In Conversation: Michael Bloomberg  —  The mayor has harsh words for Bill de Blasio, rebuts the charge that he's in the tank for the wealthy, questions just how poor the poor really are, and considers (for the first time) what he might like named after him.  —  On August 6, I meet Mayor Bloomberg …

Samantha Power Agrees She Is Naive  —  One of our leading Smart Diplomats, Samantha Power, earned widespread ridicule with this insight from a recent speech:  —  Samantha Power, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, hoped that a team of UN investigators — many of whom, presumably …

NYPD: Man Brain-Dead Following Random Rampage In Union Square  —  NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — It came out of nowhere.  —  A man allegedly went on a rampage in Union Square on Wednesday afternoon and left a complete stranger brain-dead in the process.  —  Police said that the attack may have been a hate crime.

Michael E. Mann, Top Climate Scientist, Can Proceed WIth Libel Suit Against Right Wing Blogs, Judge Rules  —  Follow us and never miss a story!  —  A climate scientist widely known for his “hockey stick” graph showing a steep climb in global temperature over the last century …

Petraeus calls on Congress to back White House on Syria  —  Retired Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, former CIA director under President Barack Obama, called strongly Saturday for Congress to back the White House on Syria, declaring that military action against the regime is “necessary” to deter …

Ed Asner Explains Hollywood Silence on Obama, Syria: They 'Don't Want to Feel Anti-Black'  —  Don't look for Iraq War-style protests, says the liberal activist, who — like “M*A*S*H” star Mike Farrell — opposes military action.  —  In 2003, ahead of a U.S. attack on Iraq …

Alimony for Your Eggs  —  THE end of a marriage is always sad, but divorce can be particularly devastating for a woman who still wants children but whose fertility is on the decline.  Her ex may have many years left to start a new family of his own, but by the time she meets a new partner, it may be too late.

Why Janet Yellen, Not Larry Summers, Should Lead the Fed  —  The controversy over the choice of the next head of the Federal Reserve has become unusually heated.  The country is fortunate to have an enormously qualified candidate: the Fed's current vice chairwoman, Janet L. Yellen.

CNN Exclusive: Videos show glimpse into evidence for Syria intervention  —  (CNN) — Men sprawled on a tile floor, shirtless and convulsing.  Children, too, seemingly unable to control their shaking and flailing.  Panic and screams in the background.  —  These are some of the hard …

Rodman, Leaving North Korea, Assails Obama on U.S. Captive  —  HONG KONG — The former basketball star Dennis Rodman left North Korea on Saturday after visiting with the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, and unleashed an expletive-laced tirade while rejecting calls that he push for the release …

Tokyo selected to host 2020 Summer Olympics  —  In seven years, all eyes will be on Tokyo.  —  The International Olympic Committee voted to send the 2020 Summer Olympics to the Japanese capital on Saturday.  —  The city beat out Madrid and Istanbul to host the international sporting games.

John McCain: ‘Maybe We Should Legalize’ Marijuana  —  Tim Steller, a columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, reported over Twitter from a town hall in Tucson, Ariz. that McCain cited the “will of the people” in expressing an openness to legalization: … The Justice Department announced …