eNews Reference

Sergio Garcia apologizes to Tiger Woods over fried chicken comment

2013-05-22 17:10:58

Target Corporation Cites Weather

2013-05-22 10:20:10

Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) posted a lower-than-expected earnings performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The company said that soft sales and weather related categories affected its results.

The company reported an income of $498 million or $0.77 per share for the first quarter.

During the same period last year, Target Corporation reported a profit of $697 million or $1.04 earnings per share. - More

Sergio Garcia issues 2nd apology

2013-05-22 10:08:15

Saying he had difficulty sleeping and contemplated withdrawing from this week's European Tour event, Sergio Garcia on Wednesday afternoon apologized for racially insensitive remarks directed at Tiger Woods at a tour function outside London the previous night, saying his comments were "totally stupid and out of place." - More

Tim Cook Defends Apple

2013-05-21 13:09:47

A day after a Senate report blasted Apple for not paying U.S. taxes on billions of dollars in overseas income, Cook insisted that Apple pays the taxes it legally owes.

“There’s no shifting going on,” said Cook in his first appearance before Congress. “We pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar.” Read recap of hearing on live blog. - More

Chad Johnson Arrested

2013-05-20 09:19:47

Last week, a judge in Florida issued an arrest warrant for former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson for violating his probation on a domestic violence charge from last summer.

Johnson was reportedly out of the state at the time that the warrant was issued, but he’s back in Florida on Monday and TMZ reports that he’s now under arrest. - More

RGIII wedding registry at Bed Bath & Beyond

2013-05-20 09:11:27

Robert Griffin III's immense fan base is showing its appreciation for the Washington Redskins quarterback by purchasing many of the items he and his fiancée have listed on their wedding registry.

The link to the Bed Bath & Beyond registry had been posted last week by The Washington Post. According to the registry, Griffin and Rebecca Liddicoat are scheduled to be married on July 6. - More

Last Chance For Michael Vick

2013-05-19 16:38:32

This is it. This is Michael Vick's last shot. Vick knows it, even if he won't admit it.

He knows that the man to whom he owes everything, Andy Reid, is gone, replaced by a coach, Chip Kelly, who owes him nothing.

Vick is guaranteed only an opportunity to compete for the Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback job he has held for the better part of the past three seasons. - More

Rehab is ahead of schedule for RGIII

2013-05-19 11:44:32

"Robert is doing extremely well as far as the timetable,'' Robert Griffin II sald. "He's been doing a lot over time, he never stops.

"He was throwing some prior to the draft.

Everything seems to be on cue. Everybody in the organization is targeting that season opener.''

Griffin's father said his son is ahead of schedule by comparison to his prior rehabilitation... - More

Yahoo to Buy Tumblr for $1.1 Billion

2013-05-19 11:39:05

Yahoo board has approved a deal to acquire blogging startup Tumblr, people familiar with the matter said Sunday.

Yahoo has agreed to pay $1.1 billion in cash for the company, one of the people said.

Tumblr would continue to operate largely as an independent business, the people said. - More

Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title

2013-05-19 11:34:34

Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title of the year in dominating fashion Sunday, beating Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the Italian Open women's final, while Rafael Nadal beat rival Roger Federer by the identical score to win the men's crown and his seventh career championship at the event.

Williams will enter the French Open, which starts next Sunday, on a career-best 24-match winning streak. - More

Kanye West Debuts New Yeezus Track Black Skinhead On SNL

2013-05-19 05:28:09

"Saturday Night Live" usually reserves their weekly musical guest spot for the biggest and brightest pop stars and last night was no different as Kanye West took the televised stage.

The performance was definitely big, but there was nothing bright about Yeezy’s dark and loud performance.

Instead of the super catchy "Gold Digger" or cheery "Good Life," ’Ye looks to be headed in a deeper direction... - More

Beyonce Knowles is expecting her second child

2013-05-17 12:50:51

Queen Bey has another baby on board. Beyoncé Knowles is expecting her second child with her husband, rapper Jay-Z, sources confirmed exclusively to E! News.

The "Countdown" singer had sparked rampant pregnancy rumors after she canceled a performance in Antwerp, Belgium, part of her global "Mrs. Carter World Tour," citing "dehydration and exhaustion."

But rumors were flying a week earlier at the exclusive New York Met Gala, where the 31-year-old songstress wore a custom-made Givenchy dress that was cinched at the waist. - More

Phil Jackson: Kobe Talked A Good Game

2013-05-17 10:20:04

Phil Jackson always has been hesitant to compare Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Until now. In his new book, co-written with Hugh Delehanty and entitled "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success," Jackson breaks down what separated Jordan from Bryant, the biggest stars and personalities that he coached during his Hall of Fame career.

Google To Compete With Spotify

2013-05-16 21:08:52

Google is set to introduce a subscription music feature to compete against fast-growing streaming services like Spotify, according to several people briefed on its plans.

Google is planning to introduce the new service as early as Wednesday at Google I/O, the company’s annual conference for software developers. - More

Warrant issued for Chad Johnson

2013-05-16 15:00:12

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson in South Florida.

The state attorney's office confirmed Thursday that a Broward circuit judge issued a warrant May 7 against Johnson for failing to report to his probation officer.

Johnson received a year of probation last September after pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge involving his former wife, reality TV star Evelyn Lozada. - More

Jets Must Start Geno Smith

2013-05-16 10:18:08

On Wednesday afternoon, I received a text message from David Garrard. His comeback to the NFL, an attempt resurrect his career with the New York Jets, would in essence be over before it started. Garrard told me exclusively, "Having to call it quits. My knee is not holding up.

Continuing to swell after practices. Limiting me in what I can do!!" And instantly, two strong takes popped into the omnipresent thought bubble above my head. - More

Mario Balotelli has had enough

2013-05-16 07:17:41

Leading international soccer player Mario Balotelli has had enough -- the AC Milan striker has vowed to walk off the pitch next time he is racially abused at a football game.

Balotelli, who was subjected to racist chanting during Sunday's Italian league game against Roma, has told CNN in an exclusive interview that he came close to leaving the field following the abuse at AC Milan's San Siro stadium in a match that finished 0-0. - More

Mike Wallace high on Ryan Tannehill

2013-05-15 21:33:51

When Mike Wallace left the Pittsburgh Steelers to sign with the Miami Dolphins, he also went from catching passes from a veteran Super Bowl champion to a quarterback entering his second season in the NFL.

But Wallace said Tuesday he believes Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill can be just as good as the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, who has passed for 29,844 yards, 191 touchdowns and has led Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl titles. - More

Iran and U.S. wrestling teams meet in NYC

2013-05-15 20:46:15

Iran's wrestling team visited the United States for the first time in a decade and found a virtual home meet.

The fans waving Iranian flags and stomping on the temporary bleachers were treated to a show of dominance by the wrestling power Wednesday in the exhibition at Grand Central Terminal. Iran beat the Americans 6-1.

"It's typical Iranian. - More

Diddy and Downtown Abbey

2013-05-15 17:48:57

Music mogul and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs will not be appearing in British period TV drama Downtown Abbey, U.S. broadcaster PBS said on Wednesday, despite tweets saying he would be joining the hit show’s upcoming season.

Diddy set social media abuzz on Wednesday after posts on his verified Twitter account said, “MY BIG NEWS: So happy to announce that Im a series regular on DOWNTON ABBEY-my favorite show+i’ll be debuting a sneak peek tonight 12am PST!.” - More

Wells Fargo ordered - again - to pay $203M in overdraft case

2013-05-15 15:22:04

A federal judge has again ordered Wells Fargo to pay $203 million to settle class action litigation accusing it of imposing excessive overdraft fees on checking account customers, reviving an award that had been thrown out last year.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup reinstated on Tuesday a penalty he first imposed in August 2010, saying the fourth-largest U.S. bank violated a California law that protects consumers against fraudulent misrepresentations. - More

Deere results beat estimates, but company cautious

2013-05-15 06:08:08

Deere & Co. reported higher-than-expected quarterly results on Wednesday and forecast a record profit for the full year, but it said it was cautious because of weakness in the construction market.

The company, the world’s largest maker of farm equipment, slashed its forecast for sales to the construction industry, citing concerns about the outlook for U.S. economic growth and other factors. - More

Marshals: No go-ahead to Tiger

2013-05-14 14:09:45

After a weekend war of words between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, two course marshals are disputing Woods' retelling of what happened on Saturday.

Garcia said Woods distracted him by pulling a club from his bag -- stirring the gathered gallery while Garcia attempted a shot elsewhere.

Woods said he didn't see Garcia when he made the move, and besides, the course marshals gave him the OK. - More

Leonardo DiCaprio $38 million for Mother Earth

2013-05-14 13:56:12

While the rest of the world was recovering from phoning in on Mother’s Day, Leonardo DiCaprio spent his Monday raising $38 million for Mother Earth.

At the beginning of the 11th Hour Auction at Christie’s in New York City, the actor and environmentalist motivated bidders with an alarming statement:

“140,000 animal and plant species are becoming extinct every year.” - More

Matthew Knowles, owes IRS $1.2 million in taxes, Wiki-Bio-Video

2013-05-14 09:30:17

Apparently, Matthew Knowles had a bit of trouble paying his bills, bills, bills.

The father and former manager of superstar Beyoncé owes the IRS over $1.2 million, TMZ reports.

Knowles, 62, faces a lien claiming he owes the government thousands from the past few years.

According to the gossip site, the former Destiny's Child manager has to pay over $485,000 from 2010 and over $728,000 from 2011. - More

Matthew Knowles Biography

Donovan McNabb to retire an Eagle

2013-05-14 06:21:32

Although he had a messy exit from Philadelphia in 2010, Donovan McNabb said Monday he intends to retire as an Eagle in September.

"I will retire as an Eagle and I look forward to that opportunity and that day," the quarterback told ESPN Radio 97.7 FM in Syracuse. - More

Christina Aguilera return to The Voice

2013-05-14 06:13:08

Shakira, get ready to shake your hips and move aside -- Christina Aguilera might be headed back to "The Voice" very soon.

The pop diva, who appeared on the first three seasons of NBC's singing hit, has just signed to return for Season 5 this fall, according to a new report.

The Wrap reports that the "Beautiful" singer willl bring home a $17-million paycheck. - More

Savannah Guthrie Gets Engaged

2013-05-14 05:34:54

“Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie broke the news that she’s engaged to political consultant Mike Feldman on the set of the “Today” show this morning.

“Big news from Savannah!” her co-anchor Matt Lauer tweeted, along with a photograph of Guthrie, 41, flashing her ring. “Congrats to her and fiancé Mike Feldman,” her colleague Al Roker chimed in via Instagram. - More

Yields on peso bonds due in December 2014 dropped two basis points

2013-05-13 20:52:08

Mexican shorter-term bond yields declined to record lows on speculation policy makers will further reduce benchmark borrowing costs amid signs of slowing economic growth.

Yields on peso bonds due in December 2014 dropped two basis points, or 0.02 percentage point, to 3.77 percent at 10:22 a.m. in Mexico City, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. - More

Tiger Woods wins

2013-05-12 19:50:59

Tiger Woods had the last word against Sergio Garcia by winning The Players Championship on Sunday.

Woods ended a weekend of verbal sparring with Garcia by doing what he does best -- closing out tournaments, even if he let this one turn into a tense duel over the final hour at the TPC Sawgrass. - More

Meyers to Succeed Fallon

2013-05-12 16:32:31

Seth Meyers will be the next host of NBC’s “Late Night,” the network announced Sunday.

Mr. Meyers, the longtime head writer on “Saturday Night Live” and host of its “Weekend Update” segment, will succeed Jimmy Fallon, who is moving up one hour to take over NBC’s “Tonight Show.” - More

Champions Barca celebrate with win at Atletico

2013-05-12 16:28:12

Radamel Falcao had threatened to spoil Barca’s title party when he struck in the 51st minute, but Alexis Sanchez levelled in the 72nd before David Villa’s miscued shot was diverted into his own net by Gabi eight minutes later.

Barca had to play with 10 men for the last 20 minutes after Lionel Messi was forced to leave the pitch with a recurrence of his hamstring injury after coach Tito Vilanova had already made his three substitutions. - More

Beltran-Cobos battle to draw in Tijuana

2013-05-12 16:05:18

After super featherweight Miguel “Barreterito” Beltran came down with a sciatic nerve injury mid way through fight week, his older brother Alberto “Barreterito 1″ Beltran (14-1-1, 8KOs) had to take the reins of last Saturday night’s Zanfer Promotions fight card held in an open air mini bull ring on the ground of the Caliente racetrack in the heart of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Close to two thousand fight fans witnessed Beltran at times struggle but at the end come back to earn a tough draw against hometown Rafael Cobos (12-4-5, 3KOs) in the eight round main event broadcast live by TV Azteca in Mexico. - More

Who will Cam Newton throw to in Carolina?

2013-05-11 15:57:26

I don't intend to pile on, but Carolina's draft class offers both good news and bad. Let's start with the positives.

The Panthers addressed their greatest need by adding a pair of big-bodied defensive tackles in Utah's Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short out of Purdue. - More

Prince Harry and Missy Franklin

2013-05-11 07:55:44

Harry went table-to-table for about an hour at the party.

He asked Franklin, attending with her parents, for a rundown of her medals while he took some ribbing about the shrieking female fans who greeted his arrival in Washington from U.S. Reps. Cory Gardner and Mike Coffman.

The swimming sensation later tweeted about her encounter with the royal well-wisher: 'And the perfect way to end my 18th birthday!?

Meeting Prince Harry! It was a honor meeting him and I had a blast as always.'

At one table on the patio looking out over the rolling hills... - More

Defense Department to Let Apple Devices Onto Pentagon Network

2013-05-11 07:37:09

Defense department to let Apple devices onto Pentagon network The U.S. Defense Department plans to let its employees use Apple's mobile devices on its military network.

Pentagon employees may soon start using Apple mobile devices, like iPhones and iPads, on the U.S. Defense Department's secure network.

The department expects to clear the devices for use on its network early next week, Bloomberg reported Friday. - More

Kim Kardashian Pregnancy

2013-05-11 07:30:13

Kim Kardashian confidently bares her baby bump on the beach, and Randy Jacksons confirms he is leaving American Idol.

Bonnie Fuller has all the latest celebrity news on Good Morning America.

From the most powerful Hollywood moms, to the most famous mom to be – Kim Kardashian – Bonnie Fuller breaks down all the latest celebrity news headlines for the crew of Good Morning America. - More

Now Kanye has a bump too! Pregnant Kim Kardashian's boyfriend West left with dent on head after walking into caution sign

2013-05-10 15:49:15

Making the incident even more embarrassing was the fact that the sign was emblazoned with a warning that read: 'Caution: Watch For Pedestrians'.

The Touch The Sky rapper was left with an abrasion in the middle of his forehead and was clearly not impressed.

As he became more and more enraged, paparazzi checked to see if he was OK, but Kanye was not left with any serious injuries. - More

Vijay Singh Sues PGA Tour

2013-05-08 11:18:58

Vijay Singh filed a lawsuit against the PGA Tour on Wednesday, claiming that the Tour subjected him to "public humiliation and ridicule for months" after he admitted to using deer antler spray, which was at the time on the Tour's list of banned substances.

The suit claims that the PGA Tour relied on the prohibited substances list from the World Anti-Doping Agency "without any independent review, analysis or assessment of the substances." - More

Alex Ferguson Retires, Wiki-Bio-Video

2013-05-08 11:09:24

English soccer's most successful manager -- Manchester United's Alex Ferguson -- is retiring at the end of the season after more than a quarter of a century at the helm, the club announced Wednesday.

The 71-year-old Scot has managed the English club, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and loved by millions of fans around the world, from Manchester to Manila and Montreal, since 1986. - More

Alex Ferguson Biography

Downtown Abbey casts Gary Carr

2013-05-07 03:54:21

"Downton Abbey's" bringing on a roster of new cast members for its fourth season.

The addictive British series has tapped Gary Carr (TV's "Death in Paradise" and "Bluestone 42") to portray a "charming and charismatic" jazz singer named Jack Ross - "Downton's" first recurring black character. - More

Lindsay Lohan talks drugs, booze, rehab, sex

2013-05-06 10:18:41

This could be the last story you read about Lindsay Lohan for the next three months if all goes well during her 90-day stay at the Betty Ford Clinic.

Just days before checking into court-ordered rehab last week, the actress spoke extensively to Piers Morgan in an article for London's Daily Mail newspaper, which published it in this Sunday's edition. - More

Jobless claims lowest since January 2008

2013-05-03 05:13:29

The fewest Americans in more than five years applied for new unemployment benefits last week, a surprising decline that may reflect seasonal quirks more than a sudden improvement in the jobs market. Initial jobless claims — a rough gauge of layoffs — sank by 18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 324,000 in the week ended April 27, the Labor Department said Thursday.

That’s the lowest level since January 2008. - More

Phil Jackson to help Pistons find next coach

2013-05-03 05:11:43

The Pistons said Thursday night that Jackson will serve as an adviser. "Phil Jackson is a friend and one of the best minds in the business," Pistons owner Tom Gores said.

"We are thrilled to have him as an adviser as we make some very important decisions for this franchise."

The Pistons fired Lawrence Frank after a 29-53 season and 54-94 mark in his two seasons. - More

An Apology From J.C. Penney

2013-05-02 03:27:56

In an ad titled "It's No Secret," J.C. Penney took to Facebook and YouTube to issue an apology to its customers.

A voice over states, “Some changes you liked, and some you didn't. But what matters with mistakes is what we learn. We learned a very simple thing, to listen to you.”

Strong auto sales for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler

2013-05-02 03:23:16

The three major automakers posted their strongest sales in the month of April since 2007.

Trucks and SUV's lead the surge for Ford General Mothers and Chrysler. Ford Motor Co.'s sales rose 17.9% and both Chrysler and General Motors Co reported an 11% gain for the month.

Chrysler's Ram truck division saw sales rise 49% from a year earlier while GM's twin trucks, the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Silverado, were up 23.6%.

Dallas-area home prices grow at record pace

2013-04-30 21:46:50

Prices of pre-owned homes in the Dallas area rose 7.1 percent in February — a record increase for North Texas in the monthly Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Index. But Dallas’ prices couldn’t keep up with the nationwide 9.3 percent increase from a year ago.

Home price gains in the Dallas area are less than half what they are in places like Phoenix, San Francisco and even Detroit, according to Case-Shiller. - More

Justin Blackmon Suspended

2013-04-30 17:23:30

Justin Blackmon will be suspended for the first quarter of the season to a violation of the League's substance abuse policy

The Jacksonville Jaguar's star second round draft pick of 2012 was contrite and open about his personal responsibility in his latest infraction with the league rules.

Chad Johnson and Pork Chop Tweets

2013-04-30 10:38:55

Event though there's a question about Chad Johnson's future in the NFL there's no question about his ability to be spontaneous and rev-up his 4.5 million twitter fan base. When a homelessman, AKA Porkchop, approached him to buy a beer for him two days ago, Chad Johnson took it a step further and purchased him new clothes, a watch and tweeted the episodes on Twitter.

Pork Chop has been his companion in the clubs and have received accolades from Johnson's followers.

Night with PorkChop is winding down... Fun times for 48 hours straight... twitter.com/ochocinco/stat
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) April 29, 2013

Coming Out Event of Jason Collins

2013-04-29 23:46:18

Some has asked, Why Now? The response to everyone who seems perplexed about Jason Collins revelation that he's gay is, why not now.

Why does it have to be suspicious for one to admit he or she is gay in the 21st Century.

The Sports Illustrated piece, 'Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now' have to answer what many will continue to ask.

Gays serve along side each other on the battle field.

As of yet it hasn't disrupted morale or unit cohesion. Our military is still the greatest fighting force perhaps in the history of civilization.

So when athletes are on the field, dugout or court where the objective is winning, should sexual preference matter? Apparently it has mattered enough that so many before Jason Collins have kept silent.

This is a monumental occurance because we've made a giant leap forward based on one person's courage. Jeff Seidel is right in his piece 'Gay NBA player's announcement a game-changer for sports', but I would take it a step further and say it's a game changer for advertisers who endorse the macho image in sports, the little kids who look up to athletes at all levels of competition and consumers of sports apparel.

J.C. Penney Co. Chief Executive Officer Myron Ullman Putting Goldman and Sachs Loan And Price Hikes To Use

2013-04-29 08:31:58

Chief Executive Officer of J.C. Penney Co. is acted quickly to shore-up J.C. Penny's financial position.

With a $1.75 billion loan committment from Goldman Sachs Group and price hikes Ullman hopes to stanch the retailer's cash issue.

The influx of cash will be used as working capital and to addres the company's 7.125 percent notes.

Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep Into the Woods

2013-04-27 10:53:55

Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep are in talks with Disney's for the revival adaptation of Into the Woods, about a baker and his wife who goes into the woods to find a witch who cursed and left them without the ability to have children.

Streep and Depp have musical experience in their work with Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Streeps lead role in ABBA musical Mamma Mia!

Vince Vaughn, Kyla Weber Number Two Is On The Way

2013-04-26 23:25:09

With three movies slated for release in 2013, Vince Vaughn will also be expecting a second child with Wife Kyla Weber.

Vaughn revealed it for the first time on the Ellen DeGeneres show saying, "This is the first time I've said anything. We're very excited."

Manti Te'o must wait

2013-04-26 08:34:48

Manti Te'o must wait one more day to find out his future after a tumultuous four months.

The Notre Dame linebacker was not taken in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday.

And so fans — and even people who don't normally care about football — will buzz for another 24 hours about the fake girlfriend hoax and its repercussions on his football career. - More

Splendour in the Grass 2013: Mumford & Sons

2013-04-25 14:14:23

Australia’s hugely popular mid-year Splendour in the Grass festival today revealed a line-up with something for every indie music fan – a bill that includes Mumford & Sons, Empire of the Sun, Frank Ocean, the National, Of Monsters and Men, TV on the Radio and James Blake. - More

Schwab website plagued by denial-of-service attacks

2013-04-25 14:02:31

The website and mobile app for Charles Schwab & Co. went offline for more than an hour Tuesday and continued to be unavailable at times on Wednesday because of a denial-of-service attack, according to the company.

"Shortly before the stock market closed today, we experienced an exceptionally high volume of website traffic which we believe was related to a denial-of-service attack," the company said in a statement... - More

4 Storylines That NCIS Should Never Repeat

2013-04-25 13:57:17

As NCIS heads towards its season 10 finale, we're counting down by celebrating some of the best episodes with our favorite characters, like Abby and McGee. But now it's time to take a look at some of our least favorite stories and why they didn't work for the show. - More

Dortmund and Bayern Dominate Champions League

2013-04-25 13:53:56

Following the draw for the Champions League semifinals, it was well known that April 23 and 24 would be huge dates for the modern development of German football.

Bundesliga powerhouses Bayern Munich and Dortmund were paired with Barcelona and Real Madrid in a true measure of the quality of football in Spain and Germany.

To say that the Bundesliga sides passed their tests on the pitch would be a resounding understatement. Bayern dominated Barcelona for 90 minutes on Tuesday, hammering the Catalan giants by a 4-0 margin.

On Wednesday, Dortmund battered Real 4-1. - More

Gallery: Will & Jaden Smith Explore Our Planet's Future

2013-04-25 13:50:23

A new movie set for release in June shows Earth 1,000 years into the future. Will and Jaden Smith star in a movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan. - More

Justin Bieber's tour bus raided, Swedish police find drugs

2013-04-25 08:04:55

Swedish police say they have found drugs on board a tour bus used by Justin Bieber.

Police spokesman Lars Bystrom says a small amount of drugs and a stun gun were found when officers raided the empty bus parked under the Globen concert venue in Stockholm, where Bieber was performing Wednesday. - More

Brown University Bestow Honorary Degree On Ben Affleck, Wiki - Bio - Video

2013-04-24 21:50:49

Adding yet another accomplishment to his already impressive career, Ben Affleck is set to receive an honorary doctorate degree from Brown University.

The “Argo” actor/producer will be presented with his honor on May 26 during the prestigious school's 245th Commencement, according to E! News on Wednesday (April 24). - More

Ben Affleck Biography

Capital One Paying $3.5M to Settle SEC Charges

2013-04-24 21:47:14

Capital One Financial Corp. is paying $3.5 million to settle federal civil charges of underreporting as much as $123 million in losses on auto loans in the months preceding the financial crisis.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday that Capital One understated its auto loan losses in financial reports for the second and third quarters of 2007, when they came in higher than the bank expected. - More

Qualcomm's 2Q rev jumps to record high

2013-04-24 14:08:09

Qualcomm today reported record fiscal second-quarter revenue and boosted its forecast for the full year, a direct reflection of its dominant position as a supplier of chips for smartphones and tablets.

However, the San Diego chipmaker also projected weaker-than-anticipated fiscal third-quarter per-share earnings.

Its shares dropped 5 percent to $62.64 in after-hours trading. - More

General Electric pours $105m into Pivotal Initiative

2013-04-24 13:44:49

General Electric is pouring $105m into Pivotal, a skunkworks cloud and big data company spun-out of VMware and EMC.

The investment was announced on Wednesday, several hours before Pivotal held its coming out party first major press conference.

"It's no secret that the cloud and big data are driving dramatic business transformation," Bill Ruh, leader of GE's global software center, said in a canned statement. - More

After Earth

2013-04-24 11:52:34

In the fictional world of After Earth, history lessons teach of a planetary ecological disaster that doomed human life on Earth.

A millennium later, a father and son return and confront the results of that catastrophe.

Use this high-energy movie to engage and excite your students about global change. - More

Ford posts strongest North American results in a decade

2013-04-24 11:27:48

Ford Motor Co. topped Wall Street’s already optimistic earnings estimate with a 16 percent jump in first-quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or 40 cents per share.

That compared to last year’s 35-cent earnings and a 37-cent consensus estimate for the latest quarter among analysts polled by FactSet. - More

Mariah Carey Posts Family Photo in Matching PJsSee the Too Cute Pics!

2013-04-24 10:43:25

Now this looks like a fun family night in!Mariah Carey posted the most adorable photos on Instagram of her family in matching striped pajamas today.Monroe looked like she... Read More...

BlackBerry lovers will give Q10 a thumbs up

2013-04-24 08:54:14

The brand new Q10 smartphone is your Back to the Future BlackBerry.

It's got the kind of physical Qwerty keyboard that BlackBerry loyalists were so enamored with on prior generation handsets.

It's also a touch-screen device preloaded with BlackBerry 10, the new, more modern mobile operating system. - More

American Idol Team Tried to Replace Mariah Carey With Jennifer Lopez: Report

2013-04-24 08:45:35

Even more diva wars behind the scenes of American Idol.

A new report claims that the Fox reality competition's producers recently mulled a drastic attempt to boost its flagging ratings:

Bring back departed judge Jennifer Lopez mid-season to replace none other than Mariah Carey. - More

MetroPCS Holders Approve T-Mobile USA Merger

2013-04-24 08:43:09

MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS) shareholders approved a sweetened deal to merge with Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE)’s T-Mobile USA in a crucial vote that gives the German company a chance to revive its U.S. business.

The transaction will probably be completed by May 1 after today’s ballot cleared the final hurdle for the combination of the country’s fourth- and fifth-largest wireless carriers, Bonn- based Deutsche Telekom said in a statement. - More

James Harrison: I don't hate the Steelers

2013-04-23 13:54:00

James Harrison is bringing a healed body and his old No. 92 with him down the Ohio River. Next goal: Get a Bengals ring to go with all that Steelers bling.

The former Pittsburgh linebacker signed a two-year contract Tuesday, completing the deal he agreed to four days earlier.

He's already got his uniform No. 92 reserved -- defensive end Jamaal Anderson agreed to give it up -- and his plans set. - More

Two Wrongs Won't Fix JC Penney

2013-04-23 13:09:59

JCPenney’s board replaced the CEO 18 months ago. Frustrated with weak performance, they replaced him with Ron Johnson.

He was running Apple’s stores, which had the highest profit per square foot of any retail chain in America. - More

Fantasia Barrino emerges triumphant on Side Effects of You

2013-04-23 08:37:59

Fantasia was ready to walk away from her music, and her life, not so long ago.

"I was starting to hate what I loved — the label, the industry," said the R&B singer on the eve of her first album in nearly three years, "Side Effects of You."

"I was at a place where I knew what I wanted. And if I couldn't have it, I didn't want to do it anymore." - More

Netflix stock soars on subscriber growth led by House of Cards

2013-04-22 15:03:00

Netflix’s stock shot up 24% in after-hours trading Monday after the Internet film and TV delivery service said it had added 3 million new members, bringing its total number of global subscribers to more than 36 million.

The high-profile original series, "House of Cards," which debuted Feb. 1, generated a halo effect for Netflix, producing enormous media and social-media buzz. - More

Caterpillar Inc cuts its full-year outlook

2013-04-22 08:36:15

Caterpillar Inc cut its full-year outlook for 2013 on Monday to reflect a drop in demand for heavy equipment from its mining customers.

The Peoria, Illinois-based company said it now expects to a report a profit of $7 a share on sales of $57 billion to $61 billion in 2013.

That was down from a previously estimated profit of between $7 and $9 a share on sales of $60 to $68 billion. - More

Germany fines Google $190,000 over Street View data collection

2013-04-22 08:30:49

A German regulator on Monday fined Google Inc., about $190,000 for illegally recording data from WiFi networks while taking mapping photos for its Street View service.

The regulator complained the amount, limited by law, was too little to dissuade large companies from violating privacy laws. - More

Reese Witherspoon and husband CAA agent James Toth arrested in Atlanta

2013-04-21 21:33:16

Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon was arrested and jailed for a short time in Atlanta early Friday morning, according to an incident report originally obtained by Variety.

Her husband, CAA agent James Toth, was also arrested and jailed.

Toth was spotted by an Atlanta police officer while driving in the wrong lane, and now faces one DUI charge... - More

Mugshot

Darrelle Revis heads to Bucs for physical

2013-04-21 08:44:52

Darrelle Revis' surgeon liked what he saw in Revis' knee when he examined him last week.

Same with the New York Jets' medical staff.

Now, it's the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' turn. And their opinion is the most important. - More

Al Michaels arrested for DUI

2013-04-21 08:33:06

Al Michaels, the play-by-play voice of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” was arrested late Friday in Santa Monica, Ca., and charged with driving under the influence.

CNN reports Michaels spent about five hours in the Santa Monica City Jail before being released this morning on his own recognizance.

Michaels was “extremely cooperative” the police told CNN.

Michaels is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Municipal Court on June 26. - More

Gregory Soros is Selling His NYC Townhouse With A Rooftop Basketball Court For $12 Million

2013-04-21 07:40:19

Two years ago, George Soros' son bought a townhouse in Little Italy with a domed basketball court on the roof for $11,999,900. Now he's selling it for $12 million, says Curbed NY.

Wonder what he'll do with that extra $100... - More

GE Slides as Power & Water Unit Saps Industrial Profit

2013-04-20 20:25:24

General Electric Co. (GE) fell the most since 2011 after a first-quarter slide in its Power & Water business pulled total industrial earnings down 11 percent. Profit at GE’s manufacturing businesses fell to $2.94 billion as sales slid 5.7 percent to $22.7 billion, the company said in a statement.

The decline was led by a 39 percent drop in earnings at the power and water unit, which makes products including gas-powered and wind turbines. - More

David Ortiz: This is our fucking city, VIDEO

2013-04-20 13:24:46

The Red Sox held an emotional pre-game ceremony this afternoon at Fenway Park to honor those affected by Monday’s Marathon bombings.

Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick and Boston Police commissioner Edward Davis were both in attendance for the occasion and received generous applause from the crowd. - More

Microsoft CFO exits; company tops earnings expectations

2013-04-19 10:53:06

Microsoft said on Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein was leaving the company, as it struggles with sharply declining personal computer sales and a lukewarm reception for its new Windows 8 operating system.

Klein, an 11-year Microsoft veteran with 3 1/2 years as CFO, is the latest in a line of top-level executives to leave the company, following Windows head Steven Sinofsky last November. - More

Jaden Smith Best Friends with Kylie Jenner

2013-04-18 18:17:37

It’s no secret that Jaden Smith and Kylie Jenner have been spending time together.

But in a new interview, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s 14-year-old son says that, despite reports and what people think, he and Kim Kardashian’s 15-year-old half-sister are just “best friends.”

“I was in L.A., we were all hanging out.

Then I went to New York and she came too, and then she came here [to London] and surprised me, so that’s pretty baller,” Smith, 14, gushed to Britain’s Wonderland Magazine. - More

Yahoo releases weather and email apps

2013-04-18 13:40:43

Yahoo has released two new mobile apps, for weather and email, suggesting the company may be on track toward delivering on its promise of offering users a range of new mobile products over the next several months.

The company, formerly one of Silicon Valley’s most esteemed tech players, has been under pressure in recent years to demonstrate its value to users as more people have migrated to mobile devices, social apps and social networks. - More

RIHANNA Pregnancy Rumors Persist

2013-04-18 04:54:18

Rihanna came out of a medical building in Bev Hills Tuesday ... and said she's doing a lot better, but it's done nothing to stop the pregnancy talk.

Rihanna has cancelled 4 concert dates on her Diamonds World Tour ... which kicked off on March 8. Sources connected to the singer told TMZ in early March she was suffering from a throat infection.

Thing is ... it's been more than a month now and there are clearly still issues. - More

Mike DAntoni will remain coach

2013-04-18 01:58:58

After the Los Angeles Lakers rallied to beat the Houston Rockets 99-95 in overtime to clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak confirmed that head coach Mike D'Antoni will return next season.

"I think under the circumstances, Mike did a great job. We don't anticipate any kind of a change," Kupchak told ESPNLosAngeles.com. - More

Dwight Howard attempts to lead the Lakers to playoffs

2013-04-17 18:26:57

With Kobe Bryant sidelined with an Achilles tendon tear, the Lakers (44-37) will need to ride on the back of Dwight Howard to get past the Houston Rockets (45-36) on Wednesday and into the playoffs.

Howard's opportunity to lead the Lakers hits center stage against the Rockets. Houston has one of the better defensive centers in the league in Omer Asik. - More

Bank of America Slides as First-Quarter Profit Misses Estimates

2013-04-17 08:35:28

Bank of America Corp. led the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower today after shortfalls in mortgage banking and trading marred first-quarter earnings and slowed the company’s turnaround.

While net income quadrupled to $2.62 billion, or 20 cents a share, analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted 23 cents a share, and revenue dropped 8.4 percent on an adjusted basis to $23.9 billion. - More

Google Drive, Gmail hit by service disruptions

2013-04-17 08:23:59

Google Drive and Gmail have both experienced service disruptions today.

As of about 6 a.m. PT, Google's Apps Status Dashboard was updated to say that Google was investigating reports of issues with both services and would provide more information shortly. - More

Microsoft announces patent licensing agreement

2013-04-16 22:59:54

Microsoft has announced the signing of a patent licensing agreement with Hon Hai, parent company of Foxconn.

The agreement covers devices that run Chrome OS and Android, such as smartphones and tablets, and is even said to cover televisions. - More

Hon Hai Precision Industry to launch 70-inch TV in May

2013-04-16 22:53:11

TAIPEI--Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the world's largest contract electronics maker, is planning to launch a 70-inch TV in Taiwan in May, in a follow-up effort to penetrate the big-screen TV market.

China News Links

Speaking to the press Friday, Chiu Chuang-yi, deputy head of HonHai's TV business sector... - More

Legendary NFL announcer, Pat Summerall dies at 82, Wiki - Bio - Video

2013-04-16 22:38:58

Pat Summerall, the football player turned legendary play-by-play announcer, died Tuesday.

He was 82. He was best known as a broadcaster for teaming with former NFL coach John Madden for 22 years.

Summerall also worked for years alongside former player Tom Brookshier and became the voice of the NFL in the 1970s and 1980s, calling most of the league's signature games. - More

Pat Summerall Biography

Tianna Hawkins to Storm in WNBA draft Bio - Wiki - Video

2013-04-15 18:36:38

The Storm started to fill its holes inside, selecting Maryland forward Tianna Hawkins with the sixth overall pick in the WNBA draft on Monday.

Hawkins played in the physical Atlantic Coast Conference and finished with 1,086 career rebounds. - More

Tiana Hawkins Biography

J.C. Penney $850M Cash Hunt

2013-04-15 18:30:20

J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) drew $850 million from its revolving credit facility as new Chief Executive Officer Myron Ullman hunts for cash in the wake of his predecessor’s failed overhaul.

A week after replacing Ron Johnson as CEO, Ullman is trying to improve J.C. Penney’s liquidity following the first year in which retailer’s operations consumed cash in decades. - More

Sharon Osbourne moves into new home

2013-04-15 18:21:30

The couple has split but have yet to make any plans for divorce, TMZ reported.

"They are living at different addresses and not spending any time together," a source is quoted as saying.

"They row a lot.

They aren't acting like husband and wife. It is unusual to not even have dinner together when both of them are five minutes apart." - More

Harvey Weinstein, Georgina Chapman welcome a baby boy

2013-04-15 18:17:53

Harvey Weinstein and wife Georgina Chapman have a new silver lining:

The power couple has added its first baby boy to their playbook.

Chapman, 37, a co-founder of fashion house Marchesa and a "Project Runway: All Stars" judge, gave birth to the little studio exec last Thursday in New York, Weinstein's rep confirmed to Us Weekly. - More

$11.5M to family in Riddell helmet suit

2013-04-14 20:39:20

A Colorado jury has awarded $11.5 million in a lawsuit originally brought against helmet maker Riddell and several high school administrators and football coaches over brain injuries suffered by a teenager in 2008. - More

Is the Bank of Japan done?

2013-04-14 18:22:41

Japan is in the midst of a high-wire act: It is trying to reawaken its economy while not sparking a currency war.

The country is trying to beat 15 years of deflation -- falling prices that have a chilling effect on economic growth because consumers hold back on spending in the belief that prices will fall. - More

Deftones Bassist Chi Cheng Dead at 42

2013-04-14 06:41:54

Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who has been in a semi-conscious state since a 2008 car accident, died early Saturday morning, his family announced.

He was 42.

In a statement posted on the fan site Oneloveforchi.com, Cheng's family writes that the musician was taken to the emergency room where he died at 3 a.m. - More

Violence at Wembley Stadium

2013-04-13 21:36:45

One of English soccer's showpiece tournaments was marred by violence at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, with Millwall fans fighting among themselves and with security officials.

Police reported 10 arrests.

The disorder revived memories of the London team's struggle with hooliganism in the 1970s. - More

National Womens Soccer League

2013-04-13 21:34:28

The first attempt burned through tens of millions of dollars and, despite an array of famous figures, was over in three years.

The second try never took hold and ended in disarray after another brief lifespan.

But a dozen years after introducing top-flight women’s soccer to the U.S. pro sports landscape, organizers and investors believe they have finally found the right formula... - More

Cabrera, Snedeker lead at 7 under

2013-04-13 16:16:37

Former winner Angel Cabrera and Brandt Snedeker will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Masters on Sunday.

Both players carded 3-under 69s in the third round Saturday and sit at 7-under.

Adam Scott was alone in third after a 69. - More

26-year-old Lindsay Lohan - headed to Seafield Center in Westhampton Beach, New York

2013-04-13 13:14:35

Lindsay Lohan will not be allowed Adderall during her time in rehab.

The 26-year-old actress has reportedly said she will only enter a court ordered treatment facility if she is allowed to have the prescription drug - used to treat Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder - but a source at Seafield Center in Westhampton Beach, New York, where she has chosen to check in to, insists they don't allow it. - More

Guan Tianlang is swiftly winning over golf fans

2013-04-13 05:56:44

As Guan Tianlang prepared to hit his second shot into the difficult 17th green at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday, he stepped over his ball, then stepped back, felt the wind and switched his club.

Guan is 14, the youngest player in Masters history, a symbol of Augusta National’s desire to tap into the money and population in his native China and spread the game. - More

What Kobes probable Achilles tear means

2013-04-13 05:54:06

Kobe Bryant was in no mood to answer the only question that mattered, and no one — not even a Boston Celtics fan — could blame him.

Yet as the Los Angeles Lakers star stood there in the Staples Center locker room with teary eyes discussing his night of ill fortune, how he heard his Achilles tendon pop... - More

McDonald's executive says 'service is broken'

2013-04-12 19:51:31

When it comes to service, McDonald’s customers just aren’t lovin’ it.

The burger behemoth is fielding an increasing number of gripes about its employees’ friendliness, professionalism and speed of service, so much so that an executive warned, “service is broken” at a recent internal webcast.

The company told franchisees during a webcast last month that 20 percent of complaints were related to workers’ attitudes, “and it’s increasing,” according to the Wall Street Journal. - More

Jonathan Winters dies at 87, Bio - Wiki - Video

2013-04-12 11:36:16

Jonathan Winters, one of the great comedians of the 20th century, died Thursday night.

He was 87. Winters, who had been in declining health, died at his longtime home in Encino, said Gary Owens, who was his good friend. - More

Jonathan Winters Bio

Twitter is tweeting music

2013-04-12 11:27:02

Twitter's new music site went live this morning. Well, almost.

Users can currently log in with their usual Twitter credentials, but there are no features as of yet. According to AllThingsD, only a select few will get access to the service over the coming days, with Twitter planning a more extensive rollout after that. - More

Actress Junie Hoang sues IMDb site for revealing her true age

2013-04-11 19:34:04

LIKE most actresses of a certain age, Junie Hoang, an aspiring star from Houston, kept her birth date a secret.

And when a popular movie website used the 41-year-old's credit card details to verify and publish her age she hit it with a $1 million lawsuit. - More

Nigeria withdraw from African Nations Championship qualifiers

2013-04-11 19:19:38

Nigeria were set to play Ivory Coast in Calabar between 21-23 June, in the tournament for locally-based players.

The NFF's Emeka Inyama announced that the withdrawal was taken by the football authority to cut costs.

"We have a lot of financial commitments and we have to look at the competitions in order of importance," he explained. - More

Mexican Constitutional Oil Change Achievable, PAN Senator Says

2013-04-11 19:07:49

Mexico’s National Action Party supports a possible constitutional change to open the state- controlled oil industry to more private investment and will work with other parties to pass such legislation, according to the PAN’s top Senator on the energy commission.

The PAN wants to allow private companies to invest in oil and natural gas production and development, an area the nation’s charter now limits to state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos, Salvador Vega said. - More

Havard 'Kickalicious' Rugland signs with the Detroit Lions

2013-04-11 18:59:50

Norwegian kicker Havard Rugland has signed a contract with the Detroit Lions, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com announced on Twitter.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The Lions were one of several NFL teams to take a closer look at the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Rugland, who has been working with former NFL kicker Michael Husted in California and Florida this offseason.

Charlie Sheen On Lindsay Lohan Rumors

2013-04-11 18:50:51

NHL, Players Union Launch Initiative To Battle Homophobia

2013-04-11 18:48:23

The National Hockey League and its players union launched an initiative today that it hopes will stamp out homophobia from the game.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman tells our Newscast unit that the partnership with You Can Play is intended to send a message that everyone is welcome in the NHL as a player or a fan. - More

Jobless claims fall, consumer confidence up among high-earners

2013-04-11 12:07:07

Applications for unemployment benefits in the United States fell more than forecast last week, Bloomberg reported.

Jobless claims fell by 42,000 to 346,000 in the week ended April 6, from a revised 388,000, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted a drop to 360,000. - More

Oscar Pistorius: family hits out at attacks on relatives of Reeva Steenkamp

2013-04-11 07:57:34

"The disregard that is being shown by some - specifically those commenting via social media - for the profound pain that Reeva's family and friends are going through is very troubling," the family of the Paralympian, who is accused of shooting Miss Steenkamp dead on Valentine's Day, said in a statement. - More

Automakers Recall 3.3 Million Vehicles

2013-04-11 07:51:22

Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda are recalling about 3.3 million vehicles worldwide because the passenger-side air bag could deploy with too much force, sending shards of metal into the passenger area, the automakers said Thursday.

Worldwide, the recalls announced in Tokyo include about 1.7 million Toyotas, 1.1 million Hondas, 480,000 Nissans and 20,000 Mazdas. - More

Mark Zuckerberg launches FWD.us

2013-04-11 07:40:45

Mark Zuckerberg's entry into politics via an immigration reform group is now official.

As noted by TechCrunch, Zuckerberg has teamed up with a number of high-profile technology executives and venture capitalists to form FWD.us — a group that will work to "promote policies to keep the United States and its citizens competitive in a global economy." - More

UPDATE: Kate Upton And P. Diddy Both Deny That Kate Upton Is Dating P. Diddy

2013-04-10 13:57:51

OMG did you hear the totally scandalous news that Kate Upton and P. Diddy were seen “sucking face” at a Miami club and are now, like, totally dating?!?!

Well, now they’re all, “OH NO WE DI-ENT!” For realz, first Diddy was all, “Kate Upton? I don’t know no Kate Upton! Who is she…a dry cleaner or something?

I know a Blake Runyun, but I don’t know no Kate Upton!” - More

Tiger Woods is back, at least the hype is

2013-04-09 22:54:06

Some want to say Tiger Woods is back – back to being happy, back to being comfortable in his own swing, back to a stable love life.

Others want to say nothing's changed, that he's still mostly ego, still putting out bold Nike commercials, still probably the same arrogant guy they enjoyed watching fall the first time around. - More

Olympics can keep Folau in rugby: Pulver

2013-04-09 22:51:18

The Australian Rugby Union is quietly confident the lure of an Olympic Games gold medal will keep superstar Israel Folau in the code.

Speculation is rife in rugby league circles that Folau will return to the NRL in 2014 after leaving the game at the end of 2010 before his less-than-successful two-year stint with the AFL club Greater Western Sydney. - More

Bill Ackman on his 18 percent stake in J.C. Penney

2013-04-09 22:22:23

Bloomberg's Stephanie Ruhle examines the loss incurred by Bill Ackman on his 18 percent stake in J.C. Penney as Ron Johnson was ousted as CEO. Ackman brought Johnson to the company from Apple in 2011. She speaks on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop."...

China Export Gains Miss Forecasts

2013-04-09 22:19:32

China’s exports rose less than forecast for the first time in four months, leaving the world’s second-largest economy with weaker global demand to support a recovery than previous figures indicated.

Shipments abroad increased 10 percent from a year earlier, the customs administration said today in Beijing. - More

Jay-Z selling shares of Nets

2013-04-09 22:11:36

Brooklyn Nets minority owner Jay-Z has begun the process of selling his stake in the team so that he can become an NBA agent, according to a Yahoo! report.

ESPN's Darren Rovell tweeted that Jay-Z's .067 percent (1/15th of a percent) stake in the Nets is worth approximately $350,000, and he could sell it tomorrow if he wanted to. - More

JaMarcus Russell rumors: Bears, Cardinals reportedly show most interest

2013-04-09 19:08:29

The comeback attempt of former No. 1 overall pick and famed bust JaMarcus Russell continues to gain legitimacy as teams are interested in bringing him in for private workouts.

Russell cancelled his pro day workout, originally scheduled for Wednesday, April 10, but only because teams would rather he come in for private workouts. - More

Senate confirms Mary Jo White for the SEC, Bio - Wiki - Videos

2013-04-09 00:12:58

The Senate on Monday confirmed Mary Jo White as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, dismissing concerns about her close ties to the Wall Street banks she will now oversee.

White, a former federal prosecutor who spent the last decade defending JPMorgan Chase and other big banks, secured Senate approval by unanimous consent. White is expected to join the agency in the coming days, replacing Elisse B. Walter, who was running the SEC since the departure of Mary L. Schapiro in December. - More

Mary Jo White Biography

Louisville makes history for Pitino

2013-04-09 00:08:04

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution For one night anyway, four million and some Atlantans could take a backseat. Rick Pitino owned this town. This has been his week and Monday was his night. The same day the 60-year-old New Yorker was officially announced as a member of the next class into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Pitino etched out some history all his own. - More

Kentucky News Links

Huawei Defends Equipment Security Amid Spying Concerns

2013-04-08 06:53:28

Huawei Technologies Co. said it doesn’t pose a U.S. security threat as China’s largest maker of telecommunications equipment defends itself against foreign governments’ concerns that it aids intelligence agencies. - More

GE Buys Lufkin for $3.3 Billion

2013-04-08 06:00:53

General Electric Co. (GE) agreed to buy Lufkin Industries Inc.

(LUFK) for about $3.3 billion to add technologies for the oil and gas industry as Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt raises his bet on energy.

Lufkin shareholders will receive $88.50 per share in cash, and the deal should close in the second half, GE said in a statement today. - More

Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion

2013-04-07 11:32:28

Snoop appears, as if by magic, in a puff of his own smoke.

The rapper, actor, gangster and stoner extraordinaire has reinvented himself as a reggae-singing messenger of hope. Snoop Dogg is dead, long live Snoop Lion.

We meet in his management office in Los Angeles, an enormous warehouse dedicated to all things Snoop. - More

Infection could derail return of Gronkowski

2013-04-07 11:28:13

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski might require a fourth surgery on his previously broken forearm to help clear up an infection but a decision has not yet been made on that front, a person informed of Gronkowski's status told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak about Gronkowski's recovery... - More

Michigan downs Syracuse 61-56 in NCAA semifinal

2013-04-06 21:05:49

Michigan's latest group of young stars is determined to leave its own legacy.

Attacking Syracuse's suffocating zone defense in the first half with 3-pointers, crisp passing and a fearless attitude, the Wolverines advanced to the national championship game with a 61-56 victory over the Orange in the Final Four on Saturday night. - More

Lawmakers ask why Beyonce and Jay-Z went to Cuba

2013-04-06 15:07:15

Two Republican lawmakers are asking a government agency to look into a recent trip to Cuba by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, suggesting the superstar couple violated restrictions on travel to the communist island.

“Despite the clear prohibition against tourism in Cuba, numerous press reports described the couple’s trip as tourism... - More

The End and Don King

2013-04-06 08:13:22

In the back room of Manhattan's Carnegie Deli, Don King picked at a pastrami sandwich with his fingers.

He had just been asked a question about his electric hair and, for the first time in a day filled with radio and television interviews, King paused before he spoke.

A cautious look crept over his graying eyes. - More

Snipes released from prison

2013-04-05 20:03:50

Actor Wesley Snipes has been released from a federal prison where he was serving a three-year sentence after being convicted on tax charges in February 2010.

The release to a supervised residential location in New York occurred Tuesday, the Federal Bureau of Prisons told CNN. - More

Halle Berry Pregnant With Second Child: It's a Boy!

2013-04-05 12:34:26

Halle Berry's daughter Nahla is going to have a little brother.

E! News has confirmed that the Oscar winner is pregnant with her and fiancé Olivier Martinez's first child, and that she'll be adding a baby boy to her growing brood!

The actress' rep told E! News, "We can confirm that Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez are expecting a child. - More

Hiring slowed to 88K jobs in March; unemployment rate drops to 7.6 percent

2013-04-05 12:32:22

The U.S. economy will face the brunt of massive federal spending cuts just as growth in private sector jobs is plunging, according to government data released Friday.

Businesses created a paltry 88,000 jobs in March, less than half what Wall Street had expected. The news sent stock markets tumbling by more than 1 percent during morning trading. - More

The New Facebook Phone

2013-04-04 13:11:21

Maybe you were hoping for something radically new and different from a Facebook phone.

If so, Zuck just broke your heart. But so what.

Facebook never does anything new.

New doesn’t matter in the blue. What matters is this: What Mark Zuckerberg announced today runs software called Facebook Home that makes it easier for people to spend more time with Facebook.

And that’s all he really needed to pull off. - More

Film critic Roger Ebert dies at 70, Bio

2013-04-04 13:08:56

Roger Ebert, the longtime critic who popularized film criticism with his "thumbs up, thumbs down" reviews in print and on television, has died, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Thursday. He was 70.

Ebert revealed this week that he suffered a recurrence of the cancer that he had battled in recent years.

"There is a hole that can't be filled. - More

Roger Ebert Biography Link

Lance Armstrong Withdraws From Swim Meet

2013-04-04 10:03:56

After an objection was raised Thursday by FINA, swimming's international governing body, Lance Armstrong has withdrawn from a masters swim meet being held this weekend in Austin, Texas, The Associated Press and other news outlets are reporting.

His decision came shortly after news of his planned participation started to spread, leading to questions about why an athlete who is banned from most international competitions because of doping charges could compete against others in such an event. - More

Freeh Report: MF Global's collapse was Jon Corzine's fault

2013-04-04 10:01:20

The collapse of brokerage firm MF Global in October 2011 was another reminder of how fragile the financial system can be. But the firm was under a microscope also because it was led by Jon Corzine, a former New Jersey governor who had also been co-chairman of Goldman Sachs.

And a report filed today by MF Global bankruptcy trustee Louis Freeh emphasizes what many had already concluded: MF Global’s failure was largely due to Corzine’s mismanagement and risky behavior. - More

Combs falls victim to swatting prank

2013-04-03 18:31:11

Hollywood's swatting saga continued Wednesday when an apparent prankster targeted the Los Angeles home of rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Five patrol cars rushed to Diddy's $5-million mansion in Toluca Lake after an unidentified person used a 911 "Internet relay" system to report an assault with a deadly weapon, cops said. - More

GEO Group withdraws $6 million gift

2013-04-02 10:58:57

The Boca Raton, Fla., prison company that donated $6 million to Florida Atlantic University to change the name of the college's football stadium has withdrawn the gift, the company said Monday.

GEO Group announced that they informed FAU that the gift would be withdrawn and the stadium would no longer be named GEO Group Stadium, calling criticism against the move an "ongoing distraction." - More

FIFA picks goal-line technology

2013-04-02 08:15:22

FIFA opted for GoalControl on Tuesday as its goal-line technology system for the Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The German camera-based, ball-tracking system was the last of four contenders to win a FIFA contract that starts with the Confederations Cup in June. - More

Major Automakers Enjoy Strong US Monthly Sales in March

2013-04-02 08:09:35

Major automakers posted strong monthly U.S. car sales last month, helped by growing confidence in the economic recovery, amid strong demand for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Both General Motors and Ford saw a six percent rise in U.S. sales, with GM selling nearly 246,000 vehicles during March. - More

Eurozone unemployment at record high of 12% in February

2013-04-02 08:06:40

The unemployment rate in the 17-nation Eurozone was a record high of 12% in February as Europe continued to struggle with its debt crisis.

The February rate was the same as January, which was revised up slightly from an initial figure of 11.9%, the region's statistical office, Eurostat, said Tuesday. - More

TBS extends Conan O'Brien through 2015

2013-04-01 15:10:57

Turner Broadcasting has extended "Conan" through November 2015, solidifying the network's relationship with late night host Conan O'Brien.

Time Warner-owned Turner scooped up the red-haired O'Brien in 2010 shortly after red-faced NBC executives displaced the comic to shuffle Jay Leno back into his longtime perch at 11:35 p.m. on "The Tonight Show." - More

Video: Kevin in good spirits and walking around on crutches

2013-04-01 14:58:44

Louisville guard Kevin Ware was up and walking on crutches Monday morning, and coach Rick Pitino said his player's spirits have been boosted by the outpouring of support from friends and fans.

Ware isn't in any pain after a 2-hour surgery Sunday night to repair a horrifying fracture in his right leg. Doctors reset the bone and inserted a rod, and are monitoring him to make sure there's no infection, Pitino said. - More

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Google declares end of YouTube in April Fool's prank

2013-03-31 19:57:38

The best April Fool's pranks are absurd but also have a kernel of believability at their core just big enough to reel people in.

While the notion that YouTube has been a 8-year-long contest and Google is finally choosing a winner and shutting the site down tonight is pretty hard to swallow on its face, Google did shock many people by announcing the shutdown of Google Reader recently.

Perhaps Larry and Sergey are beginning to go all Howard Hughes on us? - More

Barack Obama, Robert Griffin III Conversation

2013-03-31 19:23:31

When you're the quarterback of the Redskins and you've just led your team to the playoffs in a most-unexpected way as a rookie and then had your season end with a chilling knee injury, there's probably not much that will faze you.

Sharing a conversation with the president might be one of those instances. This, from Robert Griffin III's Twitter account Sunday afternoon. - More

Louisville's Kevin Ware breaks leg trying to block shot

2013-03-31 19:10:49

Louisville guard Kevin Ware has a broken right leg after landing awkwardly when he tried to block a shot by Duke guard Tyler Thornton.

Replays showed that Ware's lower right leg appears to snap as he lands from a lengthy leap to contest the shot. A video of the play is attached below (warning, images are graphic). - More

Google launching same-day delivery service for online shoppers

2013-03-29 13:39:05

Internet search leader Google is taking another step beyond information retrieval into grocery delivery. The new service, called Google Shopping Express, will initially provide same-day delivery of food and other products bought online by a small group of consumers in San Francisco and suburbs located south of the city. - More

S&P 500 sets all-time closing high

2013-03-28 13:55:44

The broad Standard & Poor's 500 index broke a half-decade-old record, another sign of stocks' continuing rally this year.

The S&P 500 added 6.34 points, or 0.41%, to 1,569.19 Thursday, the last trading day of the first quarter. The S&P 500 fell short of its all-time intra-day high of 1,576.09, however. - More

Davonte' Neal and Justin Ferguson will transfer

2013-03-27 09:08:39

Rising Notre Dame sophomore wide receivers Davonte' Neal and Justin Ferguson have decided to transfer, coach Brian Kelly said Wednesday, meaning the Fighting Irish will have lost their top four signees from a 2012 recruiting class that was ranked No. 9 nationally.

Neal, who was the Irish's primary punt returner last season, was the school's highest-rated prospect from the recruiting class of 2012, receiving five stars from ESPN and ranking as the No. 1 overall athlete in his class. - More

Mexico Hopes for Joint NAFTA-EU Deal

2013-03-27 08:54:01

In a bid to expand global commerce, Mexico hopes for a trade deal between the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the European Union that could leverage the economic powers of both unions and consolidate trade deals already in the works.

Mexico currently has a free trade deal with the EU, while Canada and the United States – the other two nations in NAFTA – are currently in talks their own trade deals with Europe. - More

USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier draws 1.6 overnight rating on ESPN

2013-03-27 08:51:32

The United States almost pulled out a win against Mexico on Tuesday in a game that ultimately ended in a 0-0 tie and the U.S. getting only its second point in a World Cup qualifier at Azteca Stadium.

The game was ultimately a win for ESPN, which aired the game.

The network drew enough viewers to earn a 1.6 overnight rating... - More

FGCU coach's wife Amanda Marcum

2013-03-27 08:41:21

Webb — Miss Alabama USA, model and the girlfriend of Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarren — parlayed a brief televised shot during a football game into her own cottage industry of instant fame and commercial gigs.

(Thank you, Brent Musberger). But Amanda, 34, has no plans to capitalize on her re-discovered celebrity, perfectly content at being a stay-at-home mom to her three children, including daughters Aila, 6, and Lilly, 5. Marcum will be 2 next month. - More

Dorothy Hamill drops out

2013-03-27 08:35:16

Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill stopped the show during the first elimination night of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars” when she quit the competition.

Citing the advice of her spine surgeon, Hamill said she had no choice but to withdraw.

“It would be completely unfair for me to stay in this and have any of these people go home,” she said in the show’s final moments. - More

Home sales fell 0.4 percent to 104.8

2013-03-27 08:32:36

Fewer Americans signed contracts to purchase previously owned homes in February as limited inventory and access to credit held back a more robust recovery in housing.

The index of pending home sales fell 0.4 percent to 104.8, the second-highest level since April 2010, after a revised 3.8 percent increase the prior month, the National Association of Realtors reported today in Washington. - More

Home price gains less than zero for long term: Shiller

2013-03-26 14:33:31

Housing data released Tuesday was mixed, showing home prices jumped while new home sales dropped, prompting renowned economist Robert Shiller to call the housing recovery positive in the short-term, but not without many headwinds. There might even be a bubble, he said. - More

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart filed for divorce

2013-03-26 14:29:25

There's a drama-fueled wind hitting the Real Housewives of Atlanta today, but Kenya Moore isn't twirling away.

After the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart filed for divorce from his reality star wife Porsha Williams, the former Miss USA has spoken out in support of the troubled couple.

No, seriously. - More

Justin Bieber being investigated

2013-03-26 14:26:26

Justin Bieber’s temper may have gotten him into trouble again.

The pop superstar is being investigated for battery, according to TMZ.

A neighbor accused the Biebs of battery and police responded by heading over to the “Baby” singer’s home in California to investigate the matter further, TMZ reported. - More

Shot of the Day: Tiger Woods

2013-03-25 14:04:27

In the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler each made long birdie putts on the par-5 12th hole.

Coach leads Florida Gulf Coast to NCAA success

2013-03-24 19:36:36

Build a state university in the swamplands of south Florida. Move the athletic program to the highest level in college sports and hire a self-made millionaire basketball coach.

When his team makes the NCAA tournament, say in Year 2 of its eligibility, beat a tradition-rich opponent like a Georgetown.

That is Florida Gulf Coast University's formula for success. - More

Pepsi to start new-bottle rollout

2013-03-23 16:37:25

PepsiCo is changing the look of its single-serve bottles for the first time in nearly two decades. Set to roll out next month in Chicago, the 16- and 20-ounce bottles feature a slightly wider bottom and swirled grip meant to make it easier to hold. - More

Microsoft Hits 50,000 Total Apps in Windows Store

2013-03-23 16:30:49

That sound you just heard was Microsoft officially shattering a ceiling within the Windows Store.

According to an unofficial tally by the site MetroStore Scanner, Microsoft has pushed past 50,000 total apps within the Windows Store.

While it's a great number on its face, a deeper dive into developer activity on the Windows Store suggests that the Windows 8 platform still has a little bit of catching up to do. - More

Tiger Takes Lead At Bay Hill

2013-03-23 16:26:25

Woods, who has won the tournament a record seven times and is the only two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, made key par saves on the front nine and then stormed into the lead with a birdie on 15 and an eagle on 16 during Saturday's third round.

Woods, who can become world No. 1 for the first time in 29 months with a victory, fired a stellar 6-under-par 66 to reach 11-under-par 205 and leads Rickie Fowler (67), John Huh (71) and Justin Rose (72) by two shots. - More

Bobby Brown turns himself in for 55-day DUI jail sentence

2013-03-20 19:05:35

Bobby Brown reported to a Los Angeles court Wednesday (March 20) to begin serving a 55-day jail sentence.

Brown was arrested in October and booked on suspicion of DUI and driving on a suspended license.

He was on probation at the time for a prior conviction, this being his third DUI offense. - More

Ed Reed To Join Texans

2013-03-20 18:55:49

Free-agent safety Ed Reed is on the verge of joining the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports.

The swagger and skill Ed Reed brings to the field make the 34-year-old safety a risk worth taking for the Texans, writes Paul Kuharsky.

Reed, who has spent his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens, visited the Texans last week but left last Friday without a deal. - More

Pentagon Dumps BlackBerry for iPhone, iPads: Report

2013-03-20 18:47:54

With BlackBerry about to launch the Z10 at the end of this week — the flagship of its BlackBerry 10 line — this isn't the best time for one of the company's largest customers to bow out.

Especially not when that customer is the U.S. military. But that's about to happen, according to a report from Electronista.

The site has "well-placed sources" inside the Department of Defense's mobile device testing program, currently underway. - More

HP Chairman Ray Lane Faces Fury

2013-03-20 18:45:00

Hewlett-Packard investors will get the chance to voice dismay over the $8.8 billion writedown of Autonomy when they're asked to re-elect Chairman Ray Lane and other directors at an annual meeting today.

Betty Liu reports on today's "Movers & Shakers" on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop."

Lindsay Lohan

2013-03-20 18:35:32

Linsday Lohan has until May 2 to prove to a Los Angeles County judge that she has enrolled in rehab.

Lohan reported to the Santa Monica Police Department and got her latest mug shot taken Tuesday after a no-contest plea to misdemeanor charges stemming from a crash on Pacific Coast Highway. - More

Lady Gaga Unbelievable After Hip Surgery, Manager

2013-03-20 18:31:34

It looks like Lady Gaga's on the edge of a full recovery.

In an interview published Wednesday, the pop superstar's manager, Vincent Herbert, revealed that a month after her hip operation Gaga is "doing wonderful, doing great."

According to her manager, the hitmaker is "ready to get back to work" finishing up recording her latest album, Artpop, which she began writing during the Born This Way Ball tour. - More

Starbucks buys first coffee farm for research -- and beans

2013-03-19 16:27:51

Starbucks, the world's biggest coffee chain, said Tuesday that it bought its first coffee farm, where it will research the leaf rust that is devastating Central American crops as well as harvest its own beans.

Starbucks, known for its coffee shops around the world, has purchased an active farm on roughly 600 acres in Costa Rica... - More

Feds Battle Walgreens

2013-03-19 14:36:09

A federal crackdown on the Florida pain pill market will pit Walgreens against the Drug Enforcement Administration in a high-level and multi-front legal battle that comes to a capital courtroom this week.

Represented in part by the former U.S. solicitor general, the nation’s largest retail pharmacy company is challenging the DEA’s effort to stop a major South Florida distribution center from shipping controlled substances like oxycodone, a powerful painkiller. - More

Toronto Stocks Edge Lower

2013-03-19 14:32:40

Canadian stocks edged lower Tuesday as Europe's sovereign-debt woes weighed on energy and base-metal mining stocks. Strength in gold shares capped losses.

The S&P/TSX Composite index edged down 7.89 points, or 0.1%, to 12773.87, and declines led advances 822 to 805, preliminary data showed.

The blue-chip S&P/TSX 60 index was steady at 733.64. Trading was lighter than usual, with volume falling to 297.7 million shares from 330.0 million Monday. - More

Gains in Permits Signal Sustained U.S. Housing Rebound

2013-03-19 14:28:21

Builders began work on more houses in February and permits for future construction climbed to the highest level in almost five years, pointing to a sustained rebound that will help power the U.S. expansion.

Housing starts climbed by 0.8 percent last month to a 917,000 annualized pace, the Commerce Department reported today in Washington. Permits (NHSPATOT) rose 4.6 percent to a 946,000 rate, the most since June 2008. - More

Keyshia Cole Slams Beyonce

2013-03-19 10:34:39

"Can't stand when people all self righteous when it's convenient it makes them look good. Lmao! But can still talk s--t when convenient 2 FOH,"

"I done kept it real from the start! #RespectTHAT," she also wrote.

Then: "First "Women need to Stick together" now bitches better Bow. Smh. But it's all G! Chicks stay shooting the shit. But when I speak my mind its a prob. #Well #StayMad." "

Bitch you ain't gon need NO more perm kits. The #BeyHive bouta snatch you BALD !!! @KeyshiaCole," tweeted another concerned fan. - More

Selena Gomez on David Letterman

2013-03-19 10:30:24

Selena visited 'The Late Show' with David Letterman on Mar. 18, where the two discussed her relationship status and bonded over the fact that they've both made Justin cry! Funny or way mean?

While in the midst of her promotional tour for Spring Breakers, Selena Gomez paid a visit to CBS' The Late Show on Mar. 18 to have a talk with funnyman David Letterman.

The Hype: UFC fighter probably going to jail

2013-03-19 10:17:07

UFC fighter Nick Diaz decided the post-fight press conference after a bout with Georges St-Pierre was the perfect time to tell the world, and U.S. Government, he hasn't paid a cent in taxes his entire life.

Michelle Beadle and Dave Briggs take a serious second to debate if there is deeper meaning behind Diaz’s proclamation, but it might be safe to assume the fighter has taken too many blows to the head. - More

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Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello to steps down

2013-03-18 15:25:46

Electronic Arts Inc. said Monday its Chief Executive John Riccitiello is stepping down and that its fourth-quarter results could fall short of expectations.

The videogame company's board has appointed Larry Probst as executive chairman to ensure a smooth transition while the board searches for a permanent CEO. - More

La Roja prepare for crucial week

2013-03-18 15:14:29

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has plenty to think about this week as he readies his previously all-conquering side for their crucial upcoming World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Finland in Gijon on Friday, and then France in Paris three days later.

Reigning world champions Spain had been expected to stroll through Group I, but slipped up by drawing 1-1 with France in Madrid last October, a game which featured a missed Cesc Fabregas penalty and a shock injury- time equaliser from Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud. - More

NFL to Pay $42M

2013-03-18 15:08:23

The NFL has agreed to pay $42 million as part of a settlement with a group of retired players who challenged the league over using their names and images without their consent.

The league will use the money to fund a "common good" trust over the next eight years that will help retired players with an array of issues including medical expenses, housing and career transition. - More

Lil Wayne still hospitalized

2013-03-18 15:02:02

After being hospitalized in Los Angeles following a series of seizures last week, rapper Lil Wayne has been visited by several high-profile associates including Nicki Minaj, Drake, Birdman and basketball player Chris Paul.

Birdman tweeted that the rapper “will be home real soon,” and a source close to Wayne told The Times on Friday that he was “recovering.” - More

President calls on MPs to approve depositors tax

2013-03-18 04:52:02

Nicosia, – President Anastasiades on Sunday urged MPs to vote in favour of the Eurogroup decision to impose a one-off levy on deposits on the island.

Parliament meets on Monday afternoon to discuss the bill, amid conflicting reports on whether the government commands enough votes to push it through the 56 member parliament. - More

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Giorgos Katidis Lifetime Ban

2013-03-17 09:45:54

Greece's soccer federation said Sunday in a statement that the AEK Athens midfielder's gesture "is a deep insult to all victims of Nazi brutality."

The 20-year-old Katidis gave a Nazi salute after scoring the go-ahead goal Saturday in AEK's 2-1 victory over Veria in the Greek league.

He pleaded ignorance of the meaning of his gesture - right arm extended and hand straightened. - More

Montreal Impact beat Toronto for third consecutive win

2013-03-16 20:04:14

Patrice Bernier and Marco Di Vaio scored first-half goals to lead the Montreal Impact to a 2-1 win over Toronto FC on Saturday and maintain its perfect start to the season.

The Impact, who opened with wins in Seattle and Portland to match their total away victories last year, became the first Major League Soccer team to win three games this campaign. - More

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Didier Drogba Absence

2013-03-16 20:01:14

Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba was a shock omission on Saturday when Ivory Coast named a 28-man squad for next weekend's World Cup qualifier against Gambia in Abidjan.

The Ivorians listed the players who will be involved in next Saturday's tie in Abidjan on the soccer federation's website (www.fif-ci.com) without giving a reason for the former Chelsea player's absence. - More

Heidi Klum Keeps Her Shape

2013-03-16 19:55:21

Heidi Klum says she manages to keep her shape by staying constantly on the go with her four children and merging her busy schedule with theirs.

"It's very hard to find time obviously to work out.

I'm like a mom and dad in one," says the über-fit supermodel, 39, who separated from husband Seal last year.

"When I go shopping I put on my sneakers and my [fitness] clothes. - More

500,000 Google Reader users convert

2013-03-16 19:50:47

When one door closes, another one opens, and that statement proves very true for Feedly.

After Google’s shocking announcement that it’s going to shut down its Google Reader service, Feedly’s user base has increased phenomenally.

The service has already gained over 500,000 new users in just 48 hours. - More

New Project for Life of Pi director

2013-03-15 10:35:53

Weeks after winning the Academy Award for best director, Life of Pi's Ang Lee has taken on his first TV project.

Lee will direct the pilot for an FX drama series, Tyrant, about an unassuming American family drawn into the workings of a turbulent Middle East nation.

Producer Howard Gordon and writer Gideon Raff... - More

Jay-Z The Great Gatsby Soundtrack

2013-03-15 10:20:34

Jay-Z is to act as executive producer and release original material on The Great Gatsby soundtrack, it has been confirmed.

A statement released yesterday, via Reuters, reveals that Jay-Z will oversee the official soundtrack to the film adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald novel, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan and is directed by Baz Luhrmann. - More

Europa League Quarterfinals

2013-03-15 10:13:46

You'd be forgiven for missing the UEFA Europa League draw—such was the furore over the Champions League version—but here B/R predicts the winner of each "other" quarterfinal.

Former Newcastle and Holland striker Patrick Kluivert drew some pretty interesting ties in Nyon, Switzerland, with two English clubs in particular in for a tough ride.

Read on for the winning predictions. - More

Mark Zuckerberg Top Employee Approved CEO

2013-03-15 06:03:26

Like his company’s stock, Tim Cook’s employee approval ratings are down this year, at least according to job hunting and review site Glassdoor.

In 2012 Apple’s Cook was the highest-rated CEO on Glassdoor’s rankings, with his employees giving him a 97 percent job approval rating. In 2013, he didn’t register in the top 10 tech CEOs list, but he did come in at No. 18 in the more general Top 50 Highest-Rated CEOs list with an employee approval rating of 93 percent. - More

UEFA Champions League

2013-03-15 05:04:16

The draw for the quarter final of this season's Champions League takes place in Nyon, in Switzerland, on Friday, with the Premier League having no representatives for the first time in 17 years.

The first leg matches will be played on 2 and 3 April, with the return fixtures taking place a week later, on 9 and 10 April. - More

Redbox Instant launches movie streaming

2013-03-15 05:01:07

Redbox Instant by Verizon, a movie-streaming site formed by Coinstar and Verizon, ended testing and began commercial service Thursday.

Joining a small but growing group of companies that compete in the nascent streaming business, Redbox Instant is seeking to differentiate itself by mixing streaming with its network of 35,000 kiosks nationwide that offer newly released DVDs. - More

Steven Seagal Helps Vladimir Putin

2013-03-15 04:53:12

Russian President Vladimir Putin has enlisted Hollywood action man Steven Seagal to help him promote a return to Soviet-era fitness.

The unlikely pair opened a new martial arts center outside Moscow on Wednesday, reports Reuters, to kick off Putin’s attempt to bring back a mass physical training program first introduced in the 1930s under Joseph Stalin. - More

J.P. Morgan in government cross hairs

2013-03-15 04:46:15

J.P. Morgan, the nation’s largest bank by assets, suffered a double blow on Thursday after it was charged by a Senate committee with misleading regulators and investors over massive credit derivatives losses and saw its plans to return capital to shareholders questioned by the government.

The combination of the Senate’s report on the so-called London Whale trading losses and the Federal Reserve’s skepticism about the bank’s capital planning process suggests the bank and Jamie Dimon — its vocal chief executive — can expect continued scrutiny from government regulators in the months ahead. - More

Charlie Sheen: Send dog poo to my daughter's school

2013-03-15 04:43:53

The actor posted an angry message on the site last night, urging fans to send "dog s***" to private California prep school Viewpoint.

Charlie claims nine-year-old Sam - his daughter with ex-wife Denise Richards - was "bullied out of" the school and then called a "liar" by staff. - More

Bieber rants

2013-03-15 04:38:49

Bieber rants about 'lies' in Instagram post Justin Bieber has taken to Instagram to unload frustration over what he says are the "countless lies" being circulated about him.

In a passionate post Thursday, Bieber wrote that he's "tired of all the countless lies in the press right now," denying rumors that he's going to rehab.

Bieber railed against those he perceives as against him, writing that "I'm 19 and it must be scary to some people to think that this is just the beginning." - More

How many CEOs does Samsung need?

2013-03-15 04:36:44

How many CEOs does one company need?

If you’re Samsung, then the answer is three; the Korean firm just elevated two of its top execs to the role of co-CEO, with President Boo-keun Yoon and President J.K. Shin joining Vice Chairman Oh-Hyun Kwon.

The new roles are being billed as recognition of the particular inputs the divisions of the two presidents make to Samsung’s business overall. - More

New Buick Encore Ad

2013-03-14 10:43:48

Buick’s first commercial for its 2013 Encore features the small luxury crossover going against some heavy, pre-historic competition.

The 30-second spot, called “Dinosaur,” features a young couple weaving through dinosaurs (representing “the age of the oversized luxury car”) in the newly released Encore.

It ends with a voiceover saying, ''Clearly, the next big thing in luxury is small.'' - More

First Lady: Our number-one priority is making sure that our family is whole

2013-03-14 07:59:48

First Lady Michelle Obama in Vogue:

“I don’t think it’s our job to put an idea to rest. Our job is, first and foremost, to make sure our family is whole. You know, we have small kids; they’re growing every day. But I think we were both pretty straightforward when we said, ‘Our number-one priority is making sure that our family is whole.’ ”

“The stresses and the pressures of this job are so real that when you get a minute,” the First Lady says, “you want to give that extra energy to your fourteen- and eleven-year-old. . . .”

Google Android Exec Andy Rubin Steps Down

2013-03-14 07:34:55

Andy Rubin has stepped down as the executive in charge of Google’s Android operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, ending a seven-year reign that reshaped the technology industry.

The unexpected change announced Wednesday may raise new questions about Android’s direction as Google duels with Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and a long list of other companies in the increasingly important mobile computing market.

Google is replacing Rubin with Sundar Pichai, an executive in charge of the company’s Chrome Web browser and operating system for lightweight laptop computers. - More

Mexico names 23-man roster for World Cup

2013-03-13 22:31:17

Mexico has announced its 23-man roster for its upcoming World Cup qualifiers against the United States and Honduras on Wednesday.

Highlighting the roster are the usual suspects – goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, forwards Giovani Dos Santos and Javier Hernández, and winger Andrés Guardado, among others.

In-form Real Sociedad forward Carlos Vela, who has been estranged from the national team, was again excluded from the selection. - More

Brandi Cochran Pregnancy Suit Wiped Out By CA Supreme Court

2013-03-13 22:06:48

A former model on "The Price Is Right" has had a massive jury award for alleged pregnancy discrimination wiped away, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A California state court judge threw out an $8.5 million jury award for Brandi Cochran Tuesday because a jury didn't receive proper instructions before making its decision. - More

Welker signs two-year deal with Broncos

2013-03-13 21:57:46

Wide receiver Wes Welker reached an agreeement on a two-year, $12-million deal with the Denver Broncos, the NFL Network reported Wednesday.

Welker, one of the top unrestricted free agents available, had 118 receptions for 1,354 yards and six touchdowns in 2012 with the New England Patriots.

It was his fifth 100-catch season — an NFL record — with the Patriots. - More

Kobe Bryant Out Indefinitely

2013-03-13 21:51:29

Kobe Bryant struggled for the second night in a row, but this time LA wasn’t playing one of the worst teams in the NBA, and Dwight Howard wasn’t getting to the free throw line every minute.

After a 4-for-14 clunker against Orlando, Kobe shot a woeful 11-of-33 against Atlanta, and then suffered a left ankle injury in the final seconds that will keep him out “indefinitely” according to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Bryant took a baseline jumper and came down on the ankle of Dahntay Jones, and lay on the court writhing in pain.

It looked bad. LA lost, 96-92. - More

Reggie Bush, Lions reach agreement

2013-03-13 10:43:04

The Detroit Lions are vying for running back Reggie Bush's services and hope to nudge the Arizona Cardinals out of the way.

Bush will visit the Lions on Wednesday, according to a person informed of the meeting.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because neither the team nor Bush's representatives has confirmed the visit publicly. - More

Barcelona's 4-0 annihilation of AC Milan

2013-03-13 09:09:05

It was supposed to be the end of an era, the end of a generation.

Had it not been for a post, then perhaps the world would be looking at a different future. Football is nothing but fickle.

The headline will be Barcelona's 4-0 annihilation of AC Milan, swatting aside the critics and doubters in the only way that this great team know how.

Had the ball deflected off the post and spun the other way, the chilling inquest into Barcelona's fall of grace would have already begun. - More

Good Times to Return

2013-03-13 05:13:17

Hollywood loves an adaptation, and with the success of franchises like “Mission: Impossible” and “Star Trek,” it’s no wonder they keep going back to the television well.

The latest TV-to-movie adaptation will be “Good Times,” Norman Lear’s groundbreaking, socially-aware comedy.

According to Deadline, Scott Rudin will produce and Phil Johnston (“Wreck-It Ralph”) will write.

“Good Times” was one of the first sitcoms to focus on an African-American, working-class family. James and Florida Evans struggled to get by while raising three kids in a Chicago housing project. - More

Twinkies sold to Apollo Global Management, Metropoulos for $410 million

2013-03-13 04:56:37

Hostess Brands said it will sell its Twinkies and Dolly Madison snack cake businesses to Apollo Global Management a APO and Metropoulos & Co. for $410 million.

The sale was agreed on after no other bidders emerged for the iconic brand.

The agreement now only requires a bankruptcy judge’s signature. - More

Reports: Dolphins land WR Mike Wallace

2013-03-12 14:42:14

The Miami Dolphins reportedly landed their big catch.

Multiple reports from the NFL Network state Miami has agreed in principle with former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace.

He is expected to sign his contract later this evening. Wallace was Miami’s top target all along.

The Dolphins were ranked 26th in passing and need better receivers to add around second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

We will have more analysis on this big move coming up in the AFC East blog. - More

Google fined $7 million for unauthorized Street View data collection

2013-03-12 12:00:59

Google Inc will pay $7 million to 38 states and the District of Columbia to settle an investigation into a controversial incident in which its Street View mapping cars collected passwords and other personal data from home wireless networks between 2008 and 2010.

The deal, details of which were reported last week, ends a nearly three-year investigation. - More

No Beef Between Kanye and Timberlake

2013-03-12 09:49:33

Beef? What beef?

Sure, it seemed like Justin Timberlake threw a light-hearted lyrical jab at Kanye West during his performance of "Suit & Tie"  on "Saturday Night Live." 

But on the first night of his weeklong stint on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" on Monday, Timberlake sidestepped any talk of a growing feud with the rapper. - More

Woods Rolling His Way Toward the Masters

2013-03-11 08:15:09

Tiger Woods had gone more than three years without a World Golf Championship. He had no trouble remembering the drill.

He sat at a table with the blue Gene Sarazen Cup trophy — he has six just like it at home — and signed a stack of flags for posterity and charity after a two-shot win that was never in question during the final two hours on the Blue Monster at Doral. - More

Tallest Building west of MS to Be Acquired for $367.5 Million

2013-03-11 07:05:13

The U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles, California’s tallest building, will be bought by Overseas Union Enterprise Ltd. (OUE) for $367.5 million as the real estate company seeks to expand beyond its base in Singapore. The office property, owned by a unit of MPG Office Trust Inc., was completed in 1989 and has a height of 1,018 feet (310 meters), OUE said today in a statement. - More

Alibaba Group Names Jonathan Lu as New CEO

2013-03-11 07:01:58

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. named Jonathan Lu to succeed founder Jack Ma as chief executive amid growing expectations that the Chinese e-commerce company is gearing up for a potential multibillion-dollar initial public offering.

The company portrayed Mr. Lu as a Mr. Fix It—an experienced manager put in place to run Alibaba's growing operations. - More

Tiger Woods wins another at Doral

2013-03-10 20:30:09

Devouring courses that fit his eye, Tiger Woods is starting to look — and play — like the best player in the world again. Don't expect his roll to slow, either, as two more of his favorite tracks are on tap — Bay Hill and Augusta National. - More

Oprah Winfrey Will Speak at Harvard University's Graduation

2013-03-10 20:23:26

Oprah Winfrey, the boss herself, has been named the principal speaker at Harvard University's 362nd Commencement ceremony.

“Oprah’s journey from her grandmother’s Mississippi farm to becoming one of the world’s most admired women is one of the great American success stories,” Harvard President Drew Faust said in a statement.

If you aren't aware of Oprah's accolades, where the hell have you been?

To keep it concise, The Oprah Winfrey Show ran for 25 seasons and drew 40 million weekly viewers in the United States alone. - More

Justin Timberlake Responds To Kanye

2013-03-10 20:05:24

While hosting Saturday Night Live last night for the 5th time, an honor that was given due props during his opening monologue, Justin Timberlake, all the way on his “suit & tie sh*t,” responded to Kanye West‘s highly publicized rant last month during a performance at London’s Hammersmith Apollo. - More

Oz: The Great and Powerful' Opens at No. 1 With $80.3 Million

2013-03-10 19:59:13

"Oz: The Great and Powerful" makes a strong debut on the North American box office this weekend.

The Disney fantasy adventure movie starring James Franco and Mila Kunis becomes one of the only two newcomers which break into the top 10, bowing at No. 1 with the biggest opening of the year so far. - More

48-year-old Bernard Hopkins wins the IBF light heavyweight title

2013-03-10 09:39:30

If you're waiting on Bernard Hopkins (53-6) to get too old to box, you'll have to wait a little while longer.

Not only did he not look like a 48-year-old taking the IBF light heavyweight title from Tavoris Cloud (24-1) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, he looked like he could challenge other top fighters in the 175-pound weight range.

After all, Cloud came into the fight as an undefeated champion with a KO percentage of 76 percent. But as we should already know by now, the numbers don't mean much to B-Hop. - More

Issa Hayatou is re-elected unopposed as CAF President

2013-03-10 09:22:35

Cameroonian Issa Hayatou has been re-elected unopposed as Confederation of African Football (CAF) president for a final four-year term in office.

The 66-year-old, who was voted into power in 1988, has already said this seventh term will be his final period as head of the organisation. - More

Economic Data: Weak Start In China

2013-03-10 09:15:33

China’s industrial output had the weakest start to a year since 2009 and lending and retail sales growth slowed, toughening challenges for a new leadership that wants to narrow the gap between rich and poor.

Production increased 9.9 percent in the first two months and retail sales rose 12.3 percent, government data showed March 9, trailing economists’ estimates. New local-currency loans in February fell to 620 billion yuan ($99.6 billion), the People’s Bank of China said yesterday, lower than the estimates of 27 out of 28 analysts in a Bloomberg News survey. - More

236K Jobs in February; Jobless Rate Drops to 7.7%

2013-03-10 09:10:04

Employers added 236,000 jobs in February, far more than analysts had expected, offering some much-needed momentum to the long-sluggish U.S. labor market.

The headline unemployment rate dropped to four-year low of 7.7% last month, down from 7.9% in January. - More

Jon Bon Jovi Hits

2013-03-10 06:50:18

Jon Bon Jovi can’t tell whether a song he has penned will be a hit.

The frontman of rock band Bon Jovi is currently promoting their new album What About Now with Because We Can – The Tour.

Despite going strong since the 1980s, the 51-year-old admits it’s hard to tell whether a new track will go down well with fans or not. - More

Jim Carrey in Burt Wonderstone role

2013-03-10 06:44:29

Jim Carrey knows all about creating crazy characters, but he may have topped himself with Steve Gray, the strange Las Vegas street magician he plays in “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.”

Gray, with long straight hair and a bizarre sense of “magic,” mutilates himself with one shocking Can you top this? stunt after another in his rivalry with the city’s most famous and beloved illusionists, Steve Carell’s Burt Wonderstone and his partner Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi). - More

Timberlake Reprises "Candle in the Wind" During Chavez Funeral on "SNL"

2013-03-10 06:37:59

If "Saturday Night Live's" musical guest and host this week Justin Timberlake didn't enjoy his time on the show, he's an even better actor than anyone knows.

Timberlake and his mega-watt smile reprised old roles and added a few new characters to his catalog, including a dancing vegan restaurant mascot and a bailiff on a Maine court show. - More

Celtics, now with 11 Overtime Victories

2013-03-09 08:17:24

The Celtics, now with 11 games that have gone into overtime, in addition to 16 overtime periods, lead the NBA in terms of sheer extra work.

Though they extended their OT record to 7-4 with last night’s 107-102 win over Atlanta, it’s not necessarily the kind of grind they want.

“It’s not good to play so many overtimes, but the great thing is that we’re winning,” said Jeff Green. - More

Martha Stewart JC Penny Deal

2013-03-09 06:38:11

JCPenney has a lot to lose if its planned Martha Stewart line falls through. Macy's took Stewart and JCPenney to court after she announced a home goods line with the retailer. Macy's says that Stewart's contract with them was exclusive, and a line with JCPenney would hurt sales of her existing products. - More

Citigroup Seeks $1.2B of Buybacks

2013-03-09 06:29:35

Citigroup Inc. (C), the third-biggest U.S. bank, asked the Federal Reserve for permission to buy back $1.2 billion of shares without seeking a dividend increase a year after its previous request was rejected.

The planned repurchases would “offset estimated dilution created by annual incentive compensation grants,” the New York- based company said yesterday in a presentation on its website.

The Fed won’t disclose whether it approved the capital plans of the 18 biggest U.S. banks until next week. - More

Wrigley to sell caffeinated chewing gum

2013-03-08 15:39:20

Hey caffeine addicts: Your morning just got a little easier. Next month, Wrigley will start selling a caffeinated gum with the equivalent of about half a cup of coffee.

Alert Energy Caffeine Gum, Wrigley's effort to tap into the growing market for energy drinks, will be sold in convenience stores and food and drug retailers.

It's not the first caffeinated chewing gum, but it'll be the first with Wrigley's brand and marketing strength behind it. No other caffeine gum has wide distribution. - More

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Ousted From The View

2013-03-08 15:01:06

The people have spoken. Elisabeth Hasselbeck, one of the five cohorts of ABC's daytime talk show The View, will not be returning to the couch next season, following hot on the footsteps of fellow cohost Joy Behar, a source tells Us Weekly.

According to the source, the show's resident conservative voice is being ousted after market research revealed that she isn't popular with TV audiences. - More

Jobless Rate Reaches Four-Year Low

2013-03-08 13:23:36

Job growth surged last month as auto makers, builders and retailers pushed the unemployment rate to a four-year low, defying concerns that budget battles in Washington would harm the economic expansion.

Employment rose 236,000 last month after a revised 119,000 gain in January that was smaller than first estimated, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. - More

Ethiopia: Heineken to Set Up Country's Largest Brewery

2013-03-08 08:22:59

After laying the cornerstone for Heineken's third and largest brewery plant, Johan Doyer, general manager of Heineken Ethiopia , Lilianne Ploumen, Netherland's minister for Foreign Trade & Development Corporation (centre) and Khalid Bomba, chief executive officer of ATA, relaxed with a Heineken beer on Thursday, February 28, 2013.

Ambitious in the Ethiopian beer market, the Dutch brewing giant, Heineken, is building Ethiopia's biggest brewing plant, with the capacity for 1.5 million hecto-litres a year, in Akaki Kaliti District, one kilometre from the Kaliti Correctional Facility. - More

Ethiopia News Links

Joy Behar Departing The View

2013-03-08 08:11:54

The actress and comedian's contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the current season, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.

A panelist alongside creator Barbara Walters from the very beginning, Behar leaves the ABC News vet as the last original member of the daytime show. - More

Kim Kardashian Scare: Doctor Tells Pregnant Kim To Calm Down

2013-03-08 08:08:42

The Kim Kardashian scare was, luckily, nothing for the pregnant reality star to worry about and her sister Khloe Kardashian wants Kim’s fans to know that she “appreciates their concern and support” and wrote on her blog that “mummy and baby are doing fine and just taking it easy right now.”

32 year-old Kim Kardashian has been busy travelling the world with her partner, rapper Kanye West, despite being pregnant with their first child. - More

U.S. Economy Added 236,000 Jobs

2013-03-08 07:55:28

The U.S. economy added 236,000 jobs in February, according to a Labor Department report released Friday. That's much stronger growth than in January, when employers hired a revised 119,000 workers. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate dipped to 7.7%, as 12 million workers were counted as unemployed. - More

Tiger Shares Lead At Doral

2013-03-07 16:50:46

Aided by some putting tips from Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods made nine birdies on Thursday and grabbed a share of the first-round lead at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, shooting a 6-under 66 that easily could have been lower.

Top-ranked Rory McIlroy wasn't so fortunate.

The mid-round walk-off behind him, McIlroy stepped back into his other woes Thursday, again showing the poor form that led to his frustration a week ago up the road in Palm Beach Gardens, this time shooting a 1-over 73 that included two late birdies. - More

Cambria Suites Hotel Construction in Washington, D.C

2013-03-07 15:57:19

The project is a venture between Choice Hotels, Concord Hospitality and Roadside Development, the developers of CityMarket at O.

Concord Hospitality is an award-winning hotel management and development company managing more than 90 upscale select-service and full-service hotels across 24 states and two Canadian provinces; Roadside Development is a Washington DC-based real estate firm whose current portfolio of projects include over 1.5 million square feet of retail, 1,500 residential units, and over a half million square feet of office space. - More

Kelly Osbourne rushed to hospital after seizure

2013-03-07 15:37:15

ET has exclusively learned that Kelly Osbourne has had a seizure while filming her E! show, Fashion Police, and has been rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital.

The seizure, which caused Kelly to fall to the floor, lasted for approximately 30 harrowing seconds.

Melissa and crew members, as well as an EMT who happened to be in the audience, all rushed to Kelly's side to help.

She awoke on the floor, and was shielded by blankets on her way out of the studio to be taken by ambulance to the hospital. - More

Video: Chris Brown Fights Bodyguard

2013-03-07 13:16:44

It sounds like Chris Brown has some beef with his bodyguard. While in Bermuda earlier today, the 23-year-old singer reportedly got into an altercation with his pal and bodyguard Big Pat aboard their private plane, which had stopped to refuel. - More

Ford Motor Company Moves Forward in China

2013-03-07 13:13:36

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has been spending big bucks to expand its lineup in China, and recent sales results suggest that Chinese consumers are liking what they're seeing:

The Blue Oval's sales through the first two months of 2013 were up 46% over year-ago totals.

That's huge. How huge? It trounced market leader General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)' 7.9% gain over the same two months – itself a good result for a period in which sales at rivals Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM) and Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) actually declined. - More

Facebook Gets A Facelift

2013-03-07 13:10:39

Facebook has redesigned its News Feed to be more engaging for users and more profitable for the company.

Speaking at a media event Thursday at the company's headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, "What we're trying to do is give everyone in the world the best personalized newspaper we can."

The new design is more consistent across the Web, tablets and mobile phones and more visually appealing, thanks to a greater emphasis on images over text. - More

Bank of England holds interest rates at 0.5pc

2013-03-07 13:05:39

The Chancellor is expected to unveil “new schemes to get credit flowing” on March 20, after the Bank left both interest rates and quantitative easing (QE) unchanged this month.

Measures targeted at small businesses are most likely, said economists.

The Prime Minister fuelled the speculation by hinting at a new round of “monetary activism” in his speech yesterday, saying:

“The Bank of England must support the recovery without putting financial stability at risk.” - More

Major Press Event On Facebook's News Feed Launch

2013-03-07 06:29:11

Facebook is holding a major press event Thursday, which means that Mark Zuckerberg and company are going to make at least one big announcement.

That is expected to be a big change to our news feeds. Sources close to Facebook told TechCrunch on Wednesday that the new News Feed intends to keep us reading and seeing new posts for as long as we continue to scroll down on our homepages. - More

Icahn, HP, Lenovo show interest in Dell

2013-03-07 06:22:11

Dell Inc.'s proposed $24.4 billion buyout is attracting interest from at least two rival computer makers and from billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who has amassed a stake in Dell and is pushing it to pay out a $9 per share special dividend.

Hewlett-Packard Co. and Lenovo Group Ltd. have gained access to information available only to prospective buyers during the so-called go-shop period, Bloomberg reports. - More

The Guys On American Idol

2013-03-06 21:57:21

Randy Jackson said Tuesday that this season is a "girls' year" on American Idol — but not if the Top 10 guys have anything to say about it.

Taking the stage for their performances on Wednesday's show, the male semifinalists showed that they, too, are a force to be reckoned with.

While the guys' group lacks standouts like Kree Harrison and Candice Glover from the girls, most of the male singers are delivering solid B-worthy performances and can hold their own. - More

Feds: Modest Growth Spurred by Housing

2013-03-06 21:51:24

The U.S. economy grew at a modest to moderate pace across most of the country amid rising consumer demand for homes and autos, the Federal Reserve said.

“The majority of districts reported modest improvements in labor market conditions, although hiring plans were limited in several districts,” the central bank said in its Beige Book business survey, which is based on reports from the Fed’s 12 regional banks. - More

How Snooki Lost Over 42 Pounds

2013-03-06 16:53:52

Snooki loses 42 pounds and shows off her new post-baby figure in US Weekly. Snooki, aka Nicole Polizzi, posed for the latest cover of US Weekly in a leopard print bikini.

The new mom is proud of her slim new figure and reportedly lost 42lbs after giving birth to her son, Lorenzo, in August of last year.

"I lost it for me," she says in an interview for the new issue of US Weekly.

"But I also wanted (fiance) Jionni (LaValle) to know that I can be hot as a mom." - More

Lamar Odom Asleep At Child Custody Hearing

2013-03-06 14:43:36

Despite a disappointing lack of photographic evidence, The New York Post reported Tuesday that a court officer spotted Los Angeles Clippers star Lamar Odom fast asleep on a courthouse bench during a custody hearing over his two children with ex-girlfriend Liza Morales.

"Excuse me, are you OK?” the officer asked Odom when he found the 6-foot-10 Clippers forward napping on a hard wooden bench outside the room where lawyers were discussing the case. "I need you to sit up," the officer said. - More

ADP Finds Private Sector Added 198,000 Jobs

2013-03-06 11:38:15

Employment in the private sector rose by 198,000 jobs in February, according to payroll giant ADP, fueled by a long-awaited rebound in the construction industry and healthy increases in a broad array of other sectors.

ADP also revised upward Wednesday its January 2013 report of 192,000 jobs by 23,000 jobs, for a total of 215,000 jobs (see ADP Sees 192,000 Private Sector Jobs Added in January). - More

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi

2013-03-06 11:23:48

The headaches never stop at the European Central Bank. Last month, President Mario Draghi faced questioning over the rise in the euro, which had climbed swiftly to a 16-month high against the dollar of $1.37 at the start of February, sparking concerns about its impact on growth.

Since then, the euro has fallen back to $1.30, and seems likely to continue downward—but the fears about growth, if anything, have deepened. - More

Martha Stewart Takes the Stand

2013-03-06 11:21:02

Yesterday, when Martha Stewart took the stand at the New York State Supreme Court to testify in the bitter legal battle between Macy's and J.C. Penney, she exuded the loose confidence of a domestic doyenne on top of her game.

According to the New York Times and other news reports, the 71-year-old former Chanel model and self-made billionaire got rave reviews by wearing Lanvin, putting on lip gloss during courtroom breaks, referring to herself as "the über-designer" of her eponymous housewares company, and cracking wise about her then-controversial decision to sell her upscale products in Kmart years ago. - More

Terrence Howard: "Iron Man' responsible for 'killing my career'

2013-03-06 09:49:48

"Iron Man" may be on the verge of releasing its third installment in theaters, but not everybody's a fan of the franchise.

Terrence Howard, who portrayed Col. James Rhodes in the original 2008 movie -- and at the time was the highest-paid member of the cast -- now says doing the movie ruined his career. - More

Brittney Griner Drops 50, Highlight Video

2013-03-04 22:16:48

What is Apple's iWatch all about

2013-03-04 19:33:25

Led by Peter Burrows, a veteran tech reporter with more than two decades under his belt, Bloomberg has taken a second crack at the Apple (AAPL) iWatch story that the New York Times and Wall Street Journal broke three weeks ago. - More

White House Favors Making Phone Unlocking Legal

2013-03-04 19:24:49

The Obama Administration on Monday said cell-phone unlocking should be legalized.

R. David Edelman, White House senior adviser for Internet, Innovation and Piracy, responded to an online petition signed by more than 114,000 people in favor of a consumer right to unlock cell phones without risking criminal or other penalties.

The White House went one step further, with Edelman saying he believes the same principle should also apply to tablets. - More

Bondholders and Mexico Glass Maker Reach Deal

2013-03-04 19:17:18

The giant Monterrey glassmaker Vitro said Monday that it had reached an agreement with bondholders, ending a dispute among powerful financiers that had ricocheted between Mexican and American courts.

Under the agreement, Fintech, which is owned by the Monterrey-born investor David Martinez, will buy the bonds held by a group of hedge funds and pay additional cash to cover legal fees.

In return, Fintech will receive a 13 percent stake in a Vitro subsidiary and a $235 million note issued by the subsidiary. - More

John Harbaugh 'very happy' for Joe Flacco

2013-03-04 07:09:31

His quarterback is about to be under contract for the next six years, emerging as the highest-paid player in the game.

Joe Flacco, the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player who helped engineer a Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers with three touchdown passes and zero interceptions is set to sign a $120.6 million contract today, a welcome development for Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

And Harbaugh told The Baltimore Sun that his excitement about the deal, which is scheduled to be signed this afternoon, is something for everyone to be pleased about. - More

Joe Flacco gets $52 million guaranteed

2013-03-04 07:05:36

Joe Flacco’s bet on himself, the one he made last summer, has paid off and let’s just say he hit the jackpot.

Flacco opted to end talks on a new deal and see how the season played out.

Now, with a Lombardi Trophy on his resume, he has agreed to a six-year- $120.6 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

The interesting past of the deal? USA Today reports that $52 million is guaranteed. - More

CEO Gulliver Receives $2.9 Million Bonus

2013-03-04 06:59:00

HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA) Chief Executive Officer Stuart Gulliver received a 1.95 million-pound ($2.9 million) bonus for 2012 even after the British lender paid a record fine for breaking anti-money laundering rules.

The award, down from 2.2 million pounds in 2011, reduced Gulliver’s total compensation to 7.4 million pounds, from 8 million pounds a year earlier, HSBC said in its annual report published today.

The London-based bank paid staff 3.7 billion pounds in bonuses for last year, a 7 percent drop from 2011. - More

Samsung teases the Galaxy S4 on video

2013-03-04 06:51:52

KOREAN PHONE MAKER Samsung has teased the Galaxy S4 on video ahead of its unveiling in New York next week.

We spotted the first Samsung Unpacked teaser video on Samsung's Youtube channel on Monday, which gives little away about the firm's upcoming flagship smartphone.

Instead, it shows a short story about a pint-sized Samsung fan who is trusted with keeping the Galaxy S4 under wraps, a story that soon turns into a story about the boy being hounded by fellow fandroids who want a sneak peek at Samsung's next top of the line Android handset. - More

China's Stocks Slump

2013-03-03 21:38:40

China’s stocks fell, led by the biggest slump among developers since 2008, after the Cabinet ordered more measures to cool property prices and after growth in the nation’s services industries slowed.

The Shanghai Composite Index (SHCOMP) slid 2.9 percent, the most since Feb. 21, to 2,292.14 as of the city's 11:30 a.m. break.

The CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300) lost 3.8 percent to 2,568.21. China Vanke Co. led a gauge of developers to the biggest tumble since June 2008 after the State Council urged higher down-payments and interest rates for second-home mortgages. - More

Mexico U-20 3-1 USA U-20

2013-03-03 21:26:50

It took 120 minutes, but Mexico eventually overwhelmed the USA to win the CONCACAF U-20 title 3-1.

Two early goals set the tone for what looked like it would be a high-scoring match, but after Jesus Corona's opener five minutes in and Benji Joya leveler from the spot five minutes later, the goals dried up. - More

Google Wins German Parliamentary Vote

2013-03-02 16:24:12

Google Inc. (GOOG) and other news aggregators may continue to show short news items on their Internet sites without being required to pay, German lawmakers decided in a parliamentary vote today in a blow to publishers including Axel Springer AG (SPR) and Bertelsmann SE.

A majority of lawmakers from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition allowed companies such as Google to display “single words or very small text excerpts” referring to publishers’ websites at no cost.

For content exceeding these limits, publishers retain the exclusive right of use, according to the bill. - More

Degu Debebe Orange CAF Confederation Cup

2013-03-02 15:52:17

St George defender Degu Debebe captains both club and country and going into this weekend's Orange CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round return leg against Jamhuri of Zanzibar , he is confident of progressing through.

Degu was speaking to Cafonline.com ahead Sunday's encounter.

Cafonline.com: You scored three goals without main striker Adane Girma that is great isn't it? - More

Pistorius Became An Avid Firearms Collector

2013-03-02 14:41:36

JOHANNESBURG - In his Olympic year, Oscar Pistorius steadily became an avid firearms collector, joining a gun-collecting club and purchasing a collection of firearms that included a .500 Magnum pistol dubbed by its manufacturer as "the most powerful production revolver in the world" and a civilian version of a military assault rifle.

At the end of 2012, in the first blush of his romance with Reeva Steenkamp, the model he later shot and killed, Pistorius got deeper into his hobby. It was known that Pistorius liked guns but only now, from Associated Press interviews with other collectors, is it becoming clear the extent to which he became a dedicated firearms aficionado in the 12 months before he shot Steenkamp. - More

Gallardo has a minor groin strain

2013-03-02 14:30:27

Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo has a minor groin strain that will cause him to miss his next spring training start and could limit him from playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said Saturday that Gallardo tweaked his groin last Tuesday against Seattle.

Gallardo was scheduled to start Sunday against the Cubs and then leave for the WBC, but he will instead throw a bullpen session for the Brewers. - More

US vs Mexico in CONCACAF U20 Matchup

2013-03-02 14:27:37

USA vs. Mexico 2013 qualified to the CONCACAF U20 soccer Championship Finals last night. United States vs. Mexico will deliver the anticipated futbol U20 finals game that most news analysts expected.

Mexico has been undefeated while USA has delivered an impressive offense and defense during this soccer tournament. - More

Mexico News Links

Flacco's New Cash Vault

2013-03-02 13:30:15

One of the more interesting debates before the 2012 NFL season was whether or not the Baltimore Ravens should have locked up quarterback Joe Flacco into a new contract.

Flacco decided against it and played out the season, which worked out tremendous to his benefit.

Now, after a Super Bowl victory and being awarded the game’s MVP award, Flacco has become the highest-paid player in the history of the National Football League. - More

Pamela Evette Smith

2013-03-02 13:20:02

Yesterday, WBTV reported that on February 6, 2013, a Fulton County, Georgia woman filed a paternity suit against NBA legend and Charlotte Bobcats owner, Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

According to the suit, Pamela Smith alleges that MJ fathered her son, Grant Pierce Jay Jordan "Taj" Reynolds. - More

Lindsay Lohan's Incompetent Attorney

2013-03-02 13:13:08

A judge on Friday refused to delay the latest criminal case against Lindsay Lohan and had some choice words for the actress and her new attorney.

Lohan faces criminal charges that she lied about not being behind the wheel of a Porsche that crashed into a truck on Pacific Coast Highway.

On Friday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Dabney took Lohan's attorney to task for problems in the way he worked with the court. - More

Consumer finances squeezed

2013-03-01 09:08:16

Consumer spending rose marginally in January, despite a sharp drop in incomes, the Commerce Department said Friday. Personal incomes dropped 3.6 percent in the month, with incomes down by $505.5 billion. Discretionary funds, concurrently, dropped by 4 percent or by $491.4 billion, the department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said. - More

Ja Rule In NYC Jail

2013-03-01 09:01:50

Federal authorities say platinum-selling rapper Ja Rule is in a New York City jail with a July release date.

The 36-year-old rapper left a state prison in central New York last week after serving most of his two-year sentence for illegal gun possession and went straight into federal custody in a tax evasion case.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons says he has since moved from an upstate jail to Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, which houses prisoners awaiting court dates or having short terms left on their sentences. - More

Bieber Is 19

2013-03-01 06:29:40

Justin Bieber celebrates his 19th birthday today.

We'll wait for the squealing to calm down before we continue...

The opening two months of 2013 haven't been ideal for this young artist, who officially split from Selena Gomez to start the year; got embroiled in a pot smoking scandal; feuded with Patrick Carney.

And, oh, right: he wore this hat. - More

Ashley Bell: I was thrilled to be able to do it

2013-02-28 20:05:22

The 26 year old plays a young girl possessed by a powerful demon in the movie, and she had to contort her body into a number of awkward and uncomfortable positions during the shoot to give viewers the idea she was being controlled by a dark spirit.

And Bell, who also writhes around on a bedwhile a religious leader tries to cure her, admits it all really took a toll on her back. - More

Microsoft Sheds Ill-fated Acquisition Of Online Advertising

2013-02-28 19:34:04

Microsoft is out as a heavyweight contender in online advertising – and Facebook continues its efforts to go all in.

That's the upshot of Microsoft selling Atlas Advertising Suite to Facebook; the widely expected deal was announced Thursday afternoon.

The price was undisclosed. But Advertising Age has estimated its value at $30 million to $50 million. - More

Rafael Nadal Knee Is Better Following Mexico Win

2013-02-28 06:04:13

Rafael Nadal said his injured knee is improving after beating Argentina's Martin Alund 6-0 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Mexican Open. The Spaniard, 26, was playing his 10th match on clay since returning from a seven-month injury lay-off. - More

Stephen Curry 54-Point Outburst

2013-02-28 05:51:07

Warriors coach Mark Jackson, a native New Yorker and former Knicks point guard, understands the allure of playing in the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden perhaps better than anyone. Jackson's reverence for the arena seems to have rubbed off on Stephen Curry. - More

Spielberg to head film festival jury

2013-02-28 05:43:59

Steven Spielberg will head the jury at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, slated for May 15-26, organizers have announced.

In announcing Spielberg's selection, festival President Gilles Jacob said the 66-year-old American director is a "Cannes 'regular'," noting that several of his 27 films, including "Sugarland Express" and "The Color Purple," screened at the festival.

"Sugarland" won the best screenplay award at the festival in 1974. - More

Marissa Mayer: Feminism Has Become...A More Negative Word

2013-02-28 05:08:58

"I don’t think that I would consider myself a feminist. I think that, I certainly believe in equal rights. I believe that women are just as capable, if not more so, in a lot of different dimensions.

But I don’t, I think, have sort of the militant drive and sort of the chip on the shoulder that sometimes comes with that.

And I think it’s too bad, but I do think feminism has become, in many ways, a more negative word.

There are amazing opportunities all over the world for women, and I think that there’s more good that comes out of positive energy around that than negative energy."

Ricky Schroder Airport Altercation Drama

2013-02-27 16:17:46

Former “Silver Spoons” star Ricky Schroder was allegedly involved in an altercation at an airport on Monday as he argued with a worker about his luggage.

Police were called to Los Angeles International Airport after the actor became embroiled in a heated exchange with a female employee who wouldn’t let Schroder go through a security check with three bags, as the limit is two. - More

Alex Smith to Chiefs: Thoughts on trade

2013-02-27 11:31:09

The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs, league sources confirmed to ESPN.

Kansas City will trade its second-round pick in the 2013 draft -- the second selection (No. 34 overall) in the round -- as well as another conditional mid-round pick in 2014 to acquire Smith from San Francisco, a league source told ESPN. - More

EADS reports strong profits

2013-02-27 10:53:41

Net profit for 2012 at EADS rose 19% to 1.23bn euros ($1.61bn; £1.06bn). Revenues rose 15% to 56.48bn euros. Revenues at Airbus rose 17% to 38.59bn euros, mostly due to commercial sales.

However, EADS's profit in the fourth quarter fell sharply after taking one-off charges at its helicopter and defence electronics divisions. - More

Apple shareholders gather for annual meeting

2013-02-27 10:47:15

Amid high security and a palpable buzz, Apple (AAPL) shareholders filed into the company's headquarters Wednesday for their annual meeting, which was expected to produce fireworks after a dramatic plunge in the stock price and calls from a high-profile investor for Apple to share its wealth of cash.

Always a newsworthy event, the run-up to this year's annual shareholder event has caused even more speculation and hubbub, with Apple's share price more than 30 percent below record highs set in July of 2012 and activist investors making waves. - More

No. 1 Indiana Upset By Minnesota

2013-02-26 20:28:30

Trevor Mbakwe had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help Minnesota take down No. 1 Indiana 77-73 on Tuesday night, the seventh time the top-ranked team in The Associated Press' poll has lost a game this season.

Andre Hollins added 16 points for the Gophers (19-9, 7-8 Big Ten), who outrebounded Cody Zeller and the Hoosiers by a whopping 44-30 and solidified their slipping NCAA tournament case with an emphatic performance against the Big Ten leaders. - More

Michelle Williams, Jason Segel Split

2013-02-26 20:22:23

Michelle Williams and Jason Segel are back on the market. The Oz the Great and Powerful actress, 32, and the How I Met Your Mother star, 33, quietly ended their romance earlier this month, sources tell Us Weekly.

Though the two seemed happy together as recently as January, when they were photographed on vacation in Cancun with Williams' BFF Busy Philipps, an insider tells Us that their romance couldn't survive the long distance. (Williams lives in New York with daughter Matilda, 7, while Segel is based in Los Angeles, where his CBS sitcom is filmed.) - More

Lindsay Lohan's attorney seeks deal

2013-02-26 20:19:35

Lindsay Lohan's attorney has suggested to prosecutors that the actress serve as a motivational speaker and perform non-jail activities to resolve her latest criminal case, according to a letter obtained Tuesday.

The letter from lawyer Mark Heller proposed several alternatives for Lohan, who could be sent to jail if a judge determines her actions in a traffic crash violated terms of her probation in a previous theft case. - More

Barbara Walters Returns

2013-02-26 20:14:41

After being MIA since her hospitalization during the presidential inauguration, Barbara Walters is ready to return to her seat on "The View."

On Tuesday morning, the 83-year-old journalist phoned into the show to announce that she would be back on Monday.

Speaking with the whole crew, including her substitute, Brooke Shields, she shared, "I really miss you." - More

Bobby Brown Must Do The Time - 55 Days In Jail

2013-02-26 20:12:00

The hammer has come down on Bobby Brown in response to his most recent DUI conviction, and this time, the damage was a little more severe than a slap on the wrist.

The troubled singer has been ordered to spend fifty-five days in jail, attend eighteen months worth of alcohol treatment and check in with a probation officer for the next four years.

The incident in question happened back in October. - More

Lexus, Subaru, Mazda Score High

2013-02-26 20:00:38

Japanese brands, led by Lexus, Subaru and Mazda, continue to dominate Consumer Reports' rankings of the best light vehicles on the market, claiming "top pick" honors in seven out of 10 product segments and capturing the top seven spots for overall brand reliability and performance.

The brands that scored best on the magazine's report cards for 2013 were Lexus, with a score of 79 out of 100, followed by Subaru and Mazda, which both scored a 76.

Toyota, Acura, Honda and Scion rounded out the top seven. - More

Adobe Issues Emergency Flash Update

2013-02-26 19:55:02

Adobe today patched new vulnerabilities in Flash Player that hackers are now exploiting in attacks aimed at Firefox users, the company said.

Today's surprise update to Flash Player was the second emergency fix this month, the third overall for February, and the fourth since the start of 2013.

In the accompanying advisory, Adobe confirmed it was patching three vulnerabilities in the popular media player browser plug-in.

Two of the trio, said Adobe, are being used by attackers. - More

Dennis Rodman Shadow Ambassador to North Korea

2013-02-26 09:07:48

Dennis Rodman will be traveling to North Korea with three members of the Harlem Globetrotters. Rodman has been quick to deflect criticism on his Twitter, "I'm not a politician. Kim Jung Un & North Korean people are basketball fans. I love everyone. Period. End of story." But the truth is, just like Google's CEO and Governor Richardson's visit, Rodman can do a great deal to ease tensions between our two nations.

Rodman's resume of many great feats playing in the pros with his share of championships and personal bests can actually be an asset during his talks with officials there. When Bill Clinton went there to get the communist nation to release journalists he paid a visit to the White House upon his return. Now maybe Obama will host the NBA great with some White House Ale to pick his head on diplomacy issues.

North Korean News Links

High School Coach To Lebron James

2013-02-25 19:12:06

Keith Dambrot, the coach at the University of Akron since 2004 and the former coach of Lebron James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School had some choice words for arguably one of the best basketball players of all time:

"I said he needed to be as coach-able as possible, he needed to get back to the basics. But most of all, he needed to clear his head. I told him to be true to himself.

"I said, 'You're not the golden child anymore; people don't like you. Well who cares, if you can look yourself in the mirror and say you're a good guy.' It was hard for me to see so many people hate him. He made a business decision. LeBron is the most team-oriented player I've coached, and he's such a great person." - More

Mexico's 2012 Current Account Deficit Equal to 0.8% of GDP

2013-02-25 16:18:25

Mexico registered a moderate current account deficit in 2012, as its first trade surplus in 15 years and transfers from Mexicans working abroad offset deficits in interest payments and services.

The Bank of Mexico said Monday that the country registered a $9.25 billion current account deficit last year, equivalent to 0.8% of gross domestic product.

The deficit was similar to the $9.67 billion deficit in 2011. - More

Janet Jackson Married to Qatari Billionaire

2013-02-25 15:53:13

After months of denying rumors, Janet Jackson has finally confirmed that she has been secretly married to Qatari billionaire, Wissam Al Mana for months. On Monday, Feb. 25, the coupled released a statement to Entertainment Tonight saying,

"The rumors regarding an extravagant wedding are simply not true. Last year we were married in a quiet, private and beautiful ceremony." - More

Brady Three Year Extension

2013-02-25 15:41:55

Tom Brady took a huge step today to ensure he'll retire a Patriot, agreeing to a three-year contract extension that will keep him under center for New England through the 2017 season, when he will be 40 years old.

For the second time in his illustrious career, Brady is doing something players in this day and age simply do not do: As he did in 2005, Brady, a league source told SI.com, is signing a contract with New England that will pay him significantly less money than the market will bear, in large part to help the Patriots stay competitive for the next five seasons. - More

Ben Affleck's Oscar for best film

2013-02-25 03:54:57

Christoph Waltz Wins

2013-02-24 20:44:37

Austrian actor Christoph Waltz won the best supporting actor Oscar on Sunday for his role as a dentist turned bounty hunter in Quentin Tarantino's blood-spattered western "Django Unchained.''

In the first prize of the night, Waltz beat fellow nominees Alan Arkin for ''Argo,'' Robert De Niro for "Silver Linings Playbook,'' Philip Seymour Hoffman for "The Master'' and Tommy Lee Jones for "Lincoln'', AFP reports. - More

Citi Gives New CEO $11.5M

2013-02-24 16:35:00

“When our shareholders spoke last year about Citi’s compensation structure, we listened,” said Michael O’Neill, Chairman of the Board. “Since last spring, we have stepped up our efforts to solicit feedback from investors to better understand their concerns. As a result of this process, we are introducing a new compensation structure that more strongly connects compensation with performance, emphasizes strong risk management, and is both competitive and in line with regulatory standards,” - More

Danica Patrick: Feeling I was going to get freight-trained

2013-02-24 16:26:54

"You spend a lot of time thinking about what to do when the time comes," Patrick said. "I kept asking up above what was working. You needed a hole, you needed people to help you out. I had a little bit of help today here and there, but I felt like if I was going to dive low, I had a feeling I was going to get freight-trained. ... At the end of the day, it was a solid day."

$17 million in fake NFL goods

2013-02-24 11:29:46

An investigation encompassing everything from fake NFL game jerseys to counterfeit Super Bowl tickets ended with more than $17 million worth of items seized and 41 people arrested, according to U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The federal agency began its probe -- which it dubbed "Operation Red Zone" in reference to the area between the 20-yard line and goal line for a football team's offense -- on September 1, 2012, and wrapped it up on February 6.

ICE special agents, U.S. Postal Inspection Service members and state and local police officers nationwide conducted the investigation, in conjunction with the NFL and other top sports leagues. - More

Philadelphia Eagles meet with Manti Teo

2013-02-24 10:27:48

Manti Te'o noted on Saturday when he talked with an assembled group of media that he met with the Texans and Packers since arriving at the NFL Scouting Combine.

He could have added the Philadelphia Eagles.

Te'o met with the Eagles prior to the weekend, according to multiple league sources.

The Eagles, like the rest of the NFL, were doing their due diligence on a draft prospect that has drawn intense public interest after being entangled in an infamous catfishing scheme following a stellar career at Notre Dame. - More

Jermaine Changes Name to Jacksun

2013-02-24 10:01:13

Several months back, Jermaine Jackson filed a petition to change his name from Jermaine Jackson to Jermaine Jacksun.

Not surprisingly, a lot of observers thought he’d eventually change his mind, but the big day came and went this week and he actually followed through.

So, from this point forward, he will be known as Jermaine Jacksun.

The former member of the Jackson (with an o) Five hasn’t spoken publically about why he felt the moniker alteration was necessary, but he listed “artistic reasons” as the rationale in his paperwork. - More

Tiger Woods and Ex Elin Nordegren Spotted Together

2013-02-24 09:58:03

An eyewitness told the gossip site that, "Tiger arrived to the event first with his son and daughter and Elin arrived about an hour later…

when their paths finally did cross, they chatted together for about 30 minutes and appeared to enjoy each other's company." - More

Kanye West "Ain't F-cking With That Suit & Tie''

2013-02-24 09:53:32

There's nothing like a rant from Kanye West. The rapper is known to occasionally let off steam during his shows by going off on long freestyles.

While performing in London yesterday (Feb. 23), 'Ye took to the mic for a minute, 10-11 minutes to be exact, to express his dislike for Justin Timberlake's Jay-Z assisted single, "Suit and Tie," the Grammys, the music industry and more. - More

Double Digit Winning Streak For The Heat

2013-02-24 00:38:42

Winning streaks in February don't mean anything when the playoffs arrive.

That's what the rest of the NBA needs to remind itself of.

Otherwise, the Miami Heat's display over the past few weeks would be awfully demoralizing.

The Heat won their 10th straight Saturday night, smashing a banged-up and already rather demoralized Philadelphia 76ers outfit by a 114-90 margin. - More

HP Posts A Comeback

2013-02-24 00:33:58

Hewlett-Packard Co. reported shares increasing as much as 11% after it released better forecasts and quarterly results despite claims from analysts over its continuous problems in the PC market.

The world's number one personal computer maker was able to minimize expenses under the turnaround plan of chief executive Meg Whitman amidst the decreasing sales of PCs and sluggish corporate spending for information technology. - More

Carlos Gutierrez Leaves Citigroup

2013-02-24 00:29:57

Carlos Gutierrez, the vice chairman of its institutional clients group, resigned to become chairman of Republicans for Immigration Reform.

Gutierrez, 59, who led the Commerce Department under President George W. Bush, helped to found the super-political action committee last year.

Born in Havana, Gutierrez joined New York-based Citigroup in December 2010 and worked in a division that includes the lender’s trading, investment-banking and corporate lending operations. - More

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Expecting Baby Girl

2013-02-24 00:23:21

The rapper and girlfriend Kim Kardashian are expecting a baby girl, a source close to West confirms to Us Weekly.

The couple, who are due in July, are said to be "over the moon" by the news.

"Kanye always wanted a girl," the friend says.

Yeezy's daughter will undoubtedly be one of the best-dressed infants in the world.

"If anyone knows Kanye, they just know how into fashion he is, and I think he's going to have things specially made," Kim said of her aspiring fashion designer beau in January.

"So I don't think hand-me-downs are going to work." - More

Source: Robert Pattinson And Kristen Stewart Have Split

2013-02-24 00:15:10

That's right! According to several sources Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have already parted ways, but are waiting until after the release of the final "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2" DVD to make the announcement.

A source released a statement to Hollywoodlife, "Rob & Kristen were asked to not announce a break-up or any relationship trouble until the DVD has been out for a few weeks and everything has sold. - More

Dennis Bermudez Prevails Over Matt Grice

2013-02-23 19:29:49

ANAHEIM, Calif. – In an early "Fight of the Night" candidate, Dennis Bermudez and Matt Grice traded devastating punches and left the audience standing after 15 minutes.

In the end, it was Bermudez's heart and cardio that helped him prevail. He earned a split decision while winning the fight with scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28.

The featherweight bout was part of the preliminary card of Saturday's UFC 157 event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. - More

Daytona 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series Crash As Stewart Wins

2013-02-23 18:32:38

Tony Stewart was horrified as he looked in the mirror while taking the checkered flag of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday.

At least 28 fans were injured by flying debris from rookie Kyle Larson’s Chevrolet, which went hurtling airborne into the wall and broke into pieces on the front stretch of Daytona International Speedway.

“That’s the worst image I’ve ever seen in a race in my life,” said a somber Stewart, a three-time Sprint Cup champion and veteran of IndyCar racing as well Track president Joie Chitwood said 14 fans were transported to area hospitals and another 14 were treated at the track’s infield care center. - More

Miami upset by Wake Forest 80-65

2013-02-23 13:27:47

The Demon Deacons has just upset number 2 Miami 80-65 on Saturday with a 6-0 run during the final minute of the half. Trying to use the momentum Miami came with five ponts of Wake Forest but came up short. Codi Miller-McIntyre added 15 points and Travis McKie came away with 8.

Video: What is Google Glass - $1,500

2013-02-23 11:20:13

Joshua Topolsky spends a day with two of Google Glass' creators and goes up close and personal with the company's visionary new computer.

Chancellor George Osborne: I am absolutely determined

2013-02-23 11:06:41

The ax has finally fallen. The U.K. late Friday saw its triple-A credit rating from Moody's chopped one notch to Aa1.

The news isn't as bad as it might have been: importantly, Moody's has assigned a stable outlook.

But it is a political blow for Chancellor George Osborne and probably means the slide in sterling and rise in gilt yields that is under way will continue.

Moody's key concern is that the U.K.'s dismal growth picture—gross domestic product has essentially flat-lined since 2010—will persist, and thus make harder the task of bringing down the budget deficit and ultimately reversing the rise in public debt. - More

UK News Links

Euro-Zone Shrinks As US Housing Grows

2013-02-22 10:32:44

The euro-zone economy is expected to shrink in 2013 for the second consecutive year, European Commission officials said this week, citing uncertainty and adjusting balance sheets, among other factors.

Real gross domestic product is expect to contract 0.3% this year, following a contraction of 0.6% last year. - More

Republic CEO David Morken seeking to expand product lineup

2013-02-20 06:52:45

Yeah, the future is here, and everyone above the age of eight seems to be wandering around with smartphones in their pockets.

Maybe you’ve put off joining the mobile-computing revolution because you didn’t want to spend $100 per month for a voice and data plan.

How about $19 per month for a smartphone with unlimited voice, texting, and data?

That’s what Republic Wireless offers, and many consumers find this intriguing.

The problem is that you pretty much get what you pay for. Or is that an advantage? - More

Nissan takes on Google with self-driving car

2013-02-20 04:47:44

Nissan Motor Co. has joined several other car companies bringing R&D to Silicon Valley.

The car company opened a research center in Sunnyvale that will employ more than 60 engineers and technicians and focus on "self-driving vehicles and Internet-connected auto technology." - More

Clarkson slams record mogul Clive Davis

2013-02-20 04:22:41

Pop superstar Kelly Clarkson is blasting legendary record mogul Clive Davis as a bully with a faulty memory.

The former “American Idol” champ took to the Internet on Tuesday to rebut descriptions of her and recollections the 80-year-old Davis wrote about in his new memoir,

“The Soundtrack of My Life.” - More

Google Considers Competing With Apple Stores

2013-02-20 04:12:11

As malls close, big-box stores try to shrink, and the overall prospects of physical retail range from stagnant to apocalyptic, one sector of the market is enjoying an unlikely growth spurt: stores opened by the big technology companies.

Apple has spawned about 400 Apple (APPL) Stores in the last decade, Microsoft (MSFT) is opening new locations, and now—according to tech blog and news reports—Google (GOOG) is developing plans to open showrooms in the U.S. to highlight its devices running the Android and Chrome operating systems. - More

Google debuts Academy Awards event page

2013-02-20 04:07:21

Google is rolling out the red carpet for the Academy Awards with a destination site that promises to help users "get more from the Oscars."

In a partnership with Oscars organizers, the Web giant has created a resource page to keep movie fans engaged and informed in the days leading up to the awards ceremony on Sunday.

While Google has created event-specific sites before, such as its election hub last year, this is the first time it has focused on the Oscars. - More

Google Stock Cracks $800 On Search, Mobile Optimism

2013-02-20 04:05:04

Google's stock price topped $800 Tuesday for the first time amid renewed confidence in the company's ability to reap higher profits from its dominance of Internet search and prominence in the growing mobile market.

The milestone comes more than five years after Google's shares initially hit $700. Not long after breaking that barrier in October 2007, the economy collapsed into the worst recession since World War II and Google's stock tumbled into a prolonged malaise that eventually led to a change in leadership. - More

German Sentiment Data Boost Stocks

2013-02-19 08:03:15

A better-than-expected reading of German confidence pushed stock markets firmly into positive territory by Tuesday lunchtime.

The ZEW Institute’s index that measures economic sentiment index in Germany surged to 48.2 in February, ahead of last month’s reading of 31.5 and well ahead of the 35 forecast. - More

Blue Ivy and Drake Baby Photos

2013-02-18 11:38:43

In the latest buzz on Buzz Feed staff person Whitney Jefferson brought up some striking similarities with Beyonce and Jay-Z's child's baby photos and Drake the Rapper's baby photo. Coincedentally their are some startling similarities there for sure.

Buzz Feed Photos >>

Usain Bolt In State Of Shock About Pistorius

2013-02-18 09:30:01

The worlds fastest sprinter Usain Bolt says he's still in a state of shock after learning of Oscar Pistorius legal problems.

The South African sprint runner Pistorius is accused of killing his girlfriend and model Reeva Steenkamp in his Pretoria gated community in South Africa.

Bolt stated, "this can't be the same guy I've seen and that I know," in an interview with CNN. News of Pistorius has rocked the track and field community.

Carl Icahn, the Fed's messenger

2013-02-15 08:50:25

Oh those poor saps at the Federal Reserve. Let’s have a good laugh at the econo-nerds running the money pumps around the clock, flooding with cheap credit an economic engine that just won’t turn over.

They might not realize that high unemployment is a disease best left to run unchecked, the only known cure being to liquidate labor and capital alike until the forces of chaos are appeased and someone buys the wreckage for a song. - More

Tebow slated to speak at 11,000-member First Baptist Dallas Church

2013-02-15 08:35:47

The wildcat quarterback is slated to speak at the 11,000-member First Baptist Dallas Church’s April 28 Sunday morning service, according to the church’s website.

While Tebow is known for wearing his religion on his sleeve and his prayerful onfield gestures have been dubbed “Tebowing,” he’s made a practice of not offending his teammates with his faith. - More

Ted Ligety dominates giant slalom, Video

2013-02-15 08:30:02

Park City’s Ted Ligety lived up to soaring expectations Friday by defending his title in the giant slalom and becoming the first American to win three gold medals at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

No skier at all had done that since the legendary Jean-Claude Killy swept four races in 1968. - More

Condoleezza Rice had a rough go at Pebble Beach.

2013-02-09 20:21:22

Condoleezza Rice had a rough go at Pebble Beach. There were many errant golf shots to be played with her partner and 'Bama Fan Jason Bohn.

Unfortunately one of the erratic shots landed on the head of a spectator on the course.

Rice, forever the seasoned diplomat, rushed over to the injured spectator and her daughter to offer a towel to stop the bleeding. After medical assistance arrived Rice was kind enough to give the daughter her contact information to keep her abreast of the recovery efforts.

Microsoft's desperation at fighting a search engine

2013-02-09 20:19:36

Microsoft has not pulled any punches in its campaign to smear the top search engine.

They have launched several television ads of the Bing vs Google onscreen comparisons to indicate Bing's search tool produces more relevant content and now we're seeing the Scroogled campaign that characterizes Google Gmail as evading the privacy of unknowing users of it popular web based email.

Will this have any effect on the world's leading search engine? Chances are they won't, but sustained ads over a period of time could have some effect. The ads show Microsoft's desperation at a search engine that has become so ingrained into a browser's quest for information online.

Both Microsoft and Apple are trying to dismantle their own products that make it easier for users to use Google services. Browser settings are now defaulted to block Google from sucking out user info for its Google Advertising and Analytics services. Apple has recently had to squash it own inferior mapping feature. Google is supreme in the search and online advertising realm and this won't change for some time, but Google must recognize competitors like Facebook, Microsoft and Apple's advance.

Chris Brown Totals Car In Paparazzi Crash

2013-02-09 19:26:29

Chris Brown became a victim of being chased by the paparazzi chase that turned foul. We’re betting that you never thought you would read “Chris Brown” and “victim” in the same sentence, huh? We kid, we kid. (Spoiler alert: No we don’t…) - More

Microsoft 128GB Surface Pro already sold out

2013-02-09 18:16:46

Earlier today, we reported that Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet is now available in the United States and Canada.

Now a few hours later, reports are rolling in showing that the 128GB model is out of stock at many retailers, including Microsoft’s online store in the US.

Staples and Best Buy are also reported as having no 128GB model stock left. - More

Mizzou and Ole Miss Fight

2013-02-09 17:44:38

With No. 20 Missouri holding a comfortable 22-point cushion against No. 23 Ole Miss with 7:30 remaining in Saturday's Southeastern Conference clash, tempers began to flare.

Surprisingly, an Ole Miss player started a fight, and his name wasn't Marshall Henderson. - More

PHOTO: Kanye And Kim In Rio

2013-02-09 17:26:38

While many stars have decamped to Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards this weekend, Kanye West and pregnant girlfriend Kim Kardashian have taken their romance to Rio!

The two were spotted snapping pictures and taking in the scene at Corcovado Mountain on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the annual Carnival celebrations officially kicked off on Friday. - More

Ocean Nominated For Six Grammys

2013-02-09 17:20:12

Frank Ocean performed an abbreviated set Friday night at Levi’s 501 140 Year Anniversary Pre-Grammy Party at the Ace Museum in Los Angeles.

Ocean, who is nominated for six Grammys, including Best New Artist, focused his set mainly on last year’s Channel Orange in a six-song performance that followed a DJ set from M83.

The party, set in a built-out Levi’s art gallery that featured massive abstract sculptural installations, mingled hipster music fans with celebrities like Busy Phillipps, Alan Cummings, Ashley Benson and Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda. - More

Frank Ocean's Sexuality Made News

2013-02-09 17:17:21

Frank Ocean is set to take a victory lap at this year's Grammys.

He's up for six awards for his album Channel Orange, including best new artist, and he'll be performing as well.

But just a few months ago, Frank Ocean's music wasn't the story — his sexuality was. To review: After a listening party for Channel Orange last July, a BBC journalist pointed out that a few of the love songs referenced a "him" where you might have expected to hear "her."

All of a sudden it seemed the entire Internet was asking one question: Is Frank Ocean gay? - More

Dr. Kobe Bryant: No Time For Healing

2013-02-07 18:50:14

Dwight Howard knows how all the attention surrounding his exit from the Orlando Magic created a "Dwightmare" situation for everyone involved and he wants to avoid the negative spotlight with his free agency decision looming in Los Angeles.

"I'm not a crybaby," Howard told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on SportsCenter on Monday. "I didn't try to cry my way out of Orlando. That was never my intention, or not what I did at all.

Apple: David Einhorn Is Wrong

2013-02-07 18:33:16

Apple says a possible change to its corporate charter would not prevent it from issuing preferred shares, directly contradicting the comments made earlier today by hedge fund manager David Einhorn.

Einhorn pushed shareholders to vote down a proposal at the company’s annual meeting this month that he says would prevent future preferred stock.

Einhorn, the activist investor behind Greenlight Capital, has criticized Apple’s capital allocation strategy and says preferred shares would be a sensible step.

Apple retains a massive amount of cash—almost a third of its total market capitalization. - More

Eagles talking contract with Dennis Dixon

2013-02-06 19:55:14

After successfully pretending to be Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick, Dennis Dixon could now be getting to reprise the role for which he’s most famous: Dennis Dixon.

According to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com, the Eagles are in contract talks with Dixon. Dixon, a Heisman candidate at Oregon and presumed first-round pick, plunged to round five after tearing an ACL during the 2007 college football season. - More

Kim Kardashian Want Immediate Dissolution Marriage

2013-02-06 19:21:12

Kim Kardashian wants her legal battle with Kris Humphries to be over by the time she gives birth to her and Kanye West's child in July. Or, if not entirely over, then she at least wants to be legally single.

The pregnant star's camp filed a motion last month requesting that either a trial date be set as soon as possible or for a judge to grant her a divorce not reliant upon the financial disagreements still pending ... - More

Chris Brown slams claims he failed to complete community service

2013-02-06 19:15:43

Chris Brown and his lawyer are blasting claims by prosecutors that the “Don’t Judge Me” singer took credit for community service he never performed.

“I can handle the hate but enough is enough yo!” Brown wrote on his private Instagram account, according to E! News.

“Im a human being and I honestly think I deserve respect im sick of being accused…Im just tired of this sh--."

"A day in my shoes is a day in hell," he continued. - More

Mexico has The Largest Auto Factory In North America

2013-02-06 14:07:01

If you’ve ever been to Mexico City, chances are you’ve sat in an old Volkswagen Bug taxi, painted in muted red and gold, stuck in Mexico City’s notorious traffic.

“Here we call them ‘Donkeys,’” says Victoriano Luna, a taxi driver who has been driving a Bug for 32 years.

“A horse can run fast, but it doesn’t endure. A donkey does endure, just like this car.” Volkswagen first came to Mexico in 1967, when it opened a plant in Puebla, a few hours drive from Mexico City. For decades, the Bug was the biggest-selling car in the country. - More

Vijay Singh: 'At no time was I aware...'

2013-01-31 07:19:57

Vijay Singh has unfortunately entered the point of no return as it relates to performance enhancing substances.

He has admitted to using a substance created by S.W.A.T. (Sports with Alternatives to Steroids) called Deer Antler Spray, which contains a banned substance by every major sports league including the PGA Tour. - More

Woods Wins

2013-01-28 19:03:59

Tiger Woods was so good for so long at Torrey Pines that it didn't matter how bad it looked at the end. In a finish that was fitting for such a long and exasperating week, Woods built an eight-shot lead with five holes to play on Monday until he lost patience with the slow play and started losing shots that only determined the margin of victory. - More

Can we call the Brady/Belichick era and immobile QBs a wrap?

2013-01-21 00:20:57

Bill Belichick stormed off the field, after his decisive loss by the Baltimore Ravens, without giving an interview to CBS. A Hall of Fame football star now analyst and a current NFL football star denounced the arrogance and rightfully so. Compare the behavior of Bill Belichick's to that of Peyton Manning's; bringing his family to the Raven's locker room to bid farewell to Ray Lewis.

Terrell Owens competitively screamed give me the ball on the sidelines and received the err of the country for being troublesome in the locker room, while Belichick and Brady exhibit worse behavior and it chalked off as being overly competitive.

The look on Belichick's and Brady's faces was the dazed look of disgust and amazement at the same time; after all they have capitalized off the NFL's rule changes. They even coined a rule after Tom Brady called "The Brady Rule" to denote the NFL's staunch protection of immobile pocket passers.

Compare Brady to the quarter backs before him; those that had to be real athletes, by being elusive in the pocket and making plays with their arms and legs if need be. Brady has received over 300 sacks during his NFL tenure to John Elway and Brett Farve's over 500 sacks virtually the same period of time due to the NFL's alteration of the sport.

One would have to come away thinking the frustration exhibited by Belichick was the result of not only yesterday's shellacking, but an understanding that they no longer have the arsenal to impose their will in big games anymore. Brady has been a field general who has lost a lot of close matchups since "Spygate". Just ask Terrell Suggs.

I wonder what the conversation was like when Chip Kelley came to New England and dissected his Read Option System for Belichick. Belichick have been a great strategist in football. He's had the advantage of being up close and personal with football since childhood. In this long off season, will he think about the advantages of the Read Option System and how it catapulted three rookies to post season play? After all if there was any coach in the league to introduce a successful offensive system in the pros why it wasn't Belichick? Huh?

His offense appeared tired and confused out there playing a one dimensional system without "The Gronk". There was nothing left to give in the fourth quarter. The New England Patriots racked up the score against the best teams in the league this season only to be stunned in the game that counted a lot more.

Sean Payton had to forfeit 5.8 million in pay for the 2013 season for his part as head coach in the bounty scandal to Belichick's mere $500,000, by comparison, in the video-tapping scandal. Some have asked why. Others have alleged Brady and the Patriots are the leagues poster child.

During the off seas

Source: Doubtful Crabtree is charged

2013-01-20 11:16:43

One well-placed San Francisco 49ers source said he "highly, highly doubted" that San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree will be charged in the events that led to an investigation of sexual assault last week. - More

What should Google do about Facebook Graph Search?

2013-01-19 10:53:09

When Facebook introduced its next-generation search product in Menlo Park, Calif., this week, the announcement was no doubt being watched closely in

nearby Mountain View. The data that Google engineers have craved for years -- rich portraits of connections between people, places, and things, all tied to real

identities -- was suddenly searchable on Facebook. - More

Photo: Pre-(mega) fame Kardashians pose in swimsuits

2013-01-18 19:36:03

One of the most entertaining things about famous people are the before-they-were-(mega)-famous photos. One of the most famous sisters in the world — Khloe Kardashian —

has posted to her blog a shot of herself, Kim and Kourtney from one of their first photo shoots about five years ago, back when they starred on an emerging reality show on E!

and (in one instance) a home sex video. (Can you even remember?) - More

New Collaboration with Rihanna, Chris Brown On The Way

2013-01-18 19:31:16

Rihanna and Chris Brown are up to something. The on-again, off-again, probably on-again couple was spotted leaving a L.A.-area recording studio Thursday night.

The session took place in West Hollywood and a Brown rep confirms to E! News that a new Brown/Rih Rih track is in the works. - More

Django Unchained Action Figures Discontinued!

2013-01-18 19:24:16

We told you about the controversy behind the Django Unchained Action Figures. Rev. Al Sharpton's Nation Action Network and others condemned the dolls as

racially insensitive due to their portrayal of slaves. - More

NFL looks to adjust Rooney Rule

2013-01-18 18:59:37

I wrote on Thursday night about the startling lack of diversity in this year's NFL head coach and GM hires. Based on the reaction from my Twitter account, a lot of white people were upset and insist we live in a post-racial world. Right. - More

48,000 Honda Odysseys and Pilots Recalled

2013-01-18 14:06:14

Honda is recalling about 748,000 of its popular sport utility vehicles and minivans because the driver’s side air bag may not deploy properly, the automaker informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. - More

Kelly to the Philadelphia Eagles

2013-01-16 10:34:03

Oregon coach Chip Kelly will be the new coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, league sources told ESPN. Kelly re-emerged as a candidate recently and an agreement

was just reached Wednesday. The Herd with Colin Cowherd Colin Cowherd reacts to Chris Mortensen's report that Chip Kelly will become the Eagles' new coach.

Will Kelly keep Michael Vick in Philadelphia? More Podcasts » The Eagles had interviewed Kelly early in its search for a replacement for longtime coach Andy Reid,

talking to the coach in Arizona after the Ducks' 35-17 Fiesta Bowl victory over Kansas State. - More

Apple below 500, due to weaker-than-expected demand

2013-01-15 11:13:37

The sell-off in Apple stock continued Tuesday, with shares falling below $500...again. Shares of Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) declined 2.8% to $487.41 in morning trading.

Apple shares drifted below $500 on Monday, following reports the company had cut orders for certain iPhone parts due to weaker-than-expected demand for the latest version

of the popular smartphone. - More

Southern Utah Businessman Jeremy Johnson accused of bank fraud, money laundering and aiding and abetting

2013-01-13 20:08:00

New criminal charges were filed in federal court Friday against southern Utah businessman Jeremy D. Johnson by the Utah US Attorney’s Office. The new allegations accuse

the defendant of bank fraud, money laundering and aiding and abetting. - More

Yen plunges as Japan gambles for growth

2013-01-13 20:02:09

The yen has weakened more than 14% against the dollar since the beginning of October, bringing about a boon for the country's manufacturers. - More

The People's Choice is the Hunger Games

2013-01-10 05:59:14

Big names took home most of the awards at Wednesday night's People's Choice Awards, televised live on CBS from Los Angeles. "The Hunger Games" proved itself trophy-hungry, taking home six awards. - More

Eagles interview Brian Kelly of Notre Dame

2013-01-10 02:56:55

One day after his Notre Dame team got thrashed in the BCS Championship Game, Brian Kelly turned his attention toward a move to the next level. Kelly met with the Philadelphia Eagles about their vacant head-coaching job, according to a person informed of the meeting between the parties. - More

AIG Board Won't Sue

2013-01-10 02:52:10

American International Group Inc. decided Wednesday to pass on a shareholder lawsuit that accuses the U.S. government of unfairly burdening the company during its financial-crisis rescue, in a move that could snuff out a brewing controversy for the insurer. - More

Apple is going cheap

2013-01-09 05:34:04

Apple Inc. is working on a lower-end iPhone, according to people briefed on the matter, a big shift in corporate strategy as its supremacy in smartphones has slipped. - More

AIG Joining Greenberg Suit Against U.S.

2013-01-09 05:00:58

American International Group Inc. (AIG), the insurer that’s weighing whether to join a shareholder suit alleging its 2008 bailout was unconstitutional, would face tough odds in court, a former government watchdog said. - More

Google pact with FTC could affect other patent disputes

2013-01-07 06:58:59

While the focus of last week's agreement between the Federal Trade Commission and Google Inc was search, the deal's restrictions on how Google uses its patents could have a broader impact on the technology industry. - More

RG3 Will Win the Superbowl!

2013-01-05 11:02:39

Record-setting rookie quarterbacks will be on full display when the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins square off in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card matchup at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

The Seahawks (11-5) enter this contest on a five-game winning streak, while the Redskins (10-6) won their final seven games to capture the NFC East division title and first

postseason berth since 2007. - More

Mexico Super Bowl Avocado Sales

2013-01-04 12:13:26

Avocados flew out of U.S. grocery stores over the holidays, and the Super Bowl shouldn’t be any different. Mexico, by far, will be the largest supplier of avocados

Mexico News Links

for the Super Bowl, set for Feb. 3 this year, said Phil Henry, president of Escondido, Calif.-based Henry Avocado Corp. - More

RG3 will win vs Seattle!

2013-01-04 11:56:23

The National Football League is changing. The Aaron Rodgers model of grooming a quarterback by making him stand on the sideline for a couple of seasons

and learn from a veteran is no more. Now, quarterbacks selected early in the draft have to play immediately and play well. Jobs depend on it. - More

Samuel L. Jackson Oscar Winner?

2013-01-04 11:53:37

When it comes to this year's Oscar race, Samuel L. Jackson seems to be giving the Academy the knowing evil eye. The 64-year-old actor recently admitted he was none

too pleased when he was passed up for an Academy Award more than 15 years ago, all but revealing his intention to win the award this year for his role as house slave

Stephen in "Django Unchained." - More

Kim Kardashian not fit for Jenny Craig

2013-01-04 04:08:45

Frank Ocean stopped by police for drugs and speeding

2013-01-04 04:04:21

The 25-year old was pulled over on New Year's Eve for speeding at 90 mph (145 kph) in a 65 mph (105kph) area. According to a police spokeswomen, when a deputy went to Ocean's car, there was a smell of marijuana. - More

Charles Chip Kelly to the Pros!?

2013-01-04 03:53:52

David Letterman: Jay and I were friends

2013-01-04 03:31:27

"Jay and I were friends. We were always friends before all of this happened," he says of being passed over to take over Johnny Carson's seat.

Mellody Hobson engaged to George Lucas

2013-01-03 15:46:23

Star Wars director George Lucas has found his real life princess right here on earth. The 68-year-old entertainment mogul has gotten engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Mellody Hobson, according to the Huffington Post. - More

Current TV purchased by Al-Jazeera

2013-01-02 20:23:29

Arab television network Al-Jazeera said on Wednesday it will buy Current TV, the cable channel founded by Al Gore and business partner Joel Hyatt in 2005, for undisclosed terms. - More

Verbal assaults and poor ratings to Matt Lauer

2012-12-27 17:28:11

This just in: A man is being verbally assaulted on the streets of Manhattan. And that man is reportedly Matt Lauer.

The 45-year-old co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show is being regularly screamed at by passersby on the streets of Manhattan in the wake of the awkward handling

of Ann Curry’s dismissal, TMZ reported. - More

Consumer Comfort Highest Since 2008

2012-12-27 11:35:50

Consumer confidence in the U.S. held near a four-year high last week as Americans grew less pessimistic about the economy.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index was little changed at minus 32.1 in the period ended Dec. 23 from minus 31.9 in the prior week,

a drop that was within the margin of error of 3 percentage points. - More

'Django Unchained' stars rolled up 'N-word shield' during filming

2012-12-18 06:07:59

Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie, “Django Unchained,” about a slave-turned-bounty hunter, doesn’t shy away from violence and language, including 110 uses of the N-word –- something the cast had to come to grips with while filming. - More

Plane that carried Jenni Rivera Nosed Dived at 600 mph

2012-12-12 16:29:36

The jet that crashed into the mountains south of Mexico City and killed singer Jenni Rivera plunged from 28,000 feet at speeds topping 600 mph,

officials said. “The plane practically nose-dived,” investigator Gerardo Ruiz Esparza told a radio station, according to the Associated Press.

“The impact must have been terrible.” - More

Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto president wants to open up oil sector

2012-12-12 16:22:09

Enrique Peña Nieto, sworn in as president of Mexico Dec. 1, told the Financial Times he will not privatize state-controlled oil company Petroleos Mexicanos SA, or Pemex,

but will seek to open up the monopoly to private investment to boost development.

The company is one of the world’s top oil producers, controlling Mexico’s oil reserves, estimated in slightly more than 10 billion barrels as of the end of 2011. - More

Tim Tebow: Power Ranking Best Possible Teams for Underused Backup

2012-12-09 18:05:21

Tim Tebow needs a new home. The Jets have no use for him and apparently no intent of letting him play, and the young quarterback deserves a shot to

show what he can do. I'm not even a Tebow supporter. I've ripped him as a quarterback on many occasions. However, it cannot be denied that he got results as a

starting quarterback last year, and there are some teams that could use some of his mythical winning ways. - More

Jobless rate drops to 4-year low

2012-12-07 13:42:10

Despite a late October wallop from Superstorm Sandy and Washington’s ongoing pummeling of business and consumer confidence, the U.S. economy isn’t down for the count.

The fiscal cliff, though, could still deliver a knockout punch. - More

Rihanna and Chris Brown are together so what!

2012-11-25 15:52:19

Well Despite Karrueche Tran’s best efforts, Thanksgiving Day found Chris Brown partying with Rihanna at Berlin’s Adagio club. According to inside sources, Chris Brown was overjoyed at her visit and grateful for her support. - More

Gamaliel Diaz Super Featherweight Champ

2012-10-27 07:10:04

Gamaliel Diaz jabbed his way to a unanimous points' decision win over title-holder Takahiro Aoh in Tokyo to become the new World Boxing Council super featherweight champion on Saturday. - More

Amazon to judge: throw out Apples false advertising claim

2012-09-26 20:57:35

Amazon.com Inc has asked a federal judge to throw out Apple Inc’s false advertising claim in a lawsuit challenging the online retailer’s use of the “app store” name.

The claim is part of a March 2011 trademark lawsuit in which Apple, which this year became the world’s largest company ever by market value, accused Amazon of misusing its “App Store”

name to solicit developers for a mobile software download service. - More

Patriots go under in Baltimore

2012-09-24 06:38:27

The Patriots [team stats] had a chance to put the previous week’s loss behind them and send a message to their AFC Championship Game counterparts, but this time, they couldn’t stave off a Baltimore Ravens comeback. - More

Windows Phone 8

2012-09-20 03:50:47

HTC's reveal of its "signature" Windows Phones yesterday had plenty of Ballmer bada-boom, but missed one major factor:

Windows Phone 8 itself. As the iPhone parachutes into the hands of new owners everywhere, we're still not allowed to touch Windows Phone 8.

Just like at the Nokia Lumia launch, at HTC's Windows Phone 8X launch no one other than official demonstrators were allowed to go beyond three screens:

The home screen, the music player, and the camera app. - More

Warren Buffet

2012-09-15 15:11:04

Warren Buffett, a billionaire investor and the Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

(BRKa, BRKb), has completed his final radiation treatment for prostate cancer, according to the several reports. - More

Bernanke navigating uncharted waters

2012-09-15 03:16:01

One might accuse U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke of many shortcomings,

including misjudging the depth and timing of the nation's economic slowdown.

But intellectual dishonesty is not one of them. - More

Michael Duncan: Large in Talent and stature

2012-09-04 05:49:36

Michael Clarke Duncan, the imposing, bass-voiced actor who earned an Oscar nomination for playing a death row inmate in The Green Mile, died Monday.

He was 54. Duncan was being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after having had a heart attack July 13, said his fiancée, Omarosa Manigault, in a statement released by publicist Joy Fehily. - More

Michael Duncan's death light up Twitter

2012-09-04 05:44:43

The Hollywood community continues to grieve following Monday's tragic death of Michael Clarke Duncan at 54, and many took to Twitter to express their condolences for the late actor.

As we previously reported, Duncan, who earned an Oscar nomination for his signature role in The Green Mile, died Monday in a Los Angeles hospital, more than six weeks after suffering a July 13 heart attack his rep said he “never fully recovered” from. - More

Facebook Privacy Issues

2012-08-28 07:15:02

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) seems to have trouble getting out of its own way when it comes to privacy issues among users in Europe.

Now, a consumer group in Germany is threatening to sue if the social-networking company does not provide a consent form or users who access the App Center on the Web site.

Samsung Issues Single Sentence on Ban

2012-08-28 07:10:41

Yesterday, Apple filed papers asking a court to extend a ban on US sales of Samsung's cell version of the Galaxy.

Samsung's response, issued today, required only a single sheet. - More

Kim Kardashian rock climbing

2012-08-28 07:08:01

Kim Kardashian has been very busy lately. On top of dating one of the hottest rappers around, the sexy bikini shots just keep on coming!

The curvaceous brunette posted a few new snapshots on her Twitter page this week and we bet her nearly 16 million followers didn't mind one bit.

The first image shows the reality TV star in a gold monokini, bending seductively over some rocks with her mouth open and her long ponytail dripping down her side. "Rock climbing lol" she wrote as the caption to the ultra sexy, not-so-outdoorsy shot. At least she has a sense of humor, right? - More

HP posts $US8.9bn loss

2012-08-22 23:04:31

Hewlett-Packard Co swung to an $US8.9 billion quarterly loss as personal computer sales shrank again and it swallowed a huge write-down linked to its $US13.9 billion purchase of Electronic Data Systems Corp.

The No.1 personal computer maker, which employs more than 300,000 people globally, is undergoing a multi-year restructuring aimed at focusing the sprawling corporation on enterprise services, in the mould of IBM. The plan calls for reducing its employee base by 8 per cent.

Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich stunned the Kenyan challenge to clinch a surprise Olympic gold medal

2012-08-12 10:05:53

Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich stunned the Kenyan challenge to clinch a surprise Olympic gold medal in the marathon on The Mall.

The 23-year-old burst past Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang around the 38-kilometre mark to leave his two rivals trailing and claim only Uganda's second ever Olympic gold in athletics. - More

Starbucks and Square Makes the Perfect Blend

2012-08-12 09:52:50

The Siri personal assistant application was one of the main selling features for Apple’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone 4S. And while having a voice-controlled application with an actual personality

is a novel idea, its popularity quickly cooled off. Part of the reason is that the Siri could only be integrated into native applications in the iPhone operating system. Nuance Communications

(Nasdaq: NUAN) – the company behind the voice recognition technology that allows Siri to understand your voice – could change that, though. The company already offers a voice-control app

called Dragon Go!, and it provides useful features that Siri doesn’t offer. Now it’s created new voice-control software that not only understands natural language like Siri can, but it can also be

incorporated into existing mobile applications. - More

Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice: FYI yes Kobe and I are friends

2012-08-10 23:43:55

“FYI yes Kobe and I are friends, but no we are not together and never have been,” the raven-haired. “Can't guys and girls be just friends..? He's an amazing athlete and I've enjoyed getting to know him and many other great athletes in my Olympic journey.” - More

Burnt crops raise specter of food crisis

2012-08-10 22:49:48

The worst drought in over 50 years has prompted government economists to slash their forecasts for the nation's corn and soybean production, triggering fears of rising food costs and stirring worries of a global food crisis. - More

Hines Sight: Howard trade ushers in another NBA super team

2012-08-10 21:27:07

It might be hard for folks to focus on the NBA season, but pro basketball just got a whole lot less interesting. Breaking news....there’s a new super team.

The impact will damage the rest of the league. - More

VIDEO: Watch Usain Bolt Dominate The 100m Finals In London

2012-08-05 14:43:32

It's Usain Bolt's world and everyone else is living in it. Once again, Bolt blew through the field and took home gold at the Olympics, finishing the 100m finals in a time of 9.63. After questions about whether Bolt was ready -- prompted by Yohan Blake's win at the Jamaican trials -- the world record holder reminded everyone who's the boss. - More

Video of Usain Bolt winning the 100m

Services for Garrett Reid will be Tuesday

2012-08-05 13:34:06

Here is an obituary released by the Reid family:

Garrett William Reid was born in Provo, Utah April 13, 1983 and grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He graduated from Harriton High School and Montgomery County Community College.

Garrett was working as a strength & conditioning coach. He found his passion in helping others develop their physique.

To further his career, Garrett had planned to begin studies in sports management in the fall. He was proud of his rank of Eagle Scout. He was the greatest big brother. He was definitely the funniest person to all who knew and loved him. Garrett will be long remembered for his sense of humor, his bold laughter and zest for life. Through his most difficult times his biggest strength was the love and support he received from his family and they from him. He will be truly missed. Garrett is survived by his parents Andrew and Tammy and siblings Britt (Kristen), Crosby, Drew, Spencer and the love of his life, Laura Perkins.

Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals jail time he once served

2012-08-04 21:27:29

Actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed Friday that his desire to become a bodybuilder briefly led to jail time.

Schwarzenegger, 65, said that, at 18 years old, he was serving a mandated year with the army in his native Austria when he snuck out to participate in the Junior Mr. Europe contest in Germany. - More

UFC on Fox 4: Lyoto Machida earns title shot

2012-08-04 21:13:50

The Ultimate Fighting Championship finally may have gotten over the hump with Fox.

After taking criticism from fans for its first three live cards on the network, "UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera" was filled with great fights from pillar to post, particularly the all-important four-fight live broadcast on Fox. - More

Robert Pattinson bans Stewart from his film's premiere

2012-08-04 21:05:54

Los Angeles: Kristen Stewart is not welcome at the premiere of her jilted boyfriend Robert Pattinson’s new film Cosmopolis.

Security has been told to keep the Twilight star away from the red carpet and after-party of Pattinson’s first scheduled public appearance on August 13 at the New York City premiere of Cosmopolis, reported Radar Online.

The couple have fallen apart after Stewart admitted to hooking up with her Snow White and The Huntsman director Rupert Sanders after photos were published of the pair making out. - More

Fraser-Pryce wins 100 again on big night for Brits

2012-08-04 20:58:02

Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won her second straight gold medal in the women's 100-meters Saturday at the London Games, but the host nation of Great Britain wound up stealing the spotlight with three gold medals.

Jessica Ennis was expected to win heptathlon gold for the host nation after building a big lead heading into Saturday evening's final discipline, but Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford's Olympic titles on the men's side were nothing short of shocking. - More

Berkshire Hathaway Profit Falls: Buffett Hints At New Purchase

2012-08-04 00:00:12

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A) (NYSE:BRK.B) posted their earnings report today, which included major losses due to derivatives.

These losses totaled a 9% drop from last year, yet Buffett remains highly optimistic.

Warren Buffet’s company generally backs away from derivatives, but he does have one very large on in the portfolio.

Even though he has repeatedly stated that this position will be profitable over time, it generated nearly $700 million in losses in the last quarter. - More

South Africa wins first Olympic gold ever in rowing

2012-08-03 23:21:23

South Africa won its first ever Olympic gold medal in rowing in the lightweight men's four. Moving up from fourth in the final 500m the South Africans overtook 2010 World Champions Great Britain, 2011 World Champions Australia and 2008 Olympic Champions Denmark to cross the line first.

Great Britain took silver and Denmark bronze - this is the fifth overall Olympic medal won by legendary Dane lightweight sculler Eskild Ebbesen, aged 40. He has won a medal in the lightweight men's four at every Olympic Games since Atlanta in 1996. - More

27-year-old Tirunesh Dibaba retains distance crown

2012-08-03 18:56:12

The 27-year-old, who won the distance double at the Beijing Olympics, surged away from Sally Kipyego and Vivian Cheruiyot after the bell to win by more than five seconds.

Dibaba's time was a season's best of 30 minutes 20.75 seconds with Kipyego taking the silver in 30:26.37 and world champion Cheruiyot four seconds futher back in bronze. - More

Rim Jong Sim wins weightlifting gold

2012-08-03 15:00:48

Rim Jong Sim won North Korea's third weightlifting gold medal in the London Olympics when she clinched the women's 69-kilogram class Wednesday in a dramatic finish.

Rim lifted a total weight of 261 kilograms but was challenged until the end by Romania's Roxana Cocos, who would have moved into first placed if she hadn't failed with her final lift. - More

US economy added 163,000 jobs in July as Obama handed major election boost

2012-08-03 10:21:44

The US added 163,000 new jobs in July, ahead of economists' expectations and offering some relief for President Barack Obama as the economy emerges as the key battleground of the 2012 election.

Private companies added 172,000 jobs last month, while governments shed 9,000 positions. Most economists had expected the latest nonfarm payroll figure to be around 95,000. The US added just 64,000 jobs in June. - More

MetroPCS starts selling phone with TV tuner

2012-08-03 10:19:07

In time for the Olympics, MetroPCS is selling the first phone that can receive local TV signals, potentially lending TV stations some relevance in the age of the smartphone.

MetroPCS Communications Inc., the country's fifth-largest cellphone company, started selling the Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G for $459 on Friday.

It has a built-in, extendable antenna that can receive special TV signals, broadcast from regular TV towers for reception by cellphones and other small gadgets. - More

Lil Wayne Taking a Rap Hiatus to Pursue the Skateboarding Lifestyle

2012-08-03 10:07:46

The rapper is planning to trade in his microphone, saying,

"I believe the fans deserve some peace from me."

What would make rapper Lil Wayne put a hold on his career as a rapper after nine successful studio albums and over 20 mixtapes? - More

Douglas captures all-around gold

2012-08-02 19:40:33

Gymnastics coach Liang Chow didn't quite know what to make of Gabby Douglas when she decided to move halfway across the country 20 months ago to train at his gym.

Her body was scrawny, her skills ragged, but she wanted to compete in the 2012 London Olympics. - More

Lorne Michaels, Jimmy Fallon in Line for Oscars Gig?

2012-08-02 19:37:32

Outgoing Academy president Tom Sherak had conversations with producer Lorne Michaels and talk-show host Jimmy Fallon about producing and hosting next February's Academy Awards,

but discontinued those conversations when a deal could not be made prior to Tuesday night's Academy presidential election,

according to AMPAS insiders with knowledge of the negotiations. - More

Apple Asks Court to Severely Sanction Samsung

2012-08-02 19:35:15

Apple has asked Judge Lucy Koh to impose a significant sanction against Samsung as punishment for what Apple alleges was a deliberate effort to pollute the jury pool.

Apple told the court that Samsung is using “litigation misconduct” as a strategy, and that declaring Apple’s patents valid and infringed would be a suitable remedy,

even though it is a significant sanction. - More

PSU penalties appropriate, Obama says

2012-08-02 18:05:54

President Barack Obama on Thursday said stiff NCAA sanctions on Penn State’s football program were "appropriate" in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal.

"I have been a big admirer of Penn State football," Obama said.

"Obviously Joe Paterno was a great football coach. But there are some things that are just more important than sports. And making sure our kids are safe is more important than sports." - More

Phelps sets the seal on status as greatest ever Olympian with 20th swimming medal

2012-08-02 18:03:07

Another record-breaking evening for Phelps saw him become the first male swimmer to achieve victory at the same event in three successive Games.

On Tuesday, Phelps had smashed the record tally of 18 Olympic medals held by former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina as he took his haul to 19. - More

DirecTV Loses 56,000 Subs in Q2

2012-08-02 09:02:54

DirecTV Aug. 2 said it lost 56,000 domestic net subscribers in the second quarter, which ended June 30, compared to a gain of 26,000 net subs during the previous-year period.

The El Segundo, Calif.-based No. 1 satellite TV operator, unlike most cable operators, has generated consisted subscriber gains over the past several years due in large part to aggressive marketing and discounted programming bundles. - More

Outlook.com Gets 1 Million Users in First 6 Hours

2012-08-01 08:02:28

The team behind Outlook.com revealed in a tweet that one million people signed up for the new email service in just six hours.

Microsoft unveiled its Hotmail replacement Tuesday at noon Eastern, and by dinnertime it had cracked seven digits. - More

London Now: Serena going strong

2012-07-28 15:08:41

Ryan Lochte deposed Michael Phelps as the Olympic 400 metres individual medley champion

2012-07-28 12:08:35

Ryan Lochte deposed Michael Phelps as the Olympic 400 metres individual medley champion as he secured a dominant victory at the Aquatics Centre.

The race was meant to be the first instalment of a showdown between him and Phelps but ultimately Lochte was never threatened and touched in four minutes 05.18 seconds.

Brazil's Thiago Pereira was second with Japanese 17-year-old Kosuke Hagino third, just a year after taking bronze at the World Junior Championships. - More

Michael Phelps came close to missing the 400m individual medley final

2012-07-28 10:44:38

It has been hyped as the biggest clash of the Olympic swimming program, but it almost didn't eventuate after Michael Phelps came within a fingernail of missing the 400m individual medley final.

The battle between Phelps and fellow American Ryan Lochte almost became the Games first anti-climax when Phelps scraped into the final by just 0.07 seconds. - More

Kim Kardashian Should Not Get Married On TV Again to Kanye West

2012-07-27 12:38:43

With an abundance of rumours alleging that Kanye West is about to get down on one knee and propose to Kim Kardashian, we decided to question whether the reality TV beauty should make the decision to show her wedding (if she says yes to Kanye that is!) on TV.

We're sure everyone can remember the backlash Kimmy faced when her lavish televised wedding to husband of 72 days, Kris Humphries was slammed for being a publicity stunt. - More

Robin Roberts Takes Leave From Good Morning America for her long-awaited bone marrow transplant

2012-07-27 12:31:47

Robin Roberts is taking a leave from her job on Good Morning America to focus on getting well.

The plucky host will exit the show for her long-awaited bone marrow transplant.

She's hoping that the surgery will help her beat myelodysplastic syndrome, formerly called pre-leukemia. - More

Skype has published a blog post denying that it made changes to its architecture

2012-07-27 12:05:28

Skype has published a blog post denying that it made changes to its architecture to give police access to users' calls and chats.

Although Skype was loathe to comment earlier in the week when some woolly quotes sparked the speculation, Mark Gillett, corporate VP at Skype, wrote the post to address the issues. - More

Carl Lewis on Mitt Romney: some Americans shouldn't leave the country

2012-07-27 05:48:29

Mitt Romney has been rebuked by the US Olympic legend Carl Lewis after the presumptive Republican presidential nominee questioned whether London was fully prepared for the Olympic Games.

As Romney was mocked on US television and by the London mayor, Boris Johnson, in front of a crowd of 60,000 people, Lewis called on him to return home.

Katie Couric unveiled details of her eponymous new daytime talk show Thursday

2012-07-27 05:00:11

Katie Couric unveiled details of her eponymous new daytime talk show Thursday at the TV critics previews.

The show, debuting Sept. 10, will feature a theme song called “This Day,” co-written and performed by Sheryl Crow.

“Katie is somebody I can talk to about the things so many of us juggle,” says Crow, “our children, careers, health, and balancing our personal and professional lives. . . . Plus she is really fun! I think her show will reflect the same kind of heart and energy I try to give my music, so ‘This Day’ was a fun project to work on together, as friends.” - More

Clash between team mate Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte putting the sport in a buzz

2012-07-27 04:25:02

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will be squaring off in the both the 200 and 400m individual medleys.

This match has become an instant rivalry after Lochte stated Phelps was not being committed to training for the 2012 Olympics.

Japan ran out shock a 1-0 winner over 10-man Spain in the Olympic Group D fixture at Hampden Park in Glasgow

2012-07-26 21:26:20

Japan ran out shock a 1-0 winner over 10-man Spain in the Olympic Group D fixture at Hampden Park in Glasgow, courtesy of a goal in the 34th minute from Yuki Otsu following some questionable defending from Martin Montoya.

Kensuke Nagai and Hiroshi Kiyotake could have made it a more comfortable win for Takashi Sekizuka's side as both wasted good chances either side of halftime,

but Spain struggled to trouble Shuichi Gonda in the Japan goal, particularly after Inigo Martinez's sending-off at the end of the first half. - More

Two-times Olympic champion Usain Bolt says he is fit and ready

2012-07-26 21:21:20

Motorola Mobility will headquarters and 3,000 workers to downtown Chicago

2012-07-26 19:01:31

Motorola Mobility will move its Libertyville headquarters — and 3,000 workers — to downtown Chicago, taking the top four floors and rooftop of the Merchandise Mart and becoming the landmark building’s largest tenant with 600,000 square feet, Motorola Mobility CEO Dennis Woodside and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Thursday.

Greek high jumper fails drug test, withdraws from Olympics

2012-07-26 18:52:18

Greece's world indoor high jump champion Dimitris Chondrokoukis has pulled out of the London Olympics after testing positive for a banned substance, the athlete's father said.

"Dimitris will not take part in the Olympic Games, leaving unfulfilled a dream of a lifetime," his father and coach Kyriakos Chondrokoukis said in a statement.

Steelers receiver Mike Wallace remains unsigned

2012-07-25 21:12:26

Having polished off two important contracts over the past two days, the Steelers will report to training camp at Saint Vincent College today trying to nail down one more.

As of Tuesday, they did not have wide receiver Mike Wallace's signature on a contract and until they get it he cannot participate with the rest of his teammates in camp -- or beyond.

Kristen Stewart Cheated With SWATH Director - And Admits It

2012-07-25 21:03:39

The Twilight world is reeling with the revelation that Kristen Stewart cheated on Robert Pattinson with her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders, confirmed in a public apology issued by Stewart today.

Needless to say, people have questions. What was she thinking? What exactly is going on in those car photos? - More

Chad Everett Biography

2012-07-25 16:55:58

Chad Everett, the classically handsome actor remembered for playing thoracic surgeon Dr. Joe Gannon on the 11969-76 CBS drama Medical Center, died Tuesday at his Los Angeles home, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Biography Page >>

Wikipedia Page >>

HSBC Mexico Pays $27.5 Mln Fine for Money Laundering Scandal

2012-07-25 15:04:11

HSBC Mexico, a unit of London-based HSBC Holdings,

Wednesday paid a $27.5 million fine imposed in November 2011 by local regulators for non-compliance of money laundering prevention controls.

This is the largest fine imposed so far by Mexico's National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) and amounts to 51.5% of HSBC Mexico's 2011 net income. - More

Voula Papachristou has been removed from the Greek National team after writing inappropriate comments on Twitter

2012-07-25 14:52:58

A Greek athlete has been withdrawn from the national team after writing inappropriate comments on Twitter.

And her colleagues have been warned not to follow in her tweetsteps.

Earlier in the week, she tweeted: 'With so many Africans in Greece... At least the West Nile mosquitoes will eat home made food!!!'

Katherine Jackson Removed As Guardian of Michael Jackson's Children

2012-07-25 14:46:36

The unpredictable wheel of Jackson family drama continued to spin on Wednesday (July 25) when a judge stripped family matriarch Katherine of her guardianship duties for late King of Pop Michael's three children, handing over the duties to their cousin, TJ Jackson.After nearly a week of increasingly bizarre public feuding, accusations, confrontations and allegations of kidnapping, TMZ reported that Judge Mitch Beckloff temporarily stripped Katherine of her guardianship over Paris, Prince and Prince Michael II ("Blanket").

NBC tops $1 billion in Olympics ad sales

2012-07-25 11:22:55

NBC says it has topped the $1 billion mark in advertising sales for the Olympic Games beginning this week in London.

The network said Wednesday it is the biggest advertising haul ever for an Olympics and topped the $850 million in ad sales for Beijing in 2008.

There's a lot more room for advertising, since NBC Universal is showing more than 5,000 hours of competition on NBC, its cable affiliates and online. - More

Sherman Hemsley of The Jeffersons dead at 74

2012-07-24 14:40:17

"The Jeffersons" star Sherman Hemsley has died at age 74, TMZ is reporting.

Hemsley, who also appeared on "All in the Family" and "Amen," was discovered by his nurse at his El Paso home.

The cause of Hemsley's death was not known.

Kate Gosselin: ready to find love again

2012-07-24 10:12:39

E! News is reporting that Kate Gosselin has signed up for a reality dating show a la The Bachelorette and is shopping the idea around to networks. She is ready to get back into the dating game, says an unnamed source. She is ready to find love again and to move on from her past.

Mariah Carey Joins AMERICAN IDOLs Judges Panel to the tune of 18 Million

2012-07-24 07:53:07

Mariah Carey, one of the best-selling female recording artists of all time, has joined AMERICAN IDOL as a new judge.

A five-time Grammy Award-winning global superstar with more than 200 million records sold worldwide and more No. 1 songs than any solo artist in history, her 18 Billboard No. 1 singles (17 of which Carey wrote) rival all but The Beatles.

Carey joins the judges' panel when AMERICAN IDOL returns in January 2013 on FOX. - More

Moodys Gives Core Europe A Negative Outlook

2012-07-23 20:53:53

Moody's just changed the outlook on three of Europe's strongest AAA countries—Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—to negative. It affirmed Finland's stable outlook. - More

Cisco to lay off 1,300 employees

2012-07-23 20:44:22

Cisco Systems is preparing to lay off about 1,300 workers just a few months after the world's largest maker of computer networking equipment warned that growing economic uncertainty is making it tougher to close sales with its customers.

The cuts announced Monday represent about 2 percent of Cisco System Inc.'s payroll of 65,000 workers.

The Dark Knight Rises comes out strong

2012-07-23 20:38:05

The Dark Knight Rises had some high expectations to live up to, even in a film culture like ours that tries to make every movie into an event.

After the popular and critical success that was “The Dark Knight” (2008), which has since become legendary for its thematic weight and for Heath Ledger’s ultimately tragic portrayal of the Joker, fans have eager awaited the final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. - More

USA Mens Basketball Close Call against Argentina

2012-07-23 00:49:32

Kevin Durant scored 27 points Sunday for the United States, which held on for an 86-80 victory over Argentina in an exhibition basketball game in Barcelona, Spain.

The Americans got off to a hot start, but their lead was down to four with 2 minutes, 50 seconds remaining after Manu Ginobili's three-point play.

Jermaine Jackson reports Katherine Jackson is resting with family in Arizona

2012-07-23 00:46:12

Jermaine Jackson says that his mother is doing fine and is not missing as another relative reported to authorities.

Jackson posted a statement to Twitter Sunday evening saying that his mother Katherine is complying with doctor's orders to de-stress.

Orders stopped on Nexus 7 due to demand

2012-07-23 00:33:38

Google has decided to stop taking orders from its online store, assumedly because it has such a huge backlog it doesnt even know when it will be able to fulfill new customer purchases. The 16 GB $249 tablet had been showing up as being delayed for one to two weeks.

Sources: Google's Sparrow purchase cost under $25 million, will bring 'beauty' to Gmail

2012-07-20 22:04:13

Today, Sparrow's Dom Leca announced that his third party email client company had been purchased by Google, and we just talked to sources familiar with the situation.

The talks have been ongoing for a while; Sparrow was well known, and our sources say Google recognized that the five-person-team had a "lot of expertise in how to make mail communication really simple."

DirecTV, Viacom reach agreement

2012-07-20 17:14:45

Sumner Redstone may be relieved that Viacom has ended its nine-day standoff with DirecTV, but that may not be the last headache he gets this year from the satcaster.

The mogul's other conglom, CBS Corp., has an affiliate deal of its own with DirecTV set to expire at the end of the year.

The company's assets range from broadcaster CBS to premium cabler Showtime.

Halle Berry rushed to hospital after accident on movie set

2012-07-18 04:59:42

Halle Berry was rushed to hospital in Los Angeles last night following an accident on the set of her latest movie, it has been claimed. It is believed that Halle hit her head on some concrete after taking a nasty fall while shooting The Hive in the city. - More

Credit Suisse to raise capital, sees profits grow

2012-07-18 04:52:26

Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland's second-largest bank, has reported a 2.6 percent rise in second-quarter profits and announced it will try to raise 8.7 billion Swiss francs ($8.9 billion) from investors to boost its capital buffers.

Marissa Mayer Biography

2012-07-16 22:32:22

Marissa Mayer added another twist on Monday to her surprising announcement that she had quit Google Inc. to be Yahoo Inc.'s new CEO — she expects a baby boy in October. "Another piece of good news today — @zackbogue and I are expecting a new baby boy!" she tweeted Monday night.

Marrissa Mayer Biography

Microsoft and NBC News Part Company

2012-07-16 00:36:03

Software giant Microsoft has parted company with NBC News Comcast, the company that owns NBC News, has acquired full control of the MSNBC.com website.

The dissolution of the 16-year-old joint venture was announced late Sunday.

The financial details of the breakup were not disclosed.

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Will Smith Eyeing Cain And Abel Film As Directing Vehicle

2012-07-15 06:08:09

EXCLUSIVE: With Biblical epics the rage in Hollywood, heres another. Will Smith is eyeing a film about battling brothers Cain and Abel as his directorial debut. The project is set at Sony in development and is being produced by Overbrook Entertainment.

Jamie Foxx Django Unchained

2012-07-15 05:52:53

Another morning of Comic Con brought another mother of a line for Hall H, with rampant fans queuing up to see Quentin Tarantino's sneak peek of his epic western "Django Unchained," Or maybe they were more excited to hear from the famously quote-worthy director and members of the cast, including Jamie Foxx.

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Romneys sit down for interview with Oprah Winfrey

2012-07-15 05:14:25

Republican Mitt Romney is talking about his presidential campaign with Oprah Winfrey.

The presumptive GOP nominee and his wife, Ann, met with Winfrey on Friday for an interview that will be published in O, The Oprah Magazine.

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Rockets chances of getting Lin back increase

2012-07-15 04:34:55

Months after the Rockets gave Jeremy Lin to the Knicks, eventually launching the season of Linsanity, the Knicks seemed ready to give him back.

The Rockets moved significantly closer to landing Jeremy Lin on Saturday, a day after he signed a three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet with them, when the Knicks moved in the other direction.

Sylvester Stallones son dies of drug overdose: reports

2012-07-13 19:29:38

Actor Sylvester Stallone’s son, Sage, has died of a drug overdose according to media reports.

Sage Moonblood Stallone, 36, is reported to have been found in his Hollywood home Friday afternoon after an overdose of pills.

It remained unclear Friday evening if the death was accidental or intentional. Sage’s mother is Stallone’s first wife, Sasha Czack.

AP Source: Drew Brees $100 Million Richer

2012-07-13 12:38:35

Drew Brees has agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract with the New Orleans Saints, with $60 million guaranteed, said a person familiar with the deal.

Brees and the team Friday reached the agreement, which will pay the quarterback $40 million in the first year, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been publically announced.

Steven Tyler, J Lo depart TV's American Idol

2012-07-13 12:34:20

Jennifer Lopez has joined Steven Tyler in exiting American Idol.

Lopez announced on Friday she was leaving the talent competition after two years as a judge, a day after Tyler said he planned to return to rock 'n' roll.

Speaking on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, she said,"I honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I've put kind of on hold because I love Idol so much." - More

Truvada trials signal AIDS turning point

2012-07-11 19:27:56

A trio of new studies highlights the promise and challenges of preventing the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS: Giving anti-AIDS drugs to healthy but high-risk patients can dramatically reduce the risk of infection.

Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes: Disposable phone used to start divorce

2012-07-10 12:37:05

Katie Holmes set the wheels in motion for her divorce from Tom Cruise using a throwaway cellphone provided by a friend to initially talk to her lawyers and avoid her husband knowing about the conversations, according to a source familiar with the divorce.

The move allowed her to prepare her legal case without Cruise and his staff knowing she was about to exit the marriage and left him shocked at the sudden divorce. By the time a deal was struck last weekend to end the marriage, she hired three law firms in three states.

First-time Olympian rips Michael Phelps work ethic

2012-07-10 09:57:16

Two weeks after getting smoked by Michael Phelps at the U.S. Olympic trials, swimmer Tyler Clary blasted the 14-time gold medalist and his training habits in a contentious interview with his local California newspaper. - More

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Google Could Pay FTC $22.5 Million in Apple Safari Privacy Case

2012-07-10 09:37:00

Google was charged with bypassing Apple Safari user privacy settings in order to track those who had previously blocked that type of tracking Google may have to pay the largest fine ever given by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a privacy settlement regarding Apple's Safari users.

Lance Armstrong injunction nixed by federal judge

2012-07-10 02:03:55

A federal judge handed Lance Armstrong a quick setback yesterday as he went to court to save his seven Tour de France titles and his reputation as one of the greatest cyclists ever.

Armstrong filed a lawsuit aimed at preventing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency from moving ahead with charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs throughout much of his long career.

Blazers Strike Out on Adding Hibbert; Now What?

2012-07-10 01:52:50

At the risk of overstating Roy Hibbert's value here (he's not exactly Dwight Howard, is he?), Indiana's decision to match Portland's offer for the restricted free-agent center is a big, huge buzzkill for the Blazers that could mean a season filled with more struggles than we'd hoped

EU sets Spanish bank aid

2012-07-10 01:49:00

Eurozone ministers have agreed to grant Spain an extra year until 2014 to reach its deficit reduction targets in exchange for further budget savings and set the parameters of an aid package for Madrid's ailing banks.

The decisions were aimed at preventing the currency area's fourth largest economy, mired in a worsening recession, from needing a full state bailout which would stretch the limits of Europe's rescue fund and plunge it deeper into a debt crisis.

Photos: Kourtney Kardashian Has Baby Girl

2012-07-09 06:56:42

Reality star Kourtney Kardashian has given birth to her second child, a baby girl, this weekend.Kardashian welcomed her second child with boyfriend Scott Disick Sunday, a daughter they named Penelope Scotland Disick.

Cisco Connect Cloud No Longer Default Setting For Routers

2012-07-08 09:39:30

Cisco Systems has done a 180 in the face of customer complaints, announcing Thursday night that their Connect Cloud service would no longer be the default setting for certain Linksys Wi-Fi routers.

According to Stephen Lawson of IDG News Service, the San Jose, California-based networking equipment designer and manufacturer changed the default management method of their Linksys EA Series Wi-Fi routers back to traditional setup and management over the local network.

Anderson Silva retains title at UFC 148, beats rival Chael Sonnen

2012-07-08 08:40:45

Chael Sonnen did his talking for two years. Anderson Silva did his talking in two rounds.

In one of the most anticipated matches in Ultimate Fighting Championship history, Silva overcame a slow start in the main event of UFC 148 before vanquishing his long-time tormentor.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 15,016 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Silva extended his UFC record to a perfect 15-0 on Saturday night, defending his middleweight title with a TKO victory at 1:55 of the second round.

Ethiopians sweep to titles in Boilermaker 15K road race in Utica

2012-07-08 08:31:15

Tilahun Regassa of Ethiopia breezed to victory Sunday morning in the Boilermaker 15-kilometer road race.

Regassa won with a time of 43 minutes, 1 seconds. He was 32 seconds faster than Kenya's Peter Kirui, who won the Peachtree 10K Road Race last week in Atlanta.

Regassa was sixth at the Peachtree. He's previously won races in 2010 at the Bolder Boulder, half-marathon in Abu Dhabi and the Cresent City Classic in New Orleans. Regassa said he was hurt most of last season.

USHERS STEPSON CRITICALLY INJURED IN JET SKI ACCIDENT

2012-07-08 08:21:52

Ushers stepson, Kyle Glover, is currently hospitalized after being struck with a jet ski. Though his ongoing divorce proceedings with ex wife, Tameka Foster, are dramatic, Ush is one hell of an ex husband and stepfather to have. When Ushers former stepson was injured in a jet skiing accident, Usher personally chartered a plane for Foster to visit her son. For her part, Foster was greatly moved and thankful for Ushers generosity and rushed to be at Glovers side.

Brad Pitts mom bashes Obama

2012-07-07 15:32:12

Looks like Brad Pitt is at odds with his mother in this year's presidential election.Jane Pitt, the actor's mother, urged fellow Christians to vote for presumed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, setting aside any preconceptions of his Mormon faith. She pilloried President Obama, calling him a liberal who supports the killing of unborn babies and same-sex marriage.

Ray Allen accepts contract offer from Miami Heat

2012-07-06 21:49:48

Ray Allen will take less money for a chance at another NBA championship.

Allen told the Miami Heat on Friday night that he intends to accept their contract offer and leave Boston after five seasons, even though the Celtics could pay him about twice as much as the reigning NBA champions will be able to next season.

Miami could only offer Allen the mini mid-level, worth about $3 million a year.

Diddy's Hamptons Home Intruder Sentenced! Squatter Admits to Smoking Rapper's Cigars, Using His Toothbrush

2012-07-06 19:02:30

Quamine Taylor, the Queens man who broke into the entertainment mogul's Hamptons mansion in April, really lived it up Diddy-style, he revealed at his sentencing Thursday.

He noshed on Sean Combs' food, smoked his cigars, drank his liquor—he even borrowed his toothbrush!

Mortgage Rates Are Down

2012-07-05 21:15:44

Mortgage rates have hit an all-time low.

That's coming from a weekly mortgage market survey from Freddie Mac.

The new numbers show the rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate loan dropped to 3-point-62 percent. The 15-year fixed rate fell to 2-point-89 percent, that means if you're looking to take out a home loan for 200-thousand-dollars, your mortgage payment will run you an estimated $911.00 a month.

Steve Nash traded to Lakers for package of picks

2012-07-04 21:23:03

The Los Angeles Lakers just lost out on getting Chris Paul just before last season, but it looks like they now have the point guard that turns them into a contender again.

They are now the West Coast superstar team to compete with the Miami Heat.

Multiple sources say the Suns have come to a deal to send Steve Nash to the Lakers for L.A.’s 2013 and 2015 first-round picks and 2013 and 2014 second-round picks

Man lives off Craigslist ads for a month, turns his adventures into a documentary

2012-07-04 11:20:06

In a major change of pace from his work in The Hangover, actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis is working as the executive producer for a new documentary called Craigslist Joe.

The movie is about Joe Garner, who traveled across America living off Craigslist ads. Over 31 days, Garner sought transportation, food, and shelter through ads on the online classifieds network.

All he took with him on the journey was a laptop, cell phone, toothbrush, and the clothes he wore. Get a first look at the movie with the trailer above. The movie is slated to hit theaters and iTunes on August 2. - More

A Serena smackdown

2012-07-04 09:20:47

The women's game, under some scrutiny the past week or so because of comments from some of the ATP Tour players about value for money and the relative merits of the men's and women's games, had an opportunity to strut its stuff Tuesday. The women came through like champions. - More

INSIGHT - Oohlalabama! Airbus finally goes American

2012-07-02 11:14:08

Airbus is about to get a Green Card.

Plans to build a $600 million plant in Mobile,

Alabama to produce A320 passenger planes will give Europe's jet maker a strategic foothold on U.S. soil while breathing life into American manufacturing.

GlaxoSmithKline Agrees to $3B Fraud Settlement

2012-07-02 11:02:02

A team from Covington & Burling in Washington represented the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline LLC in a record-setting $3 billion criminal and civil settlement over drug misbranding.

Deputy Attorney General James Cole announced the deal today at the U.S. Justice Department, calling it "unprecedented in both size and scope." No executive was charged today.

Video: Gabby Douglas wins Trials

2012-07-01 23:35:38

The 16-year-old with the spectacular uneven bars routine and personality to spare beat Jordyn Wieber for the first time Sunday night, winning the Olympic trials and the lone guaranteed spot for the London Games. - More

Apple pays $60m China iPad trademark dispute

2012-07-01 23:22:11

US technology giant Apple has paid $60 million to a Chinese firm to settle a long-running dispute over the iPad trademark in China, a court said Monday.

The government body overseeing trademarks has been asked to immediately recognise Apple's rights to the iPad name, the High Court of the southern province of Guangdong said in a statement on its website.

Apple last week paid $60 million to settle the dispute, according to the statement.

Italian fans stunned by humiliating Euro rout

2012-07-01 21:50:29

Glum Italian fans filed away from the ancient Circus Maximus in Rome well before four giant television screens recorded the end of an emphatic 4-0 defeat to Spain in the European Championship final on Sunday.

A disaster, the dream is over, said Claudio Marangoni, 28, a transport worker from Rome who had faded Italian tricolour flags painted on each cheek.

No one expected to end up in the final but to lose like this is humiliating. Tens of thousands of flag waving supporters had packed into the ancient Roman chariot racing arena, the scene of joyous celebrations after Italy's 2-1 victory over Germany in the semi-final on Thursday.

China Manufacturing Gloom

2012-07-01 21:41:50

The Chinese manufacturing sector remained in contraction for an eighth consecutive month in June, as output, incoming new orders and employment continued to decrease, final results of a survey by Markit Economics and HSBC showed Monday.

The purchasing managers' index, that measures the performance of the manufacturing sector, fell to 48.2 in June from 48.4 in May. The preliminary report showed a reading of 48.1. A PMI reading below 50 suggests contraction.

Box Office Report

2012-06-30 22:30:10

The box office surged Friday as Ted and Magic Mike scored some of the best numbers ever for the R-rated comedy genre.

Tyler Perry's more tame Madea's Witness Protection also did good business.

Directed by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, Ted grossed $20.2 million on Friday for a weekend debut in the $51 million to $52 million range -- the top opening of all time for an original R-rated comedy, eclipsing the $45 million earned by The Hangover in 2009.

Alec Baldwin weds Hilaria Thomas

2012-06-30 21:53:37

Alec Baldwin is a married man again after exchanging vows with fiancee Hilaria Thomas.

The 30 Rock star, 54, wed 28-year-old yoga instructor Thomas at the historic St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in New York on Saturday, reports People.com.

The Catholic ceremony, performed by Reverend George Deas, also included readings in Spanish in recognition of the bride's upbringing in Spain.

Phelps cruises to win in 200 butterfly

2012-06-30 21:34:42

What's this? Was that Michael Phelps letting his guard down just a little bit Thursday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials?Phelps let reporters in on how he really feels about the 200-meter butterfly and handled a few more post-race and press conference questions than usual.

Hip hop songstress Lauryn Hill pleaded guilty

2012-06-29 17:13:04

Grammy Award-winning hip hop singer Lauryn Hill pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges Friday in federal court in Newark, N.J., and could face up to three years in prison.

The ex-Fugees member failed to file three years of tax returns between 2005 and 2007 on $1.8 million in income amassed mostly from film and recording royalties.

Budweiser owner Anheuser-Busch InBev orders another half of Corona

2012-06-29 15:55:20

The owner of Budweiser splashed out £12.9bn acquiring the remaining half of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo it did not own.

Anheuser-Busch InBev will take control of the group that owns Corona beer as it seeks to cash in on fast growing markets.

The cash offer from the world’s biggest brewer values Grupo Modelo at 583p per share, a 30 per cent premium to June 22 – the day before news of the deal first emerged.

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes to divorce: People magazine

2012-06-29 11:05:02

Hollywood dream couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting a divorce after five years of marriage, People magazine reported Friday.

This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family, an attorney for 33-year-old Holmes told the magazine. Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest.

WTO rules against U.S. in meat labeling case

2012-06-29 08:38:25

The United States lost the bulk of its appeal against a World Trade Organization ruling on meat labeling rules on Friday, meaning it may have to stop forcing retailers to display the country of origin on meat they sell.

The WTO Appellate Body said the U.S. country-of-origin labeling rules, commonly known as COOL, were wrong because they gave less favorable treatment to beef and pork imported from Mexico and Canada, which brought the case, than to U.S. meat.

New Orleans Hornets make Anthony Davis the first

2012-06-28 17:39:13

The New Orleans Hornets ended one month of artificial suspense Thursday night, selecting University of Kentucky power forward Anthony Davis with the first overall pick in the NBA draft, a selection the team hopes results in a sustained turnaround of its on-court fortunes.

Quincy Jones: Diddy couldnt recognize a B Flat

2012-06-28 16:47:52

In an interview with The Wrap at a Spotify launch event in Los Angeles (the streaming service was announcing artist-curated playlists), Jones said that the rapper and Bad Boy head honcho "couldn't recognize a b flat." Instead, Jones noted, "P. Diddy has a doctorate in marketing," citing his clothing labels and success with Ciroc (his vodka company) as the rapper's true talents.

RIM posts dismal earnings

2012-06-28 14:37:54

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion reported a wider-than-expected loss and yet another delay of its long-awaited BlackBerry 10 operating system on Thursday, marking a new low point in the company's downward spiral.

Google Nexus 7 Tablet Unveiled

2012-06-27 12:57:49

Google unveiled the Nexus 7 on Wednesday, a new 7-inch tablet, that will feature the latest version of Android with faster rendering, a smoother motion and scrolling, as well as support for Google Play, a cloud-based system which allows users to get updated programs and access thousands of apps, songs, books and movies.

50 Cent in car accident, release from hospital

2012-06-26 21:55:32

50 Cent was injured in a car accident in the early morning hours of Wednesday. The rep says 50 Cent was taken to New York Hospital Queens where he was treated for "minor neck and back injuries" and is now "doing fine."

New-home sales rose at fastest pace in 2 years

2012-06-25 10:26:34

Americans bought new homes in May at the fastest pace in more than two years. The increase suggests a modest recovery is continuing in the U.S. housing market, despite weaker job growth.

The Commerce Department said Monday that sales of new homes increased 7.6 percent in May from April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 369,000 homes. That's the best pace since April 2010, the last month that buyers could qualify for a federal home-buying tax credit.

Retirement Questions for Venus Williams

2012-06-25 09:43:50

Venus Williams first round exit from Wimbledon brought retirement questions on social media. Venus has spent a career dominating the event at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London. This is the earliest exit by Venus at the event in 15 years.

Should Venus Willams Retire? Post your comments...

Coin toss for an Olympic spot?

2012-06-24 22:29:14

U.S. track and field officials say they have a procedure in place to break the third-place tie between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh in the women's 100 meters at the Olympic trials.

The scenarios involve either a coin toss or a runoff to decide which athlete will earn the third and final spot on the team for the London Games.

Bruce Jenner storms out of holiday dinner

2012-06-24 21:57:53

Tonights episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians got off to a rocky start when Kris Jenner decided to meet with ex-boyfriend Todd Waterman behind her husbands back.The show began with Kris turning the car around after she realised the move was a bad idea. She called her confidant Noelle Keshishian and told her that she backed out of meeting the man that was the reason behind her divorce with the late Robert Kardashian.

Alex Trebek Recovering from Heart Attack

2012-06-24 21:51:06

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek was hospitalized in Los Angeles on Saturday after what THR calls "a mild heart attack." A statement from Sony Pictures Television says Trebek, age 71, "is in good spirits and is currently under observation and undergoing further testing.

He is expected to fully recover and be back at Jeopardy! when production begins taping in July for the new season, the show's 29th." After a heart attack in late 2007, Trebek returned to his hosting gig within weeks.

Serena Williams has no intention of stopping

2012-06-24 21:35:03

Just in case there were any doubts out there, Serena Williams wants to make perfectly clear that she's going to be around tennis awhile longer. So is older sister Venus. "I have no intention of stopping, and I don't think she does either.

We're definitely connected at the hip," the 30-year-old Williams said Saturday, two days before Wimbledon begins. "I enjoy being out there on the court so much."

Patent Dispute Between Motorola and Apple Stymied

2012-06-23 16:35:50

In the midst of one of Apple’s numerous patent lawsuits, Federal Judge Richard Posner has begun to question the frivolity of their lawsuit against Motorola. While no official ruling has been made yet, the judge has admitted that the patent system in the United States could lead to a lot of chaos.

For those unaware of the situation, Apple has been trying to file an injunction against Motorola to stop their phone sales, claiming that the latter is using their patented technology.

How stocks will fare in court ruling on health law

2012-06-23 16:21:25

Insurers and other health care companies are facing costly new restrictions and fees under the new law. The Republicans, the party most associated with big business, hate it. So if President Obama's health care overhaul is repealed by the Supreme Court this month, companies would rejoice, right?

Bruins draft Malcolm Subban

2012-06-22 20:49:04

The Boston Bruins selected goalie Malcolm Subban with the 24th pick of the 2012 NHL Draft. P.K. Subban's brother might just try to stop his brothers in the Boston-Montreal series soon. Like P.K., Malcolm plays with intensity and is determined to be the best.

Kris says Kim sex tape staged

2012-06-22 08:56:20

NBA star Kris Humphries, the soon-to-be ex-husband of Kim Kardashian, reportedly has hurled the most explosive accusation during their bitter breakup: that Kardashian's mom, Kris Jenner, instructed her to shoot her infamous sex tape, and even told her to re-shoot it because it didn't come out "pretty enough."

Tony Parker $20 million lawsuit for Chris Brown-Drake fight

2012-06-22 07:24:22

San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker has reportedly filed a $20 million against the W.i.P. Club for the injuries he sustained during last week’s fight between singers Chris Brown and Drake.

The NBA star filed papers in Manhattan Supreme Court, holding the nightclub owners responsible for the injury to his eye, according to The New York Post, which first reported the suit on Thursday. Parker claims that he suffered “corneal laceration of the left eye and other injuries” because of the fight.

John Travolta and His Lawyer React to Libel Lawsuit

2012-06-21 21:36:10

John Travolta and his attorney Martin Singer aren't staying quiet when they are served with a libel lawsuit by Robert Randolph, the author of a book about his alleged encounters with the actor in a spa.

The writer accuses the twosome of spreading lies about his mental health, but the "Hairspray" star and his attorney are quick to defend themselves.

LeBron leads Miami to NBA title

2012-06-21 21:22:40

The Miami Heat demolished the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 today to win the National Basketball Association championship 4-1, sweeping the last four games of the series.

LeBron James led an outstanding team effort with a brilliant all-round game, grabbing a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and a game-high 13 assists.

Giovanni Ribisi weds model Agyness Deyn

2012-06-21 19:42:34

"Agyness Deyn and Giovanni Ribisi quietly married in Los Angeles over the weekend," Ribisi's rep told OnTheRedCarpet.com on June 21.

Ribisi is best known for his roles in films like "Boiler Room," "Gone in Sixty Seconds," "The Rum Diary," "Perfect Stranger," The Other Sister" and "Saving Private Ryan."

Euro tumbles as Moodys downgrades ratings for 15 global banks

2012-06-21 18:30:36

The euro fell the most in five months against the dollar as Moody's Investors Service lowered credit ratings on 15 global banks, adding to concern Europe's debt crisis is worsening.

The 17-nation currency weakened amid reports of possible downgrades and remained lower after the announcement late in the New York trading session Thursday.

Asian markets up on hopes for Fed stimulus

2012-06-20 20:46:09

Asian markets climbed on Wednesday on hopes for a fresh stimulus drive by the US Federal Reserve to kick-start its economy while G20 leaders pledged to “restore confidence” in the world economy.

European heads at the G20 summit in Mexico also vowed to begin looking at a region-wide banking union as they attempted to soothe investor concerns over the debt-riddled Eurozone.

Windows Phone 8: Everything you need to know

2012-06-20 20:34:55

Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 8 today, its next-generation smartphone operating system. But what exactly does that entail, when can we expect to see devices, and what does it mean for people who have Windows phones now?

Alec Baldwin punches Daily News photographer

2012-06-19 19:20:14

Serial shutterbug smacker Alec Baldwin unleashed his fury on a Daily News photographer — and now he’s the focus of a criminal investigation.

A lensman for The News filed an assault complaint with the NYPD, charging the hot-headed “30 Rock” star punched him in the face Tuesday outside the city Marriage License Bureau.

Dark Knight Rises Already Selling Out

2012-06-19 19:11:29

Midnight screenings of The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolans third and final Batman film, are already selling out around the country, spurring scalpers on eBay and Craigslist to sell them for several times face falue, according to MTV.

Photos: Angelina Jolie in Maleficent

2012-06-19 09:32:20

Disney‘s returned to their fairy tale roots with their latest live action fantasy flick. This time around, the House of Mouse will delve into the dark, twisted origins of Sleeping Beauty’s resident mean girl, Maleficent.

Last we heard of the project, Angelina Jolie was cast as the titular character and I’ve been absolutely dying (alright, that’s a lie… I’ve been mildly curious, at best) to see a picture of Mrs. Pitt in full meanie makeup. - More

Microsoft unveils new tablet, Surface

2012-06-18 19:39:23

On Monday, while waiting for Microsofts special media event to begin, I read the dumbest thing Id seen on Twitter all day. I was in a conversation with someone and he claimed that Microsoft was unlikely to ever produce a competitive tablet. Thats the point at which I rolled my eyes and stopped replying.

Mayweather, Pacquiao top sport rich list

2012-06-18 18:35:13

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, the boxers who fight fans worldwide want to see in the ring together, top the list of the 100 highest-paid athletes released by Forbes magazine on Monday. Mayweather, who ranks No.1 for making $US85 million ($A84.25 million) from two fights last year, is serving a three-month jail sentence for domestic battery in Las Vegas, having failed in a bid to serve the remainder of his time under house arrest. - More

Mike Tyson Headed For Broadway With One-Man Show

2012-06-18 18:32:36

Mike Tyson is making the popular move from the big screen to Broadway with his one-man show, "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth." The production, under the direction of Spike Lee, will play at the Longacre Theatre for six nights only starting July 31. - More

Opec to keep output ceiling

2012-06-17 06:41:14

Opec members will reduce the group's production to adhere to its 30 million barrels per day (bpd) output ceiling and the effects should be seen in July, Opec secretary-general Abdullah Al Badri said yesterday. Opec members agreed at a meeting in Vienna on Thursday to maintain the 30m bpd production ceiling. Al Badri said that would entail curbing actual supplies by 1.6m bpd. - More

Microsoft May Debut Home-Grown Tablet

2012-06-17 06:35:40

Microsoft is mad as hell that Apple owns the tablet market and is not going to take it anymore. The company has issued invitations for a press event to take place in Los Angeles Monday, June 18, for what it calls a "major announcement." What could this huge announcement, scheduled with mere days notice, be? A Windows 8 tablet made by Microsoft, perhaps. - More

Speculation Central Banks May Act

2012-06-16 17:08:56

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) gained 2.3 percent as a person familiar with the matter said the company will announce plans next week to sell a tablet computer running the next version of Windows. IntercontinentalExchange Inc. added 4.7 percent as its bid for the London Metal Exchange was rejected in favor of Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd.’s offer. Facebook Inc. (FB) jumped 6.1 percent and capped the first weekly gain since it went public. - More

Lindsay Lohan crashes

2012-06-16 16:35:40

Lindsay Lohan is back under media limelight after an event full week. Apparently Lindsay has been through a lot over the past week which includes smashing a Porsche into an 18-wheeler, being linked in headlines to a porn star and then calling paramedics to her hotel room. - More

Amateur Hossler among leaders at US Open

2012-06-15 19:34:57

Santa Margarita High student Beau Hossler, who recently finished his junior season, was thrust into the spotlight at the US Open on Friday when he managed to grab sole possesion of the lead for a few holes at San Francisco's Olympic Club. - More

After 60 years, Coke is back in Myanmar

2012-06-14 23:01:14

Coca-Cola has announced that it would return to Myanmar after a gap of more than six decades, leaving Cuba and North Korea as the only countries without the iconic American fizzy drink. - More

Expropriation of YPF shares starts a debate

2012-06-14 21:26:51

In early May, Argentina’s Congress passed the Executive-driven Hydrocarbons Sovereignty law by an overwhelming majority. The entirety of the ruling party and a large part of opposition parties approved the legislation, which expropriated 51 percent of YPF’s shares that were held by Spanish oil firm Repsol. - More

WIZ KHALIFA, SNOOP DOGG, BIG SEAN

2012-06-14 13:11:09

Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa celebrated the Blu-ray and DVD release of Mac & Devin Go to High School with a party at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday night. - More

Tiger charging at U.S. Open again

2012-06-14 13:03:18

Tiger Woods is charging at the U.S. Open again. Woods made back-to-back birdies to climb to 2-under par through 15 holes Thursday, one behind leader Michael Thompson in the opening round. Jason Bohn and David Toms also were at 2 under. - More

Def Leppard impressed by Cruise

2012-06-14 01:03:55

Def Leppard bassist Rick Savage has heaped praise on Tom Cruise after the superstar tackled the band's Pour Some Sugar On Me in new movie Rock Of Ages. - More

Nokia to cut 10,000 jobs

2012-06-14 01:00:56

Mobile phone giant Nokia reveals it is cutting another 10,000 staff from its worldwide workforce by the end of 2013, as it struggles to keep pace with rivals. - More

BDO to Pay $50M for Tax Shelter Violations

2012-06-13 21:19:52

The Internal Revenue Service said Wednesday it has reached a settlement with BDO USA LLP under which the accounting firm will pay a civil penalty of $34.4 million for violating tax laws concerning tax shelters. - More

Dot-mayhem: The domain landgrab, by the numbers

2012-06-13 18:58:34

When the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers decided to expand the domain landscape -- letting brands and anyone else with the money apply for the rights to own and run .anything -- it did so to create competition in a world of expanding demand. - More

Chad Ochocinco signs with the Dolphins

2012-06-13 03:46:48

Chad Ochocinco signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, just after four days the New England Patriots released him. He will be able to participate in this week’s OTAs after signing his deal with his new team. - More

Top 5 Plays of the Night: NBA Finals Game 1

2012-06-13 00:19:32

The NBA Finals are underway in Oklahoma City where LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat will battle Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder for the championship trophy and game 1 featured big performances from all the big stars and we have the top 5 plays right here in our top 5 plays of the night! - More

Kobe Bryants divorce, off for now

2012-06-12 23:26:08

Kobe Bryant’s estranged wife Vanessa will not sign documents to make her divorce final, at least for now, because she and the basketball star are working on a full reconciliation. - More

Bacon sundae coming this summer to Burger King

2012-06-12 19:27:49

Burger King, a restaurant that has suffered a slide in its market share, is staking its claim on the bacon sundae this summer to woo customers back to the chain. The restaurant has recently changed its ad presentation in market around the country by showcasing stars like David Beckham and Mary J. Blige.

Starbucks debuts American-made merchandise

2012-06-12 19:03:25

Starbucks today debuted its first line of American-made merchandise, including coffee mugs, available in cafes around the country. The line supports Starbucks' Create Jobs for USA fund, created in 2011. - More

Eurogroup Proposes $125 Billion Bailout of Spain

2012-06-12 15:11:22

European finance ministers asked the EU Commission to approve a $125 billion bailout of Spain's banking system amid growing financial woes. Eurogroup said in a June 9 statement that it supports the efforts of Spanish authorities to address the restructuring of its financial sector, and "welcomes their intention to seek financial assistance from euro area member states to this effect." - More

Paz Vega: Crisis affects Spanish cinema

2012-06-12 00:46:25

The Spanish actress Paz Vega, which is filmed in our country the horror film spectrum, was in favor of social movements currently undertaken by young people in Spain (through The Outraged) and Mexico (I'm 132), considers that the terrible economic crisis the country now has meant that film production has slowed considerably and cause unemployment, especially among the technicians. - More

IMF Suggests Japan Raise Sales Tax Rate

2012-06-12 00:18:50

Japan should do its utmost to improve the country's fiscal health by at least raising its sales tax rate to "15 percent", local media cited the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as saying on Tuesday. - More

Two Former Auburn Players Shot To Death

2012-06-10 09:34:56

Two former Auburn football players , Ladarious Phillips and Ed Christian, were shot to death and a current player, Eric Mack, suffered a gunshot would Saturday night during a shooting at an Auburn apartment complex, according to a report by newspaper website al.com. - More

Bradley wins WBO welterweight title fight at MGM Grand Arena

2012-06-09 22:22:00

Timothy Bradley had youth and confidence on his side. Manny Pacquiao possesses power and speed in abundance. Pacquiao made good use of his skills to pound Bradley, but he couldn’t convince two of the judges at ring side that he did enough to win. - More

Ochocinco went from Bengal to a bust

2012-06-08 21:17:57

He arrived at Gillette Stadium last July, a six-time Pro Bowler with 751 receptions on his NFL resumé. In New England, however, Chad Ochocinco simply never caught on. - More

Britney Spears Wears White

2012-06-08 21:07:10

Britney Spears was working it in her white Alaïa-designed white dress as she made her grand entrance into the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri on Friday (June 8) for the city’s first day of auditions for The X Factor. - More

Lindsay Lohan Hospitalized After Accident

2012-06-08 21:03:03

Today around noon, Lindsay Lohan rear-ended an 18-wheeler and totaled her Porsche on PCH (the only place to wreck your porsche, obv), and it was probably really really scary. - More

European Stocks to Start Down

2012-06-08 00:26:39

European stocks are expected to start in the red and the euro is set to remain weak against the dollar after hopes were dashed that there would be a round of stimulus plans from the world's central banks. - More

Union Without Unity: the Collapse of Greece

2012-06-07 03:15:55

Greece is the cradle of democracy. However, if current trends continue, it is going to be the crypt of the Euro. Greek police have cautioned people to not withdraw their savings from the banks to avoid theft. More

Thunder headed to NBA finals, beat Spurs 107-99

2012-06-07 02:52:39

Oklahoma City — After years of nagging Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks not to take him out of games, Kevin Durant finally got his wish. And now, he's one big step closer to making his basketball dreams come true. - More

CLUTCH: PIERCE, KG LEAD C'S TO GAME 5 WIN

2012-06-05 21:08:19

Paul Pierce drilled a huge 3-pointer with 52.9 seconds remaining and Kevin Garnett poured in 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 94-90 win over the Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night at American Airlines Arena in Miami. Pierce,... - More

Liz and Dick Fight Scene

2012-06-05 15:55:57

Falling victim to another wardrobe malfunction, Lindsay Lohan put on a peep show while filming a scene for "Liz & Dick" -as her boobs fell out of her dress while on the Los Angeles, California set on Monday. - More

Netflix Rolls Its Own CDN

2012-06-05 10:28:11

Netflix, which streams nearly 1 billion hours of video monthly over the Internet, is shifting to deliver data directly to broadband service providers via its own content delivery network at no cost to ISPs. - More

Mosimane fired as Bafana coach

2012-06-04 22:51:41

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has fired Bafana Bafana coach, Pitso Mosimane. He was axed late last night after an emergency meeting in Johannesburg where the team and Mosimane's performance was discussed. - More

South African News

Safa in crisis talks, set to axe Pitso

2012-06-04 22:38:21

Pitso Mosimane is set to be sacked as Bafana Bafana coach on Monday, following South Africa’s dismal 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in their opening 2014 World Cup qualifier on Sunday in Phokeng.

The South African Football Association have convened an emergency meeting, set for 11am on Monday, where they are expected to fire Mosimane, and replace him with his assistant coach, Steve Komphela. - More

Starbucks To Strengthen U.S. Retail Business

2012-06-04 19:22:09

You are invited to Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) webcast at 1:30 p.m. PDT today, hosted by Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, Cliff Burrows, Starbucks president, U.S. and Americas, and Troy Alstead, Starbucks chief financial officer and chief administrative officer, in which they will discuss an initiative to further strengthen Starbucks core U.S. retail business. - More

Herman Cain to get his own radio talk show

2012-06-04 12:08:08

ATLANTA — Conservative talk radio host Neal Boortz announced his retirement Monday after four decades at the microphone, saying he will be replaced by former GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain.

Boortz said during his morning talk show that his last day will be Jan. 21, 2013, the day of the presidential inauguration. The 67-year-old Boortz said he is in good health and plans to enjoy retirement by traveling with his wife. - More

Euro Climbs

2012-06-04 10:53:17

The Euro climbed to a high of 1.2465 as Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for a 'banking union' in Europe, and it seems as though the EU will increase its push to recapitalize the banking system through the permanent bailout fund as the group struggles to restore investor confidence. - More

Reforms approved in Portugal

2012-06-04 10:48:46

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the officials from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund conducted their fourth evaluation of the country on Monday. According to Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar, in his speech after the proceedings, the 78 billion euros bailout program is on track and doesn't need any adjustments. - More

Snow White Box Office Success

2012-06-04 10:42:16

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - "Snow White & the Huntsman" turned out to be a fairer box-office beauty than Hollywood anticipated. According to studio estimates Sunday, Universal Pictures' action yarn inspired by the fairy-tale princess debuted strongly at No. 1 with $56.3 million domestically. That's about $20 million higher than industry expectations. - More

Octomom reveals stripper photos

2012-06-04 10:37:11

If you have ever wanted to see a woman who was once pregnant with eight babies at the same time slide down a pole topless, you’re in luck.

Nadya Suleman, better known as “Octomom,” who recently added to her resume by acting in a solo porno flick last month, can now round out her C.V. to include full-blown stripper, TMZ reports. - More

Tiger Wins

2012-06-03 16:31:00

Tiger Woods wins the Memorial Tournament. Kelly Tilghman and Brandel Chamblee have the highlights from Sunday’s action. - More

Oprah Book Club 2.0

2012-06-03 10:39:55

Oprah Winfrey is back in the book club business. "Oprah's Book Club 2.0," a joint project of Winfrey's OWN network and her O magazine, begins Monday with the memoir "Wild," Cheryl Strayed's story of her 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in California and Washington.

Besides the traditional paper version, special e-editions will be made available that include Winfrey's comments and a reader's guide. "This is way different from the old book club," Winfrey said in an online video announcement. "This time it's an interactive, online club for our digital world." - More

Roger Federer advances

2012-06-03 09:53:44

ROGER Federer has advanced to the French Open quarter-finals with a tougher-than-expected win against lucky loser Daniel Goffin.

After conceding a one-set lead to the Belgian wunderkind, ranked 109th, regular service was restored and Federer prevailed 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4. - More

Durant leads Oklahoma City

2012-06-02 23:27:01

KEVIN Durant scored half of his 36 points in the fourth quarter as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 109-103 to tie the NBA Western Conference Finals at two games apiece. Defensive stalwart Serge Ibaka contributed some unexpected offence, scoring 26 points on perfect 11-for-11 shooting for the Thunder, who improved to 7-0 at home this post-season. - More

Hot Topic -Sugary Drink Ban Discussion - The View

2012-06-02 13:29:14

There was a heated discussion on the proposed New York City Ban on Sugary Drinks by Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters were on opposite sides of the debate. Whoppi, who didn't like Bloomberg's smoking ban, had strong words on the topic. For the first time it appears as though she was an advocate of less government intrusion when it came to her personal space. - More

Lepchenko Wins

2012-06-02 12:45:20

PARIS -- It was a compelling tale of two ongoing dramas, unfolding simultaneously, on two stages of red clay on Saturday. On Court Suzanne Lenglen, New Jersey native Christina McHale was trying to upset 2011 French Open champion Li Na. On court No. 1, affectionately called the "Bull Ring" because of its round shape, American immigrant Varvara Lepchenko was trying to upset 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone. - More

Top 10 best-selling vehicles in May

2012-06-02 12:40:53

Toyota dominated the sales landscape in May, with sales up 87%. That's versus a weak May 2011, when Japan's tsunami had shoppers thinking Toyota, Lexus and Scion showrooms would have few cars in stock. It actually wasn't the case, noted Toyota spokeswoman Carly Shaffner; Automotive News data show Toyota maintained higher inventory in May 2011 then it did in the month just ended May, but the perception dried up demand and the automaker lost a third of its sales.

USA Today: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/06/mays-top-10-best-selling-vehicles-toyota-ram-score/1#.T8prk9XUO8A

Bieber beats up paparazzo

2012-05-29 13:36:00

It looks like all of Justin Bieber’s rough housing with Mike Tyson and friends has finally paid off. The Stratford, Ont.-born teen heartthrob turned lesbian icon is now a suspect in a “misdemeanor battery” case in Calabasis, California, where he currently lives. Bieber and longtime celibacy sponsor Selena Gomez, the story goes, were leaving a local shopping mall on Sunday afternoon, when a paparazzo tried to take J.B.’s photo, allegedly blocking the pop star’s car in the process. - More

Beyonce Live at the Revel

2012-05-29 13:30:39

Beyoncé on stage at Revel for its Premiere weekend in the first of four shows scheduled for this weekend. Photo: Kevin Mazur. - More

Robert De Niro

2012-05-29 13:11:09

Robert De Niro addressed students at Bates College in Maine on Sunday (May 27, 2012) when he was awarded an honorary doctorate during the 146th commencement, officially making him Dr Robert De Niro. - More

Will Smith-led Men in Black 3

2012-05-29 13:04:24

Tommy Lee Jones is one of my favorite actors. I know Tommy Lee Jones. So I can say with some authority that Josh Brolin, for all his accomplishments, is no Tommy Lee Jones. But in “Men in Black 3,” Brolin sure does a wickedly hilarious impersonation — vocal tics, physical mannerisms, deadpan demeanor and all. - More

Manvinder Sultan Singh Bisla

2012-05-29 12:59:52

CHANDIGARH: Behind new KKR star Manvinder Sultan Singh Bisla's leap from obscurity to household name is a story of grit and keen desire to excel. Both his parents are academicians, but that didn't deter them from encouraging their son to take up an activity completely alien to them. - More

Heat Major Challenge for Celtics

2012-05-29 12:49:00

A big early Miami lead was wasted. Once the Heat took control again, they simply ran away from the Celtics. And the NBA Finals are now three wins away for LeBron James and the Heat

Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/sports/pros/x1040014770/LeBron-Heat-too-much-for-Celtics-in-Game-1#ixzz1wGKV1wew

JP Morgan

2012-05-29 12:42:09

JPMorgan has been selling profitable securities to prop up second-quarter results after the bank’s chief investment office and the trader known as the London Whale incurred billions in losses. The asset sales may be tax inefficient, and will deprive the lender of future gains, which is just too bad for Jamie Dimon’s firm.

With its share price down 18 percent from the day before the trading losses were first reported, JPMorgan is under pressure to generate earnings. - More

Barclays hits back on tax schemes

2012-05-28 20:35:58

Barclays criticises the government for saying it had been using schemes that were intended to avoid substantial amounts of tax. - More

Rangers launch SFA legal action

2012-05-28 20:35:12

Rangers ask the Court of Session to overturn a transfer ban imposed on the club by the Scottish Football Association. Read More...

Greek banks receive 18bn euros

2012-05-28 20:33:32

Four Greek banks receive 18bn euros (14.4bn, $22.6bn) as part of the nation's most recent international bailout. Read More...

GIRL SCOUTS: MORE SCIENCE!

2012-05-28 20:32:27

Girl Scouts are now getting more of what they want...and it's not just cookies. Read More...

Sheila Bair: Break up JPMorgan Chase

2012-05-25 21:06:28

Sheila Bair: Break up JPMorgan Chase

Spanish banking woes threaten Europe

2012-05-25 21:06:23

Spanish banking woes threaten Europe

DISH SUED FOR AD

2012-05-25 21:06:18

Three television studios and Dish Network are suing one another over an ad-skipping digital video recorder technology that the satellite TV company debuted earlier this month. Read More...

Spain's Bankia seeks 19bn euros

2012-05-25 21:06:12

Spain's fourth-largest bank, Bankia, asks for a bailout worth 19bns euros ($24bn; 15bn), and admits that it made a massive loss last year. Read More...

Jack Welch's advice to Jamie Dimon

2012-05-25 03:05:01

Given his long record of success, Jamie Dimon will likely be back in the saddle in short order. And years from now, relatively few people will remember J.P. Morgan's trading blunder. Read More...

Egypt's poor rely on Gameeya lending schemes

2012-05-25 03:04:54

Egyptians turn to traditional saving schemes to make ends meet Read More...

Apple CEO Cook to forgo $75M dividend payout

2012-05-25 03:04:41

Asks the board not to issue dividends on his 1.125 million shares of restricted stock. Read More...

JP Morgan Cuts Australian 2012 Growth Forecasts

2012-05-25 03:04:33

U.S. investment bank JP Morgan Friday lowered its forecast for Australian economic growth, but kept in place upbeat expectations that the country's mining boom will continue to provide a solid base for the economy. Read More...

Kings lead West finals 2

2012-05-16 13:09:56

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Los Angeles Kings knew the Coyotes would come with everything they had. Read More...

Carter hat trick, perfect Quick put Kings up 2

2012-05-16 13:09:46

Jeff Carter scored three goals, Jonathan Quick stopped 24 shots and the Kings matched an NHL record with their seventh straight road playoff victory, beating the Coyotes 4-0 Tuesday night to take control of Western Conference finals. Read More...

Pacers hold off Heat in final seconds, tie series

2012-05-16 12:55:40

David West scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, George Hill added 15 and the Indiana Pacers took home-court advantage away from Miami by beating the Heat 78-75 in Game 2 of the teams' Eastern Conference semifinal series Tuesday night. Read More...

Fresh Spurs wear down Clippers, win Game 1

2012-05-16 12:55:40

Tim Duncan had 26 points and 10 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs, recharged after a weeklong layoff, wore down the busy Los Angeles Clippers to win Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series, 108-92 on Tuesday night. Read More...

Ireland's Taylor books London boxing berth

2012-05-16 12:55:39

QINHUANGDAO, China (Reuters) - Ireland's boxing queen Katie Taylor booked her place at the London Olympics without throwing a punch at the women's world championships on Wednesday. Read More...

Beckham to help bring Olympic flame to Britain

2012-05-16 12:55:38

LONDON (Reuters) - David Beckham will help bring the Olympic flame to Britain on Friday after he takes part in a formal handover ceremony in Athens, London 2012 organizers said. Read More...

Jays' Lawrie hits ump with helmet, gets ejected

2012-05-16 12:55:36

Brett Lawrie slammed his batting helmet to the ground and it ricocheted into plate umpire Bill Miller as the ninth inning turned nasty Tuesday in Toronto's 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay. Read More...

Kobe explains not taking charges, rips floppers

2012-05-16 12:55:35

Lakers star Kobe Bryant says he doesn't draw charges, and he's got a clearly thought-out explanation for it. Read More...

Yankees place closer Robertson on 15

2012-05-16 12:55:34

The New York Yankees have placed closer David Robertson on the 15-day disabled list after tests revealed the right-hander suffered a strained left oblique while pitching against the Seattle Mariners on May 11. Read More...

Rachel Uchitel Gives Birth to Baby Girl!

2012-05-16 05:40:35

Rachel Uchitel has some exciting news to share: She and hubby Matt Hahn are the proud parents of a baby girl.Tiger Woods' ex-girlfriend's rep tells E! News that Uchitel gave... Read More...

Dancing With the Stars Backstage Scoop: Eliminated Couple Sound Off! Plus, Who Shared a Kiss?

2012-05-16 05:40:33

And then there were three.Dancing With the Stars whittled the intense competition for the mirror-ball trophy down to the final three couples tonight, eliminating a fan favorite (and... Read More...

Kings Of The Road ... Again

2012-05-16 05:25:40

There's just no stopping the Kings. Jeff Carter's hat trick carried the sizzling No. 8 seed past the Coyotes 4-0 for its seventh straight playoff road win and a 2-0 lead in the West finals. Read More...

Kings seize 2

2012-05-16 05:25:38

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Jeff Carter scored three goals, Jonathan Quick stopped 24 shots and the Los Angeles Kings matched an NHL record with their seventh straight road playoff victory, beating the Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 Tuesday Read More...

Cartwright, Retired General, Backs Large U.S. Nuclear Reduction

2012-05-16 04:30:47

Gen. James E. Cartwright, a former commander of the United States nuclear forces, is adding his voice to those who are calling for a drastic reduction in nuclear warheads. Read More...