Microsoft reports $6.56 bn profit on record revenue

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• Microsoft reports $6.56 bn profit on record revenue
• Opposition encouraged after meeting Yanukovych
• Priorities super PAC lines up for Clinton run
• McMorris Rodgers to give GOP response to Obama
• Ryan: House will take up immigration in pieces
• Striking South African platinum miners agree to talks
• US stocks tumble on China data, mediocre earnings
• Not-guilty plea entered for man in Purdue shooting
• 'China Leaks' -- a new coup for journalists group ICIJ
• Government panel urges end to phone data spying
• Virginia AG to fight state's gay marriage ban
• Lenovo to buy IBM's low-end server unit for $2.3 billion
• Actor Dean McDermott enters rehab
• Apple's Mac still influences, 30 years after debut
• Huckabee: Democrats pitch women on birth control
• US developing plans to train Iraqis in Jordan
• Reputed mobster pleads not guilty in 1978 heist
• Exclusive: FBI warns retailers to expect more credit card breaches
• Prosecutor: Find Iowa man guilty in 1974 slaying
• Poll: Uninsured rate drops as health law rolls out
• Mormon church defends Utah liquor laws
• The Captain and Tennille headed for divorce
• Russia says EU tries to impose 'alien view' of homosexuality
• Anelka rejects 'quenelle' charge
• Homes sales snap losing streak, jobless claims rise
• Bieber busted in Miami for DUI in drag racing incident
• COUTURE: J. Lopez designer Zuhair Murad caps shows
• Man gets 57 years in prison in Sean Taylor's death
• Biden warns Ukraine president of 'consequences' to more violence
• Barca president Rosell resigns over Neymar affair
• UN bids to bring Syria warring sides together
• FDA takes another look at caramel coloring in soda
• Exclusive: Pentagon report faults F-35 on software, reliability
• Syrian opposition looks to future without Assad
• Subway joins first lady's healthy eating effort
• Miguel celebrates Grammy nominations at LA concert
• NTSB: Oil train crash risks 'major loss of life'
• Argentina peso: steepest drop since 2002
• Stocks slide on worries over China, US earnings
• Hagel ordering full review of nuclear force

Microsoft reports $6.56 bn profit on record revenue Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:18 PM PST San Francisco (AFP) - Microsoft on Thursday reported a net income of $6.56 billion on revenue that hit a record high in the final quarter of last year.

Opposition encouraged after meeting Yanukovych Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:16 PM PST KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A spokesman for a top Ukrainian opposition leader says chances of ending the violence that has convulsed the capital are high after a meeting with the president.

Priorities super PAC lines up for Clinton run Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:32 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the most potent outside liberal-oriented political groups announced on Thursday that it would back Hillary Rodham Clinton if she chooses to seek the White House in 2016, the latest sign that senior members of President Barack Obama's team were looking to line up with the former first lady.

McMorris Rodgers to give GOP response to Obama Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:13 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the highest ranking GOP woman in Congress, will give the party's response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Ryan: House will take up immigration in pieces Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:12 PM PST SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Rep. Paul Ryan on Thursday told Texas business leaders eager for changes to immigration laws that House Republicans will tackle reform in pieces and ruled out negotiations with the Senate on its comprehensive measure.

Striking South African platinum miners agree to talks Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:12 PM PST Rustenburg (South Africa) (AFP) - Tens of thousands of striking workers at South Africa's top three platinum producers agreed Thursday to take part in government-brokered talks aimed at ending the dispute and limiting economic damage. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, which led roughly 80,000 miners to down tools on Thursday, said it "will be part of the negotiations" set to take place from 0700 GMT Friday. "The strike is still going, there is no agreement, no settlement yet," said AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa. South Africa is the world's largest platinum producer and around 134,000 workers are employed in the sector.

US stocks tumble on China data, mediocre earnings Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:11 PM PST New York (AFP) - US stocks sank Thursday following a weak report on Chinese manufacturing activity and the latest batch of lackluster corporate earnings.

Not-guilty plea entered for man in Purdue shooting Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:10 PM PST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — A magistrate has entered a not-guilty plea for a Purdue University student charged with murder in the shooting of another student in a classroom.

'China Leaks' -- a new coup for journalists group ICIJ Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:09 PM PST Five employees, a modest Washington headquarters but a powerful strike force: the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has scored a new coup with revelations that China's elite are parking money in offshore tax havens. The expose released Tuesday and published by several major international media outlets, like Le Monde in France, The Guardian in Britain, Ming Pao in Hong Kong was the result of a six-month investigation cloaked in high secrecy by the nonprofit organization. The files were leaked to the ICIJ, and last April, after a 15 month investigation, the group began to release stories about the "who's who" of the world hiding their assets offshore. It is a huge achievement for the small consortium of member journalists in more than 60 countries.

Government panel urges end to phone data spying Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:06 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — A government review panel warned Thursday that the National Security Agency's daily collection of Americans' phone records is illegal and recommended that President Barack Obama abandon the program and destroy the hundreds of millions of phone records it has already collected.

Virginia AG to fight state's gay marriage ban Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:03 PM PST RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gay marriage moved closer to gaining its first foothold in the South after Virginia's attorney general said Thursday that the state's ban on same-sex matrimony is unconstitutional and he will join the fight to get it struck down.

Lenovo to buy IBM's low-end server unit for $2.3 billion Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:02 PM PST By Paul Carsten and Soham Chatterjee (Reuters) - Chinese PC maker Lenovo Group Ltd has agreed to buy International Business Machine Corp's low-end server business for $2.3 billion in what would be China's biggest technology deal. The long-expected acquisition comes nearly a decade after Lenovo bought IBM's money-losing ThinkPad business for $1.75 billion, eventually becoming the world leader in personal computers in 2012. The sale of the low-end server operation - which still needs U.S. ...

Actor Dean McDermott enters rehab Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:01 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Tori Spelling's husband, Dean McDermott, has entered rehab, his publicist, Jill Fritzo, confirmed Thursday.

Apple's Mac still influences, 30 years after debut Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:01 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Look around. Many of the gadgets you see drew inspiration from the original Mac computer.

Huckabee: Democrats pitch women on birth control Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:59 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told fellow Republicans on Thursday that rival Democrats were trying to win over female voters by promising them birth control and telling them "they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government." Huckabee made the comment as he was making a pitch that the GOP needs to broaden its appeal.

US developing plans to train Iraqis in Jordan Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:58 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials are developing plans to use a small number of U.S. special operations forces in Jordan to train Iraqi troops as part of a broader effort to help Iraq fight the growing al-Qaida threat within its borders.

Reputed mobster pleads not guilty in 1978 heist Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:55 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — An elderly reputed mobster has pleaded not guilty to participating in a $6 million airport heist dramatized in the Martin Scorsese movie "Goodfellas."

Exclusive: FBI warns retailers to expect more credit card breaches Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:55 PM PST By Jim Finkle and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI has warned U.S. retailers to prepare for more cyber attacks after discovering about 20 hacking cases in the past year that involved the same kind of malicious software used against Target Corp in the holiday shopping season. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation distributed a confidential, three-page report to retail companies last week describing the risks posed by "memory-parsing" malware that infects point-of-sale (POS) systems, which include cash registers and credit-card swiping machines found in store checkout aisles. "We believe POS malware crime will continue to grow over the near term, despite law enforcement and security firms' actions to mitigate it," said the FBI report, seen by Reuters. "The accessibility of the malware on underground forums, the affordability of the software and the huge potential profits to be made from retail POS systems in the United States make this type of financially motivated cyber crime attractive to a wide range of actors," the FBI said.

Prosecutor: Find Iowa man guilty in 1974 slaying Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:55 PM PST OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Despite a lack of direct evidence connecting Robert "Gene" Pilcher to the killing of a 17-year-old waitress at his cousin's Iowa farmhouse, investigators immediately suspected him in the 1974 death, a prosecutor reminded jurors Thursday at his murder trial.

Poll: Uninsured rate drops as health law rolls out Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:54 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — It may just be the start of a new trend. The uninsured rate dropped modestly this month as expanded coverage rolled out under President Barack Obama's health care law, a major survey released Thursday has found.

Mormon church defends Utah liquor laws Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:54 PM PST SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church has issued a sweeping declaration that opposes efforts to relax Utah's famously strict liquor laws.

The Captain and Tennille headed for divorce Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:54 PM PST FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Captain and Tennille, the popular 1970s married pop duo that sang of sharing forever and of love keeping them together, is splitting.

Russia says EU tries to impose 'alien view' of homosexuality Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:53 PM PST By Adrian Croft BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Russia, caught in a pre-Sochi Olympic uproar over gay rights, accuses the European Union in a new report of trying to enforce "an alien view" of homosexuality on other countries. The accusation is contained in a 153-page "Report on the human rights situation in the European Union", in which Moscow hits back at human rights criticism it regularly faces from the West by listing what it sees as rights failings in EU nations. The report, presented in Brussels on Thursday by Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian foreign ministry's human rights commissioner, said the EU and its 28 member states saw it as a priority to disseminate their "neo-liberal values as a universal lifestyle for all other members of the international community".

Anelka rejects 'quenelle' charge Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:50 PM PST French footballer Nicolas Anelka on Thursday denied making a controversial goal salute which was condemned as anti-Semitic and vowed to fight charges which could see him banned from the sport. Anelka, 34, was widely criticised for the 'quenelle' gesture which was popularised by French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala but described by critics as an inverted Nazi salute. The West Brom striker said he would fight Football Association charges which could carry a five-match suspension. "West Bromwich Albion can confirm that Nicolas Anelka has denied an FA charge regarding the gesture he made after scoring his first goal against West Ham United on December 28," said a club statement.

Homes sales snap losing streak, jobless claims rise Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:50 PM PST By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. home resales rose in December after three straight months of declines, showing some resilience in the housing market recovery despite higher mortgage rates. While other data on Thursday showed a marginal rise in first-time applications for unemployment benefits last week and a slowdown in factory activity this month, the deterioration was not enough to change the picture of an improving economy. Sales of previously owned homes rose 1 percent last month to an annual rate of 4.87 million units, the National Association of Realtors said. "The recent housing market slowdown is being exacerbated by transitory factors such as weather," said Gennadiy Goldberg, an economist at TD Securities in New York.

Bieber busted in Miami for DUI in drag racing incident Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:49 PM PST Pop star Justin Bieber was charged with driving under the influence after police caught him drag racing in Miami Beach early Thursday -- allegedly after drinking and smoking marijuana. Police said Bieber was racing a rented yellow Lamborghini on a residential street when he was arrested shortly after 4:00 am (0900 GMT). Miami Beach Police Chief Raymond Martinez told reporters that Bieber was incoherent at the time of his arrest, and was unable to produce a valid driver's license. Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, Bieber appeared in a Florida courtroom several hours later, where a judge ordered him held on $2,500 bond.

COUTURE: J. Lopez designer Zuhair Murad caps shows Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:48 PM PST PARIS (AP) — Paris' frenetic spring-summer couture week wrapped up Thursday with displays mixing one of Jennifer Lopez's favorite red-carpet designers Zuhair Murad with other promising up-and-coming names.

Man gets 57 years in prison in Sean Taylor's death Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:47 PM PST MIAMI (AP) — The man who prosecutors say fired the shot that killed Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor during a botched 2007 burglary was sentenced Thursday to more than 57 years in state prison.

Biden warns Ukraine president of 'consequences' to more violence Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:46 PM PST U.S. Vice President Joe Biden phoned Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Thursday and urged him to end violence against protestors in Kiev, warning him that failing to de-escalate the standoff could have "consequences," the White House said. "The Vice President underscored that only the government of Ukraine can ensure a peaceful end to the crisis and further bloodshed would have consequences for Ukraine's relationship with the United States," the White House said. White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that the government needs to take "concrete steps" to resolve the crisis, including repealing what he called "anti-democratic legislation," and withdrawing riot police from downtown Kiev. "This increasing tension in Ukraine is a direct consequence of the government failing to acknowledge the legitimate grievances of its people," Carney said.

Barca president Rosell resigns over Neymar affair Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:46 PM PST Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, facing legal action over the signing of Brazil star Neymar, resigned after a three-and-a-half year spell in charge of the Spanish champions on Thursday. Pressure had mounted on Rosell, 49, after a judge agreed on Wednesday to hear a case made against him by one of the club's own members for alleged misappropriation of funds in the deal which brought Neymar to the Camp Nou last year. Sporting vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu will replace Rosell as president for the remainder of the board's mandate, which runs until 2016. Rosell once again defended his position on the Neymar signing by describing the complaint made against him as reckless.

UN bids to bring Syria warring sides together Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:45 PM PST UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi met Syria's warring sides behind closed doors Thursday to lay the groundwork for direct talks after the first day of a peace conference ended in bitter exchanges. Brahimi met separately with delegations from Syria's opposition and then President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Geneva before full talks are due to resume on Friday.

FDA takes another look at caramel coloring in soda Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:44 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration says there's no reason to believe that the coloring added to sodas is unsafe. But the agency is taking another look just to make sure.

Exclusive: Pentagon report faults F-35 on software, reliability Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:36 PM PST By Andrea Shalal-Esa WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new U.S. Defense Department report warns that ongoing software, maintenance and reliability problems with Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 stealth fighter could delay the Marine Corps' plans to start using its F-35 jets by mid-2015. The latest report by the Pentagon's chief weapons tester, Michael Gilmore, provides a detailed critique of the F-35's technical challenges, and focuses heavily on what it calls the "unacceptable" performance of the plane's software, according to a 25-page draft obtained by Reuters. Gilmore, director of operational test and evaluation for the U.S. Defense Department, has long been critical of the $392 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, and the latest report is no exception. Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, the Pentagon's F-35 program chief, said in a statement to Reuters that Gilmore's report was factually accurate but did not reflect concerted efforts under way by his office and industry to address software, reliability and maintenance issues.

Syrian opposition looks to future without Assad Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:35 PM PST By Dominic Evans and Samia Nakhoul GENEVA (Reuters) - Syria's opposition leader on Thursday laid out his demands for talks on ending the country's civil war, calling for the creation of a transitional government that does not include President Bashar al-Assad. Ahmed Jarba told reporters in Geneva, where rival sides in the Syrian conflict are due to hold several days of negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations and major world powers, that he was looking to a future without Assad. In a defiant speech, Jarba said the international community had now realized that Assad cannot stay in power.

Subway joins first lady's healthy eating effort Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:34 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama has a new partner in her campaign to get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Miguel celebrates Grammy nominations at LA concert Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:32 PM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — Miguel's "How Many Drinks" is nominated for a Grammy on Sunday, and he was in a drinking mood Wednesday night.

NTSB: Oil train crash risks 'major loss of life' Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:30 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Warning that a "major loss of life" could result from an accident involving the increasing use of trains to transport large amounts of crude oil, U.S. and Canadian accident investigators urged their governments Thursday to impose new safety rules.

Argentina peso: steepest drop since 2002 Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:24 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The Argentine peso is suffering its fastest fall since the country's 2002 economic collapse. It's lost 16 percent of its value against the dollar in two days at the official rate.

Stocks slide on worries over China, US earnings Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:23 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are falling broadly Thursday after a survey from China suggested that manufacturing in the world's second-largest economy was contracting. Investors also were disappointed with some earnings and forecasts from U.S. companies. The Dow Jones industrial average was heading for its biggest loss since September.

Hagel ordering full review of nuclear force Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:22 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Citing a string of setbacks in the nuclear missile force, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel summoned senior military leaders to discuss serious personnel problems and other missteps that "threaten to jeopardize" public trust.

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