US-Russian crew blasts off for space station

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• US-Russian crew blasts off for space station
• Points has an old putter and takes early lead
• S&P 500 closes at a record high, beating '07 mark
• Palestinian journalist jailed for Abbas photo
• Washington man killed in shootout after standoff
• NBA: Referees missed foul on Kobe vs 'Wolves
• GOP moves to plug technology gap with Democrats
• NYC appeals ruling striking down soda size limit
• Russia's Putin calls NGO inspections "routine"
• Iran, NKorea try to block arms trade treaty
• Man accused of using fake penis for drug test
• 40 years on, Vietnam troop withdrawal remembered
• Right-to-work law in effect, but workers must wait
• Boston mayor announces he won't seek re-election
• Iran, NKorea block arms trade treaty
• Budget cuts could slow commercial space progress
• AP source: Barbara Walters to retire next year
• HIV test urged for 7,000 Oklahoma dental patients
• Mortar kills 15 at Damascus University, Syria says
• France to tax companies 75 pct on $1.3M salaries
• Newtown gunman had access to huge weapons cache
• Google to deliver goods to online shoppers
• Sharapova reaches Key Biscayne final for 5th time
• UN authorizes intervention force for Congo
• Italy's center-left leader fails to form govt
• Pope washes feet of young detainees in ritual
• Mortar shells strike Damascus, killing at least 10
• Heat start to move on after streak ends
• Pa. police: Ex-trooper kills wife, self in market
• Solar plane plans stops in Phoenix, Dallas, NYC
• Police identify 2 dead in Pa. supermarket shooting
• Putin: Raids on NGOs are to check foreign funding
• Neither party has cash for student loan rate fix
• Hagel: B-2s not intended to provoke North Korea
• Eyeballs found in KC gas station trash not human
• Top Islamist accuses opposition of sowing unrest
• Oil rises above $97, natural gas falls back
• Italy president to hold new talks with parties Friday
• Charlie Daniels has successful pacemaker surgery
• Attempt to end Italy crisis fails, president mulls next move

US-Russian crew blasts off for space station Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:50 PM PDT BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) — A Russian spacecraft carrying a three-man crew blasted off from a launch pad in the steppes of Kazakhstan, for the first time taking a shorter path to the International Space Station.

Points has an old putter and takes early lead Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:49 PM PDT HUMBLE, Texas (AP) — The putter D.A. Points once took from his mother paid off nicely for him Thursday in the Houston Open.

S&P 500 closes at a record high, beating '07 mark Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:49 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — For the second time in less than a month, the American stock market marched past another milepost on its long, turbulent journey back from the Great Recession, toppling another record left over from the days before government bailouts and failing investment banks.

Palestinian journalist jailed for Abbas photo Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:48 PM PDT RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — A West Bank appeals court on Thursday upheld a one-year prison term for a Palestinian journalist who had a photo on his Facebook page that authorities claimed portrayed President Mahmoud Abbas as a traitor, rights activists said.

Washington man killed in shootout after standoff Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:45 PM PDT HOQUIAM, Wash. (AP) — A 20-hour standoff between police in a Washington coastal town and a man who wounded an officer trying to arrest him on a warrant ended Thursday when the suspect died in a gunbattle with a SWAT team as his house went up in flames.

NBA: Referees missed foul on Kobe vs 'Wolves Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:45 PM PDT MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Everyone in the Timberwolves locker room on Wednesday night believed Kobe Bryant got away with a foul that allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to hold on to a much-needed victory in Minnesota.

GOP moves to plug technology gap with Democrats Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:44 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Embarrassed by how the last presidential election exposed their yesteryear technology, Republicans are turning to a younger generation of tech-savvy social media experts and software designers to improve communications with voters, predict their behavior and track opponents more vigorously.

NYC appeals ruling striking down soda size limit Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:42 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — New York City is asking appeals judges to reinstate a ban on supersized sodas and other sugary drinks, which was struck down by a Manhattan judge the day before it was to go into effect.

Russia's Putin calls NGO inspections "routine" Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:41 PM PDT By Gabriela Baczynska and Denis Dyomkin MOSCOW/SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday dismissed criticism of state inspections of non-governmental organizations, saying the office searches that have prompted charges of harassment and caused concern in the West are routine. Rights activists say a wave of inspections at hundreds of NGO offices in recent weeks are aimed at scaring them into registering as "foreign agents" and silencing criticism of Putin, a former KGB spy now in his third term at the Kremlin. ...

Iran, NKorea try to block arms trade treaty Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:40 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The chair has suspended a U.N. meeting after Iran and North Korea said they would block adoption of a treaty that would regulate the multimillion-dollar international arms trade.

Man accused of using fake penis for drug test Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:38 PM PDT ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — A St. Louis-area man is facing criminal charges alleging that he used a prosthetic penis to try to pass a drug test.

40 years on, Vietnam troop withdrawal remembered Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:35 PM PDT Forty years ago, soldiers returning from Vietnam were advised to change into civilian clothes on their flights home because of fears they would be accosted by protesters after they landed. For a Vietnamese businessman who helped the U.S. government, a rising sense of panic set in as the last combat troops left the country on March 29, 1973 and he began to contemplate what he'd do next. A North Vietnamese soldier who heard about the withdrawal felt emboldened to continue his push on the battlefields of southern Vietnam.

Right-to-work law in effect, but workers must wait Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:33 PM PDT LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A right-to-work law may be on the books in Michigan, which has the nation's seventh-highest percentage of unionized workers. But those considering opting out of paying dues or fees will have to wait months — in some cases, years — to do so.

Boston mayor announces he won't seek re-election Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:28 PM PDT BOSTON (AP) — Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has announced he won't seek re-election to an unprecedented sixth term after nearly two decades in office.

Iran, NKorea block arms trade treaty Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:25 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iran and North Korea have blocked adoption of a global treaty that would regulate the multimillion-dollar international arms trade.

Budget cuts could slow commercial space progress Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:20 PM PDT LOS ANGELES (AP) — The head of NASA says federal spending cuts could eventually slow progress on commercial efforts to fly to space.

AP source: Barbara Walters to retire next year Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:19 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Barbara Walters plans to retire next year, ending a television career that made her a trailblazer in news and daytime TV.

HIV test urged for 7,000 Oklahoma dental patients Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:19 PM PDT TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Health officials Thursday urged 7,000 patients of an Oklahoma dentist to seek medical tests for hepatitis or the virus that causes AIDS after discovering that instruments weren't properly cleaned despite the doctor's knowing that several of his patients carried infectious diseases.

Mortar kills 15 at Damascus University, Syria says Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:16 PM PDT By Oliver Holmes and Hamdi Istanbullu BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Fifteen Syrian students were killed when rebel mortar shells hit a Damascus University canteen on Thursday, state-run news agency SANA said, as attacks intensified in the center of the capital. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitoring group, said a mortar killed 13 people at the university, without saying who fired the bombs. Other activists confirmed the attack but no opposition group has denied or claimed responsibility. ...

France to tax companies 75 pct on $1.3M salaries Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:14 PM PDT PARIS (AP) — President Francois Hollande says that companies that pay their employees more than 1 million euros ($1.3 million) will see their tax bill on those salaries rise to 75 percent.

Newtown gunman had access to huge weapons cache Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:14 PM PDT NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — When Adam Lanza walked out of his house for the last time, he left behind firearms and knives and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition — taking only four guns. They would suffice.

Google to deliver goods to online shoppers Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:10 PM PDT SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Internet search leader Google is taking another step beyond information retrieval into grocery delivery.

Sharapova reaches Key Biscayne final for 5th time Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:08 PM PDT KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) — Maria Sharapova swept the first 10 points Thursday, then hardly let up from there. If she can keep it going for one more round, she'll finally have that elusive Sony Open title.

UN authorizes intervention force for Congo Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:07 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council authorized a new "intervention brigade" for Congo on Thursday with an unprecedented mandate to take military action against rebel groups to help bring peace to the country's conflict-wracked east.

Italy's center-left leader fails to form govt Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:06 PM PDT MILAN (AP) — Italy remained in political gridlock Thursday after the center-left leader announced he had failed to form a government.

Pope washes feet of young detainees in ritual Posted: 28 Mar 2013 01:06 PM PDT ROME (AP) — Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of a dozen inmates at a juvenile detention center in a Holy Thursday ritual that he celebrated for years as archbishop and is continuing now that he is pope. Two of the 12 were young women, a remarkable choice given that the church's current liturgical law says only men should participate.

Mortar shells strike Damascus, killing at least 10 Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:54 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Mortar shells crashed into an outdoor cafe at Damascus University on Thursday, killing at least 10 students in the deadliest of a rising number of mortar attacks in the heart of the Syrian capital.

Heat start to move on after streak ends Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:54 PM PDT Their winning streak finally over, the Miami Heat did on Thursday what they had planned to do all along.

Pa. police: Ex-trooper kills wife, self in market Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:52 PM PDT A former state trooper killed his estranged wife with a shotgun inside a central Pennsylvania supermarket Thursday and then killed himself, days after she filed for divorce and two months after he was accused of beating her, police said.

Solar plane plans stops in Phoenix, Dallas, NYC Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:51 PM PDT MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — A solar-powered plane that has wowed aviation fans in Europe is set to travel across the United States with stops in Phoenix, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and New York, organizers of the trip announced Thursday.

Police identify 2 dead in Pa. supermarket shooting Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:48 PM PDT PHILIPSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania State Police say they believe a retired trooper killed his wife with a shotgun inside a supermarket and then himself two days after she filed for divorce.

Putin: Raids on NGOs are to check foreign funding Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:39 PM PDT MOSCOW (AP) — Russian authorities are raiding non-governmental organizations to make sure they comply with a law intended to stem foreign meddling in Russian politics, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

Neither party has cash for student loan rate fix Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:38 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Incoming college freshmen could end up paying $5,000 more for the same student loans their older siblings have if Congress doesn't stop interest rates from doubling.

Hagel: B-2s not intended to provoke North Korea Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:38 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the addition of nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers to military drills with South Korea was part of normal exercises and not intended to provoke a reaction from North Korea.

Eyeballs found in KC gas station trash not human Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:37 PM PDT KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police say a pair of eyeballs found in a medical box in a Kansas City gas station's trash bin aren't human.

Top Islamist accuses opposition of sowing unrest Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:24 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — A leading Islamist politician accused opponents on Thursday of teaming up with remnants of Hosni Mubarak's toppled regime to sow unrest and violence.

Oil rises above $97, natural gas falls back Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:21 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil rose above $97 a barrel Thursday for the first time in five weeks, boosted by gains in U.S. stock markets and more signs of a strengthening economy.

Italy president to hold new talks with parties Friday Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:13 PM PDT ROME (Reuters) - President Giorgio Napolitano will hold a new round of talks with Italy's political parties on Friday to try to form a government after last month's inconclusive elections, the president's office said. The statement came after center-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani said on Thursday that his week-long attempt to find cross-party support for an administration had not produced results. Napolitano's talks will begin at 1000 GMT and will be completed before the end of the day, a spokesman for the president said. ...

Charlie Daniels has successful pacemaker surgery Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:11 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — A representative for Charlie Daniels says the 76-year-old country singer is recovering after having a pacemaker implanted Thursday.

Attempt to end Italy crisis fails, president mulls next move Posted: 28 Mar 2013 12:09 PM PDT By James Mackenzie and Barry Moody ROME (Reuters) - Center-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani has failed in his attempt to find a way out of Italy's intractable political crisis and President Giorgio Napolitano will now try to find another solution, the president's palace said on Thursday. Bersani reported back to Napolitano on Thursday night after being given a mandate almost a week ago to see if there was a way to form a government after an inconclusive election in February which plunged Italy into deadlock. ...

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