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Might this satisfy some of President Obama’s critics on Iran? Talking about Iran to CBS News, President Obama said, “I'm very concerned based on some of the tenor -- and tone of the statements that have been made — that the government of Iran recognize that the world is watching. And how they approach and deal with people who are, through peaceful means, trying to be heard will, I think, send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is and — and is not.”
The House of Representatives apparently does not fear to appear as if it is meddling in Iranian affairs: It passed a condemnation of Tehran’s crackdown on demonstrators and the government’s blocking of internet and telephone services 405-1 today. The sole dissenting vote was Ron Paul, who argued that the House shouldn’t judge "events thousands of miles away about which we know very little."
And the plot thickens: An aide to Nevada Sen. John Ensign said in a statement today that the husband of his former mistress made “exorbitant demands for cash and other financial benefits” through an attorney. Rumors of blackmail have circulated since Tuesday, when Ensign confessed to the nine-month-long affair with Cindy Hampton, his former campaign treasurer. The statement came just hours after Doug Hampton, Cindy’s husband who also worked for the Nevada senator, wrote a 1,000-word letter to Fox News to uncover Ensign’s “unethical behavior and immoral choice” toward his wife. Hampton continued, writing, “Senator Ensign's conduct and relentless pursuit of my wife led to our dismissal in April of 2008. The actions of Senator Ensign have ruined our lives and careers and left my family in shambles.” The FBI and Las Vegas police said they are not investigating Hampton’s demand for money.
Now this is just a shame: Injured Supreme Court nominee announced her resignation as a member of an elite all-women’s club after GOP senators questioned her participation. Sotomayor wrote that the Belizean Grove “does not practice invidious discrimination and my membership did not violate the Judicial Code of Ethics,” but that she “did not want questions about this to distract anyone from my qualifications and record.” Judges are not allowed to join an organization that discriminates by race, sex, religion, or nationality. The group’s founder was disappointed about the resignation, blaming it on “partisan politics. It is a very sad that she has had to do this.”
President Obama kept an amiable tone as the guest of honor at Friday night’s 65th annual Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association dinner. During the black-tie affair attended by journalists and politicians—although not quite on par with the celeb-friendly “Nerd Prom” held months ago—he poked fun at his trip to Cairo: “I'm sure you've all seen the pictures of Rahm on that camel. I admit, I was a little nervous about the whole situation. I said at the time, 'This is a wild animal known to bite, kick and spit. And who knows what the camel could do?'" And the overt devotion of members of the media didn’t go overlooked: “Why hang out with celebrities when I can spend time with people who make me one?" said Obama, before he somberly thanked broadcasters for their truthful coverage of the news—including the ongoing disputed presidential election in Iran. On a lighter note, Daily Show contributor and “I’m a PC” commercial guy John Hodgman ribbed Obama about his nerdy tendencies (Dune, anyone?).
First the Chinese government shut down the Twitterverse, and now parts of Google are under siege. Officials met with managers of Chinese operations of the search engine Thursday to warn that if vulgar and pornographic content were not removed from its site, two of Google’s basic functions would be disabled. The associative-word feature, which brings up related terms when words are typed into Google’s search bar, went missing Friday, and the ability to search overseas sites might also be removed. The ban comes at a time when China is making a variety of efforts to govern Internet activity, the most extreme being the government’s plan to order computer makers to implant Internet censorship software on all computers sold after July 1. Unlike the United States, however, where Google is regarded as the definitive search engine, a site called Baidu reigns supreme in China.
No one has died yet, but the F.D.A. is reporting 66 cases of E. coli suffered by people who have eaten raw cookie dough made by Nestlé. In response, the food company has launched a voluntary recall of a near baker’s dozen of Toll House products that are probably in your freezer right now. Cookie-dough ice cream is safe. Cookie-dough tubes are not. The company said that nearly 300,000 cases of cookies dough are affected by the recall. According to the Associated Press, Nestlé owns a 41 percent share of the prepared cookie dough market.
Listen up, Sasha and Malia: Your dad does not want a tie for Father’s Day. At his yearly Fatherhood event on the White House’s South Lawn, someone asked President Obama what gift he wanted Sunday. “A health care bill,” he said. He later went on to tend to the grill with celebrity chef Bobby Flay and answered questions from high school students about parenthood. Larry Holmes wanted to know if the President preferred his day job or being father, and Obama responded, “Nothing is more fun than being father.” He continued, perhaps in an attempt to warm up for his comedy routine at the Correspondents’ Dinner: “Now my kids aren't teenagers yet, so I don't know whether that will maintain itself.”
Four months after wedding, Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady are expecting their first child, multiple sources tell Us Weekly. Fashion-oglers at Sao Paolo’s Fashion Week have noticed the Brazilian beauty sporting bump-hiding attire. The baby would be the second child for Brady, the Patriots quarterback, who has a son with actress Bridget Moynahan. Of that son, Gisele has said, “I understand that he has a mom, and I respect that, but to me it's not like because somebody else delivered him, that's not my child. I feel it is, 100 percent.”
Rafael could use a little R&R. Defending tennis champion Rafael Nadal, currently ranked number one in the world, is pulling out of next week’s Wimbledon competition to tend to his knee problems. After two defeats this week at the Hurlingham Club, the Spaniard doesn’t feel up to the task: "Not to play Wimbledon is one of the toughest decisions in my career but the decision was made easier because I don't feel ready to compete at 100 percent," he said today at a press conference. For the record, Nadal is only the second reigning champ in the last 35 years to not defend his title. Goran Ivanisevic was forced to retire with a shoulder injury after winning in 2001.
Feeling vindicated, Roland Burris said today, “I have never engaged in any pay-to-play, never perjured myself, and came to this seat in an honest and legal way.” A central Illinois prosecutor confirmed that view by declaring that he will not pursue perjury charges against the senator in the scandal that brought down Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich last year. When testifying before the Illinois House of Representatives in January, Burris neglected to mention a conversation that he had with Robert Blagojevich, the former governor’s brother, about possible fundraising opportunities for the governor. Sangamon County prosecutor John Schmidt called Burris’ testimony “incomplete” but “insufficient evidence” for perjury. The Senate Rules Committee continues to investigate Burris’ appointment.
How much does it cost for the Cuban government to pay off American spies? Nothing, according to the F.B.I. indictment of Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers, the former State Department employee and his wife accused of sending secrets to Havana over the past three decades. The pair, who are said to have once spent an evening with Fidel Castro in the Cuban capital, gave the secrets to the island government because of their belief in Cuba’s political vision. “You, speaking collectively, have been a really important part of our lives, and we have felt incomplete,” Kendall Myers told an undercover F.B.I. agent in April who was pretending to be a Cuban official. Today’s New York Times presents a picture of how the husband-and-wife team—one an expert in European history, the other a former senator’s aide—ended up dropping packages for handlers at local grocery stores and broadcasting secrets over short-wave radio.
Oprah’s audience isn’t the only group to enjoy her giveaways: According to the Los Angeles Times, for the second time in recent years, she’s taking her entire staff on vacation. The group will leave on Saturday for a cruise that stops in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Malta. The estimated cost is $5,400 per person.
Spanish officials are blaming the Basque militant separatist groups ETA for a car bomb this morning that killed a senior police officer outside the northern city of Bilbao. The blast is the first attack that has resulted in a death by the group since December. The 49-year-old member of the Spanish National Police was responsible for a unit assigned to attacking ETA. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke from Brussels, where he is attending an E.U. summit, “We knew it could happen again, even though the terrorist organization is weaker than ever.” ETA has killed over 825 people since starting its campaign for independence in the late 1960s.
Can President Obama succeed where President Bush failed? Obama announced today that “he is committed to a comprehensive immigration overhaul that includes a way that illegal immigrants can become U.S. citizens,” according to the Associated Press. Speaking at the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference, Obama also said that border security must be strengthened. He also said that a path to citizenship must include paying a fine and taxes, learning English, and going to the back of the line of people trying to enter the United States from their home country.
"I worship the Apple God," said one buyer, and so do the hundreds of others who lined up at Apple stores throughout the country this morning to be the first to snag the latest phone from the Cupertino, California computer company: the iPhone 3G S. The release comes two weeks after the unveiling of the Palm Pre, as the sophisticated smart marketplace becomes increasingly crowded. The newest Apple phone claims improved memory and a video camera for the Apple-worshiping set, while an older model, the year-old iPhone 3G, is being re-released today for $99—half its original price. Apple has seen an increase in its share price of 59 percent this year, despite the absence of its CEO Steve Jobs, who took medical leave in January.
According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Roger Friedman, Clive Davis, older statesman of the music world, hasn’t lost his touch. Sony’s chief creative officer has a fall line-up including Alicia Keys, Leona Lewis, and Carlos Santana in addition to the recently announced release of Whitney Houston’s first album in six years, slated for Sept. 1. For easy-listening fans, Davis will also put out albums from Barry Manilow and Harry Connick Jr. by the end of the year.
Larry King moves one step closer: Tomoji Tanabe, the world’s oldest man, died in his sleep in his home in Japan on Friday. He was 113. Born on September 18, 1895, Tanabe had eight children, 25 grandchildren, and 53 great-grandchildren. He was certified as the oldest man by the Guinness Book of World Records when he was 111.
Those endowments might have looked pretty good a short few semesters ago, but with the stock market way off its peak and donors strapped for cash, colleges dug deep for creative ways to lower their operating costs this year. The New York Times rounded up some of the more interesting money saving measures. For example, the University of Washington did away with landlines for various faculty members, following the lead of their wireless students, and Whittier College hosted "Trayless Tuesdays" at the cafeteria and then declared a tray-free zone altogether. Dickinson College saved on bus fare by hosting a "virtual swim meet," in which the competing teams swam at their own pools but compared times online.
If Cher's son, Chaz (formerly Chastity) could turn back time, he would have been born a man. Fortunately, he has his mother's unwavering support as he "embarks on a difficult journey." Cher addressed the sex change for the first time Thursday, and seemed to acknowledge some reservations with Chaz's decision, saying "Although I may not understand I will strive to be understanding." Chaz wrote in his memoir, Family Outing, that when he came out of the closet to his mother she kicked him out of the house. However, mother and son quickly reconciled, People reports.
Paranoid about online privacy? Popular networking site Facebook has hired Timothy Sparapani, former ACLU counsel and all-around man of the people, as a lobbyist for Internet confidentiality. A self-described “privacy zealot,” Sparapani teams up with Facebook at a time when the site is scrutinized for its hold on users’ information—in March it came under fire for trying to claim ownership to all data and photos—in an attempt to befriend Washington. The Obama administration, for one, is an avid contributor to Web 2.0, but the notion of the federal government having a stake in networking sites raises questions about their access to user information. Executive director for the Center of Digital Democracy Jeff Chester said hiring Sparapani should put Facebook’s 200 million users’ minds at rest: “Given his history as a privacy advocate, Tim is simply not going to be able to accept, without a crisis of conscience, any technique by Facebook that would unfairly use and reveal data,” Chester said.
Thursday's World Refugee Day is short one power meeting: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton canceled her meet-and-greet with philanthropic bombshell Angelina Jolie due to a broken elbow. Clinton was set to present awards alongside Jolie at the American Foreign Service Association's Refugee Day event, but, as Clinton's chief of staff explained, "On the way to the White House this afternoon, Secretary Clinton fell and suffered a right elbow fracture." Clinton is back at home, recuperating, after treatment at the George Washington University Hospital in D.C.
Alright reality show fans, might as well set your TiVo now so you don't miss a single instant of what may be the most public divorce ever recorded. A teaser put on the Internet by the TLC network features Kate Gosselin narrating, saying "we've made some life-changing decisions ... that will affect every member of our family ... ones that we hope we'll bring each of us some peace." Accompanying the voice-over are not-so-subtle phrases like "Where do they go from here" floating across the screen. Jon and Kate are the latest reality show trainwreck to enthrall viewers, as the minutiae of their marital meltdown has been chronicled for all to see. Recently, the pair spent its 10-year anniversary apart.
It seems like a no-brainer, but Congress is getting close to finally issuing an apology for slavery. The Senate unanimously voted for a resolution recognizing the injustice and coinciding with Juneteenth, which celebrates emancipation, mirroring similar legislation in the House. One key difference, however: The Senate version specifically states that the resolution can't be used to support claims for reparations. "You wonder why we didn't do it 100 years ago," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), lead sponsor of the resolution, was quoted as saying in The Washington Post. "It is important to have a collective response to a collective injustice."
Bucking White House requests to hold off for 18 months on a new transportation bill, House Democrats and Republicans released a joint plan to spend $500 billion over the next six years on a variety of infrastructure projects, including eco-friendly mass transit and high-speed rail expansions. "Our transportation system, once the envy of the world, is losing its battle against time, growth, weather, and wear," the senior members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said in a statement on Thursday. Lawmakers are considering paying for the plan with a boost to the 18.3 cents per gallon gas tax, but the Obama administration opposes the measure, saying that it would be counterproductive during a recession.
Cops and criminals are getting tougher to tell apart in Mexico, where police charged seven mayors, the former state attorney general, and 19 other officials in Michoacan on various drug charges. The group allegedly was aiding the La Familia drug cartel, though Mexican authorities have yet to release the specifics of their charges. Corruption has been a major obstacle to combatting the Mexican drug trade—last year a former governor, Mario Villanueva was sentenced to 36 years for aiding drug traffickers in Quintana Roo.
Maybe the protesters don't mind President Obama speaking up on their behalf as much as U.S. commentators thought. After all, a spokesman for opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi seems comfortable explicitly comparing the two politicians over their foreign policy—and Ahmadinejad to his hated foil, President Bush. "Now that [the United States] has Obama, we have our Bush here [in Iran]," the spokesman told Foreign Policy. "In order to resolve the problems between the two countries, we should have two Obamas on the two sides. It doesn't mean that everything depends on these two people, but this is one of the main factors."
Accused of embezzling $8 billion from investors, eccentric financier and tabloid magnate Sir Allen Stanford (the first-ever American to be knighted in Antigua, where he has significant property holdings) surrendered to the FBI on Thursday night in Virginia, according to his attorney. Chairman of the embattled Stanford Financial Group, the Texan billionaire and cricket enthusiast first faced SEC charges early this year, and is now under investigation by a Houston grand jury.
Walter Cronkite, the most famed news anchor in television history, is gravely ill, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. A report in Mediabistro blog TVNewser says the 92-year-old's longtime employer, CBS News, has updated his presumably substantial obituary in recent days in reaction to his declining health. Described as "the most trusted man in America" for his evenhanded take on the news, Cronkite memorably covered such events as the Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam War, and the moon landing and also defined the genre of TV news during his 19-year stint as anchor for CBS Evening News.
Finding health insurance for all Americans may be popular in the polls, but it doesn't come cheap. Now Democrats are struggling to find ways to scale back ambitious plans for reform in order cut back on costs. In a closed door meeting of the Senate Finance Committee this week, members debated ideas to trim the bill after the Congressional Budget Office scored a draft at $1.6 trillion over 10 years, significantly more than the $1 trillion-over-10-years estimate cited by President Obama last week. One suggestion is to put in place an "automatic mechanism" that would require major spending reductions in Medicare if it failed to meet its goals regarding costs. “We are getting closer and closer and closer,” the committee's chairman, Senator Max Baucus, told The New York Times. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we will have a bipartisan bill.”
Three Obamas have official portraits: Barack, Michele, and now the first dog, Bo. The White House released the photograph today, taken of the Portuguese water dog on the South Lawn, along with a Bo baseball card. Favorite food? Tomatoes, naturally. Favorite exercise? Running and then napping with first children, Sasha and Malia. Bo follows on the paws of the Bush family’s Scottish Terrier, Barney, and the Clintons' cat, Socks.
To hear Iran's Supreme Leader tell it, the whole election situation is just a few bad apples from abroad riling up an otherwise-peaceful democracy. Speaking at a national prayer service at Tehran University on Friday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "Some of our enemies in different parts of the world intended to depict this absolute victory, this definitive victory, as a doubtful victory ... It is your victory. They cannot manipulate it." He then warned protestors to stop. "I call on all to put an end to this method. ... If they don't, they will be held responsible for the chaos and the consequences."
It’s sequel bonanza at Paramount where, Variety reports, Tom Cruise has signed on to co-produce Mission Impossible IV, adding to the studio’s already robust repeat roster which includes Star Trek 2 and a third Transformers. Star Trek director J.J. Abrams will also produce the project. But more interesting than the possibility of a new plot featuring Cruise as the spy Ethan Hunt is the storyline that returns the actor to Paramount. Three years ago, Viacom head Sumner Redstone booted Cruise from the company, frustrated with the size of Cruise’s salary and his off-screen antics. Recently, Redstone has been praising the star as “a great actor and a good friend.” MI:IV will be released in 2011.
More trouble in North Korea: “The U.S. military is planning to intercept a flagged North Korean ship suspected of proliferating weapons material in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution passed last Friday,” according to Fox News. The ship, the USS John McCain, will intercept the North Korean ship Kang Nam as soon as it leaves the coast of China. The Kang Nam is possibly carrying weaponry, missile parties, and nuclear materials. “The order to interdict has not been given yet, but the ship is getting into position.”
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