It News

September 10, 2012

Top Iraqi Leader Call His Death Sentence ‘Unjust’

By OMAR AL-JAWOSHY and MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ
Published: September 10, 2012

BAGHDAD — The vice president of Iraq, a prominent Sunni Muslim who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a trial conducted in absentia, denounced the verdict on Monday as “false and unjust,” depicting the court’s finding as “an acquittal, confirming my innocence.”
The verdict on Sunday coincided with a wave of bombings and insurgent attacks that claimed at least 100 lives, making the day one of the bloodiest in Iraq since American troops withdrew last year.

Obama edges Romney in August fundraising

By David Jackson, USA TODAY
Sep 10, 2012

President Obama's campaign raised $114 million in August, edging Mitt Romney's haul of $111.6 million and ending the Republican's three month winning streak in the money race.

"The key to fighting back against the special interests writing limitless checks to support Mitt Romney is growing our donor base, and we did that substantially in the month of August," said Jim Messina, Obama's campaign spokesman.

Chicago teachers strike for first time in 25 years; contingency sites ready, charters remain open

BY ROSALIND ROSSI and LAUREN FITZPATRICK Staff Reporters September 9, 2012

For the first time in 25 years, Chicago’s teachers are on strike
“Negotiations have been intense but productive, however we have failed to reach an agreement that will prevent a labor strike,” Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said at a dramatic 10 p.m. Sunday press conference. “Real school will not be open [Monday]. ... No CTU member will be inside our schools.

“Please seek alternative care for your children.”

The announcement was quickly blasted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as “a strike of choice” that didn’t have to happen if talks continued. He repeatedly declared: “My team is available now.”

Man with scissors arrested at Miley Cyrus' house

Man with scissors arrested at Miley Cyrus' house
Published September 08, 2012
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – A man allegedly clutching a pair of scissors was arrested after police say he tried to force himself inside the Los Angeles home of Miley Cyrus.

Los Angeles police Lt. Brian Wendling says that employees inside the house in the Studio City area called police around 4 a.m. Saturday after the man came to the door and claimed to be a friend of the 19-year-old singer-actress.

Ryan V.P. debate prep intensifies

2012/09/08
Posted by
CNN Political Producer Shawna Shepherd

San Ramon, California (CNN) – With the vice presidential debate five weeks away, Republican Rep. Paul Ryan will hold his first all-day prep session this weekend, campaign aides say.

The Wisconsin lawmaker will convene with aides in Oregon on Sunday, which has been described to reporters as the first of many sessions where they will discuss likely debate topics and counterpoints.

– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

Chicago teachers, school officials resuming talks to avert strike
By Mary Wisniewski
CHICAGO | Sun Sep 9, 2012

Thousands of Chicago Public School teachers rally before marching to the Board of Education's headquarters in Chicago, May 23, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

(Reuters) - Negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and the nation's third-largest school district were going down to the wire on Sunday, as teachers threaten to strike on Monday over Mayor Rahm Emanuel's demand for sweeping school reforms.

Both sides expressed varying degrees of optimism on Saturday night about chances for a resolution, although school district officials sounded more hopeful than union leaders. School board President David Vitale said he thought the district's latest proposal was "very close" to what was needed for a deal. Talks resume on Sunday morning.

Chicago Weekend Guide

A Whirlwind Tour of the Windy City
2012/9/8
by Erica Walsh
Filed Under: Chicago, Weekend

The Chicago metropolitan area, located along beautiful Lake Michigan, is also known as Chicagoland, and it's home to almost 10 million people. The city is full of breathtaking architecture and landscaped public parks. Here's a quick guide for seeing the best of the Windy City in just 48 hours.

Where to Stay
Hotel Burnham
Built by Daniel Burnham in 1895, this charming boutique hotel in the historic Reliance Building, served as a model for our nation's first skyscrapers. The hotel is an architectural treasure with a prime location near Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theater and Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The rooms feature plush beds and the mahogany writing desks echo the motif of the wood-paneled lobby. Its history is enhanced with modern design and amenities like complimentary Starbucks coffee in the lobby each morning and a wine reception each afternoon from 5 to 6 p.m.

Australian Outback Tours

Getting Down and Dirty Down Under
20129/8
by Erica Walsh
Filed Under: Australia, Oceania

In parts of the Australian Outback, it's possible to see the curve of the Earth's surface; at night, amidst this natural vastness, you can see more stars in the sky than almost any other place on Earth. The outback is begging to be explored, and we're showing you some of the best ways to do it.

By Bus
The most common way for travelers to experience the rugged Australian Outback is by partaking in a budget camping tour. Due to the popular demand for this type of exploration, there are a multitude of companies offering guided camping tours through the outback's popular Red Center.

Top 10 Mexican Beach Resorts

South of the Border Sun and Sand
by Melanie M. Mize
Filed Under: Cancun, Resorts

For anyone with a dream of sun-drenched fun, Mexico's beaches are no longer just for the well-to-do. Today, resorts on the country's Pacific and Caribbean coasts offer something for every taste, and budget. What's more, most Americans can make the trip to Mexico in little more than a two-hour flight. So, before making plans for an adventure south of the border, read on for Travel Channel's list of the Top 10 Mexican Beach Resorts.

Melia Cabo Real Beach & Golf Resort

Fed head Bernanke joined refinancing crowd

September 7, 2012

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke late last month

(AP) WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve's record-low interest rates have shrunk income for savers but cut costs for borrowers. Chairman Ben Bernanke is among the beneficiaries.

Bernanke's latest financial disclosure form, released Thursday, shows he refinanced his Washington home in 2011. He took out a 30-year mortgage with a fixed 4.25 percent rate, replacing one taken out in 2009 that carried a 5.375 percent rate.

Both mortgages were valued at between $500,000 and $1 million. The government requires top officials to estimate only ranges for their financial assets, rather than give exact figures.

The Fed has held its key short-term interest rate at a record low near zero since December 2008. It's also pursued unconventional programs to try to lower long-term rates and boost the U.S. economy after the

Victoria Azarenka beats Maria Sharapova to enter US Open final

Associated Press
08, 2012

New York: Normally so good, so gritty, in the crucible of the third set, Maria Sharapova finally met her match against Victoria Azarenka. Coming all the way back from a set and a break down, the top-seeded Azarenka prevailed in a stirring third, beating four-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Friday to reach her first US Open final.
"This one didn't go my way," Sharapova said. "Frustrating, but it's the game of tennis. A lot of swings in the match today. Certainly had the lead and the advantage."

Miley Cyrus' Exclusive Pics and Video—Get a Sneak Peek at Her New Site!

by Peter Gicas and Ken Baker Thu., Sep. 6, 2012

It's a good, no, make that great day for Miley Cyrus fans.
That's because the singer-actress has just launched her very own online community!
The site, mileycyrus.com, allows Cyrus to share pretty much anything and everything, including news, music, photos and videos—most notably, the "Backyard Sessions," which she shot earlier this summer in her very own, well, backyard. The clips show Cyrus and her band performing several of her favorite songs.

Orioles blast Yankees to move back into first-place tie

By Associated Press
Friday, September 7, 2012

BALTIMORE — The New York Yankees can’t deny it anymore. The Baltimore Orioles are good enough to take this pennant race down to the end.
Baltimore smacked six home runs — including three in a wild eighth inning — and pulled away to a 10-6 victory Thursday night that enabled the Orioles to climb back into a first-place tie with New York atop the AL East.

The Orioles have won 10 of 13, including three of four over the Yankees, and now lead the season series 8-7.

Clearly, this isn’t the same Baltimore team coming off 14 straight losing seasons, or the one that went 5-13 against New York in each of the three previous years.

“They are playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez said. “You have to tip your hat to Baltimore.”

Prince Harry Returns to War in Afghanistan
By SIMON PERRY
UPDATED 09/07/2012

Prince Harry Returns to War in Afghanistan| The British Royals, Prince Harry

Prince Harry is back on the frontline.
The Prince, 27, arrived in Afghanistan early Friday morning to begin a tour of duty as a co-pilot of an Apache attack helicopter. Observers reported that he looked "relaxed, if slightly tired" after the overnight journey on a standard troop flight from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

In a series of photos released by British authorities on Friday morning, Captain Wales, as he is known in the army, is seen giving the thumbs up and walking along a line of choppers at Camp Bastion.

Stewart shines in Toronto; Pattinson underwhelms in L.A.

By Olivia Barker USA Today
2012/9/7

Kristen Stewart arrives at the "On the Road" premiere in Toronto.

At the VMAs, host Kevin Hart told her to "move on." And it looks like Kristen Stewart has.

While her ex, Robert Pattinson, was onstage in L.A. making a (lackluster) introduction to a clip from the final "Twilight" flick, Stewart was on the red carpet in Toronto, making a sparkling post-scandal debut.

Gone was her typical black garb. Instead, Stewart wore a beaded floral dress from Zuhair Murad whose intricate embroidery called to mind Cate Blanchett's style-cementing Galliano frock from the 1999 Oscars.

China approves $157 bln infrastructure spending

By Pete Sweeney and Langi Chiang
SHANGHAI/BEIJING | Fri Sep 7, 2012

Shepherds lead their flock of sheep along on the Guozigou segment of the Lianyungang-Horgos expressway as vehicles drive past the other side of the expressway, Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region March 22, 2012. REUTERS/China Daily/Files

(Reuters) - China has given the green light for 60 infrastructure projects worth more than $150 billion as it looks to energise an economy mired in its worst slowdown in three years, fuelling hopes the world's growth engine may get a lift from the fourth quarter.

Shares and steel futures jumped on the plans to build highways, ports and airport runways, among the most ambitious unveiled in China this year, which analysts say signalled growing intent to bolster economic growth as the country's once-a-decade leadership change looms.

MTV Video Music Awards: Rihanna stuns with long gown and short, short hair!

MTV Video Music Awards: Rihanna stuns with long gown and short, short hair!
Riri showed her chops with a revved-up performance of 'Cockiness (Love It)' and 'We Found Love,' later winning the big award — Video of the Year

BY ERIK ORTIZ / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012

Statuesque siren Rihanna stunned the MTV Video Music Awards Thursday night with a shocking pixie ‘do she exposed on the red carpet moments before kicking off the show.
But the 24-year-old Barbados beauty — who wound up taking home Video of the Year — obscured her

Apple cuts memory chip order to Samsung for new iPhone: Source

Reuters, September 07, 2012

Apple Inc has reduced its orders for memory chips for its new iPhone from its main supplier and competitor Samsung Electronics Co, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday.
South Korea's Samsung is a core Apple supplier, producing micro processors, flat screens and memory chips both dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips and NAND memory chips for the iPhone, iPad and iPod.

Glencore Raises Offer for Xstrata in Surprise Move

Published: Friday, 7 Sep 2012
By: CNBC.com with Reuters

Glencore did an about-turn on Friday, raising its offer for miner Xstrata to 3.05 Glencore shares for every Xstrata share, from 2.8 earlier.
The move followed high drama on Friday when Glencore [GLEN-LN 373.90 -18.45 (-4.7%) ] suspended a shareholder vote on its $34 billion takeover bid for Xstrata [XTA-LN 1047.50 68.50 (+7%) ].

Shares of Xstrata jumped nearly 9 percent after news of the amended deal crossed the wires.

Under the new deal terms, Glencore's CEO Ivan Glasenberg would become the CEO of the combined company rather than Xstrata CEO, Mick Davis. The deal would also be structured as a takeover, rather than as a merger.

Quakes in southwest China kill dozens, damage 20,000 homes

BEIJING | Fri Sep 7, 2012

(Reuters) - Two shallow 5.6 magnitude earthquakes hit southwestern China on Friday, killing at least 50 people and forcing tens of thousands of people from damaged buildings, state media said.

The quakes struck near the border of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, the first one at 11:19 a.m. (0319 GMT) and the second one about 45 minutes later, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

About 150 people were injured and 20,000 homes damaged, the official Xinhua news agency said.

US faces deadline on Haqqani network decision

By BRADLEY KLAPPER - Associated Press
2012/9/7

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration faces a weekend deadline to decide whether the Pakistan-based Haqqani network should be declared a terrorist organization, a complicated political decision as the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan and pushes for a reconciliation pact to end more than a decade of warfare.
Enraged by a string of high-profile attacks on U.S. and NATO troops, Congress has ordered Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to give her verdict by Sunday. U.S. officials say there are disagreements within the administration over what to decide.
The U.S. already has placed sanctions on many Haqqani leaders and is targeting its members militarily but has held back from formally designating the al-Qaida-linked network a terrorist group amid concerns about hampering peace efforts in Afghanistan and U.S. relations with Pakistan.

Romney vs. Obama: For the Economy, It Really Doesn’t Matter Who Wins, Ritholtz Says By Morgan Korn | Daily Ticker

Romney vs. Obama: For the Economy, It Really Doesn’t Matter Who Wins, Ritholtz Says
By Morgan Korn | Daily Ticker
2012/9/6

From now until Nov. 6, voters will be hearing a lot about the economy. President Barack Obama will be defending his economic record over the last four years. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will be touting his proposals to revive the economy. But how much control do presidents really have over the economy? A president's economic record could be tarnished the moment he (or she) moves into the White House and one's economic legacy could be a factor of well…luck.

NFL donates $30 million to National Institutes of Health

National Football League
Published: Sept. 5, 2012 at 09:07 a.m. Updated: Sept. 5, 2012
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE GRANTS
$30 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDING TO THE
FOUNDATION FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH

Focus on Advancing Science and Medical Understanding
of Brain Injuries

The National Football League will provide $30 million in funding for medical research to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL announced today.

The unrestricted gift is the NFL's single-largest donation to any organization in the league's 92-year history and will be overseen by The National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Tom Cruise, Scientology deny 2004 'auditions' for a girlfriend
By the CNN Wire Staff

Wed September 5, 2012
(CNN) -- A representative for Scientologist Tom Cruise on Tuesday derided an article that contends the Church of Scientology embarked on a secret project to find the actor a girlfriend following his 2001 divorce from actress Nicole Kidman.
"Vanity Fair's story is essentially a rehash of tired old lies previously run in the supermarket tabloids, quoting the same bogus 'sources,'" said Bert Fields, Cruise's attorney. "It's long, boring and false."
The church also weighed in, describing the October issue article by special correspondent Maureen Orth as "hogwash."
Ex-Scientologist: Cruise was top church recruit
Vanity Fair magazine, which provided a preview of the article on its website, said Shelly Miscavige, wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige, headed an "auditioning" process in 2004.
Actresses who were Scientologists were called in for other reasons and

Andy Warhol - Andy Warhol: Marlon Brando Print Expected To Sell For $20 Million

06 September 2012

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in New York has announced that some of his work would go under the hammer at Christie's in November, reports The Telegraph. The pieces will be sold through Christie's auction house to raise money for its endowment.
The first piece to go under the hammer is a silk screen of Marlon Brando from the movie, The Wild One.

Showbiz is politics and politics is showbiz

JOHN DOYLE
Published Thursday, Sep. 06 2012

Taylor Swift performs at Madison Square Garden in New York. The six-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift will perform at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards next month. (AP)

The Globe and Mail
Executives at MTV have promised that the MTV Video Music Awards will end on time tonight and not overlap with president Barack Obama’s closing speech at the Democratic National Convention.

This news was delivered first not by any media outlet covering the showbiz racket, but by Politico, the U.S. political journalism outfit that covers U.S politics relentlessly. Because it matters, politically and strategically, if the vast audience for MTV Video Music Awards (MuchMusic, 8 p.m.) is distracted from Obama’s speech. And because the Democrats hope that Obama is, to the MTV audience, as charismatic and