Thursday, August 2, 2012

August 2 2012

HUFFINGTON POST

Title: House Republicans Vote To Extend Bush Tax Cuts
Summary of Article :WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives made its election-year arguments Wednesday in the tax-cut battle roiling Capitol Hill, rejecting a plan to preserve middle-class breaks while backing a measure that safeguards wealthier taxpayers.

Title: Olympics Showdown: Phelps vs. Lochte
Summary of Article :LONDON -- It's time for Round 2 of Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte.

Title: Obama Ad Attacks Romney's Tax Rate: He Paid 'Probably Less Than You'
Summary of Article :President Barack Obama's reelection campaign is once again attacking Mitt Romney over the issue of taxes, releasing a new ad on Thursday highlighting how the presumptive Republican nominee would raise taxes on middle class Americans while boosting the incomes of the nation's top earners.

BBC

Title: Aleppo rebels attack army base
Summary of Article :Rebel fighters in the Syrian city of Aleppo say they have attacked an army base near the city, using a tank seized from the military."

Title: Facebook has 83 million 'fakes'
Summary of Article :Facebook reveals in company filings that more than 83 million of its 955 million active users may not be real people.

Title: Euro bank pledges further support
Summary of Article :European markets fall following comments from ECB head Mario Draghi, who says the bank is working on measures to help the euro but gives few details.

Title: Chinese teenager 'kills eight'
Summary of Article :A teenager has killed eight people and wounded five others in a knife attack in China's Liaoning province, state media says.

THE GAURDIAN

Title: Syrian troops accused of 'massacres' near Damascus
Summary of Article :Live Scores of bodies are found in two suburbs of capital amid fears of all-out assault on Aleppo

Title: GM profits slip 41% amid Euro woes
Summary of Article :America's largest car firm made $1.5bn in the second quarter of 2012, with European division reporting operating loss of $361m

Title: Israel PM: time 'running out on Iran'
Summary of Article :Netanyahu tells US defence secretary that diplomacy has so far failed to end nuclear programme

Title: Bundesbank warns over euro crisis
Summary of Article :Bankers play down claims by European politicians about the 'unlimited firepower' for bailout funds

AL JAZEERA

Title: Syria forces attack Damascus district
Summary of Article : Syrian forces storm neighbourhood in capital, reportedly killing at least 35 civilians, as rebels shell Aleppo airbase

Title: Obama inks 'secret order' to aid Syria rebels
Summary of Article : New order broadly permits CIA and other US agencies to support rebels seeking to depose Bashar al-Assad from power

Title: Dhaka bans NGOs from helping Rohingya
Summary of Article : Three foreign aid groups barred from helping refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar, saying their work encourages influx

Title: Tropical storm Saola washes over Taiwan
Summary of Article : Massive storm that killed 23 people in Philippines makes landfall on island, bringing rains that could last for days

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

August 1st 2012

HUFFINGTON POST

Title: SURPRISE: Romney's Tax Plan Benefits Super Rich The Most
Summary of Article :* Romney tax plan cuts 20 percent for all income groups * Those making over $1 million benefit most under plan * Romney hasn't spelled out how to fund tax cuts By Kim Dixon WASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Republican U.S. presidential challenger Mitt Romney's proposal to slash individual income taxes by 20 percent across-the-board would primarily boost the income of the wealthiest taxpayers, according to a nonpartisan analysis released on Wednesday. The report by the centrist Tax Policy Center found that Romney's tax cuts would boost after-tax income by an average of 4.1 percent for those earning more than $1 million a year, while reducing by an average of 1.2 percent the after-tax income of individuals earning less than $200,000. Tax policy and how to tame the U.S. government's budget deficit, topping $1 trillion in recent years, is a major point of contrast in the presidential race, in which Romney will face President Barack Obama on Nov. 6. Romney, a multi-millionaire who made his fortune at private equity firm Bain Capital, has not spelled out how he would lower marginal tax rates. But he has said broadly he would cut some tax benefits for the wealthy. Because the value of the 20 percent tax cut for richer Americans would exceed the gains they get from popular tax breaks that Romney would chop, they would see the greatest income gain from Romney's possible changes, the study said. "We add up how much people get from the tax cuts and then add up how much can be potentially be raised," from ending tax breaks, said Adam Looney, an economist and one of the study's authors. About two-thirds of the $1.1 trillion in revenues that the government foregoes annually because of tax breaks would have to be curbed to fund Romney's tax cut, the analysts said. These tax breaks include popular ones such as the mortgage interest deduction, the break for employer-provided health insurance, and credits for low- and middle-income families. The analysis assumed elimination of tax breaks would start with the wealthy as Romney has suggested, and it assumed some revenue growth from lower tax rates, a hallmark of Republican tax policy. Obama has blasted Romney's tax plan for disproportionately benefiting the wealthy. The tax policy debate is expected to intensify at the end of 2012, with the expiration of lower tax rates for all Americans enacted under Republican President George W. Bush. The Democratic-led Senate last week passed legislation extending most of those tax rates - but not for households earning more than $250,000 a year. The Republican-led House of Representatives will likely pass their plan to extend the current rates some time this week. The dispute is not likely to be resolved until after the elections. Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said she could not respond to the center's report without reading it first. Romney's tax proposal also includes cutting some taxes on investment income and eliminating taxes on estates passed on to heirs. (Reporting by Kim Dixon; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Lisa Shumaker)

Title: 8 Olympians Disqualified For Throwing Matches
Summary of Article :LONDON -- Eight female badminton doubles players were disqualified Wednesday from the London Olympics after trying to lose matches to receive a more favorable place in the tournament.

Title: Obama: Mitt Wants 'You To Pay More So People Like Him Can Get A Tax Cut'
Summary of Article :President Barack Obama used a new report from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center to hammer away at a consistent campaign theme: that Mitt Romney favors the rich, while Obama will help the struggling middle class.

BBC

Title: NYSE looks into odd share moves
Summary of Article :The New York Stock Exchange launches an investigation into "irregular trading" after a series of unusual swings in some stocks."

Title: Syrian rebel shootings condemned
Summary of Article :Human rights activists condemn the public shooting in Syria of four apparent Assad loyalists by rebels after a video of the killings emerges.

Title: Manufacturing in worldwide slump
Summary of Article :Manufacturing in most of the world is in a slump, a raft for reports from the US, UK, the eurozone and China suggest.

Title: Israel: Iran unfazed by warnings
Summary of Article :Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says assurances by the US are not enough to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

THE GAURDIAN

Title: Israeli PM says time is running out to stop Iran
Summary of Article :Netanyahu tells US defence secretary that diplomacy has so far failed to end nuclear programme

Title: Gore Vidal dies aged 86
Summary of Article :Towering figure in American cultural and political life has died of complications from pneumonia

Title: Romney defends overseas comments
Summary of Article :Republican hopeful asks 'What exactly accounts for prosperity if not culture?' as polls show him behind in three swing states

Title: Assad missing from public view
Summary of Article :Syrian president, who has sent written message to armed forces, is soon likely to come under pressure to demonstrate leadership

AL JAZEERA

Title: Assad praises troops as planes pound Aleppo
Summary of Article : President says fate of nation at stake in fight against rebels, as rights group reports brutal crackdown on dissidents

Title: Rebels 'execute' regime loyalists in Aleppo
Summary of Article : Video from Syria appears to show men accused of being shabiha lined up and shot at point blank range

Title: Panetta tells Israel force is option on Iran
Summary of Article : US defence chief says "all options", including military force, on table to stop Iran, should sanctions ultimately fail

Title: Somali assembly endorses draft constitution
Summary of Article : Two suicide bombers killed outside the building where leaders voted to support the UN-backed plan

>>>

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

July 31st 2012

HUFFINGTON POST

Title: Congress To Obama: Show Us Your 'License To Kill'
Summary of Article :

Title: WATCH: Journalist Suspended By Twitter Fires Back
Summary of Article :The Independent's Guy Adams had his Twitter account suspended on Sunday after the Los Angeles-based correspondent tweeted the email address of the president ofNBC's Olympics coverage. His account was restored Tuesday afternoon.

Title: Fencing Gold Tarnished By Controversy?
Summary of Article :LONDON -- Fencer Yana Shemyakina of Ukraine beat defending champion Britta Heidemann of Germany 9-8 to win the Olympic gold medal in women's individual epee Monday.

BBC

Title: 'Thousands trapped' in Syria city
Summary of Article :Concern grows over conditions in the Syrian city of Aleppo as the army offensive continues, with a UN official warning that thousands of people are trapped."

Title: Half of India left without power
Summary of Article :Hundreds of millions are left without electricity in northern and eastern India, after a massive power cut that also cripples much of the transport system.

Title: Romney wraps up tour on sour note
Summary of Article :US presidential candidate Mitt Romney ends his overseas tour in Poland, as frustrations between his campaign and journalists boil over.

Title: Theft charge for Russian blogger
Summary of Article :Russian anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny is charged with embezzlement in a case he describes as "strange and absurd".

THE GAURDIAN

Title: India blackouts leave 700 million without power
Summary of Article :Power cuts plunge 20 of India's 28 states into darkness as energy suppliers fail to meet growing demand

Title: Romney campaign attacks media
Summary of Article :Live Mitt Romney and his staff lash out at US media coverage of his inept, error-strewn overseas trip – live coverage here

Title: Assad forces continue onslaught
Summary of Article :Battle for Syria's second city intensifies as Assad regime claims it has stamped out rebel assault in Damascus

Title: Abu Qatada bid for release fails
Summary of Article :Judges reject attempt to end what cleric's lawyers claimed was longest administrative detention in modern English history

AL JAZEERA

Title: Mass blackout strikes India for second day
Summary of Article : Northern and eastern grids reported to have failed, leaving millions without electricity for second consecutive day

Title: Syrian forces intensify air assault on Aleppo
Summary of Article : Helicopters and artillery hammer key rebel-held areas as government forces continue full-scale assault on northern city

Title: Rebels claim victory in Syria's al-Bab town
Summary of Article : Opposition claims to have pushed regime forces from what they say was military's last urban base outside Aleppo city

Title: Arafat's widow asks France to probe 'murder'
Summary of Article : Suha Arafat asks French court to launch murder investigation into the death of the Palestinian leader over poison claim

Monday, July 30, 2012

July 30th 2012

HUFFINGTON POST

Tittle: CHARGED
Summary of Article :Prosecutors filed formal charges on Monday against James Holmes, the lone suspect in the fatal shooting of 12 moviegoers during a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colo.

Tittle: McCain Was 'Disturbed' By Romney's 'Self-Deport' Comments
Summary of Article :Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned Mitt Romney, in an interview published Monday at The Daily Beast, that the presumptive GOP nominee needs to soften his rhetoric on immigration if he wants to win Latino voters.

Tittle: Pentagon Denies Help For Afghan War Wounded With Genital Loss
Summary of Article :WASHINGTON -- For the growing number of soldiers and Marines whose genitals are damaged or destroyed by blasts from improvised explosive devices while in combat, the Pentagon has decided it will not provide some critical reproductive health benefits.

BBC

Tittle: Syria army steps up Aleppo attack
Summary of Article :Syrian government forces step up their assault on rebel-held areas of the second city, Aleppo, using artillery, ground forces and helicopter gunships."

Tittle: Millions lost on Afghan projects
Summary of Article :Hundreds of millions of US taxpayer dollars may have been wasted on poorly managed infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, says a report to Congress.

Tittle: Racist tweet Olympian expelled
Summary of Article :Switzerland's Olympic football team expels Michel Morganella after racist comments were posted from his Twitter account.

Tittle: Outage leaves 300m Indians in dark
Summary of Article :A massive power cut causes disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi, affecting more than 300 million people.

THE GAURDIAN

Tittle: Syria: foreign jihadists could join battle for Aleppo
Summary of Article :Jihadists are said to be planning to join a decisive battle against regime troops

Tittle: Romney remarks anger Palestinians
Summary of Article :Speech in Jerusalem puts Israel's economic success down to 'power of at least culture and a few other things'

Tittle: Holmes faces 24 murder charges
Summary of Article :Prosecutors also charge Colorado suspect with 116 counts of attempted murder in shooting that killed 12 people

Tittle: Twitter bans account critical of NBC
Summary of Article :Social media site sparks wave of indignation after suspending account of journalist Guy Adams

AL JAZEERA

Tittle: Syria foes 'advance' in battle-wracked Aleppo
Summary of Article : Government forces claim to have stormed rebel-held Salaheddin district, but Free Syrian Army commanders deny the loss

Tittle: Foreign 'jihadi' fighters reported in Syria
Summary of Article : Video footage suggests the involvement in Syria conflict of foreign fighters with sympathies or links to al-Qaeda

Tittle: Colorado suspect faces 142 criminal counts
Summary of Article : Former graduate student James Holmes formally accused of killings at Denver-area screening of latest "Batman" film

Tittle: Death terms in Iran bank scandal
Summary of Article : Of the 39 people tried for fraud, biggest in the country's history, court orders death for four of those convicted

Sunday, July 29, 2012

July 29th 2012

HUFFINGTON POST

Tittle: Lochte Surrenders Lead To France
Summary of Article :Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps were called on for the final in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay despite not participating in the qualifier for Team USA.

Tittle: Romney Aide: Candidate Would 'Respect' Israeli Strike On Iran
Summary of Article :

Tittle: Scalia: Individual Mandate Is Not A Tax
Summary of Article :WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Sunday that he does not believe the high court is "political," and refused to comment on Chief Justice John Roberts' deliberations in its recent health care reform decision.

BBC

Tittle: Aleppo 'nail in Assad's coffin'
Summary of Article :Syria's assault on the city of Aleppo is a "nail in the coffin" of President Assad, says US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta as he starts a Middle East tour."

Tittle: Praise for first GB medal winners
Summary of Article :Friends and neighbours have celebrated Rebecca Adlington and Lizzie Armitstead's Olympic success, as commuters are warned of congestion and lost Wembley security keys are sought.

Tittle: N Korea dismisses talk of reform
Summary of Article :North Korea dismisses reports from South Korea that it is planning policy changes that will lead to the opening up of the secretive communist state.

Tittle: Pussy Riot trial due in Moscow
Summary of Article :Members of Russian political punk rock group Pussy Riot are due to go on trial, accused of hooliganism in Moscow's main cathedral.

THE GAURDIAN

Tittle: Romney declares unity with Israel over Iranian threat
Summary of Article :Presumptive US presidential candidate delivers foreign policy speech in Jerusalem after meeting with PM

Tittle: Assad forces in Aleppo onslaught
Summary of Article :Battle for Syria's second city intensifies as Assad regime claims it has stamped out rebel assault in Damascus

Tittle: Manning lawyers focus on conditions
Summary of Article :Bradley Manning's lawyers move to have the 22 charges against him dismissed due to treatment during his detention likened to torture

Tittle: Climate study converts sceptics
Summary of Article :Earth's land shown to have warmed by 1.5C over past 250 years, with humans being almost entirely responsible

AL JAZEERA

Tittle: Fierce battles as rebels fight to hold Aleppo
Summary of Article : Free Syrian Army says regime's ground attack halted for now, but artillery and helicopters continue to hammer city

Tittle: Romanian leader likely to surive referendum
Summary of Article : With 45 per cent of the electorate voting for impeachment, referendum against suspended leader Basescu unlikely to pass

Tittle: Romney pledges support for Israel
Summary of Article : Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says US has "a solemn duty" to block Iran's nuclear ambitions

Tittle: Empty seats prompt Olympic investigation
Summary of Article : Empty VIP seats at supposedly sold-out events have prompted the London Olympic Committee to launch a review