PAY IT FORWARD

Obama: Taxing the rich about math, not envy

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President Barack Obama on Thursday rebutted former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's allegation that he's pandering to the “politics of envy.”

ANONYMOUS SOURCES

Ethics probe leak sparks whodunit on Hill

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA). Photo: AFP.

Lawmakers and staffers are puzzled over who leaked the names of three members of Congress who face an ethics probe over discounted loans given by the now-defunct mortgage lender Countrywide.

ANGRY MOB

Activist removed from Gingrich event for her own safety

Florida activist Cara Jennings

An activist was removed from a Newt Gingrich event in Coral Springs, Florida on Wednesday because authorities feared the candidate’s supporters might harm her.

FRIEND REQUEST

FBI seeking social media monitoring tool

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The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking for a tool to mine social media for intelligence tips.

REPARATIVE THERAPY

Romney funded ‘pray away the gay’ group

Wayne Besen on MSNBC screengrab

Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out appeared on MSNBC Thursday night to discuss how former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney indirectly helped fund so-called “pray away the gay” therapy.

NOPE-NOPE-NOPE

GOP lawmaker: Near impossible to get AIDS through hetero sex

Stacey Campfield screegrab from YouTube

Tennessee state Sen. Stacey Campfield (R) falsely claimed on Thursday that it was nearly impossible for someone to contract AIDS through heterosexual contact.

Science

NASA’s Kepler confirms 26 new planets

WASHINGTON — The US space agency said Thursday its Kepler space telescope mission has confirmed…

Men’s hopes for robot prostate surgery unrealistic

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer has been heavily hyped, and…

Tech News

Google+ opens up to teenagers

SAN FRANCISCO — Google on Thursday opened up Google+ to teenagers, just days after loosening…

Two Megaupload accused granted bail in New Zealand

Two of Kim Dotcom’s co-accused were granted bail in New Zealand on Thursday, a day…

Media

Rash of ‘Occupy’ arrests tank America’s annual press freedom score

In the wide world of reporting, the nation of Finland is the very best place…

Former Fox News host accused of rape

The district attorney’s office in Manhattan is investigating allegations that the son of New York…

World

Cocaine mistakenly sent to UN headquarters

UNITED NATIONS — A 16 kilo (35.5 pounds) consignment of cocaine that Mexican drug traffickers recently lost has turned up…

Haiti should brace for more devastating quakes: study

WASHINGTON — The 2010 earthquake that devastated southern Haiti may have opened a new era of seismic activity and residents…

Three dead, 16 missing in Rio high-rises collapse

Three people were confirmed dead and 16 were still missing early Thursday after three office buildings, one of them 20…

Key Darfur rebel group says new leader chosen

A key rebel group in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region said on Thursday it has chosen a one-time university professor to…

U.S. News

Mayor receives hundreds of tacos after racist remark about Latinos

When recently asked about his support for Latino rights, the mayor of East Haven, Connecticut…

Pair questioned over decapitated man

Police were Friday questioning two men over the murder of a man whose burned and…

Minnesota laying groundwork for gray wolf hunt

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) – Minnesota officials on Thursday outlined plans to permit a hunting season for…

U.S. striving to prevent WikiLeaks repeat: spy chief

WASHINGTON — The United States is taking “serious and noticeable” measures to prevent another breach…

Obama courts swing voters as polls tick up

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Boosted by rising poll numbers, US President Barack Obama courted swing-state…