The Lede Blog: Syria President's Wife Pregnant, Lebanese Newspaper Says

Just as tens of thousands of Syrians are scrambling to get themselves and their children out of war-ravaged Syria, President Bashar al-Assad and his glamorous wife, Asma, apparently are taking the opposite approach. They are having a baby, according to a Lebanese newspaper sympathetic to the Assad family.The newspaper, Al Akhbar, dropped this news on Monday as a tangential reference in a fawning article...

Read More..

Cricket-Australia board play straight bat to Warne twitter rant

Jan 29 (Reuters) – Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland has defended the organisation following a scathing attack aimed at them by spin great Shane Warne, who panned the board in a series of Twitter rants.Sutherland added that he was prepared to meet with Warne and discuss the 43-year-old’s criticism of CA’s player rotation policy and his claim that “rubbish” decisions were turning...

Read More..

Camila McConaughey Takes Baby Livingston to the Park (Photo)

By Tim Nudd 01/29/2013 at 10:05 AM EST Camila Alves and baby boy Livingston FameFlynet A lovely 80-degree day in Austin, Texas, was just what Livingston McConaughey needed for a nice stroll in the park. Camila and Matthew McConaughey's newborn son enjoyed an outing...

Read More..

Study says leafy greens top food poisoning source

NEW YORK (AP) — A government study has fingered leafy green vegetables as the leading source of food poisoning illnesses.However, the most food-related deaths were from contaminated chicken and other poultry.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the study Tuesday. It's based on an analysis of food poisoning cases from 1998 through 2008. It's the agency's most comprehensive attempt...

Read More..

Wall Street flat, investors look for new catalyst

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were flat on Tuesday as investors looked for new reasons in economic data or earnings to extend a rally that pushed major averages near five-year highs. Equities have been on a tear lately, with the S&P 500 recently climbing for eight straight sessions, extending its rise in January to 5.1 percent. The index hovered around 1,500, suggesting there was still...

Read More..

Toyota Returns to No. 1 in Global Auto Sales

TOKYO — Toyota Motor sold a record 9.75 million vehicles last year, according to an official tally released Monday, roaring past General Motors and Volkswagen to reclaim its title as the world’s top automaker in 2012. General Motors, which held the top spot in 2011, mustered 9.29 million vehicles in global sales last year. The U.S. company had been the top-selling automaker for decades before...

Read More..

3 Bite-Size Tips for Using Twitter in a Job Search

Advice abounds on how to use social media to advance your career and job search. Beyond reading the volumes of great books, breaking down advice into manageable bites is a smart way to venture into the often-rough social networking waters. Also, choosing one site and really getting your feet wet is helpful to prevent social media overwhelm and scattershot behavior. The following are three snack-size...

Read More..

Michelle Williams Says Reports of Destiny's Child Super Bowl Reunion Are Not True

By Aaron Parsley 01/28/2013 at 10:15 AM EST Destiny's Child (from left) Beyoncé Knowles, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland Anthony Harvey/PA/Abaca Are they or aren't they?Fans of Destiny's Child may be wondering where Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will...

Read More..

Wounded soldier gets double-arm transplant in Md.

BALTIMORE (AP) — A soldier who lost all four limbs in a roadside bomb attack in 2009 in Iraq has received a double-arm transplant in Baltimore.Johns Hopkins Hospital surgeons plan to discuss the transplant Tuesday at a news conference with the infantryman.Johns Hopkins says the soldier is one of seven in the United States who have undergone successful double-arm transplants.Hospital officials say...

Read More..

Wall Street flat after rally, Caterpillar advances

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were flat on Monday, with investors reluctant to make big bets following an extended equity rally, though strong data and results from Caterpillar kept a positive tone in markets. The S&P 500 is coming off a streak of eight sessions of gains, the longest winning streak for the index in eight years. On Friday, it closed above 1,500 for the first time...

Read More..