CEO of company in Va governor's scandal steps down

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• CEO of company in Va governor's scandal steps down
• Hollywood poised for best-ever box-office year
• Oil closes above $100 on upbeat economic outlook
• 1.3 million losing unemployment benefits Saturday
• India seeks possible US tax violations as stand hardens in row
• Wild Oats XI extends lead in Sydney to Hobart
• Britney Spears begins long-term Las Vegas gig
• Police: 4 dead after La. shootings, 3 injured
• Police release documents on Newtown massacre
• California man pleads guilty to terror count
• White House: Expiration of jobless benefits a blow
• Cleaning up homes with meth labs growing industry
• Beirut car bomb kills Lebanese critic of Syria
• Gambler rewards man who returned $300K left in cab
• Target: Customers' encrypted PINs were stolen
• Times Square's crystal ball gets gleaming new skin
• Israel plans 1,400 more West Bank settlement homes, official says
• Cowboys' Romo has surgery, out for Eagles finale
• Car bombing kills pro-Western Lebanese politician
• South Sudan government agrees to end hostilities
• Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows
• Target says 'strongly encrypted' data taken in breach
• Turkish riot police clash with demonstrators
• US judge rules NSA phone surveillance lawful
• Pauley, Gumbel to reunite on NBC's 'Today'
• Federal judge rules NSA phone surveillance legal
• Stocks flat on Wall Street in quiet trading
• Turkish protesters clash with police as supporters cheer Erdogan
• South Sudan to free most politicians detained over alleged coup - U.S. envoy
• South Sudan offers olive branch to rebels, releases prisoners
• US boy, 9, is youngest to reach Aconcagua summit
• That health care law, by the numbers
• Protests target Turkish PM assailed by graft scandal
• San Diego sued over stinky sea lion waste
• Associated Press Sports Story of the Year
• Denver gives out recreational pot sales licenses
• Anti-Assad Lebanese ex-minister killed in Beirut bomb
• Clashes across Egypt leave 3 dead, scores injured
• Push to recruit Arab Christians into Israeli army

CEO of company in Va governor's scandal steps down Posted: 27 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A troubled dietary supplement maker in Virginia will start next year off with a new leader after its chief executive stepped down Friday, a shakeup that comes as the company faced a federal investigation, shareholder lawsuits and a scandal involving Virginia's governor.

Hollywood poised for best-ever box-office year Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:54 PM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — Despite a string of summertime flops, Hollywood is expected to have a banner year at the domestic box office, coming in just shy of $11 billion, the largest annual take ever. But because of higher ticket prices, actual attendance at North American theaters remained flat after a decade of decline.

Oil closes above $100 on upbeat economic outlook Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:53 PM PST Oil prices closed above $100 a barrel Friday, the first time it crossed that threshold since October.

1.3 million losing unemployment benefits Saturday Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:52 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 1 million Americans are bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as extended federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt this weekend, with potentially significant implications for the recovering U.S. economy. A tense political battle likely looms when Congress reconvenes in the new, midterm election year.

India seeks possible US tax violations as stand hardens in row Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:46 PM PST By Sanjeev Miglani NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has sought details about staff in American schools in the country for possible tax violations and revoked ID cards of U.S. consular officials and their families, retaliatory steps for the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York. The measures suggest that the two countries are no closer to a resolution of a diplomatic dispute over the treatment of Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade this month on charges of visa fraud and underpayment of her housekeeper. Khobragade, who has denied the charges, was handcuffed and strip-searched while in custody, sparking outrage in India. An Indian government official said on Friday that New Delhi had asked the U.S. embassy to provide details about people working in American schools and other U.S. government facilities to determine if they had permission to do so and if they were paying taxes that are mandatory under Indian law.

Wild Oats XI extends lead in Sydney to Hobart Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:45 PM PST HOBART, Australia (AP) — Defending champion Wild Oats XI extended its lead to 30 nautical miles over fellow super maxi Perpetual Loyal after the second night of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Britney Spears begins long-term Las Vegas gig Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:44 PM PST LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas is getting its newest pop fixture.

Police: 4 dead after La. shootings, 3 injured Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:40 PM PST LOCKPORT, La. (AP) — A nurse embroiled in a custody fight with his ex-wife attacked his former in-laws, his onetime boss at a hospital that fired him and his current wife in a rampage that spanned two parishes in Louisiana, leaving three dead before killing himself, authorities said.

Police release documents on Newtown massacre Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:39 PM PST NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Police in Connecticut released thousands of pages of documents Friday from the investigation into last year's school massacre in Newtown, which could shed additional light on the world of the 20-year-old gunman.

California man pleads guilty to terror count Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:38 PM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California man who used the Internet and Facebook to connect with al-Quaida pleaded guilty Friday to a federal terrorism charge after admitting he attempted to assist al-Qaida by providing weapons training, the U.S. attorney's office said.

White House: Expiration of jobless benefits a blow Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:35 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says the expiration of federal unemployment benefits on Saturday is a blow to the economy and to families.

Cleaning up homes with meth labs growing industry Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:34 PM PST MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A tall man and a slender woman wiggled into their white hazardous materials suits, putting on protective masks and gloves before venturing into the dark, two-story home where police say a methamphetamine lab recently exploded.

Beirut car bomb kills Lebanese critic of Syria Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:33 PM PST A huge car bomb blast in central Beirut Friday killed six people including an influential member of a coalition opposed to the Syrian regime, leaving cars ablaze and buildings wrecked. Tensions have soared in Lebanon since the outbreak of the war in neighbouring Syria, as the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement has sent troops to back the regime while their rivals in the Western-backed March 14 coalition have supported the Sunni-led rebels. State news agency NNA said Mohammad Chatah, 62, was killed in the blast as he headed to a meeting of the March 14 coalition at the mansion of ex-premier Saad Hariri. Hariri's father, billionaire ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, was killed in a massive seafront blast in 2005 just blocks away from Friday's explosion, in an assassination his supporters blamed on Syria.

Gambler rewards man who returned $300K left in cab Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:31 PM PST LAS VEGAS (AP) — A poker player who left a bag with $300,000 in the back seat of a Las Vegas taxi has given $10,000 to the honest cabbie who returned the money.

Target: Customers' encrypted PINs were stolen Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:28 PM PST ATLANTA (AP) — Target said Friday that debit-card PINs were among the financial information stolen from millions of customers who shopped at the retailer earlier this month.

Times Square's crystal ball gets gleaming new skin Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:27 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Electricians working atop a New York City skyscraper on Friday installed the last of the 2,688 crystal triangles that give the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball its shimmer, including a panel dreamt up by a 12-year-old former cancer patient.

Israel plans 1,400 more West Bank settlement homes, official says Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:21 PM PST Israel plans to build 1,400 homes in its settlements in the occupied West Bank and will announce the projects next week after releasing a group of Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli official said on Friday. The Palestinians have said any further expansion of Israeli settlements on land they seek for a state could derail U.S.-brokered peace talks that resumed in July after a three-year break and are set to last until April. The United States said Israel had informed it of plans to release the group of prisoners on December 30, a day later than expected. The release of about two dozen Palestinians, the third group to be freed since the peace talks resumed, is seen by the United States as a vital confidence-building measure.

Cowboys' Romo has surgery, out for Eagles finale Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:21 PM PST IRVING, Texas (AP) — Tony Romo's season is over, and the Dallas Cowboys will have to win without their star quarterback in a third straight playoffs-or-bust finale.

Car bombing kills pro-Western Lebanese politician Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:17 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — A powerful car bomb killed a prominent Lebanese politician critical of Syria and its ally Hezbollah, hitting his SUV Friday as it drove through a ritzy business district near Beirut's waterfront, shredding trees and scattering glass and twisted scraps of metal across the pavement.

South Sudan government agrees to end hostilities Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:17 PM PST JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan's government agreed Friday at a meeting of East African leaders to end hostilities against rebels accused of trying to overthrow the young country, but the cease-fire was quickly thrown into doubt because the head of the rebellion was not invited.

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:15 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows:

Target says 'strongly encrypted' data taken in breach Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:12 PM PST US retailer Target said Friday that hackers obtained "strongly encrypted" data in a recent security breach, but that customer debit cards do not appear to have been compromised. "While we previously shared that encrypted data was obtained, this morning through additional forensics work we were able to confirm that strongly encrypted PIN (personal identification number) data was removed," Target said in an update to the massive breach affecting some 40 million customers. "We remain confident that PIN numbers are safe and secure." Target said the PIN data is encrypted within company systems that can only be decrypted by its "external, independent payment processor." The "key" to decrypt the data is not part of the Target system and could not have been taken, it said.

Turkish riot police clash with demonstrators Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:10 PM PST ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish riot police blasted opposition protesters with water cannons, tear gas and plastic bullets in Istanbul on Friday in scenes reminiscent of the summer's mass anti-government demonstrations.

US judge rules NSA phone surveillance lawful Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:06 PM PST A US judge ruled Friday that the National Security Agency's mass surveillance of telephone calls is lawful, igniting a legal conflict that the Supreme Court may ultimately have to resolve. Federal judge William Pauley in New York threw out a petition from the American Civil Liberties Union and said the program was a vital tool to help prevent an Al-Qaeda terror attack on American soil. Ten days earlier, however, a federal judge in Washington declared that this "almost Orwellian" surveillance is probably unconstitutional, laying the groundwork for a protracted legal fight.

Pauley, Gumbel to reunite on NBC's 'Today' Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:06 PM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — The "Today" show is ending the year on a nostalgic note.

Federal judge rules NSA phone surveillance legal Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:04 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Citing the Sept. 11 attacks, a federal judge ruled Friday that the National Security Agency's bulk collection of millions of Americans' telephone records is legal, a valuable tool in the nation's arsenal to fight terrorism that "only works because it collects everything."

Stocks flat on Wall Street in quiet trading Posted: 27 Dec 2013 12:02 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — An early stock market advance was gone by the early afternoon Friday as the market flattened out after six days of gains.

Turkish protesters clash with police as supporters cheer Erdogan Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:56 AM PST By Orhan Coskun and Ece Toksabay ANKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Protesters demanding Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan resign over a high-level corruption scandal clashed with riot police in Istanbul on Friday, while across the city thousands staged a rival show of support for the embattled leader. Erdogan faces a crisis unprecedented during his 11 years in office due to the scandal that has forced three ministers' resignations and a cabinet reshuffle, as well as destabilizing the Turkish economy whose rapid growth has been a showpiece of his rule. However, Erdogan still enjoys the loyalty of many pious Muslims and members of Turkey's wealthy elite. Police detained dozens of people on December 17, among them the sons of the interior minister and two other cabinet members, after a major graft inquiry that was kept secret from commanders who might have informed the government in advance.

South Sudan to free most politicians detained over alleged coup - U.S. envoy Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:54 AM PST South Sudan will release most of a group of politicians accused by the government of links to a foiled coup plot against President Salva Kiir, the United States envoy to South Sudan and a senior government official said on Friday. "We were very encouraged to hear the president reiterate that with the exception of three of the senior Sudan People's Liberation Movement (party) officials who have been detained...the others will be released very shortly," U.S. Envoy Donald Booth told South Sudan state television. The release of the 11 prominent politicians arrested by the government after violence erupted on December 15 is a key rebel condition for peace talks.

South Sudan offers olive branch to rebels, releases prisoners Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:54 AM PST By Aaron Maasho and Richard Lough JUBA/NAIROBI (Reuters) - South Sudan said on Friday it was ready for a ceasefire and would release eight of 11 senior politicians arrested over an alleged coup plot, raising hopes it was edging towards a deal to end ethnic-based fighting ravaging the world's newest nation. There was no immediate reaction from Riek Machar, the former vice president who the government accuses of starting the conflict that has spread quickly over the landlocked state, threatening its vital oil industry. Fighting between rival groups of soldiers erupted in the capital Juba on December 15, then triggered clashes in half of South Sudan's 10 states - often along ethnic lines, between Machar's group, the Nuer, and President Salva Kiir's Dinka. The release of eight of the 11 people detained in the aftermath of the fighting suggests South Sudan's government may have softened its stance over who is to blame.

US boy, 9, is youngest to reach Aconcagua summit Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:49 AM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A 9-year-old boy from Southern California has become the youngest person in recorded history to reach the summit of Argentina's Aconcagua mountain, which at 22,841 feet (6,962 meters) is the tallest peak in the Western and Southern hemispheres.

That health care law, by the numbers Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:48 AM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The government churns out tons of numbers, but here's one you won't see: 0.0002. That's the percentage of estimated online visitors to healthcare.gov who actually signed up for coverage the first day.

Protests target Turkish PM assailed by graft scandal Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:40 AM PST Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was being battered on all fronts Friday, as a graft scandal savaging his government sparked fresh street protests, party resignations and pushed his country's currency to a record low. Police fired water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of anti-government demonstrators in both Ankara and Istanbul who had been calling for the government to step down. In Istanbul, some protesters shot fireworks at police preventing them from reaching a central square. Some of the 700 protesters who had gathered in a central square in Ankara had held up shoe boxes in reference to images of boxes stuffed with millions of dollars found in the home of one corruption probe suspect, the head of state-controlled bank Halkbank, an AFP photographer at the scene reported.

San Diego sued over stinky sea lion waste Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:36 AM PST SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego's La Jolla Cove stinks, and the culprit is sea lion poop.

Associated Press Sports Story of the Year Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:19 AM PST 2013 — Boston Marathon bombing

Denver gives out recreational pot sales licenses Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:07 AM PST DENVER (AP) — The first batch of Denver businesses approved to sell recreational marijuana got their licenses Friday, the owners mugging for pictures and saying they never thought they'd see the day when they'd get a permit to sell pot.

Anti-Assad Lebanese ex-minister killed in Beirut bomb Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:06 AM PST By Samia Nakhoul and Stephen Kalin BEIRUT (Reuters) - Former Lebanese minister Mohamad Chatah, who opposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was killed in a massive bomb blast on Friday which one of his political allies blamed on the Shi'ite Hezbollah militia. Friday's attack also killed five other people and threw Lebanon, which has been drawn into neighboring Syria's conflict, into further turmoil after a series of sectarian bombings aimed at Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims over the past year. Former prime minister Saad al-Hariri accused Hezbollah of involvement in the killing of Chatah, his 62-year-old political adviser, saying it was "a new message of terrorism". "Dr. Chatah had served as a tireless voice for tolerance, diversity, and moderation ... his death is a tremendous loss for Lebanon and a reminder of the need to end impunity," Ban said in a statement.

Clashes across Egypt leave 3 dead, scores injured Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:02 AM PST By Maggie Fick CAIRO (Reuters) - Muslim Brotherhood supporters and police clashed across Egypt on Friday, leaving at least three dead in protests after the army-backed government declared the group a terrorist organisation. A second man was killed in Minya, a bastion of Islamist support south of Cairo, and a third person was killed in the capital, the interior ministry said, without providing further details. The widening crackdown has increased tensions in a country suffering the worst internal strife of its modern history since the army deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July. The Brotherhood was declared a terrorist organisation after 16 people were killed in a suicide attack on a police station on Tuesday, although the group condemned the attack and it was claimed by a radical faction based in the Sinai Peninsula.

Push to recruit Arab Christians into Israeli army Posted: 27 Dec 2013 11:01 AM PST NAZARETH, Israel (AP) — Dozens of Israeli soldiers respectfully rose from their seats as the Israeli national anthem began playing. The tinny recording of "Hatikva," an ode to the Jewish yearning for the Land of Israel, wrapped up a ceremony, held in Hebrew, during which speakers thanked the troops and handed out awards.

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