Obama calls for a 'rethinking' on Crimea vote

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• Obama calls for a 'rethinking' on Crimea vote
• Singer k.d. lang says Broadway 'a dream come true'
• Senate panel advances tough sanctions on Russia
• Welding possible cause of San Francisco fire
• Gaza militants fire large rocket barrage at Israel
• CIA lawyer at center of computer snooping clash
• Buccaneers release CB Darrelle Revis
• EU moves towards travel bans, asset freezes for Russians
• Italian leader announces economic reforms
• 2 NYC buildings collapse, 2 dead, others missing
• US stock market struggles to a mixed finish
• Lawyer: Bieber should return to Fla. for questions
• Groups protest chemicals used in iPhone
• Two-thirds of World Cup matches sold out
• Judge: Married women can't divorce in Alabama
• US stocks mixed as markets keep eye on Ukraine
• Italy pledges to pay overdue debts to private firms
• Italy presents sweeping tax cuts, plans to raise deficit goal
• White House told of CIA move against Senate aides
• 777 mystery sharpens hunt for black-box alternatives
• SC deputy cried after shooting 70-year-old man
• AP Source: Broncos, DeMarcus Ware agree to deal
• Pooches put best paw forward for Broadway role
• Clarification: California-Carbon Tax story
• Ware joins Denver, bully victim Martin to 49ers
• Police: Md. mall shooter fascinated by Columbine
• Obama: Russia could face 'costs' over Ukraine
• As ex-PM leaves, Libya risks inter-region conflict
• Venezuela rivals march a month after first deaths
• 4 arrested in slaying of Texas couple near church
• Anti-abortion voters look for one of their own
• Assad visits displaced Syrians outside Damascus: TV
• AP among First Amendment award winners
• Honor student who sued parents returns home
• Israel law says referendum needed for Jerusalem
• Renzi revolution: New PM outlines plan to change Italy
• Ukraine's PM vows to never surrender, says, 'Ukraine is and will be part of the Western world'
• La. standoff gunman was treated for mental illness
• Microsoft names head of investor ValueAct to board
• Last transmission from missing plane was routine

Obama calls for a 'rethinking' on Crimea vote Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:34 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama expressed a glimmer of hope Wednesday that a referendum on the future of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula can be halted, as he met with the new leader of the former Soviet republic.

Singer k.d. lang says Broadway 'a dream come true' Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:33 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter k.d. lang says making her Broadway debut was "a dream come true" and its effects on her music will be "profound."

Senate panel advances tough sanctions on Russia Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:32 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate panel has advanced significant U.S. sanctions on Russia in a bid to pressure President Vladimir Putin to pull Russian troops out of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

Welding possible cause of San Francisco fire Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:32 PM PDT SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco fire investigators on Wednesday were looking into whether welding work was to blame for a massive blaze that barreled through an apartment building construction site, threatening nearby buildings, prompting evacuations and forcing officials to call in about half the city's on-duty firefighters to prevent its spread.

Gaza militants fire large rocket barrage at Israel Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:31 PM PDT JERUSALEM (AP) — Militants in the Gaza Strip fired dozens of rockets Wednesday into southern Israel, sending civilians rushing into bomb shelters but causing no casualties. The Israeli military says it's the largest rocket barrage since 2012, when it launched an eight-day air campaign in Gaza it said was aimed at stopping the attacks.

CIA lawyer at center of computer snooping clash Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:30 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The top CIA lawyer accused by the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee of trying to intimidate the panel over its investigation into secret prisons and brutal interrogations of terrorism suspects was himself involved in the controversial programs, cited more than 1,600 times in the Senate's unpublished investigative report, according to the panel's chairwoman, Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Buccaneers release CB Darrelle Revis Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:30 PM PDT TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have parted ways with cornerback Darrelle Revis, releasing the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Wednesday after being unable to trade him and his $16 million annual salary.

EU moves towards travel bans, asset freezes for Russians Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:29 PM PDT By Martin Santa and Aleksandar Vasovic BRUSSELS/SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) - The EU agreed a framework on Wednesday for its first sanctions on Russia since the Cold War, a stronger response to the Ukraine crisis than many had expected and a mark of solidarity with Washington in the effort to make Moscow pay for seizing Crimea. The EU sanctions, outlined in a document seen by Reuters, would slap travel bans and asset freezes on an as-yet-undecided list of people and firms accused by Brussels of violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the measures would be imposed on Monday unless diplomatic progress was made. Shares in Moscow dropped 2.6 percent and the central bank was forced to spend $1.5 billion to prop up the ruble as investors confronted the prospect that Russia could face unexpectedly serious consequences for its plans to annex Crimea.

Italian leader announces economic reforms Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:21 PM PDT MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Wednesday offered relief to workers and businesses alike in an ambitious package of economic reforms that he said would lay the groundwork for bigger structural changes to come.

2 NYC buildings collapse, 2 dead, others missing Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:19 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — A gas leak triggered a thunderous explosion that flattened two East Harlem apartment buildings Wednesday, killing at least two people, injuring more than 20 and leaving more than a dozen others missing. One tenant said residents had complained repeatedly in recent weeks about "unbearable" gas smells.

US stock market struggles to a mixed finish Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:18 PM PDT U.S. stocks are finishing mixed after a listless day as traders continue to worry about slowing growth in China and tensions in Ukraine.

Lawyer: Bieber should return to Fla. for questions Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:18 PM PDT MIAMI (AP) — A lawyer wants Justin Bieber to return to South Florida so he can ask more questions about the pop singer's ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, as part of a photographer's lawsuit against Bieber and his bodyguard.

Groups protest chemicals used in iPhone Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:17 PM PDT SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An environmental protection group and labor rights group are trying to pressure Apple into abandoning two hazardous chemicals used to make iPhones.

Two-thirds of World Cup matches sold out Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:13 PM PDT SAO PAULO (AP) — More than two-thirds of the World Cup matches have been sold out less than three hours after FIFA opened new ticket sales on Wednesday.

Judge: Married women can't divorce in Alabama Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:12 PM PDT HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A judge says two women who were legally married in Iowa can't divorce in Alabama, which doesn't recognize same-sex marriages.

US stocks mixed as markets keep eye on Ukraine Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:09 PM PDT New York (AFP) - US stocks finished mixed Wednesday as cautious investors kept an eye on the Ukraine crisis and awaited more information on the direction of the economy.

Italy pledges to pay overdue debts to private firms Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:09 PM PDT By Giselda Vagnoni and Giuseppe Fonte ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi promised on Wednesday to pay down some 68 billion euros ($95 billion) in overdue debts the state owes to private companies by July, pumping liquidity into the ailing economy. During his first news conference after a cabinet meeting, Renzi said a draft law outlining the repayment of the debts - along with a sweeping package of tax cuts - was a key part of his government's plans to pull Italy's economy out of its longest recession since World War Two. However, it was evident that the government is not sure how much it owes businesses - or what effect the arrears payments will have on efforts to keep public finances in check. Renzi said his calculations of how much suppliers of goods and services are owed by public sector bodies were based on a Bank of Italy estimate which put arrears at 91 billion euros as of 2011.

Italy presents sweeping tax cuts, plans to raise deficit goal Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:09 PM PDT By Gavin Jones ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Wednesday presented a sweeping package of tax cuts, saying they could help economic recovery without breaking EU budget deficit limits. Renzi, in his first full news conference since taking office last month, said income tax would be reduced by a total 10 billion euros ($14 billion) annually for 10 million low and middle income workers from May 1. The 39-year-old former mayor of Florence said his agenda to stimulate the economy was the most ambitious Italy had ever seen as he reeled off measures he insisted were fully funded. Italy is struggling to emerge from its longest post-war recession and Renzi has made clear that job creation and growth, rather than austerity, will be the focus of his government.

White House told of CIA move against Senate aides Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:08 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA's director and its top lawyer told White House attorneys in advance about their plans to file an official criminal complaint accusing Senate Intelligence Committee aides of improperly obtaining secret agency documents, the White House confirmed Wednesday.

777 mystery sharpens hunt for black-box alternatives Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:07 PM PDT By Tim Hepher PARIS (Reuters) - The search for Malaysia's missing jet could speed development of new ways of locating wreckage, but such technology is unlikely to replace the traditional "black box" any time soon, France's top crash investigator said on Wednesday. Mystery over the Boeing 777's whereabouts deepened on Wednesday when Malaysia said it was searching an area hundreds of miles from its last known position. As well as scouring the area with ships, planes and satellites, investigators are trying to pick up signals from beacons on the jet's data and cockpit voice recorders. A French probe into the crash of an Air France jet in the Atlantic in 2009, which triggered a two-year $50 million search to find its crucial black boxes, led to a series of recommendations from France's BEA crash investigation agency.

SC deputy cried after shooting 70-year-old man Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:05 PM PDT YORK, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina deputy who during a traffic stop shot a 70-year-old man reaching for his cane broke down in tears as other officers arrived.

AP Source: Broncos, DeMarcus Ware agree to deal Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:02 PM PDT ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos kept their free agency focus on defense as they agreed to a three-year deal with pass rusher DeMarcus Ware, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Pooches put best paw forward for Broadway role Posted: 12 Mar 2014 01:00 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — They were raw talents — some delighted by the attention, others confused. More than one sniffed happily in the audition room, just happy to be there.

Clarification: California-Carbon Tax story Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:59 PM PDT SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a story March 9, The Associated Press reported that the Western States Petroleum Association's oil company members are proposing to use a carbon tax on fuels instead of the state's cap and trade system. The story should have made clear that the group has not formally supported a carbon tax on fuels, but has said lawmakers proposing such a tax deserve credit for acknowledging that California's current plan to place fuels under cap and trade could raise the costs of gasoline and other fuels for consumers.

Ware joins Denver, bully victim Martin to 49ers Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:59 PM PDT Denver added NFL star linebacker DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Aqib Talib on Wednesday while blocker Jonathan Martin, the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal's central figure, was traded to San Francisco. His addition gives the Broncos, who lost to Seattle in last month's Super Bowl, the best pass-rushing duo in the NFL with Ware preferring the right side and linebacker Von Miller the left.

Police: Md. mall shooter fascinated by Columbine Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:57 PM PDT MARRIOTTSVILLE, Md. (AP) — The gunman who killed two people at a Maryland mall appeared obsessed with mass murder and was fascinated by the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, dressing like one of the shooters and timing his attack so that it occurred about the same time as the Colorado massacre, police said Wednesday.

Obama: Russia could face 'costs' over Ukraine Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:56 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says that if Russia continues an aggressive path in Ukraine, the United States and other countries will, in his words, be "forced to apply costs" to Moscow.

As ex-PM leaves, Libya risks inter-region conflict Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:55 PM PDT TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — The ousted prime minister fled Libya to Europe after parliament voted him out, leaving behind a country that risks being torn apart as the fault line between its eastern and western regions broke open Wednesday to a degree unseen since the 2011 civil war that ousted longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

Venezuela rivals march a month after first deaths Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:54 PM PDT By Andrew Cawthorne and Diego Ore CARACAS (Reuters) - Thousands of supporters and foes of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took to the streets of Caracas again on Wednesday a month after similar rival rallies brought the first bloodshed in a wave of unrest across the OPEC member nation. Red-clad sympathizers of Maduro's socialist government held a "march for peace" while opponents wearing white gathered to denounce alleged brutality by security forces during Venezuela's worst political troubles for a decade. Reuters witnesses saw several people injured during the standoff in Plaza Venezuela. On February 12, two opposition supporters and a pro-government activist were shot dead in Caracas, galvanizing a fledgling protest movement and leading to near-daily clashes in Caracas and some western Andean cities.

4 arrested in slaying of Texas couple near church Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:53 PM PDT DALLAS (AP) — An East Texas woman, her brother and her parents are charged with carrying out a scheme to kill the woman's ex-husband and new wife as both sides were embroiled in a custody dispute over a 5-year-old girl, authorities said Wednesday.

Anti-abortion voters look for one of their own Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:53 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Calling their opponents Satan worshippers and savages, anti-abortion lawmakers are urging allies to support one of their own to run for the White House.

Assad visits displaced Syrians outside Damascus: TV Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:53 PM PDT President Bashar al-Assad visited displaced Syrians in the town of Adra on Wednesday, state media said, in a rare public appearance outside the heart of Damascus. State television said Assad inspected a shelter for people displaced by fighting in Adra, which lies about 12 miles northeast of central Damascus and was partly captured by rebels three months ago. Footage showed Assad in a dark jacket and white shirt touring shelters for displaced people, shaking hands, kissing cheeks and talking with groups of men, women and children. We are concerned for every one of you, and for every displaced person everywhere in Syria," he said.

AP among First Amendment award winners Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:52 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Radio Television Digital News Foundation is presenting its First Amendment Award to The Associated Press for defending press freedoms against secret government subpoenas for reporters' phone calls.

Honor student who sued parents returns home Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:52 PM PDT ROSELAND, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey honor student who sued to get her parents to support her after she moved out of their home has reunited with them, and the family is now asking for privacy.

Israel law says referendum needed for Jerusalem Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:51 PM PDT JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's parliament on Wednesday passed a law requiring a national referendum to approve any future withdrawal from east Jerusalem — adding a new hurdle to any future peace deal with the Palestinians.

Renzi revolution: New PM outlines plan to change Italy Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:49 PM PDT New Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Wednesday laid out his plan to transform Italy with a package of reforms headlined by a ten-billion-euro tax cut. Hours after the lower house of parliament approved a new electoral law designed to end the country's chronic political instability, Renzi announced economic measures aimed at stimulating growth while also cutting spending, shaking up the labour market and making the state pay its bills.

Ukraine's PM vows to never surrender, says, 'Ukraine is and will be part of the Western world' Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:47 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine's PM vows to never surrender, says, 'Ukraine is and will be part of the Western world'

La. standoff gunman was treated for mental illness Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:45 PM PDT NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The gunman who killed two hostages during an August standoff at a rural Louisiana bank had been treated several weeks earlier for paranoid schizophrenia at a California hospital after returning to the U.S. from a trip to Yemen, according to a report released Wednesday by the Louisiana State Police.

Microsoft names head of investor ValueAct to board Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:44 PM PDT REDMOND, Wash. (AP) — Microsoft Corp. has appointed Mason Morfit, the president of activist investment firm ValueAct Capital, to its board of directors.

Last transmission from missing plane was routine Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:43 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The last message from the cockpit of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight was routine. "All right, good night," was the signoff transmitted to air traffic controllers five days ago.

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