Russia economy chief says dire 2013 was 'low point'

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• Russia economy chief says dire 2013 was 'low point'
• British nuclear plant says radiation alert caused by natural radon gas
• FBI called out in Super Bowl 'hoax' powder scare
• Amanda Knox defiant after second murder conviction
• Dungy among 17 candidates for Hall of Fame
• Activists: 1,900 killed in Syria during talks
• Syria talks end first round, government not committed to return
• Obama presidential library search kicks off
• Cruise line cites fog, not illness, for return
• Colo. mom acquitted of negligence in SUV deaths
• Iowa fish launcher ensures dramatic eagle photos
• American Christopher Horner joins Lampre-Merida
• FDA clears first drug for blindness sleep disorder
• Colo. mom aquitted of negligence in SUV deaths
• Ukraine repeals tough laws, army calls for 'urgent steps'
• Foundation launches to plan Obama library
• Suspect in Utah deputy's killing was fugitive, 27
• 3 Indians kidnapped at sea are rescued in Nigeria
• Keystone XL oil pipeline clears significant hurdle
• Atlanta area slowly rebounding from winter storm
• RNC: $81M raised last year, $9M banked
• Syria peace talks adjourn with no sign of progress
• 102-year-old cyclist sets world record
• CDC: Norovirus caused cruise ship outbreak
• Ukrainian opposition leader pushes for support
• NY judge OKs $8.5B Bank of America settlement
• Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy protection
• Ex-NY mayor Bloomberg named UN climate envoy
• U.S. says works with partners to raise pressure on Syria on chemical arms
• Volatility hits commodities as Fed cuts stimulus again
• Company tied to Rams owner Kroenke buys L.A. land
• Carroll and Fox enjoying Super Bowl moment
• Cases may mean more than legal woes for Bieber
• Ukraine president signs amnesty but anger remains, currency slumps
• Protests over Russian anti-gay law focus on Sochi
• Brands vie to stand out amid Super Bowl chatter
• Exclusive: South Sudan rebel leader says government derailing peace talks
• Powder mailed to sites near Super Bowl; 1 is inert
• Ukraine activist's story fuels torture squad fears
• Police: Woman put fecal matter in husband's IV

Russia economy chief says dire 2013 was 'low point' Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:53 PM PST Russia's economy chief said on Friday that the country had survived the worst of its sharp growth slowdown and was now on the path toward a cautious recovery. But new data revision showed the $1.9-trillion (1.4-trillion-euro) economy expanding by an even worse than expected 1.3 percent in 2013 -- the second-worst performance of Vladimir Putin's 14 years in power and just a quarter of the Kremlin's target. Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev rallied to Putin's relief by proclaiming the worst phase of Russia's growth slump over now that agriculture and industry were both picking up steam. Russia's economy grew by 3.4 percent in 2012 and had been clipping along at a seven-percent pace during Putin's first two terms as Kremlin chief between 2000 and 2008.

British nuclear plant says radiation alert caused by natural radon gas Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:42 PM PST By Belinda Goldsmith SELLAFIELD, England (Reuters) - Sellafield, the largest nuclear site in Europe, declared an alert on Friday after discovering higher than usual levels of radioactivity, but later called it off, saying naturally occurring radon gas had triggered the alarm. The fuel reprocessing plant in northwest England, the site of Britain's worst nuclear accident in 1957 and once the producer of plutonium for nuclear bombs, told non-essential staff to stay away after the abnormality was detected overnight. ...

FBI called out in Super Bowl 'hoax' powder scare Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:37 PM PST A suspicious white powder that caused the FBI to scramble to hotels near the scene of America's biggest sporting event, Sunday's Super Bowl, appears to have been a hoax threat, police said Friday. FBI agents and police were called to at least five hotels close to the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, where 80,000 people are expected to watch the Seattle Seahawks battle the Denver Broncos. The FBI mobilized its joint terrorism task force and hazard materials units in response to the suspicious letters. The incident raised fears with US law enforcement officials already on a massive security deployment to protect the event, jittery after bomb attacks at the Boston Marathon last year.

Amanda Knox defiant after second murder conviction Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:36 PM PST By Susan Heavey and Naomi O'Leary WASHINGTON/FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - Amanda Knox vowed on Friday to fight her second conviction for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in 2007 while the two were students together in the Italian university town of Perugia. Speaking on U.S. television a day after her conviction by a court in Florence, the 26-year-old American said she would never willingly return to Italy to serve the 28-1/2-year sentence handed down by judges. The family of the victim urged the United States to agree to extradite Knox if her conviction is upheld after a final appeal process expected to conclude in 2015. Knox and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were both found guilty of killing the 21-year-old Kercher, who was found stabbed to death in an apartment the two young women shared in Perugia.

Dungy among 17 candidates for Hall of Fame Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:22 PM PST New York (AFP) - Tony Dungy, the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl, is among 17 finalists to be considered Saturday for election into the American Football Hall of Fame.

Activists: 1,900 killed in Syria during talks Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:21 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — Fighting in Syria killed nearly 1,900 people, including at least 430 civilians, during the week of U.N.-hosted peace talks in Switzerland, activists said Friday. The death toll indicates that violence barely paused as the warring parties met but struck uncompromising stances, failing to reach any agreements that could help resolve the conflict.

Syria talks end first round, government not committed to return Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:19 PM PST By Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - A contentious week-long first round of Syrian peace talks ended on Friday with no progress towards ending the civil war and the government delegation unable to say whether it will return for the next round in 10 days. Darkening the atmosphere further, the United States and Russia clashed over the pace of Syria's handover of chemical arms for destruction. Washington accused Damascus of foot-dragging that put the plan weeks behind schedule, and Moscow - President Bashar al-Assad's big power ally - rejected this. The Obama administration said it was working with partners to ratchet up pressure on Syria to accelerate the process, but stopped short of threatening any action if Damascus did not get the chemical weapons deliveries back on track.

Obama presidential library search kicks off Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:19 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The formal process to build a library housing President Barack Obama's presidential records and artifacts began Friday with the formation of a new foundation, launched by top supporters with Obama's blessing, that will develop and build the monument to his legacy.

Cruise line cites fog, not illness, for return Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:16 PM PST HOUSTON (AP) — A cruise ship that had more than 180 passengers and crew fall sick with an apparent stomach virus returned to a Houston-area port early due to a dense fog advisory and not because people were vomiting and had diarrhea, a Princess Cruises spokeswoman said Friday.

Colo. mom acquitted of negligence in SUV deaths Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:26 PM PST GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Jurors delivered a split verdict Friday for a western Colorado woman whose two sons died of overheating after she left them in a running SUV last winter.

Iowa fish launcher ensures dramatic eagle photos Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:14 PM PST LECLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — The photographers who line up at a Mississippi River lock to snap images of eagles are getting help from a man with a giant slingshot that flings dead fish into the open water.

American Christopher Horner joins Lampre-Merida Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:14 PM PST MILAN (AP) — Spanish Vuelta champion Christopher Horner has become the first American to sign for Italian cycling team Lampre-Merida.

FDA clears first drug for blindness sleep disorder Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:12 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators have approved a first-of-a-kind drug to treat a sleep disorder that mainly afflicts the blind.

Colo. mom aquitted of negligence in SUV deaths Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:12 PM PST GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — A jury has delivered a split verdict for a western Colorado woman whose two sons died of overheating after she left them in a running SUV last winter.

Ukraine repeals tough laws, army calls for 'urgent steps' Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:12 PM PST Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych scrapped controversial anti-protest laws Friday but faced calls from the military to take "urgent steps" to ease the ex-Soviet nation's worst crisis since independence. A leading protester reappeared with his face swollen and caked in blood, saying he had been tortured and dumped in a forest after vanishing more than a week ago, prompting condemnation from the European Union and the United States. The Ukrainian armed forces weighed in on the crisis for the first time, calling for Yanukovych to act urgently to stabilise the situation. Yanukovych, who has been on sick leave since Thursday, repealed draconian anti-protest laws passed earlier this month that had radicalised the two-month protest movement.

Foundation launches to plan Obama library Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:11 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The formal process to build a library housing President Barack Obama's presidential records and artifacts began Friday with the formation of a new foundation, launched by top supporters with Obama's blessing, that will develop and build the monument to his legacy.

Suspect in Utah deputy's killing was fugitive, 27 Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:10 PM PST SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP) — A man accused of killing one Utah deputy and wounding another was a fugitive who previously served 4 1/2 years in prison for attempted homicide, authorities said Friday.

3 Indians kidnapped at sea are rescued in Nigeria Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:07 PM PST LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — An official says Nigeria's military has helped rescue three Indian nationals who were kidnapped from a cargo ship off Equatorial Guinea and held hostage in Nigeria.

Keystone XL oil pipeline clears significant hurdle Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:05 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada moved a significant step toward completion Friday as the State Department raised no major environmental objections to its construction. The finding is likely to be welcomed by Republicans and some oil- and gas-producing states but is sure to further rankle environmentalists already at odds with President Barack Obama over his energy policy.

Atlanta area slowly rebounding from winter storm Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on Friday outlined steps he said he plans to take to improve the city's emergency preparedness after a winter storm brought the metro area to a halt.

RNC: $81M raised last year, $9M banked Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican National Committee raised almost $81 million last year and has $9 million banked for this year's elections.

Syria peace talks adjourn with no sign of progress Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST GENEVA (AP) — A tumultuous week of peace talks aimed at stemming Syria's bloodbath ended Friday with no progress to show and a lingering standoff over President Bashar Assad's future.

102-year-old cyclist sets world record Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:57 AM PST SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) — Age hasn't slowed cyclist Robert Marchand.

CDC: Norovirus caused cruise ship outbreak Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:57 AM PST BAYONNE, N.J. (AP) — Federal health investigators say lab tests have confirmed that norovirus was to blame for an outbreak on a cruise ship that sickened nearly 700.

Ukrainian opposition leader pushes for support Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:54 AM PST MUNICH (AP) — A Ukrainian opposition leader said Friday that his country needs more than "vocal support" from the West and that he would push at a security conference for more active involvement to help resolve the current political crisis.

NY judge OKs $8.5B Bank of America settlement Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:51 AM PST ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York judge on Friday approved most of the $8.5 billion Bank of America settlement over investor losses from mortgage-backed securities, concluding that trustee Bank of New York Mellon acted reasonably with one exception.

Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy protection Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:50 AM PST HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena planned to file for bankruptcy protection Friday as part of a proposed $15 million settlement for hundreds of victims who say clergy members sexually abused them over decades while the church covered it up.

Ex-NY mayor Bloomberg named UN climate envoy Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:49 AM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was appointed Friday to be the U.N. special envoy for cities and climate change, a position that will give the billionaire businessman and philanthropist an international stage to press for action to combat global warming.

U.S. says works with partners to raise pressure on Syria on chemical arms Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:49 AM PST By Mark Felsenthal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it was working with partners to ratchet up pressure on Syria to accelerate removal of its chemical weapons after the United States accused it of deliberately stalling an international disarmament deal. The Obama administration stepped up criticism of President Bashar al-Assad's government as Secretary of State John Kerry was due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Munich on Friday amid a U.S. push for Moscow to do more to win cooperation from its ally Damascus. Russia earlier rejected U.S. charges that Syria is dragging its feet on giving up chemical weapons, saying that a June 30 deadline to destroy Assad's arsenal of toxic agents remains viable despite delays. "Syria must immediately take the necessary actions to comply with its obligations," White House spokesman Jay Carney said at a briefing in Washington.

Volatility hits commodities as Fed cuts stimulus again Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:48 AM PST Commodity prices faced a choppy week as further stimulus tapering from the Federal Reserve and turmoil across emerging markets overshadowed solid fourth-quarter economic growth in the United States. The Fed said Wednesday that it will reduce its bond-buying or quantitative easing (QE) programme by $10 billion to $65 billion a month, citing a pick-up in the economy. OIL: New York prices rallied to the highest level so far this year on forecast-beating fourth-quarter economic growth in the United States, which is the world's biggest crude consuming nation. "US GDP figures boosted demand expectations of the world's biggest oil consumer," said Michael Hewson, analyst at traders CMC Markets UK.

Company tied to Rams owner Kroenke buys L.A. land Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:48 AM PST ST. LOUIS (AP) — A company tied to St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has purchased a prime piece of land in the Los Angeles area amid speculation the NFL franchise is considering a return to the city it left for the Midwest nearly two decades ago.

Carroll and Fox enjoying Super Bowl moment Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:47 AM PST NEW YORK (AP) — As if they were enjoying a morning coffee together, Pete Carroll and John Fox fulfilled their final media obligations leading to the Super Bowl.

Cases may mean more than legal woes for Bieber Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:47 AM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — Justin Bieber's court cases on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border could complicate the pop star's jet-setting ways as his troubles bring more scrutiny by judges and prosecutors,

Ukraine president signs amnesty but anger remains, currency slumps Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:44 AM PST By Richard Balmforth KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's embattled President Viktor Yanukovich on Friday signed into law an amnesty for demonstrators detained during mass unrest and repealed anti-protest legislation, in a fresh bid to take the heat out of the political crisis. But the move by Yanukovich, which demonstrated he remains politically active despite going on sick leave on Thursday, was not likely to be enough to end the sometimes violent anti-government protests on the streets of Kiev and other cities. And TV coverage of a prominent opposition activist showing marks of torture inflicted by mystery kidnappers - along with reports police tried to arrest the man in hospital - fuelled anger that has become so explosive that the army made a rare statement, calling for urgent moves to ease the tension. Many protesters rejected Yanukovich's amnesty outright, because it is conditional on occupied buildings being cleared of activists, and a radical Ukrainian nationalist group behind much of the violence pressed new tough demands on Friday.

Protests over Russian anti-gay law focus on Sochi Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:44 AM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Despite seven months of international outcry, Russia's law restricting gay-rights activity remains in place. Yet the eclectic protest campaign has heartened activists in Russia and caught the attention of its targets — including organizers and sponsors of the Sochi Olympics that open on Feb. 7.

Brands vie to stand out amid Super Bowl chatter Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:42 AM PST NEW YORK (AP) — If it's on TV, it's on Twitter, at least when it comes to blockbuster events such as the Super Bowl.

Exclusive: South Sudan rebel leader says government derailing peace talks Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:40 AM PST By Goran Tomasevic JONGLEI STATE, South Sudan (Reuters) - South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar accused the government on Friday of ethnic cleansing and trying to sabotage peace talks, in his first face-to-face interview since fighting erupted late last year in Africa's youngest nation. Dressed in dark green military fatigues and speaking to Reuters in his bush hideout, Machar branded President Salva Kiir a discredited leader who had lost the people's trust and should resign. "Salva Kiir has committed atrocities in Juba, he has engaged in ethnic cleansing and he is still involved in the process," Machar said. His comments highlighted the gulf between the sides, who are meant to resume their troubled peace talks in Ethiopia next week.

Powder mailed to sites near Super Bowl; 1 is inert Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:36 AM PST NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — White powder was mailed to businesses near the site of Sunday's Super Bowl, prompting an investigation by the FBI and other law enforcement. A federal law enforcement official said one of the envelopes contained baking soda.

Ukraine activist's story fuels torture squad fears Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:35 AM PST KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The bloody images of Ukrainian opposition supporter Dmytro Bulatov, who says he was abducted and tortured for more than a week, have fueled fears among anti-government activists that extrajudicial squads are being deployed to intimidate the protest movement.

Police: Woman put fecal matter in husband's IV Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:35 AM PST CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona woman is accused of trying to kill her hospitalized husband by injecting fecal matter into his IV line, police in suburban Phoenix said Friday.

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