In today’s news, according to The New York Times, many corporations pay less than 10% in taxes; Occupy Oakland shuts down the city; poverty levels have hit a record high; Herman Cain is hit with more sexual harassment accusations; and an 83 year-old Iowa man has been arrested for prostitution. In other news, Justin Bieber fans make death threats against the mother of his alleged child, and Kim Kardashian denies getting married for financial gain.
Coral + Caitlin
CRUCIAL
Papandreou ‘to offer to resign’, http://bbc.in/rrDik6
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will resign Thursday after an emergency cabinet meeting. Following the resignation, Greek President Karolos Papoulios will form a coalition government with former central banker Lucas Papademos. Papandreou had called for a vote of confidence to take place on Friday after several members of his party defected. He faced much backlash when he called for a referendum for the debt crisis plan.
Biggest Public Firms Paid Little U.S. Tax, Study Says, http://nyti.ms/vMLjGN
A comprehensive study released on Thursday found that 280 of the biggest publicly traded American companies have faced federal income tax bills equal to 18.5% of their profits during the last three years. About a quarter of the companies paid less than 10 percent in taxes over the past three years while 30 companies, including Boeing, Wells Fargo, and GE, appeared to pay no taxes whatsoever. Some companies have disputed the study saying it fails to account for deferred taxes.
Elisabeth Murdoch ‘wanted James Murdoch to step down’, magazine claims, http://tgr.ph/rWjfdq
Elisabeth Murdoch allegedly persuaded her father to remove her brother James as chairman of News International because he had allowed the phone hacking scandal to spiral out of control. Rupert almost listened, telling James “maybe you should go” before he changed his mind the next morning. Elisabeth is also said to have pushed for the resignations of Rebekah Brooks and Les Hinton for their roles in the scandal. The Vanity Fair article also claims that Murdoch’s children attended group therapy to help figure out who would eventually take over News Corp.
Occupy Oakland general strike, http://bit.ly/w1tIXE
The nation’s first general strike since the 1940s took place last night in Oakland. Labor unions and teachers’ organizations have pledged support. About 360 teachers did not show up for work, and several businesses closed. Protesters also shut down the city’s port. The demonstrations turned violent when protesters took over an abandoned building. Police cleared the building with tear-gas and flashbang grenades. Later, the police raided the protesters’ main camp and arrested between 30 and 40 people.
Poverty hits record level, http://politi.co/uXzBlo
The number of Americans below poverty level has hit a new record of 20.5 million people. Defined as individuals living at 50 percent or less of the official poverty level, 6.7 percent of the U.S. population, or one in 15 people now fit that statistic. Neighborhoods in which at least 4 in 10 people are living in poverty have stretched over broader areas and have increased in suburbs twice as fast as in cities.
Ex-wife of family judge filmed beating his daughter breaks silence as girl reveals her father ‘dared her to post it online’ http://bit.ly/sIVbZm
23 year-old Hillary Adams posted a video on Youtube of her father, a family law judge, beating her 20 times with a leather belt. Hillary suffers from cerebral palsy and was attacked after being caught downloading music to her computer. She said that she video taped the attack because it had happened before and had been escalating. She told the Today show: ‘I told him I had the video… and he dared me to post it.’
83 year-old Centerville man arrested for prostitution, http://bit.ly/sBf0wK
Police in Iowa have arrested Ben Clifford Dawson, an 83 year-old man, on charges of prostitution. Dawson was a candidate for the Canterville, Iowa city council. Police received a complaint that Dawson had offered to perform sex acts on a woman in exchange for repayment of a loan. The woman turned Dawson down and afterwards, he allegedly grabbed her and began kissing her neck. Now, Dawson faces two aggravated misdemeanor charges: prostitution and intent to commit sexual abuse.
Herman Cain confronts more harassment allegations, http://politi.co/vGXVLw
Another woman who worked with Cain at the National Restaurant Association in the 90s told The Associated Press that she had considered filing sexual harassment charges against him. The woman says Cain made suggestive remarks and gestures and once invited her back to his apartment. One of Cain’s pollsters also said things had once become very uncomfortable when Cain harassed a waitress. Radio host Steve Deace has also stated that Cain had said awkward and inappropriate things to female station staffers. The Cain campaign has accused Rick Perry’s camp of waging a smear campaign. Perry’s team has turned around and pointed the finger at Mitt Romney.
(via Politico) Accuser’s attorney asks NRA about issuing statement: The attorney for one of the women accusing Herman Cain of sexual harassment is asking the National Restaurant Association permission to allow her to issue a public statement about her allegations. “This morning I will be emailing to the National Restaurant Association’s attorney a draft public statement requesting permission to issue it without violating the confidential settlement agreement,” Joel Bennett told POLITICO. “I will have no further statement until I hear back from the National Restaurant Association’s attorney.” http://politi.co/fNlMXs
Fossil Teeth Put Humans in Europe Earlier Than Thought, http://nyti.ms/t7fRu1
Scientists have discovered the oldest human fossils in existence: two infant teeth from Italy that they estimate to be between 43,000 and 45,000 years old, and a jawbone with three teeth from England that is between 41,500 and 44,200 years old. The teeth were originally found in 1964 but were disregarded as infant Neanderthal teeth. Previously, the oldest human fossil was dated to be between 37,800 and 42,000 years old.
CULTURAL
The Washington Post wants to “Let Herman Cain and his accusers talk” http://wapo.st/v8IRrv
Ed Rogers says “Watch out for Newt Gingrich” http://wapo.st/vvaOJn
Dodgers hire Sue Falsone as first female trainer in majors, http://usat.ly/vIfY9Q
New James Bond film titled “Skyfall” http://apne.ws/tFLpir
Justin Bieber’s Beliebers Make Death Threats Toward Mariah Yeater, http://fxn.ws/ry60yR
Kim Kardashian Denies Marriage Money Rumors, http://on.mtv.com/sHdYJQ
