November 29th, 2012
07:54 PM ET
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U.N. approves Palestinian "observer state" bid

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday endorsed an upgraded U.N. status for the Palestinian Authority, despite intense opposition from the United States and Israel.

The resolution elevates their status from "non-member observer entity" to "non-member observer state," the same category as the Vatican, which Palestinians hope will provide new leverage in their dealings with Israel.

Explaining the Palestinians' U.N. bid

Palestinian leaders had been working with dozens of supporting nations to develop a formal draft, enlisting the backing of European countries such as France and Spain. Germany abstained from the vote.

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Filed under: Israel • Palestinians
Joe Jackson suffers 'mild' stroke
Joe Jackson suffered a stroke Thursday morning, a source close to the Jackson family said.
November 29th, 2012
06:26 PM ET
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Joe Jackson suffers 'mild' stroke

Joe Jackson, the Jackson family patriarch, suffered a stroke Thursday morning and is being treated in a Las Vegas hospital, a source close to the Jackson family said.

Jackson, 83, "is in very good spirits" and expects to be sent home from the hospital Friday, said the source, who asked not to be identified.

The "mild" stroke is similar to two others he suffered in the past five years, another source close to Jackson said.

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Filed under: Celebrity • Las Vegas • Music • Nevada • Showbiz
November 29th, 2012
05:51 PM ET
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NHL: Mediation with players ends with no deal

Two days of mediation have failed to end the National Hockey League’s lockout of its players, the league said Thursday.

Representatives of the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association met Wednesday and Thursday with the Washington-based Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, aiming to break a labor impasse that so far has canceled a third of the NHL’s season.

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Filed under: Hockey • NHL • Sports
Former President George H.W. Bush hospitalized
November 29th, 2012
03:50 PM ET
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Former President George H.W. Bush hospitalized

Former President George H.W. Bush remains in a Houston hospital Thursday after being treated for bronchitis, his spokesman said. His office said he was in stable condition.

Bush, 88, has been hospitalized at Houston's Methodist Hospital for six days and has a "lingering cough," spokesman Jim McGrath told CNN.

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Filed under: Politics • Texas
November 29th, 2012
03:24 PM ET
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The moment that Syria's Internet went down

Internet traffic monitor Akamai Technologies says its data supports what another group has reported: That Syria pretty much dropped off the Internet on Thursday morning.

[tweet https://twitter.com/akamai_soti/status/274163048263057408%5D

The other Internet monitoring group, Renesys, said more than 90% of the Internet access in Syria was shut down on Thursday. It was not clear who was behind the latest event, but the government has intermittently cut off Internet access several times in the past two years.

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Filed under: Syria
British press get scathing report on phone-hacking sins
November 29th, 2012
03:03 PM ET
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British press get scathing report on phone-hacking sins

Editor's note: In a long-awaited report sparked by a phone-hacking scandal at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World tabloid, a British judge Brian Leveson recommended Thursday that the British press should have an independent regulator, underpinned by law, and with the power to fine.

Below is information from the report and reaction:

[Updated at 3:03 a.m. ET, 8:03 p.m. GMT] News International, a subsidiary of the Murdoch-owned News Corp., has backed British Prime Minister David Cameron's call for regulation without legislation:

"We are grateful to Lord Justice Leveson for his thorough and comprehensive inquiry, and will be studying its recommendations and comments in detail. As a company we are keen to play our full part, with others in our industry, in creating a new body that commands the confidence of the public. We believe that this can be achieved without statutory regulation - and welcome the Prime Minister’s rejection of that proposal. We accept that a new system should be independent, have a standards code, a means of resolving disputes, the power to demand prominent apologies and the ability to levy heavy fines. We have spent 18 months reflecting upon these issues and are determined now to move on as soon as possible with others in our sector to set up a new body that will ensure British journalism is both responsible and robust”.

[Updated at 11:43 a.m. ET, 4:43 p.m. GMT] The Hacked Off campaign, which represents what it says are victims of press abuse, has issued a statement saying Leveson's recommendations need to be implemented:

"What is needed is a regulator which can properly and effectively protect the victims of press misconduct. (Leveson) has recommended that this be backed by legislation to protect the public and the press.

"These proposals are reasonable and proportionate and we call on all parties to get together to implement them as soon as possible.

"The press must be given a deadline. The Inquiry is over. Now is the time for action."

[Updated at 11:30 a.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. GMT] More from Labour Party leader Ed Miliband:

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Filed under: Media • United Kingdom
November 29th, 2012
11:40 AM ET
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New York cop's act of kindness goes viral

[Updated at 8:45 a.m. ET Friday] Here's how a simple act of kindness can become a worldwide inspiration and a public relations bonanza for the New York Police Department.

In a case of being in the right place at the right time, a tourist from Arizona, who happens to work in law enforcement herself, was visiting New York City earlier this month when she noticed a man without shoes asking for change near Times Square.

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Filed under: Facebook • New York • Social media • Times Square
Zucker named president of CNN Worldwide
Jeff Zucker in 2007.
November 29th, 2012
10:55 AM ET
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Zucker named president of CNN Worldwide

Veteran news producer and former NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker will become the president of CNN Worldwide in January, the network announced Thursday.

"Jeff's experience as a news executive is unmatched for its breadth and success," said Phil Kent, chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting System, CNN's parent company.

Zucker succeeds Jim Walton who has headed CNN Worldwide since 2003. As president, Zucker will oversee 23 branded news and information businesses, including CNN's U.S. television network, CNN International, HLN and CNN Digital. The latter includes CNN.com, one of the world's leading news websites.

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Filed under: Media
November 29th, 2012
07:48 AM ET
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Recommendations on British media regulation expected today

Britain's media may learn today if it will be allowed to continue to regulate itself when the recommendations of an independent inquiry are expected to be released.

Prime Minister David Cameron will make a statement to lawmakers following the release of the Leveson report. The prime minister is expected to spell out what action the government plans to take.

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Filed under: David Cameron • Media • United Kingdom
November 29th, 2012
07:47 AM ET
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Winning Powerball tickets sold in Missouri, Arizona

If you are in Missouri or Arizona, check your lottery tickets. You could be filthy rich.

Tickets for the record-breaking estimated $579 million jackpot were purchased in those states, lottery officials said early Thursday morning.

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Filed under: Lotto