Space station crew launches into orbit on Russian craft

Space station crew launches into orbit on Russian craft

Trio represents US, Russia and Japan; will join three others on outpost
By Clara Moskowitz
7/14/2012
A Russian Soyuz rocket launched into orbit late Saturday, carrying three new crewmembers toward the International Space Station.
The rocket rose from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, lofting the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft into orbit. Liftoff came at 10:40 p.m. ET Saturday, which means it was early Sunday at the Central Asian spaceport. Onboard were an American, a Russian and a Japanese astronaut due to take up residence for four months at the orbiting outpost.
NASA TV showed the Soyuz soaring smoothly into a blue sky dotted with clouds, punching a hole through a cloud layer on its way up. It is due to dock at the station early Tuesday, at which time the three newcomers will join the existing crew of three on the space station's Expedition 32 mission.
The new complement includes NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Russian cosmonaut Yuri

Major solar storm heads towards Earth

Major solar storm heads towards Earth

The Capitol Column | Stacey Pounsberry | Sunday, July 15, 2012

Solar flares release a wave of ions that can damage satellites, interfere with navigation or communication signals, and damage power plant infrastructure. Scientists say we should expect many more of these sun storms before the year is through, with varying results and ramifications.
According to an article on Space.com, “The sun unleashed a huge flare Thursday (July 12), the second

Obama campaign aide dies at campaign headquarters

Obama campaign aide dies at campaign headquarters

The Capitol Column | Natalie Littlefield | Sunday, July 15, 2012
Obama campaign member Alex Okrent died yesterday after falling ill at President Obama’s campaign headquarters at the Prudential Building in Chicago.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago paramedics were called at 10:36 a.m. after Mr. Okrent collapsed. He was given emergency treatment and then taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Mr. Okrent had worked for the Obama campaign since 2004 when Mr. Obama ran for the U.S. Senate in Illinois, and worked as a deputy field director in Cleveland for Mr. Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. During this election cycle, Mr. Okrent worked in the campaign’s paid media department,

Chinese Navy Ship Floated off Disputed Shoal

Chinese Navy Ship Floated off Disputed Shoal

VOA News
July 15, 2012

A Chinese navy ship that ran aground Wednesday in disputed waters near the Philippines was refloated Sunday and is heading home. A statement from China's defense ministry said its personnel are safe and the ship sustained light damage.

The vessel was in the South China Sea when it struck Half Moon Shoal in the Spratly Islands, about 110 kilometers off the western Philippine island of Palawan. The shoal is within the Philippines' 370-

French president's companion regrets tweet

French president's companion regrets tweet

(AFP)7/15/2012
PARIS — French First Lady Valerie Trierweiler has said she will now think twice before tweeting, a month after she used the microblogging site to undermine her rival, the president's former partner.
Trierweiler sent out a tweet wishing good luck to an opponent of Segolene Royal -- Francois Hollande's ex-partner and mother of their four children -- in last month's legislative election.

KNICKS' WOODSON SAYS LIN WILL BE BACK TO RUN THE KNICKS

7/14/2012

KNICKS' WOODSON SAYS LIN WILL BE BACK TO RUN THE KNICKS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS -- Jeremy Lin will be staying put, in New York and as the Knicks' starting point guard.

Coach Mike Woodson repeated Wednesday that Lin will "absolutely" be back next season and will enter training camp as the starter at his position, even with the Knicks agreeing to a deal with veteran Jason Kidd.

Lin has agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Houston Rockets for about $28 million over four years. The Knicks have said all along they planned to match any offer for their restricted free agent, and Woodson said the Knicks "never once" blinked at knowing they would have to pay that figure.

Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt unlikely to be as dominant as Beijing

Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt unlikely to be as dominant as Beijing

Published: July 14, 2012
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Phelps, in the pool, raising a fist. Usain Bolt, on the track, slapping his chest.
They are the two indelible images of the 2008 Beijing Olympics -- celebration after celebration of gold medals and world records by the American swimmer and the Jamaican sprinter. Because of what they did four years ago, all eyes will be on them when they return to their sports' biggest stages during the London Games, which open July 27.
Unbeatable then, they're not expected to overwhelm the rest of the world -- and the clock -- quite the same way this time. And each one likely faces a strong challenge from a teammate.
Phelps, who eclipsed Mark Spitz's record total with eight gold medals, now must worry about being faster than Ryan Lochte.

Spaniards Reach Swedish Open Final

Spaniards Reach Swedish Open Final

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 14, 2012
The former champions David Ferrer of Spain and his countryman Nicolas Almagro advanced to Sunday’s final of the Swedish Open in Stockholm. Ferrer, ranked fifth in the world, had a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, and Almagro ousted Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-3. Ferrer, who is ranked fifth in the world, reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the semifinals at the French Open this year. Almagro won the Swedish Open title in 2010.

Yankees Combine Power and Clutch Pitching

Yankees Combine Power and Clutch Pitching

By ZACH SCHONBRUN
Published: July 14, 2012
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi does not offer sweeping assessments of his team often. But on Saturday, after the Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels, 5-3, to improve their major-league-best record to 54-33, Girardi was pressed to consider whether this season’s team might be evolving into the finest of his five-year tenure.
“Remember, the year we won the World Series, we won 103 games during the regular season,” Girardi said. “But I think this team is playing almost about as well as it can. We’re getting contributions from a lot of our different guys at different times.

Snow leopard moms, cubs captured in first-ever

Snow leopard moms, cubs captured in first-ever video

Animals normally difficult to find because of their secretive, elusive nature
OurAmazingPlanet
updated 7/13/2012
The dens of two snow leopard mothers and their cubs have been located in Mongolia for the first time, with new, unprecedented video showing the mothers and their young inside the den, a conservation organization announced July 12.
Snow leopard dens are difficult to find because of the animals' secretive, elusive nature and the difficult, mountainous terrain in which they live. Finding the dens is an important step in learning more about the reproductive behavior and the young of this endangered

Robert Downey Jr. Shows Up at Iron Man Costume Contest at Comic-Con!

Robert Downey Jr. Shows Up at Iron Man Costume Contest at Comic-Con!

by Natalie Finn Jul. 14, 2012 
What a guy!
Robert Downey Jr. played hero to dozens of children and countless thrilled spectators today when he made a surprise appearance at the Iron Man Kids' Costume Contest today at Comic-Con.
The Iron Man 3 star, who showed up at the Marvel booth ahead of his scheduled lineup of press and his film's panel, didn't just show up and dash off, either—he posed for pictures with a bunch of tiny Iron Man clones!

And the contestants just thought they were going to get an autographed poster!
Superhuman, no. But still pretty darn awesome.

Fire breaks out at Manhattan's South Street Seaport

Fire breaks out at Manhattan's South Street Seaport
The FDNY responded to the tourist hotspot around 4 p.m. to fight a smoky three-alarm blaze that started underneath the far end of Pier 17, firefighters at the scene said.

BY SARAH ARMAGHAN AND RICH SCHAPIRO / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
JULY 14, 2012
Firefighters battled a smoky three-alarm blaze that broke out underneath Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport Saturday afternoon.

Brees agrees to $100M deal

Brees agrees to $100M deal

By BRETT MARTEL
The Associated Press
Published: Saturday, July 14, 2012
Last Modified: Saturday, July 14, 2012
NEW ORLEANS - Drew Brees and the Saints reached a deal on par with the quarterback's record-setting play, giving New Orleans' fans some news they can celebrate after an offseason rife with turmoil.

The team announced Friday that it had agreed to a five-year contract with Brees. A person familiar with the deal said it's for $100 million, with $60 million guaranteed.

The deal will also pay the quarterback $40 million the first year, the person said.

Clinton set to arrive in Egypt

Clinton set to arrive in Egypt

By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 9:19 AM EDT, Sat July 14, 2012
Cairo (CNN) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was scheduled to arrive in Egypt Saturday in what will be the first meeting of U.S. Cabinet official with the country's newly elected president.
Aides say Clinton will be in listening mode when she meets with President Mohamed Morsy, discussing the newly elected leader's priorities and what the United States can do to help.
The visit "will highlight U.S. support for Egypt's democratic transition and economic revival," Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns said this month.
The visit comes as Egypt is in the throws of domestic political chaos, with Morsy in a tug of war with

Sage Stallone Dead up news

Sage Stallone Dead: No Signs of Foul Play in Sylvester Stallone's Son's Death

By LEEZEL TANGLAO (@leezeltanglao)
July 14, 2012
There were no signs of foul play in connection with the death of Sage Stallone, the 36-year-old son of Sylvester Stallone, authorities said.

Sage Stallone was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment by authorities and a housekeeper Friday after worried loved ones sensed trouble.

His cause of death remains undetermined. Winter told the Associated Press that an autopsy will be conducted in the next several days.

"There had been no personal contact with the deceased in the last few days," said Sgt. Jim Parker with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Authorities said there were no signs of forced entry and no suicide note. But there were prescription drugs found.

Film producer Richard D. Zanuck dies at age 77

Film producer Richard D. Zanuck dies at age 77

By Bob Tourtellotte and Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES | Fri Jul 13, 2012 
(Reuters) - Veteran Hollywood executive Richard D. Zanuck, the prolific producer behind the blockbuster shark thriller "Jaws," the best-picture Oscar-winner "Driving Miss Daisy" and a string of Tim Burton fantasies, died on Friday of a heart attack at age 77.
Zanuck, son of famed 20th Century Fox chieftain Darryl F. Zanuck, who was named by his father at age 28 as Fox's head of production, making him Hollywood's then youngest-ever studio boss, died at his home in Beverly Hills, a spokesman said.

No further details were immediately available about the circumstances of his death.

Zanuck, who spent the bulk of his career as an independent producer, earned numerous awards during more than 50 years in filmmaking.

Kristen Stewart Wanted Edward And Bella To Make Love Like 'Animals'

Jul 13 2012

Kristen Stewart Wanted Edward And Bella To Make Love Like 'Animals'

'Breaking Dawn' star tells Comic-Con panel the lead characters should have 'mind-boggling, otherworldly sex' in the movies.
By Terri Schwartz
SAN DIEGO — While "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" isn't rated R, none of the credit for that should go to Kristen Stewart. In fact, the star, who plays Bella Swan in the vampire series, seems to have done everything in her power to have the sex scenes turn out as intense as possible.

Stewart did much the same during production on "Breaking Dawn: Part 1," but this time, the actress thought her character could stand to be a little wilder. With both Bella and Edward now vampires in "Part 2," the intimate scenes didn't have to be so chaste, she reasoned.

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Obama staffer dies after collapsing at campaign's Chicago HQ

Obama staffer dies after collapsing at campaign's Chicago HQ

By Olivier Knox
July 14, 2012

Tragedy struck President Barack Obama's campaign on Friday as a young staffer, 29-year-old Alex Okrent, collapsed in the Chicago headquarters and died, according to campaign officials.

Obama, campaigning in Virginia, telephoned Okrent's family to express his condolences and later spoke with other campaign aides by conference call. The aide had been with Obama since 2004 and was working in the "paid media" department of the reelection effort, which handles advertising, a campaign aide said.

Mitt Romney quickly expressed sorrow over Okrent's passing. "Ann & I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alex Okrent," he said on Twitter.

Sea Dispute Upends Asian Summit

Sea Dispute Upends Asian Summit

July 13, 2012
By PATRICK BARTA in Siem Reap, Cambodia and CARLOS TEJADA in Beijing

China's efforts to assert its claims to the disputed South China Sea got a boost as regional talks to resolve the issue broke down despite U.S. support, even as Beijing made fresh moves that underscore its increasing presence in the region.
A summit of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, ended Friday amid tense disagreements over how to address territorial claims in the sea, which is claimed by China and in part by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who attended the talks, had pressed for discussion of a multinational agreement to ease tensions—a move opposed by China, which prefers to negotiate with

Visa, MasterCard, banks in $7.25 billion retail settlement

Visa, MasterCard, banks in $7.25 billion retail settlement

By Jessica Dye
NEW YORK | Fri Jul 13, 2012 
(Reuters) - Visa Inc, MasterCard Inc and banks that issue their credit cards have agreed to a $7.25 billion settlement with U.S. retailers in a lawsuit over the fixing of credit and debit card fees in what could be the largest antitrust settlement in U.S. history.
The settlement, if approved by a judge, would resolve dozens of lawsuits filed by retailers in 2005. The card companies and banks would also allow stores to start charging customers extra for using certain credit cards in an effort to steer them toward cheaper forms of payment.
The settlement papers were filed on Friday in Brooklyn federal court.

Brees Deal Is Rare Good News for Saints

Brees Deal Is Rare Good News for Saints

By ZACH BERMAN
Published: July 13, 2012
After an off-season mired by scandal and suspension, the New Orleans Saints will enter training camp at the end of the month with a needed dose of good news. The team reached a long-term agreement with the star quarterback Drew Brees, who had remained unsigned the past few months.
That ended Friday. The sides reached agreement on a five-year, $100 million deal, according to a person with direct knowledge of the contract. Brees will earn $40 million in the first season of the deal.

“Deal is Done! Love you, Who Dat Nation. See you soon!” Brees wrote on his Twitter account Friday afternoon.

The Who Dat Nation, as Saints fans are known, has endured a turbulent four months. In March, the N.F.L. released the findings of an investigation that determined that the Saints oversaw a bounty program that offered money to players for hurting opponents.

The penalties included fines, suspensions and a loss of draft picks, including one-year bans for Coach Sean Payton and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and an eight-game suspension of General Manager Mickey Loomis.

Sylvester Stallone's 36-year-old son found dead

Sylvester Stallone's 36-year-old son found dead

By TODAY.com news services
7/13/2012
Updated at 6:31 p.m.: Aspiring actor and filmmaker Sage Stallone, the son of action movie star Sylvester Stallone, was found dead on Friday at his home in Hollywood, authorities and his attorney said.
"Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his son," the actor's publicist, Michelle Bega, said in a statement. "His compassion and thoughts are with Sage's mother, Sasha."
Police and a lawyer for Sage Stallone, 36, gave conflicting accounts of how he was found, but police said there was no sign of forced entry or foul play.
The case was turned over to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, Los Angeles police spokesman Lieutenant Andy Neiman said. Coroner's officials also said they were in the initial investigative stages.
Neiman said police found the younger Stallone in the home while responding to a "welfare check."
George Braunstein, an attorney who has represented Sage Stallone for 15 years, said a housekeeper

New York Fed Was Aware of False Reporting on Rates

New York Fed Was Aware of False Reporting on Rates

BY JESSICA SILVER-GREENBERG
JULY 13, 2012
JPMorgan Chase disclosed on Friday that losses on its botched credit bet could climb to more than $7 billion and that the bank’s traders may have intentionally tried to obscure the full extent of the red ink on the disastrous trades.

Mounting concerns about valuing the trades led the company to announce that its earnings for the first quarter were no longer reliable and would be restated. Federal regulators, who were already examining the trades, are now looking at whether employees of the nation’s biggest bank by assets intended to defraud investors, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The revelations left Jamie Dimon, the bank’s chief executive, scrambling for the second time within two months to contain the fallout from the trading debacle. It has already claimed one of his most trusted lieutenants, compelled Mr. Dimon to appear before Congress to account for the blunder and

Romney Seeks Obama Apology for Bain Attacks

Romney Seeks Obama Apology for Bain Attacks

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
Published: July 13, 2012
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney demanded an apology from President Obama on Friday for making what he called “reckless” and “absurd” allegations in an escalating battle over whether Mr. Romney’s business record included outsourcing American jobs.
After days in which the Obama campaign persistently goaded Mr. Romney and even raised questions about whether he might have broken the law by lying on a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Mr. Romney finally hit back hard, giving five television interviews in which he said the attacks on him were “beneath the dignity of the presidency.”

Weight Loss Techniques That Work

Weight Loss Techniques That Work

By MIKAELA CONLEY (@mikaelaconley)
July 13, 2012
Keep a food journal. Don't skip meals, but do skip your afternoon lunch dates. Those recommendations come from research published Friday in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center evaluated the impact of self-monitoring and diet-related behavior and patterns among overweight and obese post-menopausal women. Among the 123 women who participated in the study, they found that those who completed food journals lost about six more pounds than those who did not note their food intake. Women who skipped meals lost eight fewer pounds than those who did not miss meals, and those who ate lunch out at least once a week lost five fewer pounds than those who ate out less frequently.

Stone tools focus picture of ancient Americans

Stone tools focus picture of ancient Americans

By Jeff Barnard
ssociated Press Writer / July 12, 2012
AGRANTS PASS, Ore.—Stone tools and human DNA from ancient caves in Oregon offer new evidence of how some of the first Americans spread through the continent: Quite apart from the better-known Clovis culture, a separate group occupied the West.

Archaeologists said Thursday that using multiple techniques, they have dated broken obsidian spear points from Paisley Caves to about 13,200 years ago, as old as much different stone tools from the Clovis culture found in the southeast and interior United States. Radio-carbon dating of human DNA from coprolites -- ancient desiccated human feces -- shows people lived in the caves as early as 14,300 years ago.

U.S. Mac sales slump in Q2, says IDC

U.S. Mac sales slump in Q2, says IDC

Overshadowed by double-digit contraction of Windows PCs, Apple's market share actually climbs to 11.4%
By Gregg Keizer
July 13, 2012
Computerworld - Apple may finally be feeling the PC sales slump in the U.S., research firm IDC said Thursday.

According to IDC, Apple sold fewer Macs in the U.S. during the second quarter than it did in the same period a year earlier. If the research firm's forecast is accurate, the decline would be Apple's first in three years.

IDC estimated that Apple sold 18.1 million Macs in the U.S. during the quarter that ended June 30, down 1.1% from the 18.3 million machines sold in the same quarter of 2011.

"We looked at the sequential movement for Apple, which generally is a good predictor of what to

Sarah Palin: Condoleezza Rice would be ‘wonderful’

Sarah Palin: Condoleezza Rice would be ‘wonderful’

By KEVIN ROBILLARD | 7/13/12 6:59 AM EDT

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the last GOP running mate, predicted former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would make a “wonderful” vice president for Mitt Romney.

“I think that Condoleezza Rice would be a wonderful vice president, and she certainly has much more experience than our sitting president does today,” Palin said Thursday night on Fox News’ “On the

Chinese economic growth slows to 7.6%

Chinese economic growth slows to 7.6%

By Simon Rabinovitch in Beijing
July 13, 2012

Over the past two months, as evidence of the slowdown has mounted, the government has shifted its policy to a pro-growth stance, which analysts say is likely to bring about a recovery in the second half of the year.

“The expectation for weakness in the second quarter was pretty strong. But the investment number is the surprise. There appears to have been a significant pick-up. That is policy beginning to work”, said Ken Peng, an economist with BNP Paribas in Beijing. “We are looking for a small rebound in the third quarter and a bigger rebound in the fourth quarter.”

8 Retirement Realities in a Stumbling Economy

8 Retirement Realities in a Stumbling Economy

By Philip Moeller | U.S.News & World Report LP
7/12/2012
For the third straight year, the economic recovery has stalled in the spring after showing promise early in the year. Job creation is anemic. The stock market seems poised to do nothing--at least nothing good. Interest rates are still so low that lots of so-called "safe" investments are losing money. Whatever you call it, it's bad news for retirees and would-be retirees concerned about living on a fixed income. As economists restart their advisory machines, so are we. Here are the major realities of the new retirement, updated to reflect stronger doses of conservatism and defensive postures.
[See Top-Rated Mutual Funds by Category Ranked by U.S. News Mutual Fund Score.]

Teemu Selanne returning for another season

Teemu Selanne returning for another season

By Mike Brehm, USA TODAY
7/12/2012
Teemu Selanne says age is just a number. Attitude is what matters.
So he's signing up for another year with the Anaheim Ducks— at $4.5 million — a little more than a week after he turned 42.
"It all depends how good you feel, how healthy you are and how much passion you have for the game," Selanne said in a conference call from Italy. "That is why I still enjoy the game. It's fun to go to the rink every morning."
MORE: NHL free agent tracker
Selanne is still going strong, playing all 82 games last season and finishing as the Ducks' leading scorer with 66 points.
This will be his 20th season in the NHL. Last season, he moved past Jari Kurri to become the highest-scoring Finnish-born NHL player.
"While I'm still amazed by his speed and skill level, it's Teemu's love for the game and his teammates that make him so special," general manager Bob Murray said. "Anaheim is where he belongs."

Griffin leaves Team USA after suffering knee injury in practice

Griffin leaves Team USA after suffering knee injury in practice

By Sam Amick, SI.com
7/12/2012
Team USA's big-man problem just got bigger.
Clippers power forward Blake Griffin suffered a left-knee injury during practice in Las Vegas on Wednesday and was scheduled to return to Los Angeles on Thursday for an examination. Hornets power forward and Team USA alternate Anthony Davis has been summoned to replace Griffin, who signed a five-year extension worth up to $95 million with the Clippers on Tuesday.
It's the same knee that Griffin injured during the playoffs last season and caused him to miss the entire 2009-2010 season. While it's not known how serious Griffin's injury is, the source said the severity was "not good." Griffin woke up with swelling on Thursday morning before deciding to head to Los Angeles.
Team USA was already dealing with a lack of depth in its frontcourt, with Griffin, Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love and Knicks center Tyson Chandler seen as the primary rebounders.
Davis, the No. 1 pick in last month's draft, is expected to suit up for Team USA's exhibition against the Dominican Republic on Thursday at UNLV. He's been a

Once a Social Media Star, Digg Sells for $500,000

Once a Social Media Star, Digg Sells for $500,000

July 12, 2012
By JOSEPH WALKER And SPENCER E. ANTE

Digg Inc., a social-media pioneer once valued at more than $160 million, is selling for the deeply discounted price of about $500,000, three people familiar with the matter said.

The buyer is New York technology development firm Betaworks, which is attempting to revive a news-sharing site that was outmaneuvered by Facebook Inc. FB -0.52% and Twitter Inc.

D.C. officer allegedly made threatening comments about first lady

D.C. officer allegedly made threatening comments about first lady

By Clarence Williams and Mary Pat Flaherty, Thursday, July 12, 2012

A D.C. police officer who worked as a motorcycle escort for White House officials and other dignitaries was moved to administrative duty Wednesday after he allegedly was overheard making threatening comments toward Michelle Obama, according to several police officials.

The police department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating the alleged comments and notified the U.S. Secret Service Wednesday, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give details of the investigation.
The motorman allegedly made the comments Wednesday morning as several officers from the Special Operations Division discussed threats against the Obamas. It was not immediately clear where the

Documents conflict on when Romney left Bain

Documents conflict on when Romney left Bain

By JACK GILLUM, Associated Press 7/12/2012
WASHINGTON (AP) — Documents filed by Mitt Romney's former company conflict with the Republican presidential candidate's statements about when he gave up control of the private equity firm Bain Capital. President Barack Obama's campaign seized on the discrepancies Thursday to charge that Romney was lying about his background.
Romney, in turn, said Obama was the one being dishonest, rolling out a hard-hitting television ad that accused the president of launching "misleading, unfair and untrue" attacks about the Republican's role

Yahoo password theft could affect Gmail, Hotmail, AOL users, researcher says

Yahoo password theft could affect Gmail, Hotmail, AOL users, researcher says

By Nicole Perlroth
New York Times
07/12/2012
SAN FRANCISCO -- Yahoo (YHOO) confirmed Thursday that about 400,000 user names and passwords to Yahoo and other companies were stolen Wednesday.
A group of hackers, known as the D33D Co., posted online the user names and passwords for what appeared to be 453,492 accounts belonging to Yahoo and several other websites. The hackers wrote a brief footnote to the data dump, which has since been taken offline: "We hope that the parties responsible for managing the security of this subdomain will take this as a wake-up call, and not as a threat."

Melinda Gates pledges $560 million for contraception

Melinda Gates pledges $560 million for contraception

By Chris Wickham
LONDON | Wed Jul 11, 2012 
(Reuters) - Melinda Gates has pledged $560 million as part of a campaign to expand access to contraception for women in some of the poorest countries in the world.
The funding commitment was unveiled on Wednesday at the London Summit on Family Planning alongside pledges totaling $4.3 billion from the British government and leaders from African nations wrestling with the health and social problems brought on by high rates of unplanned pregnancy.

The summit launched a program to extend family planning services to 120 million women out of an estimated 220 million around the world who want, but cannot get, reliable access to contraception by 2020.

Supporters of the campaign estimate that this year will see 80 million unintended pregnancies in

Rolling Stones celebrate 50th, hint about tour

Rolling Stones celebrate 50th, hint about tour

By Josie Cox
LONDON | Thu Jul 12, 2012
(Reuters) - Half a century after their first live gig on London's Oxford Street, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the rest of the Rolling Stones will mark the band's 50th anniversary at a photographic exhibition on Thursday.
Guitarist Richards said this week that the Stones have met up for "a couple of rehearsals", fanning the fire of rumors that a new world tour may be in the works.

Richards would not go so far as to say when the quartet comprising himself, Jagger, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood would be performing in public again.

"There's things in the works - I think it's definitely happening," he told British broadcaster the BBC. "But when? I can't say yet."

Amazing Alex, The New Game From Angry Birds Creators, Launches For iOS And Android

Amazing Alex, The New Game From Angry Birds Creators, Launches For iOS And Android 

BY NIDHI SUBBARAMAN | 07-12-2012

News updates all day from Fast Company. Amazing Alex, the second game from Angry Birds maker Rovio, is now out for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Like Angry Birds, the mobile game is based on physics and falling, but in Amazing Alex you don’t break, you build. As the teaser video below shows, the game is about balancing regular

'Black market' cash-for-kidneys trader Rosenbaum gets 2-1/2 years in prison

'Black market' cash-for-kidneys trader Rosenbaum gets 2-1/2 years in prison

By msnbc.com staff and news services
NEW YORK -- An Israeli man who pleaded guilty to illegally brokering kidney transplants for profit in the United States, the first such conviction under federal law, was sentenced on Wednesday to two-and-a-half years in prison, prosecutors said.
Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, a 61-year old Israeli citizen who lived in Brooklyn, pleaded guilty last October to charges that he brokered kidney transplants between paid donors and recipients on three occasions.
Prosecutors said Rosenbaum charged between $120,000 and $150,000 to help three New Jersey residents find kidneys for transplant between 2006 and 2009.
He also pleaded to a count of conspiracy to broker a fourth kidney transaction following a sting operation leading to his arrest involving an undercover FBI agent who pretended to have a sick uncle.
NYC man pleads guilty to kidney trafficking

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