Blasts erupt near Syrian ministry; Clinton in Russia for meeting

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Blasts erupt near Syrian ministry; Clinton in Russia for meeting

By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 6:10 PM EDT, Thu June 28, 2012

(CNN) -- On the eve of a key gathering of world diplomats, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Friday with her Russian counterpart in a bid to find common ground on the crisis in Syria.
The St. Petersburg meeting between Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to include discussion of Russian arm sales to the Syrian regime, a State Department official told reporters this week.
Clinton will attend Saturday's emergency meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, led by Kofi Annan, the United Nations' and Arab League's special envoy for Syria. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hopes the meeting marks a "turning point" in diplomatic efforts.

Ann Curry’s Tearful Goodbye From ‘Today’

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Farewell, Without a Parachute

Ann Curry’s Tearful Goodbye From ‘Today’

By ALESSANDRA STANLEY

Published: June 28, 2012

To her credit Ann Curry didn’t pretend on Thursday that she was leaving “Today” on NBC voluntarily or happily.
Ms. Curry turned to the camera and delivered a tearful farewell that was gallant and also embarrassingly maudlin and grandiose and that pretty much summed up why she got the hook after just one year in the host chair next to Matt Lauer.

House charges Holder with contempt of Congress

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House charges Holder with contempt of Congress

By Leigh Ann Caldwell
June 28, 2012


(CBS News) The House of Representatives voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress Thursday for failing to provide documents relating to the Fast and Furious gunwalking program.
The House took two votes, one on criminal contempt charges, which passed 255-67. The criminal contempt of Congress is likely not to go anywhere as the Justice Department, which Holder heads, is the department responsible for opening a criminal investigation.

Yankees Lose Sabathia, Then Pettitte to Injuries

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Yankees Lose Sabathia, Then Pettitte to Injuries

By TIM ROHAN
Published: June 27, 2012
Andy Pettitte had been told he would miss at least six weeks; a sharp grounder had fractured his left fibula Wednesday, just above the ankle, and the pain had been too much. He was fitted for a black boot that went up to his knee, given crutches and told to elevate his leg for a few days — maybe he could move better by Friday.
Then he saw C. C. Sabathia in the clubhouse. Sabathia’s left groin had tugged Sunday, and he had considered pitching through it until it did not improve during a bullpen session Tuesday. As a precaution that morning, the Yankees had placed Sabathia on the 15-day disabled list. He would miss two starts.

Michael Phelps nips Ryan Lochte in 200 free final

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Michael Phelps nips Ryan Lochte in 200 free final

Jun 27, 2012
By Roxanna Scott, USA TODAY
Michael Phelps 1, Ryan Lochte 1.

They're now even in finals at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials after Phelps nipped Lochte in the 200 free for first place Wednesday night in Omaha.
helps touched in 1:45.70, just .05 seconds faster than Lochte. Both qualified for the Olympic team in their second event.

Ricky Berens finished third in 1:46.56.

Lochte said after the race that he saved too much for the end. "I was just not trying, and then the last 75 it was like, all right, I've got to put it in gear, and by that time it was a little late," he said. "I know what I did wrong; I just waited too long, instead of going out faster. But I have another month to make sure I get that race down."

On Monday night, Lochte beat Phelps in the 400 individual medley.

Ann Curry Plans ‘Today’ Show Exit

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Ann Curry Plans ‘Today’ Show Exit, New York Times Reports

By Alex Sherman on June 27, 2012
Ann Curry will leave as co-host of NBC’s “Today” show, the New York Times reported. The shakeup follow ratings gains by ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Curry, 55, will announce her departure as Matt Lauer’s co- host on tomorrow’s show, the newspaper said, citing unidentified people with close ties to the network. Savannah Guthrie, a 9 a.m. co-host, is negotiating with the Comcast Corp.-owned network to replace Curry in July, the Times said.

The switch is aimed at protecting NBC’s lead in viewers after “Good Morning America” topped “Today” in weekly Nielsen audience ratings in April for the first time in 16 years. NBC’s weekday morning show has trailed “GMA” on several other occasions over the past two months.

Outsourcing in Senate’s crosshairs

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Outsourcing in Senate’s crosshairs

By SEUNG MIN KIM | 6/27/12
The Senate is likely to take up legislation aimed at curbing job outsourcing after the July 4 recess, a vote that would come amid the Obama campaign’s relentless hammering against Mitt Romney and Bain Capital’s overseas investments.
It’s another example of election-year coordination between the White House and Senate Democrats, who have already held votes on the Buffett Rule, pay-equity legislation and student loan interest rates that aligned with the administration’s message.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, whose organization will be staging rallies and demonstrations in favor of the bill, said the vote would be a chance for Romney to “put your money where your mouth is.”