Egypt's el-Sissi tells media not to push freedoms

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• Egypt's el-Sissi tells media not to push freedoms
• House committees pass bill on NSA surveillance
• Colorado lawmakers approve plan for pot banking
• VA's Shinseki gets House subpoena, says will not resign
• Florida man found in burned home bought fireworks
• Airlines ask Congress to roll back airfare rule
• Exclusive: U.S. banking regulators hire math geeks of their own
• US stocks falter as some earnings disappoint
• Henley takes early lead at Players
• GOP split breaking down, tea party power wanes
• Ukraine rebels ignore Putin call to delay self-rule vote
• Donnan co-defendant says ex-coach knew about fraud
• Another worker dies at Brazil World Cup site
• Poll: Most Ukrainians want a unified country
• Oklahoma court agrees to 6-month stay of execution
• House to subpoena records in VA hospital deaths
• Western missions in Yemen on alert as army advances against Qaeda
• Lee Enterprises posts $1.5M profit for fiscal 2Q
• Venezuelan officials break up protesters' camps
• Attorney: Shelly Sterling wants to keep Clippers
• Tony the Tiger voice Lee Marshall dies at 64
• Netflix makes push into documentaries
• Vermont governor signs GMO labeling bill
• Witnesses oppose NLRB ruling on college athletes
• Vatican calls on Israel to safeguard holy sites
• Census: More Americans biking to work
• Coca-Cola to close 2 fruit-juice plants in Russia
• Senators warn of carcinogen risk with e-cigarettes
• Oil falls to near $100 after China trade data
• Oklahoma attorney general agrees to execution stay
• Dangerous Syrian chemicals in inaccessible area
• Prosecutors try to prove Pistorius girlfriend ate before death
• South Africa's ANC rolls to victory, boosting Zuma reform clout
• Venezuela arrests hundreds, sparking opposition protest
• U.S. lawmakers want Venezuela sanctions; administration says not now
• Rebels level historic Aleppo hotel in Syria
• Dish aims to launch Web TV service by year's end
• Strong earthquake shakes Mexico's Pacific coast
• US sanctions Syrian government officials
• Brothers disappointed in HGTV ouster

Egypt's el-Sissi tells media not to push freedoms Posted: 08 May 2014 01:20 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's top presidential candidate, the former military chief, warned newspaper editors not to press issues of freedoms of speech and other rights or campaign for democratic reforms, saying demands and protests jeopardize national security and that full democracy is an "idealistic" goal that could take 25 years to reach.

House committees pass bill on NSA surveillance Posted: 08 May 2014 01:20 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The House crossed a major hurdle in its efforts to rein in the National Security Agency when two oversight committees agreed this week on a proposal to end the agency's practice of collecting Americans' phone records and the bulk collection of all other records, such as credit card data. The House could vote on the bill as early as this month.

Colorado lawmakers approve plan for pot banking Posted: 08 May 2014 01:19 PM PDT DENVER (AP) — Frustrated by the cash-heavy aspect of its new marijuana industry, Colorado is trying a long-shot bid to create a world financial system devoted to the pot business.

VA's Shinseki gets House subpoena, says will not resign Posted: 08 May 2014 01:16 PM PDT By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki rejected calls for his resignation as a congressional committee voted to subpoena him on Thursday over charges his department caused deadly delays for veterans' healthcare at some of its hospitals. The American Legion veterans group and two Republican U.S. senators have called for Shinseki to step down following reports on whistleblowers' claims that up to 40 veterans died while waiting for appointments or specialist care at the VA hospital in Phoenix. The House Veterans Affairs Committee in a voice vote approved the subpoena ordering Shinseki and other top VA officials to produce all emails and written correspondence sent between April 9 and May 8 related to the disappearance or destruction of a secret patient wait list at the Phoenix hospital. \"The last few weeks have been a model of VA stonewalling, which precipitated the need for a subpoena,\" said the committee's chairman, Republican Representative Jeff Miller.

Florida man found in burned home bought fireworks Posted: 08 May 2014 01:15 PM PDT TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A man found dead with his wife and two teenage children inside the million-dollar home they rented bought $650 worth of fireworks days before the house was destroyed in what authorities called arson.

Airlines ask Congress to roll back airfare rule Posted: 08 May 2014 01:14 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Airlines tried and failed to block a federal rule making them tell passengers up front the full cost of airfare, including government taxes and fees. So they're trying another route, asking Congress to do what the Obama administration and the courts refused to do: roll back the law.

Exclusive: U.S. banking regulators hire math geeks of their own Posted: 08 May 2014 01:12 PM PDT A few years ago, famed financial engineer Andrew Lo built a computer model that allowed one of the biggest U.S. banks to figure out which customers were most likely to fall behind on credit-card payments. The efforts of Lo, a pioneer in his field, are part of an unprecedented push at the OCC to embrace quantitative analysis. The regulator is building models, hiring financial engineers - known on Wall Street as \"quants\" or \"strats\"- and questioning banks to a far greater degree than it ever has before. The OCC's effort stems in part from the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law, which requires the OCC and the U.S. Federal Reserve to evaluate the quantitative models that banks build and use.

US stocks falter as some earnings disappoint Posted: 08 May 2014 01:11 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ending mostly lower after some companies disappointed investors with their quarterly results.

Henley takes early lead at Players Posted: 08 May 2014 01:10 PM PDT PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Russell Henley made birdie on half of his holes Thursday in The Players Championship, which was more than enough to atone for one big mistake.

GOP split breaking down, tea party power wanes Posted: 08 May 2014 01:07 PM PDT MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — It's too early to say the tea party's over.

Ukraine rebels ignore Putin call to delay self-rule vote Posted: 08 May 2014 01:07 PM PDT By Matt Robinson and Gabriela Baczynska DONETSK, Ukraine/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine ignored a public call by Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone a referendum on self-rule, declaring they would go ahead on Sunday with a vote that could lead to war. The decision, which contradicted the conciliatory tone set by Putin just a day earlier, caused consternation in the West, which fears the referendum will tear Ukraine apart. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said Russia was heading down a \"dangerous and irresponsible path\" and the situation in Ukraine was \"extremely combustible\". Denis Pushilin, a leader of the self-declared separatist Donetsk People's Republic, expressed gratitude to Putin but said the \"People's Council\" had voted unanimously on Thursday to hold the plebiscite as planned.

Donnan co-defendant says ex-coach knew about fraud Posted: 08 May 2014 01:05 PM PDT ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A man accused along with former University of Georgia football coach Jim Donnan of operating a fraudulent investment scheme testified Thursday that Donnan asked him to sign a document saying Donnan wasn't aware that investor money was being used to pay other investors.

Another worker dies at Brazil World Cup site Posted: 08 May 2014 12:57 PM PDT SAO PAULO (AP) — A worker at a World Cup stadium in Brazil died Thursday in an electrical accident, temporarily interrupting construction at one of the most-delayed venues only five weeks before the soccer tournament.

Poll: Most Ukrainians want a unified country Posted: 08 May 2014 12:56 PM PDT KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A strong majority of Ukrainians want their country to remain a single, unified state and this is true even in the largely Russian-speaking east where a pro-Russia insurgency has been fighting for autonomy, a poll released Thursday shows.

Oklahoma court agrees to 6-month stay of execution Posted: 08 May 2014 12:56 PM PDT OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals agreed Thursday to a six-month stay of execution for a death row inmate while an investigation is conducted into last week's botched lethal injection.

House to subpoena records in VA hospital deaths Posted: 08 May 2014 12:54 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A House committee voted Thursday to subpoena records relating to a waiting list at the Phoenix veterans hospital, and officials said Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki had ordered a nationwide audit of access to care that the agency provides.

Western missions in Yemen on alert as army advances against Qaeda Posted: 08 May 2014 12:53 PM PDT By Mohammed Mukhashaf ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) - Western embassies in Yemen heightened security measures on Thursday after increasingly bold attacks on foreigners by al Qaeda, even as the militant Islamists lost ground to an army offensive in the south. The government's offensive is the most concerted campaign against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) - seen by Washington as one of the group's most lethal wings - in nearly two years. The group has been blamed for deadly attacks against security forces, foreigners and oil and gas facilities. Yemen has said its forces captured Azzan, the last major militant bastion targeted in an offensive that began 10 days ago.

Lee Enterprises posts $1.5M profit for fiscal 2Q Posted: 08 May 2014 12:50 PM PDT DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Lee Enterprises, publisher of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Rapid City Journal and 44 other newspapers, says it posted a $1.5 million profit in its fiscal second-quarter, reversing a loss in the same period a year ago.

Venezuelan officials break up protesters' camps Posted: 08 May 2014 12:49 PM PDT CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Hundreds of security forces broke up four makeshift camps maintained by student protesters, arresting 243 people Thursday in a pre-dawn raid.

Attorney: Shelly Sterling wants to keep Clippers Posted: 08 May 2014 12:49 PM PDT LOS ANGELES (AP) — The estranged wife of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling will fight to retain her 50 percent ownership stake in the team, her lawyer said Thursday, adding an unwanted twist to the NBA's plan to force new ownership on the franchise.

Tony the Tiger voice Lee Marshall dies at 64 Posted: 08 May 2014 12:48 PM PDT SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Lee Marshall, one of the actors who supplied the booming voice of Tony the Tiger in commercials, has died. He was 64.

Netflix makes push into documentaries Posted: 08 May 2014 12:46 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Netflix is making a push into documentaries, with the subscription service announcing deals on Thursday to premiere four new films in the next few months.

Vermont governor signs GMO labeling bill Posted: 08 May 2014 12:46 PM PDT MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed a new law that puts the state on the path to become the first in the U.S. to require labels on genetically modified foods.

Witnesses oppose NLRB ruling on college athletes Posted: 08 May 2014 12:45 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Baylor University President Ken Starr voiced strong opposition Thursday to a regional National Labor Relations Board ruling that scholarship football players at Northwestern University are technically school employees and thus entitled to collective bargaining rights.

Vatican calls on Israel to safeguard holy sites Posted: 08 May 2014 12:44 PM PDT JERUSALEM (AP) — The Roman Catholic official in charge of the Vatican's properties in the Holy Land on Thursday urged Israel to safeguard Christian holy sites, following a number of vandalism attacks on churches and monasteries ahead of a visit by Pope Francis.

Census: More Americans biking to work Posted: 08 May 2014 12:43 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans are biking to work, though their numbers are still tiny compared to those in cars.

Coca-Cola to close 2 fruit-juice plants in Russia Posted: 08 May 2014 12:42 PM PDT US beverage giant Coca-Cola will close two fruit-juice factories in Russia in the coming months because of falling demand, a company spokesman told AFP Thursday. The plants belong to its Russian subsidiary Nidan, which The Coca-Cola Company, the world's largest soft-drink maker, acquired in 2010. The Atlanta, Georgia-based company said it was transferring the Moya Semy juice brand from those plants to its other Russian juice maker, Multon.

Senators warn of carcinogen risk with e-cigarettes Posted: 08 May 2014 12:40 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight members of the U.S. Senate are calling on the Food and Drug Administration to examine new research suggesting that some electronic cigarettes can produce dangerous carcinogens similar to those from traditional cigarettes.

Oil falls to near $100 after China trade data Posted: 08 May 2014 12:38 PM PDT The price of oil declined Thursday but stayed above $100 a barrel after data showed subdued imports by China, the world's largest crude consumer.

Oklahoma attorney general agrees to execution stay Posted: 08 May 2014 12:31 PM PDT OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma's attorney general agreed Thursday to a six-month stay of execution for a death row inmate while an investigation is conducted into last week's botched lethal injection.

Dangerous Syrian chemicals in inaccessible area Posted: 08 May 2014 12:31 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of the mission charged with destroying Syria's chemical weapons said Thursday the last 16 containers of dangerous chemical agents awaiting transport out of the country are in a contested area not far from Damascus that is currently inaccessible.

Prosecutors try to prove Pistorius girlfriend ate before death Posted: 08 May 2014 12:28 PM PDT Prosecutors in the Oscar Pistorius trial on Thursday sought to show that his girlfriend was awake and ate approximately two hours before her death, which would contradict the Paralympian's version of events. State prosecutor Gerrie Nel has argued that the Paralympic gold medallist shot Reeva Steenkamp in a fit of rage, in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year. Nel alleges that Pistorius and his girlfriend argued during the night and that Steenkamp took refuge in the toilet, where she was shot dead by Pistorius. But earlier on Thursday, defence witness Aina Lundgren tried to cast doubt on the state's claim, testifying under cross-examination that gastric emptying -- the speed at which the stomach digests food -- is an \"inexact science\".

South Africa's ANC rolls to victory, boosting Zuma reform clout Posted: 08 May 2014 12:24 PM PDT By Helen Nyambura-Mwaura and Xola Potelwa PRETORIA (Reuters) - The ruling African National Congress (ANC) swept toward victory in South Africa's fifth post-apartheid election on Thursday, handing President Jacob Zuma the clout to push through pro-business reforms in the face of union and leftist opposition. Burdened with sluggish economic growth and damaging strikes in his first term, the scandal-plagued Zuma has devoted less and less time over the last year to the wishes of unions, whose long walkouts have hit confidence in Africa's most developed economy. He has also batted away opposition from the far left, squelching some expectations the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) - led by his former protégé Julius Malema - would ride a wave of populist anger over widespread poverty and unemployment. The ANC, the liberation movement that swept to power two decades ago under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, had won 63 percent of Wednesday's vote with 85 percent of districts counted, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said.

Venezuela arrests hundreds, sparking opposition protest Posted: 08 May 2014 12:22 PM PDT By Eyanir Chinea and Deisy Buitrago CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan security forces on Thursday rounded up hundreds of youth activists and dismantled camps set up as part of protests against President Nicolas Maduro, leading angry residents to stage demonstrations in backlash against the move. Pre-dawn raids by National Guard troops broke up four tent camps maintained by student activists as part of a three-month wave of protests that have steadily waned over recent weeks even as sporadic clashes continue. \"These arrests are irresponsible because this is a peaceful protest and we are not trying to topple the government,\" said Jose Manuel Perez, 22, a student leader. We demand respect for the students.\" Troops on Thursday morning picked up the remnants of the camps, where students from all over the country had lived in tents, chatting and strumming guitars beneath banners with anti-government slogans, such as \"Maduro, assassin.\" Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez said soldiers arrested 243 people, accusing the students of using the camps as a base of operations to stage violent protests.

U.S. lawmakers want Venezuela sanctions; administration says not now Posted: 08 May 2014 12:22 PM PDT By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers pushed on Thursday for sanctions on Venezuelans linked to human rights violations, but Obama administration officials insisted that acting now would harm negotiations between President Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition following weeks of violent protests. Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee she shared lawmakers' concerns about human rights violations in Venezuela and a lack of results from the talks. However, she insisted it was too soon, just a month into the talks, to impose targeted sanctions, such as visa restrictions or freezing assets of individuals.

Rebels level historic Aleppo hotel in Syria Posted: 08 May 2014 12:17 PM PDT HOMS, Syria (AP) — With a gigantic explosion, Syrian rebels on Thursday leveled a historic hotel being used as an army base in the northern city of Aleppo by detonating bomb-packed tunnels beneath it, activists and militants said.

Dish aims to launch Web TV service by year's end Posted: 08 May 2014 12:14 PM PDT LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dish says it plans to launch its Internet-delivered TV service by year's end on mobile devices, game consoles and smart TVs for about $20 to $30 a month. It will contain live sports, entertainment and children's programming.

Strong earthquake shakes Mexico's Pacific coast Posted: 08 May 2014 12:14 PM PDT ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — A strong earthquake shook the southern Pacific coast of Mexico and several states, including the capital on Thursday, sending frightened people into unseasonal torrential rains that were also bearing down on the coast.

US sanctions Syrian government officials Posted: 08 May 2014 12:13 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Stepping up pressure on Syria, the Treasury Department on Thursday sanctioned six Syrian officials and a Russian bank for their alleged support of the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has been fighting opposition forces in a 3-year-old bloody civil war.

Brothers disappointed in HGTV ouster Posted: 08 May 2014 12:11 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Two brothers shown the door by HGTV before their upcoming real estate show made it on the air say that if their Christian faith cost them a shot at TV fame, "then so be it."

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