Officials: Iraq's al-Maliki to back new PM

Source: Associated Press

BAGHDAD (AP) — The Iraqi government says embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is to address the nation, as Shiite lawmakers say he has agreed to step aside and support his nominated replacement in the post.

Four senior Shiite lawmakers tell The Associated Press that al-Maliki has agreed to endorse Haider al-Abadi as the next prime minister following a meeting of Dawa party members in Baghdad late Thursday, ending the deadlock that has plunged Baghdad into a political uncertainty.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/un-says-iraq-humanitarian-crisis-highest-level

Robin Williams appearing on the the final Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

This is classic Robin Williams.

21st Century Fox withdraws bid for Time Warner

Source: BBC

Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox has withdrawn its bid to purchase US entertainment giant Time Warner Inc for an estimated $80bn (£47bn).

Time Warner rejected Fox's initial offer in July.

The company wrote in a statement that Time Warner had "refused to engage with us to explore an offer which was highly compelling".

It added that the reaction in the company's share price since the proposal was unveiled undervalues Fox.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-28668539

Internet privacy service Tor warns users it was attacked

Source: Reuters

"While we don't know when they started doing the attack, users who operated or accessed hidden services from early February through July 4 should assume they were affected," Tor said in a blog entry.

Tor is an anonymity tool designed to protect the identity of Internet users by routing traffic through multiple nodes around the globe. It is used by human rights activists, criminals and others looking to evade surveillance.

The blog post said that it was not sure how much information the attackers were able to obtain in their efforts to monitor traffic on Tor.

It advised users to upgrade to the latest version of its software, which addresses the vulnerability that the attackers had exploited in this particular case, but said that may not guarantee the anonymity of users.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/30/us-privacy-software-attack-idUSKBN0FZ1RZ20140730

Body of young stowaway found in US cargo plane

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The body of a young stowaway was found inside a compartment near the wheel well of an Air Force cargo jet that had landed in Germany, U.S. military officials said Tuesday, triggering questions about the security of an aircraft that had made several stops in Africa.

Air Force personnel found the boy's body Sunday night after spotting an orange cloth in a small opening by the landing gear while airmen during a detailed inspection of the C-130J aircraft when it landed at Ramstein Air Base. When they tugged on the wet cloth, they discovered it was attached to a boy in the compartment, officials said.

The Pentagon's press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, said the stowaway was a black male who may have been of African origin. The plane was on a routine mission in Africa and had made stops in Senegal, Mali, Chad, Tunisia and Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily before arriving at Ramstein.

A stowaway aboard a military plane is a significant security breach. No Africa Command senior leaders were on the flight.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/body-child-stowaway-found-us-cargo-plane

Imprisoned Pussy Riot Members Sue Kremlin for $175,000

Boehner Calls Impeachment Talk Democratic 'Scam'

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/boehner-c

House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'nuhr) says the House has no plans to impeach President Barack Obama. He says talk of impeachment is all a scam by Democrats at the White House.

Boehner says Democrats are trying to rally their supporters ahead of November's mid-term elections to give money and show up to vote.

Some Republicans have said Obama would open the door to impeachment if he takes steps to end deportations of large numbers of immigrants here illegally, as the White House is contemplating. Other Republicans, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, already are calling for Obama to be impeached.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/boehner-calls-impeachment-talk-democratic-scam-24756851

States Rush To Get Ahead Of SCOTUS Ruling Against Obamacare Subsidies

Scarborough: Scalise's Nutty Talk Of Impeachment Is 'Devastating' For GOP

FAA proposes to fine Southwest Airlines $12M

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is proposing a $12 million civil fine against Southwest Airlines for failing to comply with safety regulations related to repairs on Boeing 737 jetliners.

Beginning in 2006, Southwest made "extreme makeover" alterations to eliminate potential cracking of the aluminum skin on 44 jetliners, the FAA said. An FAA investigation determined that Southwest's contractor, Aviation Technical Services Inc. of Everett, Washington, failed to follow proper procedures for replacing the fuselage as well as other work on the planes, the agency said. All of the work was done under the supervision of Southwest, which was responsible for seeing that it was done properly, the FAA said.

Southwest then returned the planes to service in 2009 and began flying them even after the FAA "put the airline on notice that these aircraft were not in compliance" with safety regulations, the agency said.

During its investigation, the FAA also found that Aviation Technical Services' workers applied sealant beneath the new skin panels but did not install fasteners in all of the rivet holes fast enough for the sealant to be effective.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/faa-proposes-fine-southwest-airlines-12m