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American International Group is preparing to pay $2.4 million in bonuses to 40 top executives after a round of bonuses in March outraged the public. The insurance company has been waiting for the federal government’s blessing to give more bonuses with its $180 billion bailout check, even though AIG doesn't officially need permission from Obama's executive compensation czar, Kenneth Feinberg, since the bonuses are delayed from 2008. An AIG official told The Washington Post the company was reluctant to distribute the cash. “We would want to feel comfortable that the government is comfortable with what we are doing,” he said. In March, it was revealed that AIG paid more than $165 million in retention bonuses to 400 employees in its Financial Products unit, whose derivative contracts almost destroyed the entire company. Refusing to comment directly on the latest round of bonuses, a Treasury Department spokesman released a statement. “Companies will need to convince Mr. Feinberg that they have struck the right balance to discourage excessive risk taking and reward performance for their top executives,” he said.
A new wave of violent strife swept Iran on Thursday as demonstrators marched across the country to show outrage over the results of the disputed election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But baton-wielding police officers broke up the protests, firing tear gas at 200-300 people who were chanting "death to the dictator." As they did in the days following the disputed presidential election on June 12, protestors organized through social networking and opposition sites, though SMS services were cut on Thursday for the third consecutive day. Demonstrators wearing surgical masks to protect their identities from security cameras marched through the streets to Tehran University, a move they said commemorated the 10-year anniversary of student unrest there. The government has again officially condemned the unauthorized protests, as Tehran's Governor General Morteza Tamaddon announced Thursday that any protestors would be met with a "crushing" response.
Roland Burris, the Illinois senator who was appointed by disgraced ex-governor Rod Blagojevich, announced Friday he will not seek election in 2010 due to a lack of funds. Burris has been seen as a pariah in the Senate since he took over the seat vacated by Barack Obama, and was feared to be an easy target for Republicans in the 2010 race by Democrats. Burris raised less than $1,000 in campaign funds the first three months of 2009.
Climate change we can believe in? President Obama assured the world on Thursday that there was still time to bring developing nations on board for greenhouse-gas reduction, after China and India rejected the goal of reducing their emission by half by 2050. In a speech, Obama told emerging economies to “fight the temptation toward cynicism.” "There is no contradiction between environmentally sustainable growth and robust economic growth," he said. "We can either shape our future or we can let events shape it for us." President Obama also announced that "The United States has sometimes fallen short of meeting our responsibilities. Let me be clear, those days are over." The emerging economies are guests at the G-8 summit, and are pushing for full inclusion.
Just when we thought it was all over for Moneyball, The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin is taking a swing at the movie's script, which is based on Michael Lewis’s book about the Oakland A’s. Rumors have surrounded the movie since its conception last year. Studio execs reportedly scrapped the film just days before production was set to begin last month after a script turned in by Steven Soderbergh was deemed too different from Lewis's book. Things are apparently back on track: Sorkin could turn in his adaptation of the best-selling book, which will draw from the script already written by Steve Zaillian, as soon as next month. Brad Pitt remains on board to star in Moneyball as A’s General Manager Billy Beane.
Perhaps John Ensign wants the spotlight back from Mark Sanford? Nevada’s cheating senator is back in the news with the report that his “parents paid nearly $100,000 to the family of his mistress around the time she and her husband left his staff in April 2008.” Ensign’s parents gave the money in limited $12,000 gifts to his mistress, Cindy Hampton, her husband Doug, and their two children. "The payments were made as gifts, accepted as gifts and complied with tax rules governing gifts," said Ensign’s attorney.
Be grateful half this cheat isn't redacted. According to The Wall Street Journal, seven Democratic lawmakers said in a letter released Thursday that CIA director Leon Panetta had admitted to them that the agency had "concealed significant actions" from Congress and misled them since 2001. But, as is the nature of classified briefings, the lawmakers offered no indication as to what information was withheld. Panetta testified to Congress in May that "it is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress—that is against our laws and values." The letter calls on the CIA director to revise his statement in light of the alleged revelations. The issue has political implications, as senior lawmakers like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have battled over whether they were properly briefed on issues like interrogation policies at Guantánamo Bay.
Sarah Palin may have abandoned her post as governor of Alaska, but the Republican Party has not abandoned her. Republican officials in Iowa are "aggressively pursuing" Palin to be the headline speaker at a major fundraising dinner in the state, which is the first stop in the long presidential campaign trail. It is common for presidential hopefuls to attend the event; Palin's attendance would undoubtedly fuel speculation about her own ambitions in 2012. One prominent Iowa Republican described her as "the most sought-after personality" in the party. She is sought-after by the media, too: the Des Moines Register reports that Palin's spokeswoman's voicemail was full and not accepting new messages.
The nation's top media moguls aren't feeling very optimistic these days, according to News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch. In an interview with Fox News from the Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, Murdoch said he was "shocked" at the "very bearish" mood of his colleagues. Most at the conference think it will take at least five years before the economy sees "any real growth." He also said that if the market doesn’t improve by the end of the year—when he predicts “unemployment goes above 10 percent before Christmas”—Obama’s approval ratings could plummet in the public sector as well as in the media. Though for the moment, the media “remains very supportive” of the president, Murdoch said, pointing out the exceptions of Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, both of which the press mogul owns.
Sarah Palin said she resigned as governor in order to save the state "millions" in defending her from ethics violation suits--but the figure her staff provided seems to be inflated, reports the Anchorage Daily News. Her staff said costs from public records requests, ethics complaints, and issues surrounding Palin’s “Troopergate” investigation totaled $1.9 million, but most of that money is hourly wages of state employees who would have gotten paid anyway. "Is it a check that we wrote, no, but is it staff hours, yes," Palin's spokeswoman said. The total was calculated by adding up the hours attorneys on fixed salaries in the governor’s office spent tending to complaints. While these attorneys spent time chipping away at the massive pile of inquiries directed toward Palin, their work didn’t actually drain money from police officers, roads, and teachers as the governor claimed this week.
Is there a Frenchman nearby refusing to tip a waiter in broken English? They're everywhere, according to Expedia, which ranked the French as being the worst tourists in the world. Viewed as arrogant penny-pinchers with poor grasps on foreign languages, the French managed to rub 4,500 international hotel owners the wrong way. "The French don't go abroad very much," Expedia Marketing Director Timothy de Roux explained of his country's poor manners. "We're lucky enough to have a country which is magnificent in terms of its landscape and culture." French tourists also don't realize discrepancies between their culture and others, like tipping on a restaurant bill, he said. The upside, if there is one, comes in the form of fashion sense: French tourists took third place behind the Italians and the British on vacation apparel. Expedia voted the Japanese the best tourists in the world for the second year in a row.
Though the number of people who tuned into watch Michael Jackson's memorial is stunning—31.1 million—what may be even more significant is the amount of people who watched it online: roughly 30 million more. The numbers serve as a clear indicator that how people get their news has changed. Still, the ratings are behind other major funerals, such as Princess Diana's and Ronald Reagan's. Meanwhile, Jackson is expected to be buried wearing one of his signature gloves, and AEG Live, the company that was putting on the concerts in London, has begun hawking Jackson merchandise online.
The Armani catwalk in Paris on Thursday was alight with intricate beadwork, shiny metallic trimmings, rhinestones, and crystals, but as Megan Fox's existence proves, you don't need sequins to be a standout. The young starlet—whose summer hit Transformers 2 has been making a killing at the box office—attended the Armani 2010 fashion show clad in a simple asymmetrical grey dress, designed by Giorgio Armani himself. Complimenting the look with bright red lips and old-Hollywood glamour curls, she sat front row, fashionably ensconced between Cate Blanchett and Elsa Pataky.
Ruth Madoff may have gotten her passport back, but she’s apparently not going far: The New York Post reports that she’s looking at a one-bedroom apartment in the Trafalgar House on East 90th St. in New York, available for $465,000. Gawker, meanwhile, posts pics of the apartment. At only 481 square feet, it’s a bit of a downgrade from the 4,000 square-foot four-bedroom duplex that authorities took from her on July 2, which is expected to sell for $7 million.
One of Michael Jackson's most well known assets, the Beatles music catalogue, will not be left to its rightful owner. Paul McCartney has posted on his website that he will not receive rights to the songs. This contradicts rumors that said otherwise. McCartney also debunked the idea that he was upset at not regaining his creations. He said the notion of his inclusion in Jackson's will was completely media-fabricated and "something I didn't believe for a second." Jackson gained ownership of the catalogue after placing the winning bid—$47.5 million—to buy it from British mogul Sir Lew Grade in 1985.
Some people have, apparently, chosen to sit out our so-called “post-racial” era: 65 African American summer campers who paid over $1,900 for one day of swimming a week at The Valley Swim Club in northeast Philadelphia were turned away and had their money refunded. The swim-club president John Duesler explained the decision by saying, "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club." The staff of a private Philadelphia boarding school has stepped in and offered the students access to its pool, but the original incident has caused such controversy that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter plans to launch an investigation into the discrimination claim.
Another deadly day for travel: An Amtrak train near Detroit crashed into a car today, killing all five people in the car. The crash occurred at 12:30 p.m. in Canton Township, which is about 20 miles west of Detroit. No one on the train was injured. The ages and names of the deceased are currently unknown.
Even Rupert Murdoch may have a tough time getting out of this one. The Guardian reports that three of Murdoch's British newspapers paid more than £1 million, more than $1.5 million in U.S. dollars, to settle court cases that alleged his journalists hired private investigators who illegally hacked into the cell phone messages of "numerous public figures," including Gwyneth Paltrow and Elle MacPherson. The private investigators allegedly obtained confidential personal information, including tax records, bank statements and phone bills, though News Corp. claimed it had no ties to the investigators. Actors, sports stars, and cabinet ministers were all targets of the spying, according to The Guardian's investigation. Murdoch, meanwhile, maintained that he knew nothing about payments to the investigators. "If that had happened I would know about it," he told Bloomberg News. One News of the World editor was jailed for four months in 2007 for hacking into phones of members of the royal family's household.
This doesn’t bode well for Israel’s relationship with the U.S.: According to Haaretz, “[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu appears to be suffering from confusion and paranoia. He is convinced that the media are after him, that his aides are leaking information against him and that the American administration wants him out of office. Two months after his visit to Washington, he is still finding it difficult to communication [sic] normally with the White House. To appreciate the depth of his paranoia, it is enough to hear how he refers to Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, Obama's senior aides: as ‘self-hating Jews.’” The Israeli P.M. is reportedly obsessed with the media, surrounded by bickering aides, and has created “an atmosphere of permanent crisis.”
Enjoy The New York Times website for free while you still can: According to The Telegraph, The New York Times will decide on a model for charging its online readers for content next month. Scott Heekin-Canedy, the president and general manager of The New York Times Media Group, says that he is deciding between two models—a “metered model,” which will give access without charge for a certain number of page views, and a “membership model,” which will make certain privileges and services available to paying readers. Heekin-Candey ruled out a micropayment system.
It's a love affair for the ages—but not your typical romantic comedy: Michael Moore has announced that his new documentary will be titled Capitalism: A Love Story. The film is set for release in early October—a year and a day after the U.S government voted on the $700 billion bailout—and explores the causes of the global economic crisis. "It will be the perfect date movie," Moore announced, "It's got it all—lust, passion, romance and 14,000 jobs being eliminated every day." The director, as notorious among his critics as he is famous for his movies, directed three of the top six highest-grossing documentaries of all-time.
Human-rights groups and residents in the border cities are accusing the Mexican army of brutal acts of torture and illegal raids in its war on drugs, leading U.S. officials to threaten cutting off aid. While the U.S government has helped fund President Felipe Calderón's strategy of using the military in the war against drugs, officials warn that these accusations could prompt Congress to withhold more than $100 million in anti-narcotics assistance. U.S. officials are also concerned because the Mexican government has not provided more information regarding the number of human-rights cases that have been prosecuted. Since the beginning of Calderón's term, 12,050 people have been killed in drug violence.
Republican Senator John Ensign somehow managed to avoid a big, public brouhaha over his affair, in part thanks to Republican Governor Mark Sanford's surprise infidelity confession. But on Wednesday, the media spotlight turned back to the disgraced politician, who admitted to a relationship with one of his former staffers, Cindy Hampton, last month. According to the mistress's husband, fellow Republican Senator Tom Coburn knew about Ensign's affair for more than a year and encouraged him to give the couple “millions of dollars” so that they could pay off their mortgage and leave Ensign’s hometown of Las Vegas. Coburn denies the allegation. Also on Wednesday, Hampton's husband said Ensign gave $25,000 to his wife as a "severance package" when they ended their affair. Hampton also turned over Ensign's break-up letter to his wife to the Las Vegas Sun.
America's recent withdrawal from Iraq's cities is off to a shaky start as terrorists carried out another set of bombings on Thursday, killing at least 41 people and injuring dozens more. In Tal Afar, a suicide bomber killed at least 34 people, while two roadside bombs in Baghdad claimed an additional seven lives, according to the Associated Press. The attacks come only one day after car bombs in Mosul killed 16 civilians.
As the first rounds of stimulus-spending projects are approved, new reports are shedding light on some surprising trends. According to USA Today, counties that supported President Obama in the 2008 election have received more than twice as much per person, an average of $69, as those that supported John McCain, which received $34 per person. While on the surface the disparity raises red flags, investigators and watchdog groups consulted by USA Today said that the process by which funds are distributed likely would make it impossible for the Obama administration to direct money to their supporters even if they wanted to. Another report on stimulus spending, by The New York Times, finds that cities are getting less than half of the first round of transportation funds despite housing two-thirds of the country's population. The disparity is being blamed on state legislatures, whom urban advocates say are directing funds to more-remote areas in order to spread them out among state lawmakers' districts.
Hilary Clinton's first few months as secretary of State have been relatively under the radar. Nursing a broken elbow that forced her to cancel two planned foreign trips and into intensive physical therapy, Clinton is preparing to take to the podium next week in an effort to increase her profile and to discuss ways the U.S. can promote nuclear nonproliferation, combat violent extremism, and improve food security amongst other issues. As President Obama's former presidential rival, Clinton has a fine line to walk of adhering to his agenda. Her initial low-profile domestic work has so far proved that she can be a team player, but with increasing concerns for the economy, many will be watching Clinton's speech to see if she will make moves to take larger steps.
Extreme-distance runner Diane Van Deren can run over 100 miles in a single race—even if she isn't exactly sure where she's going. The 49-year-old suffers from serious seizures and had a lobectomy in 1997 that makes it difficult to perform basic functions, like reading a map. "Everyone knows not to follow me now," Van Deren told the New York Times. But despite her cognitive disabilities, Van Deren has become one of the world's greatest "ultra-runners," covering hundreds of miles in extreme climates. Last year she won the Yukon Arctic Ultra 300, a 430-mile race through the frozen Canadian region.
Heartbreaking profiles of two families, in The Washington Post and The New York Times Thursday, offer rare, detailed, personal accounts of the Urumqi riots that have left 156 dead and many hundreds more wounded. The New York Times looks at a Han family whose son, Lu Huakun, 25, was brutally killed by Uighur rioters. Han Chinese have been encouraged by the Chinese government to settle in the Uighur-majority area, but the sudden influx has led to protests from Uighurs who say the government is trying to systematically eliminate their culture. "There was a calling by the government to develop the west," Lu's father told the Times. "This place would be nothing without the Han." Meanwhile, The Washington Post looks at ethnic minorities in Urumqi who have been trapped between two sides. Ye Erkeng, a Kazakh man married to a Uighur woman, said that he and his family had been forced to hide inside his apartment for days with little food and water while rioters destroyed Uighur-owned businesses outside: "I thought, 'If they rush into the house, we will all die.'" He is among many who are leaving the city out of fear of further violence.
Layoffs may be slowing, but unemployed workers still can't find jobs. Jobless claims dropped to their lowest last week since the beginning of the year, largely because anticipated layoffs in the auto industry won't happen this month. New claims for unemployment insurance significantly beat analysts' expectations, dropping by 52,000 to 565,000, the Labor Department announced on Thursday. But while those initial claims fell, continuing claims jumped from 159,000 to 6.88 million—the highest number since 1967. New Jersey reported the largest increase in initial claims—apparently caused by seasonal layoffs related to school closings—and Florida the largest decrease, which it attributed to fewer layoffs in construction and manufacturing.
As the nation moves on from 24/7 Michael Jackson coverage, Sarah Palin will gladly fill the void. The Alaska governor graces the cover of the new issue of Time magazine, in which she keeps the door wide open for a presidential run. "I cannot predict what's going to happen," she said. "I was telling Todd today, I was saying, 'Man, I wish we could predict the next fish run so that we know when to be out on the water.' We can't predict the next fish run, much less what's going to happen in 2012." The magazine dubs her "the renegade"—as opposed to "the maverick"—and suggests timing plus lack of experience could actually work to Palin's advantage. But even close adviser and fundraiser John Coale is trying to caution her on how to make it work: "She made the mistake that every time someone attacked her, she'd fight back."
Xavier sophomore Jordan Crawford didn't seem too starstruck when he and some lucky teammates got to play a pickup game with LeBron James and other Cleveland Cavaliers. In fact, he delivered a dunk over King James. Crawford didn't realize the play was such a big deal until after the game. Nike, on the other hand, was keen to make sure the dunk would not become a YouTube sensation. The shoemaker, which was sponsoring the event, seized the videotapes of filmers in attendance, later explaining that is the company's longstanding policy to prohibit media coverage at their basketball camps. No word from James on the dunk; Crawford openly admitted he's thrilled with the publicity.
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