TECHNOLOGY News, Jun 26, 2011

LulzSec hackers say disbanding after last data dump Sat,25 Jun 2011 07:43 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Lulz Security group of rogue hackers announced it was disbanding on Saturday with one last data dump, which included internal AOL Inc and AT&T documents. Full Story1

Has Renren suffered enough from China stocks phobia? Sat,25 Jun 2011 10:42 AM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Renren Inc was hyped as the "Facebook" ofChina, a company that had access to the world's largest Internet market, and a good way to ride the buzz surrounding social media IPOs -- but investors who believed the story are nursing big wounds. Full Story1

Forces attack al Qaeda camp in Mali: source Sat,25 Jun 2011 09:01 AM PDT Reuters - BAMAKO (Reuters) - A joint force of Mauritanian and Malian soldiers clashed with fighters from al Qaeda's African wing in western Mali late Friday, Malian military and defense sources said Saturday. Full Story1

Hackers target Brazilian statistics agency Fri,24 Jun 2011 03:54 PM PDT Reuters - RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Hackers broke into the website of Brazil's statistics agency on Friday, the latest in a series of attacks on the South American nation's government sites. Full Story1

Foursquare raises $50 million in new round Fri,24 Jun 2011 03:06 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mobile location based start-up Foursquare raised $50 million in a round of financing lead by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, the company said on Friday. Full Story1

Kleiner Perkins weighing fund targeting the cloud Fri,24 Jun 2011 12:43 PM PDT Reuters - SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Top venture-capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is considering creating a specialized fund that focuses on cloud-based technologies.Full Story1

Hackers attack Electronic Arts website Fri,24 Jun 2011 11:38 AM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cyber hackers have breached an Electronic Arts Incwebsite and may have taken user information such as birth dates, phone numbers and mailing addresses, the company said on its website on Friday. Full Story1

Proxy advisor urges RIM CEO/chairman roles be split Fri,24 Jun 2011 11:28 AM PDT Reuters - TORONTO (Reuters) - Shareholders in Research In Motion should vote to split the roles of chief executive and chairman of the board at the BlackBerry maker's annual meeting next month, proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis said on Friday. Full Story1

Factbox: Key legal battles in wireless industry Fri,24 Jun 2011 10:37 AM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - The mobile telecoms industry has seen a wave of legal battles in recent years as long-established incumbents try to protect their position against newcomers like Google, the front-runner with a $900 million offer in an auction for Nortel's massive patent portfolio. Full Story1

KKR, Silver Lake in talks for GoDaddy.com: sources Fri,24 Jun 2011 08:02 AM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private equity firms KKR and Silver Lake are in talks to buy Internet domain site GoDaddy.com and a deal could be more than $2 billion, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. Full Story1

Slow Finnish phone sales may explain Nokia's woes Fri,24 Jun 2011 07:23 AM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Should Finland, Nokia's home base, take some of the blame for the one-time market leader's recent struggles to compete in smartphones? Full Story1

Exclusive: Forget Spy Kids, try kiddie hacker conference Thu,23 Jun 2011 06:26 PM PDT Reuters - BOSTON (Reuters) - Children as young as eight years old are invited to Las Vegas this summer to learn that it's cool to be a hacker -- provided they don't cheat, steal or commit other crimes. Full Story1

Instant view: Oracle shares drop after earnings report Thu,23 Jun 2011 03:08 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oracle Corp reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Thursday, but that failed to calm investor fears that spending on technology software and hardware could be in jeopardy. Full Story1

Wed,31 Dec 1969 04:00 PM PST Full Story

Viacom sues Cablevision over iPad streaming Thu,23 Jun 2011 09:15 AM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Viacom Inc sued Cablevision Systems Corp to halt what it called the unauthorized streaming of its programing on devices such as Apple Inc's iPad.Full Story1

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WORLD News, Jun 26, 2011

Argentine leader picks Boudou as running mate Sat,25 Jun 2011 07:38 PM PDT Reuters - BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine President Cristina Fernandez picked her economy minister, Amado Boudou, to be her vice presidential running mate as she seeks re-election in October, praising his role in a long economic boom. Full Story1

CELEBRITY Gossip News, Jun 26, 2011

Sunshine, Tinie Tempah, Coldplay warm up Glastonbury
Sat,25 Jun 2011 04:35 PM PDT
Reuters -

PILTON, England (Reuters) - The sun shone and the good times rolled on Saturday at the Glastonbury music festival, where London rapper Tinie Tempah had a huge crowd jumping and Coldplay closed with the packed headline slot.

Full Story1

BLOOMBERG News, Jun 26, 2011

Obama says committed to working to cut debt Sat,25 Jun 2011 03:05 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Saturday he remained  committed to working with Congress to find a solution to the government's debt problem, but the focus could not only be on spending cuts.   Full Story1
Gingrich defends campaign strategy; criticizes gay marriage Sat,25 Jun 2011 01:58 PM PDT Reuters - INDIANOLA, Iowa (Reuters) - Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich on Saturday said the adoption of same-sex marriage in New York showed the nation is "drifting toward a terrible muddle."   Full Story1

Illinois governor signs election law favoring Democrats Fri,24 Jun 2011 04:41 PM PDT Reuters - CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois Democratic Governor Pat Quinn signed into law on Friday a new congressional district map that could reverse gains Republicans made in the state in 2010 midterm elections. Full Story1

Lawmakers send Obama message of discontent on Libya Fri,24 Jun 2011 04:39 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A move to curb President Barack Obama's military intervention in Libya was defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, despite having the support of leaders of the majority Republicans.   Full Story1

Lawmakers harden positions on taxes, spending Fri,24 Jun 2011 04:38 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans and Democrats dug in their heels Friday as  President Barack Obama prepared to wade into a divisive debate over taxes and spending aimed at heading off a default on the U.S. government's debt.   Full Story1

Oil release not a political move: Geithner Fri,24 Jun 2011 03:52 PM PDT Reuters - HANOVER, New Hampshire (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner defended the decision by industrialized nations to release emergency oil reserves into global energy markets, saying on  Friday that it was not a political move. Full Story1

Europe must do more on debt crisis: Geithner Fri,24 Jun 2011 02:58 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Friday that Europe needs to step up efforts to deal with the debt crisis in Greece and other parts of the continent. Full Story1

Treasury's Geithner: Oil release not political move Fri,24 Jun 2011 02:12 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Friday that the decision by the international community to release government oil reserves was not a political move. Full Story1

U.S., South Korea to keep pressure on Pyongyang Fri,24 Jun 2011 01:57 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and South Korea on Friday signaled they would not ease pressure on North Korea's government, saying Pyongyang must show it had changed its ways before resumption of stalled nuclear talks could take place. Full Story1

U.N. council voices "grave concern" about Yemen Fri,24 Jun 2011 01:46 PM PDT Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Friday voiced its "grave concern" at the situation in Yemen, ending months of disagreement that had prevented the 15-nation body from speaking unanimously on the unrest there. Full Story1

Geithner says economic weakness mostly temporary Fri,24 Jun 2011 01:30 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Around two-thirds of recent softness in the U.S. economy can be attributed to temporary factors such as higher energy costs and Japan's earthquake, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told CNBC on Friday. Full Story1

Oil release to help mitigate economic pressures: Geithner Fri,24 Jun 2011 01:25 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Friday that the International Energy Agency's decision to release government-held crude oil reserves will help mitigate economic pressures. Full Story1

Obama administration eyes ways to aid rental housing Fri,24 Jun 2011 01:09 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is exploring ways to support lending for rental housing as the troubled U.S. real estate sector has kept potential buyers on the sidelines, a top Treasury official said on Friday. Full Story1

Obama administration eyes ways to aid rental housing Fri,24 Jun 2011 12:36 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is exploring ways to support rental housing as the troubled U.S. real estate sector has kept potential buyers on the sidelines, a top U.S. Treasury official said on Friday.   Full Story1

Clinton says gratified by House Libya vote Fri,24 Jun 2011 12:08 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday praised the  House of Representatives for rejecting a move to bar funding for U.S. military strike missions against Libya, saying it was important to keep up pressure on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.   Full Story1

Analysis: Do "leaderless" revolts contain seeds of own failure? Fri,24 Jun 2011 12:02 PM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - From the streets of Cairo and Madrid to online forums and social media sites, "leaderless" protests are on the rise. But the very qualities that led to their short-term success may condemn them to failure in the long run.   Full Story1

Pot legalization effort unites odd couple in House Fri,24 Jun 2011 11:14 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When the smoke clears, it may be remembered as a rare moment of political unity in Washington. Full Story1

Stop-gap debt limit hikes dangerous: Sen. Schumer Fri,24 Jun 2011 09:48 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A leading Senate Democrat on Friday warned against Congress passing one or more stop-gap debt limit increases, saying lawmakers instead should pass a long-term hike in  borrowing authority. Full Story1

U.S. sanctions on Iran companies raise questions: Russia Fri,24 Jun 2011 09:47 AM PDT Reuters - MOSCOW (Reuters) - The sanctions imposed by the United States on a major Iranian port operator and the country's national airline may affect Russian companies and "raise serious questions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. Full Story1

Republicans walk out of budget talks over taxes Fri,24 Jun 2011 09:36 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans walked out of budget talks on Thursday, setting up a showdown between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner over how to extend U.S. borrowing and avoid a looming debt default.   Full Story1

Factbox: Top budgetary threats to state, local governments Fri,24 Jun 2011 09:36 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The recession that began in 2007 created budget emergencies in most U.S. states and in many cities and counties, casting a harsh spotlight on long-standing fiscal problems. Full Story1

U.S. warns against new Gaza flotilla plans Fri,24 Jun 2011 09:15 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday warned activists against plans to send a new aid flotilla to challenge Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, saying it would be irresponsible and dangerous. Full Story1

In Africa, Michelle Obama reflects on race Fri,24 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT Reuters - CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Considering she is the first black First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama does not talk a lot about race.   Full Story1

Obama touts efforts to advance gay rights Thu,23 Jun 2011 11:53 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday touted his efforts to advance gay rights and promised further progress, but stopped short of declaring his support for legalizing same-sex marriage.   Full Story1

Sen. McConnell offers plan to move trade deals Thu,23 Jun 2011 06:46 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, seeking to spur action on three long-delayed free trade agreements, said on Thursday he was prepared to help the White House renew a retraining program for workers displaced by trade but added a major demand of his own.   Full Story1

Patent overhaul bill clears House Thu,23 Jun 2011 03:50 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Patent legislation that aims to clear a years-long backlog of applications and allows the patent office set its own fees was approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday. Full Story1

Debt talks on hold while top leaders decide: Biden Thu,23 Jun 2011 03:40 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday the debt talks he has led had gone into "abeyance" and made clear the next phase of the process is in the hands of President Barack Obama and congressional leaders. Full Story1

House to consider balanced-budget amendment Thu,23 Jun 2011 03:37 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives will vote on a bill that would amend the Constitution to require Congress to balance the budget each year, Republican Leader Eric Cantor said on Thursday. Full Story1

Scenarios: Next steps in fight over spending, debt limit Thu,23 Jun 2011 03:10 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Budget talks to win an urgently needed increase in government borrowing authority have entered a "new phase," the White House said on Thursday. Full Story1

White House criticizes House defense spending bill Thu,23 Jun 2011 03:09 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration sharply criticized a $649 billion defense spending bill in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday because of proposed spending cuts and limits on the handling of Guantanamo detainees.   Full Story1

Obama seeks to rally support for Afghan troop plan Thu,23 Jun 2011 03:08 PM PDT Reuters - FORT DRUM, New York (Reuters) - President Barack Obama defended his planned Afghanistan troop drawdown on Thursday, as he sought to rally support during a visit to an Army base in upstate New York. Full Story1

Afghan drawdown creates risk, U.S. military warns Thu,23 Jun 2011 02:34 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military warned on Thursday that President Barack Obama's unexpectedly faster drawdown in Afghanistan created new risks, even as commanders said they backed the strategy to start winding down the unpopular, nearly decade-old war.   Full Story1

Republicans walk out of budget talks over taxes Thu,23 Jun 2011 02:25 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans walked out of budget talks on Thursday, setting up a showdown between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner over how to extend U.S. borrowing and avoid a looming debt default.   Full Story1

Obama voter support from oil tap could be fleeting Thu,23 Jun 2011 02:10 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama stands to win a bump in voter support for his decision to tap emergency oil reserves, but the gains from lower fuel prices run the risk of evaporating before next year's election, political experts said.   Full Story1

Clinton warns Pakistan on U.S. military aid Thu,23 Jun 2011 01:43 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Pakistan on Thursday that U.S. military aid could suffer if Islamabad failed to address rising U.S. doubts over its commitment to fighting Islamist militants.   Full Story1

Clinton says U.S. opposes threats in South China Sea Thu,23 Jun 2011 01:03 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday the  United States was concerned that recent events in the South China Sea could undermine stability and opposed any threat of force to advance territorial claims.   Full Story1

Petraeus: Afghan drawdown faster than recommended Thu,23 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said on Thursday he had recommended a slower drawdown than President Barack Obama had decided upon, but backed the decision and said no military commander in history gets "all the forces he would like to have, for all the time." Full Story1

Obama takes flak for tapping emergency oil reserves Thu,23 Jun 2011 12:27 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama took withering fire from the oil industry and Republicans for agreeing to release the nation's emergency oil supplies, a decision that senior officials said was prompted by the need to prop up the ailing economy.Full Story1

White House says debt talks now in "abeyance" Thu,23 Jun 2011 12:04 PM PDT Reuters - FORT DRUM, New York (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday said debt talks between Vice President Joe Biden and lawmakers had gone into "abeyance", but the search for a compromise to cut the U.S. deficit would continue. Full Story1

U.S. draft requests 4,200 Ethiopia troops for Abyei Thu,23 Jun 2011 11:56 AM PDT Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday it submitted a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council that would authorize the deployment of 4,200 Ethiopian troops to Sudan's disputed Abyei region. Full Story1

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BUSINESS News, Jun 26, 2011

Central bankers agree on bank capital surcharge plan Sat,25 Jun 2011 09:34 AM PDT Reuters - BASEL, Switzerland/LONDON (Reuters) - Global banking regulators have agreed on a proposal to slap an extra capital charge on the world's biggest banks to make them safer by 2019.
Egypt says will not need IMF, World Bank funds Sat,25 Jun 2011 09:44 AM PDT Reuters - CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt will not borrow from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund after revising its budget and cutting the forecast deficit, even though a loan had been agreed, Finance Minister Samir Radwan said on Saturday. Full Story1

Factbox: China's investments in Hungary Sat,25 Jun 2011 08:10 AM PDT Reuters - BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban