com
Summary: A Moscow resident has been arrested in Cyprus on US charges of launching a DDOS attack on Amazon that overwhelmed the retailer's systems for days
By Tom Espiner | July 20, 2012
A Russian man believed to have launched denial-of-service attacks against Amazon.com has been arrested in Cyprus, where he faces extradition to the US.

Dmitry Olegovich Zubakha was detained on an international warrant on Wednesday, the US Department of Justice said. He has been charged with crimes relating to allegations he launched two botnet-based distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attempts against the online retailer in 2008.
"Orders from Amazon.com customers dropped significantly, as legitimate customers were unable to access the website and complete their e-commerce transactions during the pendency of the attack," read

Google Buys Sparrow to Refresh Gmail

Google Buys Sparrow to Refresh Gmail

No significant upgrades to the Mac and iOS e-mail client Sparrow are planned; team will work on new projects, Google says.
By Lex Friedman, Macworld Jul 20, 2012
Software developer Sparrow, maker of the popular Mac and iOS e-mail clients of the same name, announced on Friday that it has been acquired by Google, and that the Sparrow team will be joining forces with the search giant.

A Google spokesperson told Macworld, “The Sparrow team has always put their users first by focusing on building a seamlessly simple and intuitive interface for their email client. We look forward to bringing them aboard the Gmail team, where they’ll be working on new projects.”

Democratic billionaires boost pro-Obama super PAC

Democratic billionaires boost pro-Obama super PAC

By KENNETH P. VOGEL | 7/21/12

The super PAC supporting President Barack Obama had its best fundraising month to date in June, pulling in $6.2 million, but also spending even more on a barrage of ads blistering Mitt Romney.

Priorities USA Action spent $7.9 million last month – mostly on ads scrutinizing Romney’s tenure at the private equity firm Bain Capital – and finished June with $2.8 million in the bank, according to a report filed late Friday with the Federal Election Commission.

Obama, Romney halt campaigning in wake of Colorado shooting rampage

Obama, Romney halt campaigning in wake of Colorado shooting rampage

LEE-ANNE GOODMAN
Washington — The Canadian Press
Jul. 20 2012
Presidential politics took a back seat to tragedy Friday as Americans grappled with yet another mass shooting, this one an estimated 90-second rampage in a Colorado movie theatre that left 12 people dead and 59 injured.

“This morning we woke up to news of a tragedy that reminds us of all the ways we are united as one American family,” President Barack Obama said in brief remarks in Fort Myers, Fla., where he’d been scheduled to make a campaign speech aimed at rallying supporters.

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Instead, he cut short his swing through the key battleground state and headed back to Washington, D.C.

Why Nike Owns U.S. Olympic Basketball

Why Nike Owns U.S. Olympic Basketball

7/20/2012
Twenty years ago, Michael Jordan found himself in the middle of the basketball shoe war between Nike and Reebok at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Jordan was the face of Nike, but Reebok was the Olympic medal stand uniform outfitter. The Dream Team, led by Jordan, rolled through the Games and won the gold medal. Come podium time, Jordan draped an American flag over his right shoulder, covering the Reebok logo, as did fellow Nike endorsers Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson.

There was potential for more conflicts this year as Adidas is the official sponsor of the London Games, but Nike is the official sponsor of the U.S. basketball team and will provide the uniforms and medal stand apparel (click here for a preview).
Team USA is the overwhelming favorite to win basketball gold, but there will will not be a repeat of 1992 on the medal stand as there are no Adidas or Reebok athletes on the U.S. Olympic team. Nike signed No. 1 overall draft pick and newly appointed Team USA member, Anthony Davis, this week to

GSA finds more than $250,000 spent on one-day event

GSA finds more than $250,000 spent on one-day event

By the CNN Wire Staff
July 19, 2012
Washington (CNN) -- A "top-to-bottom" review by the General Services Administration, the federal agency that was found to have spent lavishly on an October 2010 conference in Las Vegas, has revealed that the agency also spent more than a quarter-million dollars for a one-day awards ceremony just outside Washington in May 2010. The latest spending came to light Thursday when members of Congress were notified that the agency has opened an internal investigation into the roughly $268,000 spent for the 2010 event held not far from the Pentagon in northern Virginia. The agency's preliminary review has determined that approximately $20,000 was spent on drumsticks given to the attendees of the award ceremony. A source inside the agency told CNN that a drum band was hired for the event and the drumsticks were given to allow attendees to play along with the band and make the activity interactive. Troubled federal agency paid for cooking classes, hosted holiday video contest "I know, it's ridiculous," the source said,

Air Force instructor convicted of rape, assault

Air Force instructor convicted of rape, assault

By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press Posted: Saturday, July 21, 2012
SAN ANTONIO — An Air Force instructor was convicted Friday of rape and sexual assault in a massive sex scandal that has rocked a Texas base, one of the nation’s busiest military training centers.

A seven-person jury of military personnel at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio found Staff Sgt. Luis Walker guilty on all seven counts he faced, including rape, aggravated sexual contact and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault.

The jury deleted a clause from two counts that accused Walker of making flirtatious and lewd comments to trainees. However, it upheld the overall counts containing the deleted clauses, which accused him of trying to cultivate a sexual relationship with two trainees.

George W. Bush to skip Republican National Convention

George W. Bush to skip Republican National Convention

Former President George W. Bush will be skipping the Republican National Convention this summer, his office said Friday.
The Capitol Column | Staff | Saturday, July 21, 2012
This article was updated at 8:12 a.m. EDT to include quotes from former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin about the Republican National Convention.

Former Republican President George W. Bush will not attend the upcoming Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, according to a statement released Friday.

The Associated Press reports that a spokesman for Mr. Bush, Freddy Ford, says the former president has “respectfully declined” the Republican party’s invitation to the national convention where presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is expected to accept the party’s

Colorado shooting unlikely to spur changes in gun laws

Colorado shooting unlikely to spur changes in gun laws

By John Whitesides and David Ingram
WASHINGTON | Sat Jul 21, 2012
(Reuters) - Denver Mayor Michael Hancock is a member of a coalition called Mayors Against Illegal Guns, but when he issued a statement expressing shock and horror on Friday after a mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater, he had nothing to say about gun control.
Neither did President Barack Obama nor his Republican rival Mitt Romney, though both canceled campaign speeches on Friday and expressed sorrow for the victims of the shooting rampage.

The killing of 12 people at a midnight screening of the new Batman movie in the Denver suburb of Aurora may spark a fresh round of soul-searching on America's relationship with guns but few predict any real change in the law.