French Alps avalanche

12 July 2012

French Alps avalanche: Six killed near Chamonix

At least six climbers have been killed and nine injured in an avalanche near the French Alpine ski resort of Chamonix, police say.

Two German, two Swiss and two Spanish nationals were killed, according to AFP. The news agency added that five Britons and two Spaniards were missing.

The alarm was sounded at 05:25 local time (03:25 GMT) by one of the injured on the slopes of Mont Maudit.

The route is a popular one for tourists heading for the summit of Mont Blanc.

ECB Rate Cut Has Instant Impact on Bank Lending

ECB Rate Cut Has Instant Impact on Bank Lending

12 Jul 2012 By: Reuters
The European Central Bank's new zero deposit rate had an instant impact as it came into force, with banks more than halving the amount of cash parked there overnight and one ECB policymaker saying he expected the move to increase banks' lending.
The unprecedented deposit rate cut to zero means banks will now get nothing if they park cash at the ECB , and the bank hopes it will nurture a return of more significant interbank lending by encouraging
banks to look for more profitable options.

China Signals Readiness for South China Sea Talks

China Signals Readiness for South China Sea Talks

Scott Stearns
July 12, 2012
PHNOM PENH - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met in Cambodia to discuss how best to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea. American officials say China is prepared to join talks about a code of conduct to manage competing claims.

New foreclosures jump 9% in second quarter

New foreclosures jump 9% in second quarter

By Les Christie @CNNMoney July 12, 2012
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Foreclosures showed few signs of slowing during the first half of the year, with a sharp increase in new filings occurring during the second quarter.
More than one million homes had foreclosure filings -- notices of default, auction notices and bank repossessions -- during the first six months of 2012, up 2% from the previous six months, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed properties.
And while the number of filings was down 11% from the first six months of 2011, 20 states still saw a marked year-over-year increase. Foreclosure filings in Indiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Connecticut, Florida and Illinois increased by 20% or more.

France, Germany tax evasion inquiries target Swiss bank clients

France, Germany tax evasion inquiries target Swiss bank clients

French and German authorities raid the offices and homes of Credit Suisse and UBS bank officials and their wealthy customers as part of an investigation.
By Kim Willsher, Los Angeles Times
July 11, 2012, 4:49 p.m.
PARIS — France and Germany have launched a series of raids on the offices and homes of bank officials and their wealthy customers in an ongoing inquiry aimed at cracking down on those who evade taxes by using Swiss banks.

On Tuesday, German police searched the homes of an unspecified number of Credit Suisse bank customers suspected of tax evasion. In France, detectives raided the offices of Swiss banking and finance house UBS in three major cities: Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg.

Officials in both countries refused to say whether the raids were coordinated or coincidental.

Fewer Hollywood movie studios will show up for Comic-Con

Fewer Hollywood movie studios will show up for Comic-Con

Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate will attend the event this year, but 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures are skipping it.
By Ben Fritz, Los Angeles Times
July 11, 2012, 3:30 p.m.
Hollywood's movie studios are heading to Comic-Con with less spring in their step this year.
Stung by splashy presentations in the past that resulted in costly box-office duds like"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"and"Green Lantern,"the major studios will not arrive in full force in San Diego for the annual event that begins Thursday.

Reacting to Fed Minutes, Indexes Dip but Recover

Reacting to Fed Minutes, Indexes Dip but Recover

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 11, 2012
The stock market bounced back from an afternoon slump Wednesday after the Federal Reserve released disappointing minutes from its June meeting.

At the meeting, the most recent, Fed policy makers cited several threats to the United States economy, including a slowdown in China and a looming budget squeeze in Washington.

Egypt's President Morsi leaves for Saudi on 1st foreign trip

Egypt's President Morsi leaves for Saudi on 1st foreign trip

Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood has said his administration has no plans to 'export' Egypt'srevolution, an implicit reassurance to Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies, who have been nervous over the possibility of Arab Spring revolts reaching their shores.
By Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press / July 11, 2012
Egypt's Islamist president flew to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday at the start of his first foreign trip, underscoring the traditionally close ties between the two regional powerhouses.
Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood has said his administration has no plans to "export" Egypt'srevolution, an implicit reassurance to Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies, who have been nervous over the possibility of Arab Spring revolts reaching their shores.

He has also asserted his country's commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies, a thinly veiled reference to the tension between

Unable to Make It Work, Nets Halt Bid for Howard

Unable to Make It Work, Nets Halt Bid for Howard

By HOWARD BECK
Published: July 11, 2012
LAS VEGAS — The flirtation was fierce and enduring, covering many months and nearly the full range of human emotions: Dwight Howard wanted Brooklyn, and Brooklyn wanted Dwight Howard, badly.

Web Video Inflames Fight Over TV Fees

Web Video Inflames Fight Over TV Fees

By SHALINI RAMACHANDRAN
July 11, 2012
The disappearance of Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central from the TV sets of 20 million American homes on Wednesday marked a line in the sand drawn by one of the biggest pay-TV distributors in a dispute over programming fees with a major entertainment company.

What might once have been a run-of-the-mill spat has taken on heightened importance because it

Vietnam War’s Legacy Is Vivid as Clinton Visits Laos

Vietnam War’s Legacy Is Vivid as Clinton Visits Laos

By JANE PERLEZ
Published: July 11, 2012
VIENTIANE, Laos — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made a brief stop on her Asia tour on Wednesday in Laos, the first visit by an American secretary of state here in 57 years and one that brought into stark relief the enduring legacy of the Vietnam War.
At an artificial-limb center, Mrs. Clinton met a 19-year-old who lost his forearms and eyesight when a bomb, dropped by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and unexploded for decades, finally blew up three years ago.

The young man, Phongsavath Sonilya, gesticulated with his arm stumps as he explained to Mrs. Clinton that more than three decades after the end of the war, not enough had been done to stop the use of cluster bombs and to support those who may be injured in the future by bombs still lying

Mitt Romney booed at NAACP. Could that be good for him?

Mitt Romney booed at NAACP. Could that be good for him? (+video)

The jeering started when Mitt Romney told the NAACP crowd that he would eliminate 'Obamacare.' Conservative analysts say the incident gives him credibility on the right and among independents.
By Peter Grier, Staff writer / July 11, 2012


Mitt Romney was booed on Wednesday while speaking at the NAACP annual meeting in Houston. The moment occurred a little past the halfway mark of the presumptive GOP nominee’s address, when he talked about what he’d do to curb government spending.
“I’m going to eliminate every nonessential expensive program I can find. That includes ‘Obamacare,’ ” said Romney.

NBA salary cap to stay at $58 million for upcoming season

NBA salary cap to stay at $58 million for upcoming season

Jul 10, 2012
By Kevin Connelly, USA TODAY
The NBA announced their salary cap and luxury tax for the 2012-13 season, which will remain the same as it was the past two seasons: $58.044 million for the salary cap and $70.307 million for the luxury tax threshold.

While the NBA's free agency period opened July 1, teams and players could only verbally agree to deals until the moratorium period ended.

As of 12:01 am EDT Wednesday, unofficial agreements can now become written contracts.

San Francisco plans to ban officials from buying Apple Macs

San Francisco plans to ban officials from buying Apple Macs

10 July 2012 by bbc news
City officials in San Francisco plan to block local government agencies from buying new Apple Macintosh computers.

The move follows the firm's decision to pull out of a green certification scheme designed to identify which electronic devices pose the least risk to the environment.

CIO Journal reported the ban was designed to encourage Apple to reconsider.

FBI warned U.S. Labor Department data might be leaked-report

FBI warned U.S. Labor Department data might be leaked-report

Jul 11, 2012
(Reuters) - The U.S. Labor Department's recent tightening of security around sensitive economic data came after the FBI and market regulators expressed worries that the data could be leaked, according to a report posted on a government website on Tuesday.

The report highlighted concerns that financial institutions had in effect gained access to the Labor Department's press room to get an early glimpse of economic reports.

Man Admits to Plot to Bomb Pentagon

Man Admits to Plot to Bomb Pentagon

July 10, 2012
By EVAN PEREZ

A Massachusetts man plans to plead guilty to federal terrorism charges in a plot to bomb the Pentagon with a remote-controlled model airplane.
A plea agreement Rezwan Ferdaus signed was filed Tuesday by federal prosecutors in U.S. District Court in Boston. In it, he admitted to attempting to damage and destroy a federal building, and providing material support to terrorists.

Mr. Ferdaus's attorney confirmed the plea deal, which includes agreeing to accept a 17-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of supervised release. The plea deal is contingent on approval by a federal judge, who has set a hearing for July 20.

Mr. Ferdaus, of Ashland, Mass., is a U.S. citizen and graduate of Northeastern University with a degree in physics, authorities said. He was arrested in September 2011 in a Federal Bureau of Investigation sting operation in which FBI agents provided him fake explosives. The plot never posed a danger to the public because it was controlled by the agents, authorities said.

Annan says Iran must be player in Syria crisis talks

Annan says Iran must be player in Syria crisis talks
By Douglas Hamilton
BEIRUT | Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:35am IST

(Reuters) - U.N. peace envoy Kofi Annan waded into big power politics on Tuesday, insisting regional heavyweight Iran should be involved in efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Syria crisis despite the West's firm rejection of a role for Tehran.

The United States and its NATO and Gulf Arab allies are opposed to involving the Islamic Republic, which strongly backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and is regarded as their main adversary in the Middle East.

Such diplomatic rifts have prevented effective international action to end the 16-month-old conflict in Syria.

Live: Verlander rocked in first, NL leads 8-0

Jul 10, 2012

Live: Verlander rocked in first, NL leads 8-0

Major League Baseball's 83rd All-Star game is set in Kansas City with the National League team going for its third-consecutive win.

The American League - which won the previous 12 games with a 2002 tie squeezed in - will look to regain home field advantage for the World Series.

BOX SCORE: NL 8, AL 0

Kansas City is hosting the Midsummer Classic for the third time and second at Kauffman Stadium. The city hosted the game in 1973 - when Kauffman was known as Royals Stadium - and 1960.

Euro wallows around two-year lows against dollar

Euro wallows around two-year lows against dollar

By Lisa Twaronite
TOKYO | Wed Jul 11, 2012
(Reuters) - The euro wallowed around two-year lows against the dollar on Wednesday as investors waited to see if a German court would approve the use of euro zone's bailout fund to help contain the region's debt crisis.

The euro was changing hands at $1.2253, with Monday's EBS two-year low of $1.2225 in sight, opening the way to a test of $1.20 support. If that level is breached, the pair could move to test its June 2010 low of $1.1875.

Global stocks wary on China trade, Europe talks

Global stocks wary on China trade, Europe talks

Global stock markets monitor China June trade growth figures and Europe talks
2012/7/10
By Toby Sterling, Associated Press
AMSTERDAM (AP) -- Stock markets showed tentative signs of recovery Tuesday in spite of weak trade figures from China and nervousness over European finance ministers' progress at a meeting focused on easing Spain's banking crisis.
In early trading in Europe, Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.6 percent 5,663.38. France's CAC-40 was up 1.05 percent at 3,190.27 while Germany's DAX was also up 0.9 percent at 6,446.29. Futures augured slight gains on Wall Street. Dow futures were up 0.22 percent at 12,713 and S&P 500 futures were up slightly, 0.16 percent, at 1,351.30.

Justin Bieber Tweets Support To Usher Following Stepson's Jet Ski Accident'Climax' singer's stepson was declared 'brain dead'

BY HOLLY FRITH ON JULY 10, 2012

Justin Bieber Tweets Support To Usher Following Stepson's Jet Ski Accident'Climax' singer's stepson was declared 'brain dead'

Justin Bieber has offered his "prayers" to Usher and ex-wife Tameka Raymond after the 'Climax' singer's stepson was declared "brain dead" following a horrific jet ski accident last week.

Kyle Glover, 11 was hit by a jet ski last Friday (July 6) on Lake Lanier in Atlanta, Georgia. It's since been reported by TMZ that doctors have declared Kyle to be 'brain dead'.

Despite a messy split from his ex-wife, Usher is said to have flown to be by Tameka's side in the hospital on Saturday night. Usher and Tameka divorced back in 2009 but Us Weekly have reported that he is keen

Beyoncé's Ode to Frank Ocean: "Brave," "Fearless" for Revealing He Loved a Man

Beyoncé's Ode to Frank Ocean: "Brave," "Fearless" for Revealing He Loved a Man

by Natalie Finn Mon., Jul. 10, 2012
Count Beyoncé among the celebs who have come out in support of Frank Ocean.
The pop star has posted an ode to the "Novacane" singer on her blog, celebrating his decision to open up about a relationship he had with a man when he was 19.
"Be fearless, be honest, be generous," begins Beyoncé's free-verse poem about Ocean, whose latest album, Channel Orange, debuted on iTunes tonight in advance of its July 17 hard-copy release.
MORE: Beyoncé's sister Solange Knowles among celebs singing Frank Ocean's praises
Beyoncé continued: "Be brave, be poetic, be open, be free, be yourself, be in love, be happy, be

Internet virus affects few, if any, Iowa customers

Internet virus affects few, if any, Iowa customers

Jul 10, 2012
A publicity push to raise awareness about an expiring court order that would have potentially left many without Internet access Monday appears to have worked in Iowa, for the most part.

Des Moines metro area Internet providers said Monday they were not aware of any customers who lost access after the FBI took temporary servers offline at 11:01 p.m. CDT Sunday.

“We are not seeing any customer issues regarding the ... DNSChanger (virus),” said Mediacom’s Des

A Champion With Great Feeling

A Champion With Great Feeling

By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY
Published: July 9, 2012
WIMBLEDON, England
The morning after had a melancholy feel this year at Wimbledon: more drizzle, empty picnic tables and bare patches in the lawn on Henman Hill, which would surely have needed a new name if Andy Murray had managed to give his Union Jacked fans what they were shouting for Sunday.

Reggie Jackson: 'When timing is proper, I'll return'

Reggie Jackson: 'When timing is proper, I'll return'

Jul 09, 2012
By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY
Reggie Jackson has been banned indefinitely by the New York Yankees after he made disparaging comments about Alex Rodriguez published in last week's edition of Sports Illustrated.

Jackson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that he has been asked to stay away from the team.

Said Jackson, choosing his words carefully: "The Yankees think that the timing is not right for me to be around the team right now. When the Yankees feel that the timing is proper, I'll return.''

Consumer bureau proposes rules for risky, high-cost mortgages

Consumer bureau proposes rules for risky, high-cost mortgages

By Blake Ellis @CNNMoney July 9, 2012
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed rules Monday aimed at protecting more borrowers from getting stuck with mortgages carrying high rates and fees or risky terms.
The government's consumer watchdog is seeking to allow more consumers to qualify for the protections offered by the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) by expanding the definition of what qualifies as a "high-cost mortgage." It's also offering more safeguards for these borrowers.

Amid Egypt president-army struggle

Amid Egypt president-army struggle, it's unclear who's in charge

With Egypt's president and military maneuvering against each other, Egyptians are left wondering who's running the country.
By Jeffrey Fleishman and Reem Abdellatif, Los Angeles Times
July 10, 2012
CAIRO — The power struggle between Egypt's president and military leaders is becoming increasingly murky, leaving many Egyptians confused over who is running the country and whether laws and court rulings even apply amid the persistent political disarray.

January to June 2012 warmest first half of any year on record

January to June 2012 warmest first half of any year on record

July 9, 2012
By Michelle Castillo
(CBS News) January to June 2012 was the warmest first half of any year on record for the contiguous United States, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The average temperature during that period was at 52.9 degrees F, which is 4.5 degrees above the typical average. Twenty-eight states east of the Rockys were had record warm temperatures, with an additional 15 states in the top 10 for warm temperatures. Every state across the contiguous U.S. had

Obama Intensifies Tax Fight

Obama Intensifies Tax Fight

President Calls for Extension of Bush Cuts for Some; High Earners Would See Increase
July 9, 2012
By LAURA MECKLER and DAMIAN PALETTA
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama proposed a one-year extension of Bush-era tax cuts for families earning less than $250,000 a year but would let them rise for wealthier Americans, a move that both shifts the election debate to tax rates and sets the table for a showdown with Republicans in Congress.

Mr. Obama's move didn't break new policy ground—he essentially repackaged his existing policy for the campaign season. Nor is it likely to pave the way for action from a deeply divided Congress already

Sluggers eager to show off in Home Run Derby

Sluggers eager to show off in Home Run Derby

By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com | 07/09/12
KANSAS CITY -- The Gold Balls? They've raised thousands of dollars for worthy causes since they became a pivotal part of the annual State Farm Home Run Derby.

The Gold Shoes? That's a new addition, courtesy of Matt Kemp.

Kemp debuted and donned the spectacular sneakers at the pre-Derby press conference here Monday, adding a little more flair to the pre-power proceedings.

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Keeping Divorce Deal Strictly Confidential

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Keeping Divorce Deal Strictly Confidential

BY MARY GREEN
Monday July 09, 2012
With reports swirling about everything from restrictions on Suri Cruise's nannies to her exposure to Scientology, Katie Holmes's lawyer warns the public to be wary of stories about the settlement with Tom Cruise.

"There are numerous inaccuracies in the reports regarding the purported contents of the agreement reached between the parties," says attorney Jonathan Wolfe. "The agreement is confidential and its terms will not be disclosed."

Holmes, 33, and Cruise, 50, announced on Monday morning that both sides had settled the divorce action just days after the actress filed

Jose Bautista is the Home Run Derby betting favorite

Jul 09, 2012

Jose Bautista is the Home Run Derby betting favorite

It will all come down to room service fastballs tonight but don't be surprised if Jose Bautista goes yard after yard.

The Blue Jays' star is the +350 favorite (on a $100 bet) to win the Home Run Derby tonight.

Samsung's tablet 'not as cool as iPad'

Samsung's tablet 'not as cool as iPad'

Samsung wins in UK and US as it overturns attempts by Apple to ban sales of tablet and Nexus smartphone
Charles Arthur and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Monday 9 July 2012
Samsung won a victory over Apple in the UK high court as part of its world-spanning battle over intellectual property and design after a judge ruled the design of its Galaxy Tab isn't cool enough to be confused with an iPad.

The ruling, by Judge Colin Birss, means that Apple cannot stop the import or sale of the Galaxy Tab 10 under claims it has made that the designs are too close to those of the iPad.

Instead, Judge Birss ruled that Samsung's designs did not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design: "They are not as cool."

Mitt Romney raised $106 million in June

Mitt Romney raised $106 million in June

By Holly Bailey
July 9, 2012
Mitt Romney's campaign officially confirmed his record-breaking fundraising month in June, announcing Monday that he raised $106 million for his campaign and the Republican National Committee last month.

The total includes contributions to the Romney campaign and the Romney Victory Fund, a joint committee set up between the campaign and the RNC. According to a statement from the Romney campaign, the combined fundraising effort ended the month with more than $160 million cash on hand.

Government overpaid $14 billion in unemployment benefits

Government overpaid $14 billion in unemployment benefits

By Annalyn Censky | CNNMoney.com
Don't spend that unemployment check too fast. The government might ask you to pay it back.
Overpayments are a rampant problem in the unemployment insurance system. The federal government and states overpaid an estimated $14 billion in benefits in fiscal 2011, or roughly 11% of all the jobless benefits paid out, according to reports from the U.S. Labor Department.
Of the states, Indiana was the worst offender, making more improper payments than it did correct ones.

Wall Streeters Lose $2 Billion in 401(k) Bet on Own Firms

Wall Streeters Lose $2 Billion in 401(k) Bet on Own Firms

By Michael J. Moore | Bloomberg
Jul 9, 2012
Wall Street employees, who dispense financial advice to individuals and companies, aren't following a basic investing tenet with their own money: diversification.
Workers at the five largest Wall Street banks saw the value of company stock in their 401(k) accounts, sometimes the biggest holding of those plans, decline more than $2 billion last year, according to

Mars Rover Curiosity Is One Month Away From Landing

Mars Rover Curiosity Is One Month Away From Landing

JULY 8, 2012 BY NATHAN
The largest rover ever launched to explore an alien planet is only one month away from landing on Mars.
NASA’s very large rover, Curiosity, is headed towards its scheduled late-night landing on Mars, on Aug. 5 PDT (early Aug. 6 EDT).
“At 1 ton, Curiosity is the largest rover ever aimed at Mars. It will land in a completely new way, using a giant parachute and a rocket-powered sky crane. And it is carrying a sophisticated set of tools to find out if its Martian drop zone could once have been home for life.”
Of course, first, Curiosity has to reach Mars in one piece.

Adrian Peterson on arrest: The 'truth will surface'

Adrian Peterson on arrest: The 'truth will surface'

Jul 08, 2012
By Matt Eppers, USA TODA
We are certain that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was arrested at a Houston nightclub early Saturday morning.
Far more uncertain, though, are the circumstances and events that led to Peterson's arrest.

The All-Pro running back is among those waiting for all the details of the incident to emerge.

On Sunday, Peterson thanked fans on Twitter for waiting until all the facts came out before jumping to conclusions and said the "truth will surface."

As to the conflicting stories about what led to his arrest, Peterson quoted the late, great Winston Churchill:

Anne Hathaway’s ‘Prada’ training for Catwoman

Anne Hathaway’s ‘Prada’ training for Catwoman

By Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
2012/7/8
Playing Selina Kyle (better known as Catwoman) in The Dark Knight Rises requires some serious acrobatic fighting in perilous high heels.

Thank the fashion gods Anne Hathaway had training when she starred in The Devil Wears Prada.

Hathaway credited her breakout role as a magazine editor assistant in 2006's Prada as fundamental training her for the required action in Dark Knight. It gave her the leg up on the skills needed to kick right alongside Batman (Christian Bale).

"The Devil Wears Prada was really good training for that," Hathaway said at a press conference on Sunday. "I kind of ran all up and down Manhattan then. Now I just ran up and

Samsung reportedly developing Windows RT tablet

Samsung reportedly developing Windows RT tablet

The Korean hardware maker will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor in the new tablet, sources tell Bloomberg.
by Steven Musil July 8, 2012
As Samsung's Android legal woes mount, the hardware giant appears to be showing more interest Windows.
The Korean hardware giant plans to release a tablet running Windows RT when the forthcoming mobile operating system arrives later this year, sources tell Bloomberg. The news comes on the heels of Samsung's announcement that it would support Windows 8 with an all-in-one PC and a hybrid laptop-tablet.

Leaks, diversions, auditions are all part of veepstakes

Leaks, diversions, auditions are all part of veepstakes

Published July 08, 2012
Associated Press
Republican Mitt Romney is considering his choices for a running mate, one of the most significant decisions of his presidential campaign. And the secrecy that shrouds such a selection has given rise to political sideshows that play out in public while the more serious search operation takes place at a largely subterranean level.
Names of new Romney short-listers emerge; others fall by the wayside.
Any kind of proximity to Romney -- or his opponent -- generates questions about GOP veep ambitions.
Why did Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire walk in a July Fourth parade with Romney? Why did

More public schools splitting up boys, girls

More public schools splitting up boys, girls

HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated Press, JESSIE L. BONNER, Associated Press
Updated 02:23 p.m., Sunday, July 8, 2012

MIDDLETON, Idaho (AP) — Robin Gilbert didn't set out to confront gender stereotypes when she
split up the boys and girls at her elementary school in rural southwestern Idaho.
But that's exactly what happened, with her Middleton Heights Elementary now among dozens of public schools nationwide being targeted by the American Civil Liberties Union in a bitter struggle over whether single-sex learning should be continued. Under pressure, single-sex programs have been dropped at schools from Missouri to Louisiana.
"It doesn't frustrate me," Gilbert said of the criticism, "but it makes the work harder."
While Gilbert's school is believed to be the only one in Idaho offering single-sex classes, the movement is widespread in states like South Carolina, which has more than 100 schools that offer some form of a single-gender program.

Federer Beats Murray to Win 7th Wimbledon, Reclaim No. 1

Federer Beats Murray to Win 7th Wimbledon, Reclaim No. 1

Danielle Rossingh, ©2012 Bloomberg News
Published 04:45 p.m., Sunday, July 8, 2012
July 8 (Bloomberg) -- Men’s Grand Slam record holder Roger Federer overcame Andy Murray at Wimbledon to win his seventh title and regain the top ranking in tennis.

The third-seeded Federer fell backward onto the grass after he defeated No. 4 Murray, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court at the All England Club.

His 17th Grand Slam singles title and his first since the 2010 Australian Open extends Britain’s 76-year wait for a male Wimbledon champion by at least another year. Murray was urged on from the

Actor Ernest Borgnine dead at 95

Actor Ernest Borgnine dead at 95

By the CNN Wire Staff

July 8, 2012

CNN) -- Film and television actor Ernest Borgnine, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a lovelorn butcher in 1955's "Marty," has died at age 95, his manager said Sunday.

Once a dominant fighter, Anderson Silva is now truly a great one

Once a dominant fighter, Anderson Silva is now truly a great one

by Jeff Wagenheim July 8, 2012
We thought we knew what made Anderson Silva great. We had no idea.
We watched him destroy opponent after opponent ever since his UFC debut six years ago. Not one of his first 11 bouts in the organization that's home to the world's elite mixed martial artists even made him break a sweat. The rangy Brazilian with a dancer's fluidity and a matador's killer instinct outclassed everyone, even when he appeared to be barely trying. We thought we were seeing greatness.
We weren't. We were seeing dominance.
Greatness would not come until two summers ago, when Silva stepped into the octagon with Chael Sonnen. The UFC middleweight champion won that fight, too, but it wasn't the day at the beach his fights had been to that point. Silva took a beating from the loquacious Sonnen, a smothering wrestler who surprised the sport's greatest striker with his fisticuffs acumen. For the better part of 23 minutes, Anderson was on his back beneath a Chael blanket, eating punches and elbows. But then he pulled a

Former Beatle Ringo Starr marks 72nd birthday with peace, love

Former Beatle Ringo Starr marks 72nd birthday with peace, love

Published July 08, 2012 Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The 1960's mop top is gone, but Ringo Starr is still flashing a peace sign.
The former Beatle marked his 72nd birthday Saturday by holding a "peace and love" moment at noon. He asked people worldwide to do the same at 12 p.m. in their time zones.
The idea came to him in 2008 when an interviewer asked him what he wanted for his birthday. Since then, he has held events each year in cities such as New York, Chicago and Hamburg, Germany.

iPhone 5: The Good News And The Bad News

iPhone 5: The Good News And The Bad News

By Saqib Khan
We have two news about the iPhone 5 – the good news and the bad news. Let’s start with the good news first.

We have earlier reported that Apple may launch the iPad Mini by this year’s end. This smaller version of iPad will come with a screen size of 7 to 8 inches and it won’t feature Retina display.

The iPad Mini can be announced with the release of iPhone 5, in September or October of this year.

China's Wen warns economy under pressure

China's Wen warns economy under pressure

2012/7/8
SHANGHAI — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday that the country's economy faces downward pressure as he called for more aggressive moves to keep growth on track, state media reported.
China cut interest rates from Friday, following a similar move early last month, as the government seeks to avert a hard landing for the world's second-largest economy.
"Currently, China's economy is generally stable, but downward pressure is still relatively big," the official Xinhua news agency quoted Wen as telling a government meeting in the eastern city of Nanjing.
"We must take further steps to increase the strength of pre-emptive fine-tuning," he said, referring to economic policy.

What could tighter voter ID laws mean in November?

What could tighter voter ID laws mean in November?

A study by the Associated Press found that legitimate votes have been rejected after many states passed tougher voter ID laws in order to prevent fraud.
By Mike Baker, Associated Press / July 8, 2012
When Edward and Mary Weidenbener went to vote in Indiana's primary in May, they didn't realize that state law required them to bring government photo IDs such as a driver's license or passport.
The husband and wife, both approaching 90 years old, had to use a temporary ballot that would be verified later, even though they knew the people working the polling site that day. Unaware that Indiana law obligated them to follow up with the county election board, the Weidenbeners ultimately had their votes rejected — news to them until informed recently

Boehner: Americans ‘Aren’t Going To Fall In Love’ With Romney

Boehner: Americans ‘Aren’t Going To Fall In Love’ With Romney

July 8, 2012
WASHINGTON (CBSDC) — House Speaker John Boehner believes Americans “aren’t going to fall in love” with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

According to Roll Call, Boehner made the comment during a fundraiser in West Virginia on June 30 when a woman asked him: “Can you make me love Mitt Romney?”

“No,” Boehner said, according to Roll Call. “Listen, we’re just politicians. I wasn’t elected to play God. The American people probably aren’t going to fall in love with Mitt Romney. I’ll tell you this: 95 percent of the people that show up to vote in November are