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4A Daily News – Tuesday, July 12, 2011 WORLD BRIEFING Murdoch empire besieged by allegations LONDON (AP) — Rupert Murdoch’s media empire was besieged Monday by accusations that two more of his British newspapers engaged in privacy violations that included accessing former Prime Minis- ter Gordon Brown’s bank account informa- tion and stealing the medical records of his seriously ill baby son. If proven true, the charges by rival news- papers seem certain to dramatically increase the pressure on Murdoch’s News Corp. from a scandal that seems to grow wider and deeper by the hour. The public outrage began a week ago over wrongdoing at the Murdoch-owned best-selling tabloid News of the World. It has since disrupted the media titan’s plans to take over highly profitable satellite broad- caster British Sky Broadcasting and slashed billions off the value of his global conglom- erate, News Corp. In Britain, the scandal has cast a harsh light on the unparalleled political influence of Murdoch’s collection of newspaper titles, and is taking an increasing toll on Prime Minister David Cameron. The conservative leader’s former communications chief, Andy Coulson, was arrested last week in connection with allegations of payments to police when he was editor of News of the World. With political pressure rising, a final deci- sion on the multi-billion pound BSKyB takeover was delayed after Murdoch with- drew a promise to spin off news channel Sky News, inviting the British government to refer the bid to authorities charged with enforcing anti-monopoly laws. That is expected to delay any approval for months. US says Syria’s Assad has lost legitimacy WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that Syrian President Bashar Assad has ‘‘lost legitimacy’’ as a leader interested in reform as the United States formally protested an attack on the U.S. Embassy and the Ameri- can ambassador’s residence in Damascus. Clinton’s comments fell short of demanding that Assad leave power but were some of the strongest public criticism yet by a senior U.S. official and demonstrated Washington’s anger not only at the embassy attack but the Assad regime’s continuing crackdown on opponents. ‘‘From our perspective, he has lost legiti- 8049 Hwy 99E, Los Molinos, CA We Accept EBT “Your Family Supermarket” We appreciate your business - and we show it! HOURS: 7AM - 9 PM DAILY WE FEATURE BLACK CANYON ANGUS BEEF Sirloin Steaks $299 lb. 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Earlier, the department summoned a senior Syrian diplomat to register the U.S. complaints in person and said it would seek compensation for damage caused when a mob of what it described as about 300 ‘‘thugs’’ breached the wall of the embassy compound before being dispersed by U.S. Marine guards. Obama: No deal on debt, deficit unless GOPcompromise WASHINGTON (AP) — Imploring both political parties to give ground, Presi- dent Barack Obama declared Monday he would reject any stopgap extension of the nation’s borrowing limit, adding fresh urgency for Republicans and fellow Democ- rats to resolve intense tax and spending dis- putes and head off economic calamity. ‘‘If not now, when?’’ Obama said in a news conference just ahead of his latest bar- gaining session with congressional leaders at the White House. That meeting lasted about 90 minutes and ended with no sign of progress. Lawmakers planned to return to the White House for more talks Tuesday after- noon. Obama told reporters the sessions would be an everyday affair until there was agree- ment, and he refused to even entertain the idea of a backup plan should they fail and the government should default on Aug. 2. ‘‘We are going to get this done,’’ Obama insisted. They have two weeks or less to do so in order to get any deal through Congress in time. Huge stash of seized gunpowder explodes MARI, Cyprus (AP) — Dozens of con- tainers of gunpowder seized years ago from an Iranian cargo ship exploded on Cyprus’ main naval base Monday in a massive blast that killed 12 people, wounded 62 and 384-1563 WE ACCEPT FOOD STAMPS NO CARDS REQUIRED FOR EVERYDAY LOW PRICING OR SALE ITEMS Boneless Beef Rib Eye Steaks $699 lb. COMFORT SERVICE INC. 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The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, later said that the fire may have started inside one of the con- tainers. The gunpowder was seized after the United Nations said the Cypriot-flagged M/V Monchegorsk was breaching a ban on Iranian arms exports. Iran has frequently been accused of smuggling arms and muni- tions through Syria to anti-Israeli militants in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The blast knocked out the island’s main power station, causing widespread power cuts throughout the day. The Electricity Authority said the station won’t immediate- ly come back online,while officials appealed to the public to reduce electricity and water consumption as capacity at desalination plants had been scaled down. 9th Circuit tells gov’t to say if it will defend ban on gay troops SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal appeals court that has called for the immediate halt of the military’s ban on openly gay troops issued an order Monday requiring the U.S. government to state whether it will continue to defend the constitutionality of the policy in court. Monday’s order comes less than a week after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ordered the Obama adminis- tration to immediately cease enforcing ‘‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’’ which could speed up its repeal. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the gay rights organization, the Log Cabin Republicans, against the Department of Justice. The rights group last year per- suaded a lower court judge to declare the ban unconstitutional. The lawsuit that went to trial last year put the Obama administration in the awkward position of defending a policy it opposes. DOJ attorneys have said they are defending the policy in court as they do with any law that is being challenged. They also have said the issue should be decided by Congress and not the courts.