Myanmar pardons political offenders

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• Myanmar pardons political offenders
• Utah asks Supreme Court to block same-sex unions
• Jets' Rex, Idzik show unified front into offseason
• Millsap's effort leads NBA Hawks in slim win at Boston
• Mexico subway dig turns up unusual Aztec offering
• US stocks cap stunning year with fresh records
• Revelers welcome 2014 with huge fireworks displays
• Obama ringing in new year in low-key fashion
• Dubai dazzles in global 2014 party
• US stocks move higher on the last day of 2013
• South Sudan government, rebels set for New Year's Day talks
• Oil ends the year at $98 a barrel
• Putin vows to annihilate "terrorists" after suicide bombings
• Egypt seizes Brotherhood, Islamist leaders' assets
• 'Murder, She Wrote' star Angela Lansbury honored
• Revelers usher in 2014 with fireworks, festivities
• MSNBC host apologizes for jokes about Romney baby
• All-clear coming for ND town near oil train derail
• Obama's tarnished health care law at a crossroads
• Egypt security forces arrest Brotherhood leader's son
• Evacuation orders lifted in Casselton after North Dakota derailment
• Pot, guns and paparazzi: New laws run gamut in US
• Putin breaks tradition, gives 2 New Year's talks
• Millsap's 34 leads Hawks in 92-91 win vs Celtics
• Iran says nuclear deal to be implemented in late January
• Kerry to push for solutions as Israeli-Palestinian peace talks intensify
• Murder-suicide possible in 4 deaths at Calif. home
• Football leads NBC to ratings win
• Abbas warns of legal action on Israel settlements before Kerry visit
• No. 3 Ohio St. pulls away from Purdue 78-69
• S.Sudan rebel chief sends peace envoys but still fighting
• Apple says never worked with NSA on iPhone backdoors
• NHL hopes bigger makes the Winter Classic better
• Astros agree to deal with reliever Jesse Crain
• US frees last 3 Uighur prisoners from Guantanamo
• The top 10 songs and albums on the iTunes Store
• The top iPhone and iPad apps on App Store
• Early Lagerfeld designs up for auction in Florida
• Machinists chief once called pensions 'sacred'
• Spotify's Top 10 most streamed tracks

Myanmar pardons political offenders Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar freed five prisoners Tuesday and more are expected to be released next week as part of a pledge by the country's president to free all political prisoners by the end of 2013.

Utah asks Supreme Court to block same-sex unions Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:27 PM PST SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah took its fight against gay marriage to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking the high court to suspend same-sex unions that became legal when a judge struck down the state's voter-approved ban.

Jets' Rex, Idzik show unified front into offseason Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:26 PM PST FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Rex Ryan and John Idzik were all smiles, laughing a few times while wrapping up the New York Jets' season and looking to the future.

Millsap's effort leads NBA Hawks in slim win at Boston Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:26 PM PST Paul Millsap scored 34 points and grabbed 15 rebounds Tuesday to lead the Atlanta Hawks over the Boston Celtics 92-91 in an NBA matchup. The Hawks, one of only three teams in the Eastern Conference with winning records, improved to 18-14. They are 2-1 since Al Horford was lost for the season with a torn right pectoral. Since Horford's departure, Millsap has stepped up with an average of 28 points and 11.7 rebounds a game.

Mexico subway dig turns up unusual Aztec offering Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:26 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Archaeologists announced Tuesday that excavations for a Mexico City subway extension have turned up what appears to be an unusual Aztec offering: a dog's skull with holes that indicate it was displayed on a ritual skull rack normally reserved for human sacrifice victims.

US stocks cap stunning year with fresh records Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:24 PM PST New York (AFP) - US stock markets rang out 2013's final session Tuesday with new record closes for both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500.

Revelers welcome 2014 with huge fireworks displays Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:20 PM PST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — With fireworks, dancing and late-night revelry, millions around the world welcomed 2014 on Tuesday, gathering for huge displays of jubilation and unity as the new year arrived.

Obama ringing in new year in low-key fashion Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:17 PM PST HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama is closing out a difficult year in low-key fashion, with hopes for better results to come in 2014, particularly for his troubled health care law.

Dubai dazzles in global 2014 party Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:15 PM PST Dubai attempted to smash the fireworks world record as it ushered in 2014 with a bang, as a wave of pyrotechnics swept around the globe to celebrate the New Year. The Middle East hub was hoping to break the Guinness World Record for the largest-ever display, pledging to set off more than 400,000 fireworks. To the strains of Arabic pop music, the five-minute thundering display filled the skies above the United Arab Emirates' main city. Fireworks shot off the Opera House for the first time in more than 10 years as part of the extravaganza, focused on the Harbour Bridge.

US stocks move higher on the last day of 2013 Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:15 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The Standard & Poor's 500 index is closing out its best year since 1997 as traders wrap up a record-setting year on Wall Street.

South Sudan government, rebels set for New Year's Day talks Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:11 PM PST By Carl Odera and Aaron Maasho JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan's government and rebels are set for New Year's Day peace talks in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, to thrash out a ceasefire to end weeks of ethnic bloodletting in the world's newest state. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday, mediators said, but fighting between government troops and militias loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar raged in Bor, the capital of the vast Jonglei state and site of an ethnic massacre in 1991. "I'm worried that the continued fighting in Bor might scupper the start of these talks," said Ethiopian Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom, who is chairman of the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) bloc that is mediating the talks. Western and regional powers have pushed both sides to end the fighting that has killed at least 1,000 people, cut South Sudan's oil output and raised fears of a full-blown civil war in the heart of a fragile region.

Oil ends the year at $98 a barrel Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:11 PM PST The price of oil retreated from its recent high to end the year at $98.42 Tuesday.

Putin vows to annihilate "terrorists" after suicide bombings Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:11 PM PST By Sergei Karpov VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday vowed to annihilate all "terrorists" following two deadly bomb attacks in the southern Russian city of Volgograd that raised security fears ahead of the Winter Olympics. The uncompromising remarks in a televised New Year address were Putin's first public comments since suicide bombers killed at least 34 people in attacks less than 24 hours apart on a railway station and a trolleybus on Sunday and Monday. But after two decades of violence in the North Caucasus, Islamist militants continue to pose a threat beyond their home region. Russia's Olympic Committee chief said no more could be done to safeguard the Games since every measure possible was already in place around Sochi, beneath the Caucasus mountains.

Egypt seizes Brotherhood, Islamist leaders' assets Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:09 PM PST CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's interim government has ordered the assets of more than 500 Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist leaders seized - including those of the country's ousted president — as part of an ever-tightening crackdown on the group, senior judicial and security officials said Tuesday.

'Murder, She Wrote' star Angela Lansbury honored Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:08 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Honor, She Got.

Revelers usher in 2014 with fireworks, festivities Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:07 PM PST By Victoria Cavaliere NEW YORK (Reuters) - From Sydney to Dubai, revelers welcomed 2014 with extravagant fireworks displays, while London prepared to celebrate by spraying clouds of fruit-flavored mist and Chicago and San Francisco planned massive outdoor celebrations. In New York, about one million people were expected to gather in Times Square for the New Year's Eve street party as Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge and hip-hop artists Macklemore & Ryan Lewis headline the festivities and the dropping of a 11,875-pound, crystal-encrusted ball marks the start of 2014. "If New York can drop a ball... then we can lower the opossum," organizers explained on their website. Chicago, which could see a significant snow storm amid its flurry of festivities, was offering free rides on trains and buses from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to ensure revelers make it home safely.

MSNBC host apologizes for jokes about Romney baby Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:03 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — An MSNBC host is apologizing to Mitt Romney's family after she and guests on her show joked about a Christmas picture that showed the 2012 Republican presidential candidate's adopted, African-American grandson.

All-clear coming for ND town near oil train derail Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:03 PM PST CASSELTON, N.D. (AP) — A southeastern North Dakota town narrowly escaped tragedy when a train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded nearby, the mayor said Tuesday, calling for changes in how the fuel is transported across the U.S.

Obama's tarnished health care law at a crossroads Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:58 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — All things good, bad and unpredictable converge with the new year for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul as the law's major benefits take effect, along with an unpopular insurance mandate and a risk of more nerve-wracking disruptions to coverage.

Egypt security forces arrest Brotherhood leader's son Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:56 PM PST By Asma Alsharif CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian security forces have arrested the son of a Muslim Brotherhood leader on charges of inciting violence, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday, the latest move in a crackdown against the group now branded a terrorist organization. Anas Beltagi was arrested with two others in an apartment in Nasr City, the same district where security forces in August broke up protests calling for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Mursi, a Muslim Brotherhood leader who was ousted by the army in July. They were found in possession of a shotgun and ammunition, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Beltagi's father, Mohamed Beltagi, is in jail facing trial for inciting violence along with other Muslim Brotherhood leaders.

Evacuation orders lifted in Casselton after North Dakota derailment Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:51 PM PST Emergency responders lifted mandatory evacuation orders on Tuesday afternoon in Casselton, North Dakota, where a BNSF train carrying oil collided with another on Monday setting off a series of blasts and a fire that is still raging. "The environment within the city limits of Casselton is now safe for residents to return to their homes," the emergency responders said in a statement. One or two of the train cars carrying oil was still burning, said Casselton Mayor Ed McConnell. One of the trains was carrying oil from the Bakken shale in North Dakota.

Pot, guns and paparazzi: New laws run gamut in US Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:51 PM PST The new year is bringing a host of new laws taking effect in January or thereabouts. A look at some state and local laws that are making news:

Putin breaks tradition, gives 2 New Year's talks Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:51 PM PST MOSCOW (AP) — Vladimir Putin has added a twist to the stolid ritual of Russian presidential New Year's Eve address by doing two versions this year.

Millsap's 34 leads Hawks in 92-91 win vs Celtics Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:51 PM PST BOSTON (AP) — Paul Millsap had season highs with 34 points and 15 rebounds and the Atlanta Hawks rallied for a 92-91 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday afternoon.

Iran says nuclear deal to be implemented in late January Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:50 PM PST By Marcus George DUBAI (Reuters) - World powers and Iran have agreed to start implementing in late January an agreement obliging Tehran to suspend its most sensitive nuclear work, an Iranian official was quoted as saying on Tuesday. There was no immediate confirmation of the agreement from the six powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - or the European Union, which oversees contacts with Iran on behalf of the six. The reported agreement follows nearly 23 hours of talks between nuclear experts from Iran and the six powers held in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday.

Kerry to push for solutions as Israeli-Palestinian peace talks intensify Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:48 PM PST By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hopes to narrow differences between Israelis and Palestinians in peace talks this week that are intended to guide the sides toward a deal in April, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday. Kerry departs for the region on Wednesday in his first trip after a Christmas break. Israel and Palestinians resumed peace talks in July after a three-year break aimed at producing a peace agreement within nine months to end their decades-old conflict. Such a step would also demonstrate to both Israelis and Palestinians that progress is being made.

Murder-suicide possible in 4 deaths at Calif. home Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:46 PM PST FONTANA, Calif. (AP) — The investigation into the deaths of two children, a woman and a man in a home indicates a possible murder-suicide, a police spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Football leads NBC to ratings win Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:46 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Football proved a dependable draw during a quiet week in television over the Christmas holiday.

Abbas warns of legal action on Israel settlements before Kerry visit Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:42 PM PST Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas warned Tuesday of legal and diplomatic action to stop Israeli settlement expansion, on the eve of a new peace mission by US Secretary of State John Kerry. Abbas's warning came after Israel freed 26 prisoners earlier in the day, as part of US-brokered peace talks, which Kerry hopes to reinvigorate during his visit. The release prompted celebration among Palestinians, who welcomed the prisoners back into the West Bank and Gaza Strip after they had spent two to three decades in Israeli jails. But as Kerry geared up for his 10th visit since March, an anticipated announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of further settlement construction looked set to cast a new cloud over the talks.

No. 3 Ohio St. pulls away from Purdue 78-69 Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:38 PM PST WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — LaQuinton Ross had 25 points and 12 rebounds, both career bests, and Shannon Scott added a career-high 18 points to lead No. 3 Ohio State to a 78-69 victory Tuesday at Purdue.

S.Sudan rebel chief sends peace envoys but still fighting Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:37 PM PST South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar agreed to send envoys to peace negotiations in Ethiopia Tuesday, but rejected face-to-face talks with President Salva Kiir, warning that his forces would continue to fight. As the United Nations condemned "in the strongest possible terms" atrocities committed against innocent civilians, former vice president Machar said his troops were still marching on the capital after claiming to have recaptured a key town. "Our forces are still marching on Juba, there is no cessation of hostilities yet," Machar told AFP via satellite telephone from an undisclosed location inside South Sudan. The United States, which was a key backer of South Sudan's independence struggle, said the sending of negotiators was an "important first step".

Apple says never worked with NSA on iPhone backdoors Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:37 PM PST Apple Inc has never worked with the U.S. National Security Agency and is unaware of efforts to target its smartphones, the company said in response to reports that the spy agency had developed a system to hack into and monitor iPhones. Germany's Der Spiegel reported this week that a secretive unit of the NSA, which is under fire for the extent and depth of its spying programs around the world, makes specialized gear and software to infiltrate and monitor a plethora of computing devices, including mobile phones. (http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-941262.html) The report included an NSA graphic dated 2008 that outlined a system in development called DROPOUTJEEP, described as a "software implant" that allows infiltrators to push and pull and retrieve data from iPhones such as contact lists. In a statement issued Tuesday, the NSA did not comment on any specific allegations but said that its interest "in any given technology is driven by the use of that technology by foreign intelligence targets." "The United States pursues its intelligence mission with care to ensure that innocent users of those same technologies are not affected," the agency added.

NHL hopes bigger makes the Winter Classic better Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:34 PM PST ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The NHL is hoping bigger is better at its Winter Classic.

Astros agree to deal with reliever Jesse Crain Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:29 PM PST HOUSTON (AP) — All-Star free-agent reliever Jesse Crain has agreed to a one-year deal with the Houston Astros.

US frees last 3 Uighur prisoners from Guantanamo Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:27 PM PST MIAMI (AP) — Three members of a persecuted ethnic minority from China have been released from Guantanamo Bay and sent to the Central European country of Slovakia, officials said Tuesday, resolving a diplomatic dilemma that had kept the men imprisoned long after a judge had ordered their release.

The top 10 songs and albums on the iTunes Store Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:27 PM PST iTunes' Official Music Charts for the week ending Dec. 30, 2013:

The top iPhone and iPad apps on App Store Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:24 PM PST App Store Official Charts for the week ending Dec. 30, 2013:

Early Lagerfeld designs up for auction in Florida Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:23 PM PST WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Half a century after Karl Lagerfeld first drew her in a blue tunic and a plaid, buckled coat, the woman in a fashion sketch for the House of Tiziani still seems ready to saunter off the page and into the street.

Machinists chief once called pensions 'sacred' Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:20 PM PST SEATTLE (AP) — The national union chief who has forced a vote on a pension-freezing Boeing contract proposal once called those retirement plans sacred and derided alternatives as risky.

Spotify's Top 10 most streamed tracks Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:11 PM PST The following list represents the top streamed tracks on Spotify from Monday, Dec. 23, to Sunday Dec. 29:

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2013 ends with 2 old Broadway favorites on top

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• 2013 ends with 2 old Broadway favorites on top
• Spurs' Parker apologizes for 'quenelle' gesture
• Russia on alert after suicide bombings kill 31
• Authors Guild appeals ruling in Google Books case
• First flight from Key West to Cuba takes off
• Uganda says region ready to take on, defeat South Sudan rebel leader
• Kerry to offer outline of Mideast peace deal
• Even Obama dogs jump through hoops to enter Hawaii
• Ariz. woman accused of trying to poison children
• Venezuela inflation data questioned by economists
• Redskins fire coach Shanahan after 3-13 season
• Privacy advocate exposes NSA spy gear at gathering
• Schumacher fighting for life after France ski accident
• Bucs fire coach Greg Schiano, GM Mark Dominik
• 5 NFL coaches already fired
• NFL says refs' blunder helped Chargers make playoffs
• Home electricity use in US falling to 2001 levels
• Stocks are flat in quiet end-of-year trading
• Vegas' New Year's Eve about big names, big bashes
• Uganda warns South Sudan rebel leader
• Second suicide bomber in Russia's Volgograd kills 14 on bus
• Clashes kill 10 as Iraq forces clear Sunni protest camp
• South Sudan says battling 'White Army' near flashpoint town
• Browns vow to 'get it right' with next coach
• DR Congo security forces repel attacks, kill at least 70
• US eyeing Olympic security after Russia attacks
• Al Jazeera says four journalists held in Egypt after hotel broadcast
• Britons less inclined to pay down mortgage debt
• Speedskater Theresa Cliff-Ryan injured at practice
• Probe: No foul play in death of WWII Polish leader
• Proud Giants sticking with Coughlin after 7-9 year
• Parker apologizes for past use of controversial gesture
• Fighting erupts as Iraq police break up Sunni protest camp
• Israel likes a party but is torn about New Year's
• Lawsuit against Calder's art dealer dismissed
• Wells Fargo agrees to $541 million loan settlement
• NFL says officials erred on KC's missed field goal
• Hacker pulls curtain back on NSA spy gear
• Bobbleheads honor Supreme Court justices

2013 ends with 2 old Broadway favorites on top Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:52 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway's highest grossing show in 2013 wasn't a new strutting musical or a bawdy one or even one with a big star. The crown goes to a regal but gray performer — "The Lion King," now in its 16th year. And another veteran turned heads when "Wicked" recorded Broadway's highest single-week gross ever.

Spurs' Parker apologizes for 'quenelle' gesture Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:48 PM PST SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker apologized Monday for a newly surfaced photograph that shows him making the same gesture with anti-Semitic connotations that French soccer star Nicolas Anelka displayed while celebrating a goal this weekend, creating an uproar in their home country.

Russia on alert after suicide bombings kill 31 Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:46 PM PST At least 14 people were killed Monday when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a packed trolleybus in Volgograd, raising new concerns about security at the Sochi Olympics a day after a deadly attack on the southern Russian city's train station. President Vladimir Putin ordered stepped-up security across the country after the trolleybus bombing at the peak of the morning rush and Sunday's suicide attack blamed on a suspected female suicide bomber which claimed 17 lives. The attacks on Volgograd, which until this year had no record of recent unrest, raised alarm about whether the ongoing anti-Kremlin insurgency in the Northern Caucasus could affect the Sochi Winter Games which open on February 7. Health ministry spokesman Oleg Salagai told Russian state television that 14 people were killed and 28 wounded.

Authors Guild appeals ruling in Google Books case Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:46 PM PST The Authors Guild is appealing a US judge's decision in a long-running case that cleared legal obstacles for Google's massive book-scanning project, court documents showed Monday. The group filed a notice of appeal in the case following a November 14 ruling by Federal Judge Denny Chin. Arguments are to be filed at a later date with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. The guild vowed to appeal the case after Chin ruled that Google's project is "fair use" under copyright law because it provides vital educational and other public benefits.

First flight from Key West to Cuba takes off Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:43 PM PST KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — The first commercial passenger flight from Key West to Cuba in more than 50 years landed Monday in Havana, capping several years of efforts to reunite the two islands, though regular air service still appeared a distant prospect.

Uganda says region ready to take on, defeat South Sudan rebel leader Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:42 PM PST By Aaron Maasho and Carl Odera JUBA (Reuters) - Uganda's president said on Monday east African nations had agreed to move in to defeat South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar if he rejected a ceasefire offer, threatening to turn an outburst of ethnic fighting into a regional conflict. Hours after President Yoweri Museveni's ultimatum, rebels and the feared "White Army" militia clashed against government troops just outside Jonglei state capital Bor, officials said. "We gave Riek Machar four days to respond (to the ceasefire offer) and if he doesn't we shall have to go for him, all of us," Museveni told reporters in South Sudan's capital, Juba, referring to a December 31 deadline. He did not spell out whether South Sudan's neighbors had actually agreed to send troops to join the conflict that erupted in Juba on December 15.

Kerry to offer outline of Mideast peace deal Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:41 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry will propose a framework for a final-status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians when he travels to the region this week.

Even Obama dogs jump through hoops to enter Hawaii Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:38 PM PST HONOLULU (AP) — It doesn't matter that they belong to President Barack Obama — first family dogs Bo and Sunny had to go through Hawaii's strict quarantine procedures to travel to the islands for their holiday vacation.

Ariz. woman accused of trying to poison children Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:37 PM PST PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona woman tried to fatally stab her ex-husband and poison her four children with prescription narcotic drugs, including a teenage daughter who was found dead in her home on Christmas Day, police said Monday.

Venezuela inflation data questioned by economists Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:34 PM PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — For three weeks Venezuelan economists have complained that the central bank is delaying delivery of its inflation report to hide the government's poor record of containing prices. Its release on Friday only fueled those suspicions.

Redskins fire coach Shanahan after 3-13 season Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:32 PM PST ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Mike Shanahan's plan to restore order, professionalism and consistent success to the Washington Redskins disintegrated quickly in 2013, costing him his job Monday a day after the team finished a 3-13 season.

Privacy advocate exposes NSA spy gear at gathering Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:30 PM PST LONDON (AP) — A well-known privacy advocate has given the public an unusually explicit peek into the intelligence world's tool box, pulling back the curtain on the National Security Agency's arsenal of high-tech spy gear.

Schumacher fighting for life after France ski accident Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:29 PM PST Grenoble (France) (AFP) - Michael Schumacher, the greatest champion in the history of Formula One, was in a coma fighting for his life on Monday after sustaining serious head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps. News of the accident stunned the Formula One community and racing stars joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel and legions of fans in expressing their hopes for his recovery. Doctors at the hospital in the southeastern city of Grenoble where Schumacher is being treated said on Monday their famous patient was fighting for his life. "He is in critical condition, his condition can be described as life threatening," Jean-Francois Payen, head of the intensive care unit, told reporters.

Bucs fire coach Greg Schiano, GM Mark Dominik Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:29 PM PST TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are changing directions on their rebuilding project — again.

5 NFL coaches already fired Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:22 PM PST It didn't take long.

NFL says refs' blunder helped Chargers make playoffs Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:21 PM PST An officiating blunder helped decide the final American Conference playoff spot, the NFL admitted in a statement Monday. A four-month quest for a playoff berth came down to the final seconds of the last regular-season game for the San Diego Chargers, who needed a win or draw with Kansas City to qualify or lose the spot to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter on Sunday at San Diego, the Chiefs' Ryan Succop attempted a 41-yard field goal that went wide of the left upright. But the Chargers' defensive unit lined up improperly on the play, video evidence showed after the game, although the violation went unnoticed on the field.

Home electricity use in US falling to 2001 levels Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:14 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The average amount of electricity consumed in U.S. homes has fallen to levels last seen more than a decade ago, back when the smartest device in people's pockets was a Palm pilot and anyone talking about a tablet was probably an archaeologist or a preacher.

Stocks are flat in quiet end-of-year trading Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:13 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks remained mostly flat in late-afternoon trading Monday as investors closed out their positions for what has been a year for the history books on Wall Street.

Vegas' New Year's Eve about big names, big bashes Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:13 PM PST LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sin City is set to ring in 2014 with big-name concerts, celebrity-hosted parties and an eight-minute rooftop fireworks display billed as the nation's largest.

Uganda warns South Sudan rebel leader Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:13 PM PST JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Uganda's president on Monday warned South Sudan's rebel leader against rejecting the government's offer of a cease-fire, saying regional leaders would unite to "defeat" the former vice president who is accused of mounting a failed coup in the world's newest country.

Second suicide bomber in Russia's Volgograd kills 14 on bus Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:06 PM PST By Maria Tsvetkova VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) - A bomb ripped a bus apart in Volgograd on Monday, killing 14 people in the second deadly attack blamed on suicide bombers in the southern Russian city in 24 hours and raising fears of Islamist attacks on the Winter Olympics. President Vladimir Putin, who has staked his prestige on February's Sochi Games and dismissed threats from Chechen and other Islamist militants in the nearby North Caucasus, ordered tighter security nationwide after the morning rush-hour blast. The previous day's similar attack killed at least 17 in the main rail station of a city that serves as a gateway to the southern wedge of Russian territory bounded by the Black and Caspian Seas and the Caucasus mountains. Windows in nearby apartments were blown out by the blast, which Russia's foreign ministry condemned as part of a global terrorist campaign.

Clashes kill 10 as Iraq forces clear Sunni protest camp Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:04 PM PST Ramadi (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi forces killed 10 gunmen Monday in clashes that erupted as they cleared a year-old Sunni Arab protest camp, a move likely to fan resentment among the minority community. As the fighting raged, mosques exhorted followers to "go to jihad," or holy war, while gunmen later replaced security forces on some streets of Ramadi city, near the protest site west of Baghdad. Dr Ahmed al-Ani of Ramadi hospital said 10 gunmen were killed and 30 wounded on Monday. An AFP journalist in Ramadi reported heavy fighting, and saw helicopters firing into the area of the protest site, where demonstrators had gathered for more than a year.

South Sudan says battling 'White Army' near flashpoint town Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST South Sudanese troops clashed with ethnic Nuer "White Army" militia and other rebel factions loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar late on Monday near the flashpoint town of Bor, government officials said. "Shootings have taken place just outside, to the north of Bor," Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) spokesman Philip Aguer said by phone from Juba, 190 km (120 miles) south of Bor. Earlier Aguer told Reuters there was fighting in the town. Information Minister Michael Makuei also said SPLA troops clashed with rebels on the edge of the Jonglei state capital.

Browns vow to 'get it right' with next coach Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:55 AM PST BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Browns owner Jimmy Haslam vowed to "get it right" when he hires his next coach.

DR Congo security forces repel attacks, kill at least 70 Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:50 AM PST Congolese security forces repelled a wave of coordinated attacks in the capital Kinshasa and other cities on Monday, in fierce gun battles that left more than 70 assailants and three troops dead, the government said. Armed youths believed to be loyal to a pastor who challenged President Joseph Kabila in elections seven years ago stormed the state television station, the international airport and the military headquarters. "More than 70 attackers were killed, including around 50 in Kinshasa," government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP. "Three of our own were killed in Kinshasa and two civilians were injured," he added.

US eyeing Olympic security after Russia attacks Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:49 AM PST HONOLULU (AP) — The White House says the United States would welcome "closer cooperation" with Russia on security preparations for the Winter Olympics following a pair of deadly attacks that sparked fears about the terrorism threat at the February Games.

Al Jazeera says four journalists held in Egypt after hotel broadcast Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:49 AM PST Four Al Jazeera journalists have been arrested in Egypt, the station said on Monday, after the Interior Ministry accused the Qatar-based channel of broadcasting illegally from a hotel suite with a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Al Jazeera's offices in Cairo have been closed since July 3 when they were raided by security forces hours after the army ousted the Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi from the presidency. Qatar was a strong financial backer of the Brotherhood's rule and its relationship with Cairo has deteriorated in recent months as it vehemently opposes the army's overthrow of Mursi and the crackdown on his movement that has followed. "State security received information that a member of the (Brotherhood) used two suites in a Cairo hotel to hold meetings with other members of the organization and turned the suites into a press center," the ministry said.

Britons less inclined to pay down mortgage debt Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:46 AM PST Britons were less inclined to use savings to pay down mortgage debt in the third quarter, data showed on Monday, adding to signs of improving consumer confidence as house prices rise and the job market recovers. Homeowners put 10.4 billion pounds of equity into their homes in the quarter, the Bank of England figures showed - more than two billion pounds less than in the previous quarter and the lowest since the fourth quarter of 2009.

Speedskater Theresa Cliff-Ryan injured at practice Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:44 AM PST KEARNS, Utah (AP) — Olympic hopeful Theresa Cliff-Ryan was injured Monday when she landed on her head after being struck on the sidelines by a crashing speedskater.

Probe: No foul play in death of WWII Polish leader Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:44 AM PST WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A five-year Polish investigation has found no evidence of foul play in the plane crash that killed Gen. Wladyslaw Sikorski in 1943, when he was serving as Poland's leader in exile during World War II, an official said Monday.

Proud Giants sticking with Coughlin after 7-9 year Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:43 AM PST EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tom Coughlin is returning as Giants coach despite New York missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.

Parker apologizes for past use of controversial gesture Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:41 AM PST NBA star Tony Parker apologized Monday for making a gesture with anti-Semitic overtones in a photograph taken three years ago, which became an issue after French footballer Nicolas Anelka made the same gesture Sunday. West Bromwich Albion striker Anelka made the gesture known as a "quenelle" on Saturday during a 3-3 English Premier League draw at West Ham United.

Fighting erupts as Iraq police break up Sunni protest camp Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:26 AM PST By Kamal Namaa RAMADI, Iraq (Reuters) - Fighting erupted when Iraqi police broke up a Sunni Muslim protest camp in the western Anbar province on Monday, leaving at least 13 people dead, police and medical sources said. The camp has been an irritant to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite Muslim-led government since Sunni protesters set it up a year ago to demonstrate against what they see as marginalization of their sect. The operation triggered an immediate political backlash as dozens of Sunni lawmakers offered their resignations. Maliki, who is seeking a third term in April's elections, has repeatedly vowed to remove the camp and accused protesters of stirring strife and sheltering al Qaeda-linked militants.

Israel likes a party but is torn about New Year's Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:20 AM PST JERUSALEM (AP) — Happy New Year? Not so fast, if you're in Israel, where the somber, soul-searching and autumnal new year of the lunar Jewish calendar overshadows the Gregorian's Jan. 1.

Lawsuit against Calder's art dealer dismissed Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:20 AM PST NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has dismissed a $20 million fraud lawsuit brought by heirs of sculptor Alexander Calder against his art dealer's estate.

Wells Fargo agrees to $541 million loan settlement Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:19 AM PST Wells Fargo & Co will pay a net $541 million to Fannie Mae to settle claims over defective home loans, completing the government-controlled mortgage company's efforts to have banks buy back troubled loans made before the financial crisis. Fannie Mae said on Monday it has reached settlements worth roughly $6.5 billion over loan buybacks with eight banks, including Wells Fargo, the nation's largest mortgage lender and fourth-largest bank by assets. The settlements include a $3.6 billion accord in January with Bank of America Corp over loans from that bank and the former Countrywide Financial Corp. Fannie Mae Chief Executive Timothy Mayopoulos was once general counsel at Bank of America. It also includes a $968 million accord in July with Citigroup Inc. In the Wells Fargo settlement, the San Francisco-based bank will pay Fannie Mae $541 million in cash after adjusting for credits from prior repurchases.

NFL says officials erred on KC's missed field goal Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:15 AM PST SAN DIEGO (AP) — The NFL acknowledged that referees erred in not penalizing the San Diego Chargers for an illegal formation on a missed 41-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Succop of the Kansas City Chiefs with four seconds left in regulation on Sunday.

Hacker pulls curtain back on NSA spy gear Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:15 AM PST LONDON (AP) — A well-known privacy advocate has given the public an unusually explicit peek into the intelligence world's tool box, pulling back the curtain on the National Security Agency's arsenal of high-tech spy gear.

Bobbleheads honor Supreme Court justices Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:13 AM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — They are some of the rarest bobblehead dolls ever produced. They're released erratically. They're given away for free, not sold. And if you get a certificate to claim one, you have to redeem it at a Washington, DC, law office.

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