Wednesday, August 1, 2012

AP Newsbreak: Prof.'s email reveals shooting plot

AP Newsbreak: Prof.'s email reveals shooting plot

AP Newsbreak: Prof.'s email reveals shooting plot

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:20 PM PDT

This image provided by the Orange County District Attorney's Office shows a booking photo of Rainer Reinscheid, 48, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, who was arrested July 24, 2012 and charged with numerous felony arson charges. Bail has been denied for a college professor charged with arson for allegedly setting a series of fires at an Orange County high school his son once attended before committing suicide. District attorney's spokeswoman Farrah Emami says a judge ordered Reinscheid held without bail at a hearing Tuesday, and postponed his arraignment until Aug. 8. (AP Photo/Orange County District Attorney's Office)A California university professor who was arrested on arson charges wrote in an email that he was thinking of getting a dozen machine guns and shooting at least 200 students at his late son's high school, according to court papers obtained Wednesday.

Fla. terror case hits competency, witness snags

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:19 PM PDT

A once high-profile federal prosecution of an elderly Muslim cleric and one of his sons on terrorism finance charges has become bogged down in questions over the imam's mental stability and a legal fight over the testimony of defense witnesses who refuse to leave Pakistan, according to court records and interviews.

Steven Tyler says 'Idol' wasn't his 'cup of tea'

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:18 PM PDT

This Oct. 10, 2011 photo released by Fox shows "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler during auditions for the singing competition series in San Diego. Tyler, who quit the show, admits he liked the paychecks, but had a love-hate relationship with the show. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Tyler says the series is Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler says he liked the paychecks on "American Idol" but had a love-hate relationship with the show.

San Antonio airport evacuated after bomb threat

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:17 PM PDT

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - The San Antonio International Airport was evacuated and planes were sitting on the tarmac away from the two terminals on Wednesday after a caller phoned in a threat that three bombs were planted in a parking garage, authorities said. Fire Department spokeswoman Deborah Foster said the caller made the specific threat of three bombs and a specialist unit was on the way to examine the area. "All flights in and out are on hold," Airport spokesman Rich Johnson said. "All aircraft are being held away from the terminal. ...

Jermaine Jackson says he regrets family feud

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:09 PM PDT

Jermaine Jackson called Wednesday for an end to the public feud that has embroiled his family for more than a week, saying issues over the care of his mother and with late brother Michael's estate should be handled privately.

Syria's Assad praises troops, keeps out of public eye

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:09 PM PDT

A man carries belongings from his shop destroyed by shelling from forces loyal to Syrian President Assad in downtown AleppoALEPPO, Syria (Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad told his troops on Wednesday that their battle against rebels would decide Syria's fate, but his written message gave no clues to his whereabouts two weeks after a bomb attack on his inner circle. In Aleppo, rebel fighters seized three police stations while fighting the army for control of a strategically important district. Explosions could be heard and helicopter gunships cruised the skies as troops tried to push the rebels out of the northern city and preserve one of Assad's main centers of power. ...

Fed says economy may need help, keeps policy on hold

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:07 PM PDT

Ben Bernanke reacts as he testifies before the House Committee on the Financial Services semi-annual monetary policy report on Capitol Hill in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve stopped short of offering new monetary stimulus on Wednesday even as it signaled more strongly that further bond buying could be in store to help a economic recovery that it said had lost momentum this year. Fed officials described the economy as having "decelerated somewhat," a change of tone from its previous assessment in June when it said the economy had been "expanding moderately." The Fed's policymakers also reiterated their disappointment with the slow pace of progress in bringing down the nation's 8.2 percent jobless rate. ...

Budget-and-tax impasse threatens troops, economy

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:02 PM PDT

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, accompanied by fellow GOP leaders, meets with reporters at the Republican National Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)With the government speeding toward a year-end "fiscal cliff," Republicans pushed a House vote Wednesday on renewing tax cuts to prop up the national economy and the Obama administration warned that looming budget cuts could send troops into battle with less training. But both taxes and spending were enmeshed in campaign politics, with no resolution expected until after the elections.

Paes, Vardhan knocked out of doubles

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:02 PM PDT

Leander Paes of India (L) congratulates partner Vishnu VardhanIndian duo Leander Paes and Vishnu Vardhan were knocked out of the Olympic doubles on Wednesday after a 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 defeat against French second seeds Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra.

NBC to break even, not lose money on Olympics

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:54 PM PDT

This Tueday, July 31, 2012 photo released by NBC shows the US Women's Gymnastics team, winners of the gold medal for women's team gymnastics, Kyla Ross, standing left, Jordyn Wieber, seated left, Aly Raisman, standing center, McKayla Maroney, and Gabby Douglas, seated right, with NBC Sports' Bob Costas in London. NBC is set to "break even" on its Olympics coverage, rather than lose money as previously expected, the head of NBCUniversal said Wednesday, Aug. 1. The company had expected at one point to take a $200 million loss on the London Olympics. NBC paid $1.2 billion for the rights to show the games on TV and online in the U.S. It has said that it sold more than $1 billion in ads, breaking the record of $850 million set during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. (AP Photo/NBC, Paul Drinkwater)Viewer excitement about the Olympics is translating into gold for NBC: The broadcaster now expects to break even on the London Games rather than take a loss.

Judge puts off ruling on mistrial in Peterson case

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:49 PM PDT

In this courtroom sketch, Drew Peterson, foreground left, looks on as defense attorney Joe Lopez cross examines Kathleen Savio's neighbor, Mary Pontarelli, as they view a photo of Savio's lifeless body in the tub of her home, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in Joliet, Ill., during the first day of Drew Peterson's murder trial. Peterson is charged in the 2004 death of Savio, his third wife. (AP Photo/Tom Gianni)The judge in the Drew Peterson murder trial has adjourned early and delayed a decision on declaring a mistrial.

NC regulators hire law firm to probe Duke Energy

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:43 PM PDT

North Carolina utilities regulators said Wednesday they have hired a former federal prosecutor with experience digging into corporate affairs to reveal whether regulators were misled ahead of a takeover that created America's largest electric company.

Obama ahead in three key states, poll shows

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:41 PM PDT

U.S. President Obama speaks at the 2012 National Urban League Conference in New OrleansWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has the edge over Mitt Romney in three key battleground states in large part because voters find him more likable than the Republican challenger, a poll released on Wednesday found. Quinnipiac University's survey of more than 3,500 likely voters in the November 6 U.S. election found Obama ahead by 11 percentage points in Pennsylvania (53 to 42 percent), and 6 percentage points in both Ohio (50 to 44 percent) and Florida (51 to 45 percent). Obama won all three states in the 2008 presidential election. ...

Cuba Gooding Jr. faces summons in bar turmoil

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:36 PM PDT

Cuba Gooding Jr. met Wednesday with New Orleans police and was issued a court summons after a Bourbon Street bartender told authorities that the actor pushed her.

Four 'low-intensity' blasts shake western Indian city

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:31 PM PDT

Indian authorities work at the site of one of four low-intensity bomb blastsFour low-intensity blasts hit the western Indian city of Pune on Wednesday, injuring one person, on the same day as a scheduled visit -- cancelled at the last minute -- by the country's new home minister.

U.S. auto sales remain soft in July

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:29 PM PDT

A Chrysler badge is pictured on a new car at a dealership in Vienna, VirginiaDETROIT (Reuters) - Major automakers reported U.S. auto sales for July that were somewhat softer than expected as high U.S. unemployment and weak consumer confidence kept would-be buyers on the sidelines. Industry sales were on track to jump 9 percent in July to 1.1 million vehicles, less than the growth of 10 percent or more expected by many analysts. Kelley Blue Book estimated that the annual sales pace for the month was on track to fall just shy of 14 million. Analysts expected the sales rate to be 14 million. ...

Olivia Munn says she's not a leading lady - yet

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:26 PM PDT

Olivia Munn prides herself on working with three powerful S names in Hollywood: Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show," Steven Soderbergh in the film "Magic Mike" and Aaron Sorkin on HBO's "The Newsroom." But to hear her tell it, she's still and up-and-comer — and maybe a bit of a cheat.

Romney tax plan helps rich, hurts middle class: study

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:26 PM PDT

U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Romney delivers foreign policy remarks at the University of Warsaw LibraryWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. presidential challenger Mitt Romney's proposal to slash income taxes by 20 percent across the board would boost income for the wealthiest taxpayers while reducing it for the middle class, according to a nonpartisan analysis released on Wednesday. The report by the centrist Tax Policy Center found that Romney's tax cuts would boost after-tax income by an average of 4.1 percent for those earning more than $1 million a year, while reducing by an average of 1.2 percent the after-tax income of individuals earning less than $200,000. ...

Chick-fil-A supporters recognize appreciation day

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:25 PM PDT

Customers stand in line for a Chick-fil-a meal at the chain's restaurant in Wichita, Kan., on Wednesday. Aug. 1, 2012. The crowd was buying meals to show their support for the company that's currently embroiled in a controversy over same-sex marriage. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared Wednesday national "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." Opponents of the company's stance are planning "Kiss Mor Chiks" for Friday, when they are encouraging people of the same sex to show up at Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country and kiss each other. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Travis Heying)Chick-fil-A supporters are eating at the chicken chain's restaurants as the company continues to be criticized for an executive taking a public position against same-sex marriage.

Global factories struggle as growth fears rise

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:24 PM PDT

A labourer works inside a steel factory in SiliguriNEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. and euro zone manufacturing struggled again in July while factory activity in China hit an eight-month low, surveys showed on Wednesday, as economies worldwide appeared to lose momentum. Economic malaise was worst in the 17-country euro zone, where output plummeted and the manufacturing sector contracted for an 11th straight month as a downturn that began in smaller countries continued to spread into core euro area economies. The slump worsened in Italy, Spain and Greece as well as the region's two biggest economies -- Germany and France. ...

Drought: Half of US counties now disaster areas

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:23 PM PDT

More than half of U.S. counties now are classified by the federal government as natural disaster areas mostly because of the drought.

Oil prices rise on surprise supply drop

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:23 PM PDT

The price of oil climbed to near $89 per barrel Wednesday after a surprising drop in U.S. crude supplies.

Obama welcomes European resolve on euro-zone crisis

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:23 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama told French President Francois Hollande that he welcomed recent declarations by European leaders and the European Central Bank on the need to do whatever is necessary to preserve the euro zone, the White House said on Wednesday. Obama, in a telephone call with Hollande, "encouraged their efforts to take decisive action," the White House said. Hollande told his U.S. counterpart that European Union member states aimed to enact decisions taken at an end of June summit soon, Hollande's office said earlier in the day. (Reporting By Margaret Chadbourn)

Chinese dissident welcomed to the US Capitol

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:17 PM PDT

Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is escorted by House Speake John Boehner of Ohio, for a bipartisan event with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other members of Congress, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington. He made international headlines in April when he escaped from house arrest in China and sought refuge in the U.S. embassy in Beijing. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)Congressional leaders have united in welcoming dissident Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng, whose case sparked a diplomatic crisis between Washington and Beijing this spring.

U.S. sets aside $25 million for non-lethal aid to Syria rebels

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:07 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has set aside $25 million for aid to Syrian rebels, although the assistance remains limited to non-lethal supplies such as communications gear, the State Department said on Wednesday. The Obama administration originally set aside $15 million to help the Syrian opposition, but some time ago added another $10 million to the amount available, department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said. "The 25 million dollar number actually is the number we're working from," Ventrell told a regular daily news briefing. ...

AP Photos: Ferrell, Brand in Disney campaign

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:07 PM PDT

This Nov. 3, 2011 photo released by Disney on Aug. 1, 2012 shows British actor Russell Brand dressed as Captain Hook from "Peter Pan" during a photo shoot with photographer Annie Leibovitz, right, for the Disney Dream Portrait series near Newhall, Calif. The portrait series features celebrities set in Disney fantasy settings. The images by Leibovitz will be used as a special insert in fall issues of "GQ," "O – The Oprah Magazine," "People," "People En Español," "Vanity Fair," "Real Simple," "Essence," and "InStyle," to promote Disney theme parks. (AP Photo/Disney Parks.com, Scott Brinegar)Will Ferrell, Jack Black and Jason Segel are hitchhiking ghosts and Russell Brand is Captain Hook in two new portraits by Annie Leibovitz.

Calif. Congresswoman to accept ethics punishment

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:01 PM PDT

FILE - In this May 12, 2011 file photo, Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif. is seen outside the White House in Washington. Richardson improperly compelled her congressional staff to do campaign work and should be reprimanded and fined for violating standards of conduct, the House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif., improperly compelled her congressional staff to do campaign work and should be reprimanded and fined for violating standards of conduct, the House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday.

Mental side of sports: It's not just for Olympians

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:56 AM PDT

FILE - In this Thursday, July 14, 2011 file photo, United States' Megan Rapinoe bounces a ball with her head during a training session in preparation for the final match against Japan during the Women's Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany. Rapinoe, a midfielder on the American soccer team at the 2012 Olympics, prepares for competition with a pre-game ritual. "I put my headphones on the bus from when we leave the hotel over to the stadium, just kind of getting into the zone, just kind of relax and get into it." (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Now that you've been watching the world's top athletes compete in London, you may be inspired to go out and pursue your own sport at, um, less than an Olympic level. But even without their talent or practice regimens, you can take a lesson from what Olympians know: The mental game matters, too.

Futures traders see late 2014 Fed rate hike more likely

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:56 AM PDT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Traders are now betting the U.S. Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates in December 2014 -- a month earlier than they previously bet -- after the Fed on Wednesday did not ease policy in response to a weaker economy. Futures contracts tied to the overnight lending rate between banks fell after the Fed's policy-setting committee described the economy as having "decelerated somewhat" and reiterated its disappointment with the high level of joblessness but kept its current policy on hold. ...

Ferrell, Brand among stars in Disney campaign

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:53 AM PDT

This photo illustration released Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, by Disney Parks shows Russell Brand portraying Captain Hook from "Peter Pan," as part of the Disney Dream Portrait series by photographer Annie Leibovitz. The portrait series features celebrities set in Disney fantasy settings. The images will be used as a special insert in fall issues of "GQ," "O – The Oprah Magazine," "People," "People En Español," "Vanity Fair," "Real Simple," "Essence," and "InStyle," to promote Disney theme parks. (AP Photo/Annie Leibovitz for Disney Parks/Disney Parks.com)Will Ferrell, Jack Black and Jason Segel are hitchhiking ghosts and Russell Brand is Captain Hook in two new portraits by Annie Leibovitz.

NH man accused of setting sub fire to stay in jail

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:48 AM PDT

This booking photo released Tuesday, July 31, 2012 by the Dover, N.H., Police Department shows Casey James Fury, arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated on June 14. Fury, 24, of Portsmouth, N.H., also faces two counts of arson for a fire inside the USS Miami nuclear submarine at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyardon May 23, and a second blaze outside the sub on June 16. A probable cause and detention hearing for the arson charges is scheduled for Fury at U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dover Police Department)A civilian shipyard worker accused of setting a fire that caused $400 million in damage to a nuclear-powered submarine will remain in jail after a magistrate ruled Wednesday that the defendant is too great a risk to society and a Navy officer described a harrowing scene inside the burning vessel.

Russia: both sides in Syria violate human rights

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:47 AM PDT

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Videos apparently showing rebels killing supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo prove that both sides in the conflict violate human rights, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Wednesday. "The harsh massacre of supporters of the government by the opposition confirms human rights violations are taking place on both sides," Gatilov said on twitter. "It would be useful if Western and Arab politicians looked at the situation in Syria from this angle too. Everybody must stop violence," he added. ...

France to detail U.N. Security Council plan for Syria

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:47 AM PDT

PARIS (Reuters) - France said as it took over the month-long rotating chair of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday it will shortly outline its plans for a new push by the body to solve a diplomatic impasse over the worsening conflict. The French government has already said it will call by the end of this week for an urgent meeting of the United Nations' Council, likely at ministerial level, following calls from President Francois Hollande for swift action. ...

Revolt against Assad draws Briton to Syria

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:47 AM PDT

AMMAN (Reuters) - Moved by his mother's tales of atrocities in her homeland three decades ago, British student Mohammad Qadi Riha set off from London to Syria to join the armed resistance against President Bashar al-Assad. He convinced his mother, a survivor of a 1982 massacre in the city of Hama, that he was going only to film footage on behalf of British media. Rebels, with whom he said he spent six weeks, gave him rudimentary combat training as soon as he arrived in May and took him on their missions. ...

Column: Wiggins gives his country Olympic hope

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:46 AM PDT

By the time Bradley Wiggins wheeled his bike to the starting line in front of Hampton Court Palace, his country's national honor was no longer on the line.

Obama calls Phelps, women's gymnastics team

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:42 AM PDT

U.S. gymnasts, left to right, McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Alexandra Raisman, Gabrielle Douglas and Jordyn Wieber celebrate during the medal ceremony of the Artistic Gymnastics women's team final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in London. U.S. won the gold. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)President Barack Obama congratulated the five members of the U.S. women's gymnastics team Wednesday on their Olympic victory — and he had some questions about just how they managed to pull off their gold medal performances.

Katie Couric takes stage as Buffett backup singer

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:42 AM PDT

Katie Couric is no brown-eyed girl, but she can hold her own singing backup for Jimmy Buffett.

Maryland man who called himself 'joker' charged

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:39 AM PDT

Maryland prosecutors say a man accused of threatening to shoot up his workplace and identifying himself as "a joker" has been charged with misdemeanor telephone misuse.

Olympics 2012: Live Report

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:38 AM PDT

1835 GMT HUNGARY'S DANIEL GYURTA WINS 200M BREASTSTROKE GOLD and sets world record. Britain's Michael Jamieson takes silver, Japan's Ryo Tateishi gets bronze.

Romney finalizes plans for multistate bus tour

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:38 AM PDT

FILE - In this July 17, 2012 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks in Irwin, Pa. Romney's campaign is finalizing plans for a multi-state bus tour set to begin at the end of next week.The Republican presidential candidate is expected to visit Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, although the schedule may change in the coming days. Romney returned from a bumpy overseas trip late Tuesday and is spending Wednesday in private meetings at his Boston headquarters. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)Mitt Romney's campaign is finalizing plans for a multistate bus tour to begin late next week.
Posted by Harshad at 1:46 PM

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