Hamas admits kidnapping Israeli teens

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• Hamas admits kidnapping Israeli teens
• Liberia gives food in slum sealed to stop Ebola
• US 'concerned' by arrest of American in Israel
• Foley captors demanded $132 million ransom: employer
• Rays get just 1 hit off Price, beat Tigers 1-0
• Pentagon: Islamic State militants will regroup
• Ice bucket challenge goes awry, firefighters hurt
• US reporter expelled from Afghanistan over election story
• Ohio diocese discourages ALS ice bucket challenge
• Alaska serial killer Robert Hansen dies at 75
• S&P 500 cruises to new record
• National Guard ordered out of US riot town
• Judge drops rape charge against ex-Tigers pitcher
• Russian aid convoy advances toward Ukraine
• Israel kills 3 Hamas military commanders in Gaza
• Ex-Virginia governor talks about troubled marriage
• Gov. Nixon taking National Guard out of Ferguson
• Senate Democrats' campaign arm starts ads in Colo.
• U.S. opens criminal probe of journalist Foley's death: Holder
• Torture anime banned at woman's kidnap-rape trial
• Reports: Syria troops kill scores of jihadis
• US judge strikes down Florida gay marriage ban
• Accuser of 'X-Men' director seeks case dismissal
• Thai army ruler named prime minister
• Man behind Ice Bucket Challenge dies in diving accident
• Pakistan parliament rejects calls for PM to quit
• McIlroy stumbles to 74, worst start in 2 months
• Ukraine president pledges to 'talk peace' with Putin
• National Guard to withdraw from riot-torn Ferguson, Missouri
• U.S. government faces high bar charging cop in Ferguson death
• Israeli strikes kill senior Hamas commanders in Gaza
• Guilty plea from marathon bombing suspect's friend
• Teams test out a new helmet, but does it work?
• American Ebola doc: 'I am thrilled to be alive'
• Teen gets 11 years for carving swastika on boy
• Exclusive: France forced to import wheat as rain hits crop quality
• AP NewsAlert
• Supreme Court case to shape Ferguson investigation
• GAO: Pentagon violated law with Bergdahl swap

Hamas admits kidnapping Israeli teens Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:38 PM PDT JERUSALEM (AP) — A senior Hamas leader has said the group carried out the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teens in the West Bank in June — the first time anyone from the Islamic militant group has said it was behind an attack that helped spark the current war in the Gaza Strip.

Liberia gives food in slum sealed to stop Ebola Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:38 PM PDT MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Government officials handed out bags of rice and sachets of drinking water Thursday to residents of an impoverished slum in Liberia's capital where tens of thousands of people have been barricaded in an effort to stop the spread of Ebola.

US 'concerned' by arrest of American in Israel Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:35 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government has raised concerns about Israel's arrest of a Palestinian teenager with American citizenship whose cousin was burned to death by Israeli extremists earlier this summer.

Foley captors demanded $132 million ransom: employer Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:35 PM PDT Journalist James Foley's jihadist captors had demanded a ransom of 100 million euros -- $132 million -- for his release, his employer said Thursday after a video of the American's gruesome execution was made public. "GlobalPost CEO Philip Balboni confirms that the initial ransom demand from Jim Foley's captors was 100 million euros," a spokesman for the news website told AFP. Foley was reporting from Syria for GlobalPost and other outlets including AFP when he was abducted in November 2012, and Balboni had been closely involved in efforts to locate and free the photojournalist. The extremist group, which calls itself the Islamic State, has marauded across large areas of Iraq in recent months.

Rays get just 1 hit off Price, beat Tigers 1-0 Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:33 PM PDT ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — David Price allowed only a first-inning RBI triple to Brandon Guyer in his first start against his former team, and Alex Cobb and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 1-0 Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Pentagon: Islamic State militants will regroup Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:23 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says U.S. airstrikes have helped Iraqi and Kurdish forces regain their footing in Iraq, but he expects Islamic State militants will regroup and stage a new offensive.

Ice bucket challenge goes awry, firefighters hurt Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:23 PM PDT CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The president of a college in central Kentucky says two firefighters were injured while using their fire truck ladder to help the school's marching band take part in an ice bucket challenge.

US reporter expelled from Afghanistan over election story Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:23 PM PDT Afghanistan expelled a New York Times reporter on Thursday, accusing him of links to spy agencies in a furious response to a story he wrote saying government ministers and officials were threatening to seize power. The attorney general said Matthew Rosenberg's article about the country's election crisis was "contrary to the national interests, security and stability of Afghanistan" and ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours. The order was the first expulsion of a journalist from Afghanistan since the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001, highlighting fears for press freedom after 13 years of international aid funding and development. Rosenberg tweeted an image of the attorney general's statement that said: "This is not the first time that this reporter has published propaganda, and it appears that he has links with intelligence and spy agencies." The New York Times article on Tuesday said that senior Afghan officials were discussing forming a committee-run "interim government" to end a stand-off over the disputed result of the presidential election.

Ohio diocese discourages ALS ice bucket challenge Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:21 PM PDT CINCINNATI (AP) — A Roman Catholic diocese in Ohio is discouraging its 113 schools from participating in the ice bucket challenge to benefit the ALS Association, saying the group's funding of embryonic stem cell research is "in direct conflict with Catholic teaching."

Alaska serial killer Robert Hansen dies at 75 Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:19 PM PDT ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Convicted Alaska serial killer Robert Hansen, who abducted women and hunted them down in the Alaska wilderness in the 1970s as Anchorage boomed with construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, died Thursday. He was 75.

S&P 500 cruises to new record Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:15 PM PDT New York (AFP) - The S&P 500 set a new record Thursday as US stocks powered higher, shrugging off geopolitical problems elsewhere and gaining from fresh signs of strength in the US economy.

National Guard ordered out of US riot town Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:14 PM PDT National Guard troops withdrew Thursday from a US town gripped by nearly two weeks of protests over the fatal police shooting of a black teenager, as new details emerged about the white officer who pulled the trigger. Demonstrations in the Missouri town of Ferguson cooled late Wednesday after Attorney General Eric Holder met the parents of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old student shot dead on August 9, igniting protests that frequently turned violent and stirred racial tensions. State troopers and then the National Guard were sent in to improve security, and by Wednesday night, following the Holder visit, tensions on the streets of Ferguson appeared to be easing, with police arresting only six people -- compared to 47 on Tuesday. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said the National Guard, deployed on Monday, were no longer needed.

Judge drops rape charge against ex-Tigers pitcher Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:13 PM PDT DETROIT (AP) — A judge on Thursday dismissed rape charges against former Detroit Tigers pitcher Evan Reed, saying the testimony of the woman who accused him wasn't credible and prosecutors failed to show that force or coercion took place.

Russian aid convoy advances toward Ukraine Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:13 PM PDT KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Fierce fighting raged in eastern Ukraine on Thursday in what appeared to be a last-gasp attempt by government troops to snatch back territory from pro-Russian separatists before the arrival of a Russian aid convoy overseen by the Red Cross.

Israel kills 3 Hamas military commanders in Gaza Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:11 PM PDT GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel stepped up its campaign against Gaza's ruling Hamas on Thursday, killing three of the group's senior military commanders in an airstrike that pulverized a four-story home, the second such attack targeting top leaders in two days.

Ex-Virginia governor talks about troubled marriage Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:40 PM PDT RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former Gov. Bob McDonnell wrote a long, forlorn email to his wife three years ago trying to save his marriage, calling her his "soulmate," yet he also said he grew so weary of her yelling that he began taking refuge in his office late at night rather than go home.

Gov. Nixon taking National Guard out of Ferguson Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:10 PM PDT FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday ordered the Missouri National Guard to begin withdrawing from Ferguson, where nightly scenes of unrest have erupted since a white police officer fatally shot an unarmed black 18-year-old nearly two weeks ago.

Senate Democrats' campaign arm starts ads in Colo. Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:06 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Senate hopeful Cory Gardner's opposition to abortion rights "is way too extreme for Colorado," women voters say in ads Senate Democrats' campaign arm began running Thursday.

U.S. opens criminal probe of journalist Foley's death: Holder Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:05 PM PDT Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation of the death of American journalist James Foley, Attorney General Eric Holder said on Thursday. Foley was beheaded by the Islamist militant group Islamic State, an act shown in a video released on Tuesday in which the group called for the United States to end its air strikes in Iraq. President Barack Obama responded that the United States would be relentless in fighting the organization despite the killing.

Torture anime banned at woman's kidnap-rape trial Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:02 PM PDT PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A young woman charged with abducting a 5-year-old Philadelphia girl from school and raping her had frequently viewed Japanese anime depicting sexual torture, prosecutors disclosed Thursday.

Reports: Syria troops kill scores of jihadis Posted: 21 Aug 2014 01:02 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops killed dozens of jihadi fighters, including a prominent media activist, in heavy clashes on Thursday around a sprawling northern air base that the Islamic State group is trying to seize, activists and state media said.

US judge strikes down Florida gay marriage ban Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:59 PM PDT MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday declared Florida's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, joining state judges in four counties who have sided with gay couples wishing to tie the knot.

Accuser of 'X-Men' director seeks case dismissal Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:56 PM PDT HONOLULU (AP) — A former child model accusing "X-Men" director Bryan Singer of sex abuse in Hawaii said he wants to dismiss the lawsuit — not because it lacks merit but because he can't find a new attorney to represent him.

Thai army ruler named prime minister Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:54 PM PDT BANGKOK (AP) — Three months after overthrowing an elected government, Thailand's junta leader is stepping out of his army uniform to take up the post of prime minister in a move critics say will prolong his rule and bolster the military's grip on power.

Man behind Ice Bucket Challenge dies in diving accident Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:52 PM PDT One of the individuals behind the Ice Bucket Challenge to support Lou Gehrig's disease research has died in a diving accident. Corey Griffin, 27, helped popularize the worldwide trend in which people either pledge $100 to ALS research or record themselves getting drenched by frigid water, then post the stunt online and challenge others to do the same. Griffin jumped into the water from a building on a wharf that was a popular diving spot in Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, early Saturday morning around 2 am (0600 GMT). Griffin then went under water again not resurfacing," the Nantucket Police Department said in a statement.

Pakistan parliament rejects calls for PM to quit Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:46 PM PDT ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's parliament on Thursday rejected calls for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation as unconstitutional despite massive anti-government protests just outside the assembly in the capital Islamabad.

McIlroy stumbles to 74, worst start in 2 months Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:45 PM PDT PARAMUS, N.J. (AP) — Rory McIlroy took a week to celebrate his blockbuster summer and paid for it Thursday in The Barclays.

Ukraine president pledges to 'talk peace' with Putin Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:45 PM PDT Ukraine's president said he will "talk peace" with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by demanding the withdrawal of pro-Kremlin militants from the war-torn east when they meet next week for the first time in months. President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that "the whole world is tired of war" and that he would "call for militants to be pulled out of Ukraine" when he meets Putin for crunch talks in Minsk alongside top EU officials. His strident tone reflects the fact that government forces have made significant gains against the pro-Russian rebels in recent days. A fierce offensive continued on Thursday, with Kiev hoping for a knock-out blow ahead of the fresh round of diplomacy.

National Guard to withdraw from riot-torn Ferguson, Missouri Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:44 PM PDT By Carey Gillam and Scott Malone FERGUSON Mo. (Reuters) - The governor of Missouri ordered the withdrawal on Thursday of National Guard troops from riot-torn Ferguson, where tensions have eased after sometimes violent protests were staged nightly since police killed an unarmed black teenager. Peaceful demonstrations overnight were the calmest street gatherings in the small St. Louis suburb since riots erupted over the Aug. 9 shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer. The controversial shooting by Officer Darren Wilson prompted angry demonstrations along with looting and random gunfire from largely black crowds. Police have used tear gas and heavy armored vehicles to clear the streets and the Missouri National Guard was called in to help.

U.S. government faces high bar charging cop in Ferguson death Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:42 PM PDT St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch expects a local grand jury investigating the killing to take evidence until mid-October, while a federal investigation may take longer and with results just as uncertain. Protesters have called for the arrest of Officer Darren Wilson since the killing of Michael Brown, 18, in Ferguson on Aug. 9. Attorney General Eric Holder answered calls for an independent investigation this week, putting some 40 FBI agents along with prosecutors in his Justice Department's Civil Rights Division on the case despite the legal challenges. Justice Department to prosecute local police for criminal civil rights violations, even when a death results, is the high bar of proving an officer's intent to violate civil rights.

Israeli strikes kill senior Hamas commanders in Gaza Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:40 PM PDT Israeli warplanes assassinated three top Hamas commanders in southern Gaza on Thursday, inflicting a heavy blow on the movement's armed wing after failing to kill its top military chief. As the six-week war between Israel and Hamas raged on leaving truce talks in tatters, a pre-dawn air strike killed three members of the Islamist movement's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades. The Brigades said they were "senior commanders", identifying them as Mohammed Abu Shamala, Raed al-Atar and Mohammed Barhum, and vowed to make Israel pay.

Guilty plea from marathon bombing suspect's friend Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:39 PM PDT BOSTON (AP) — A college friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehv) has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and conspiracy charges.

Teams test out a new helmet, but does it work? Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:38 PM PDT Arkansas coach Bret Bielema proudly posted a message on Twitter last spring that featured the Razorbacks' new helmets — a futuristic design by Riddell called the SpeedFlex that is supposed to be the latest in head protection.

American Ebola doc: 'I am thrilled to be alive' Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:38 PM PDT ATLANTA (AP) — At least one of the two American aid workers who were infected with the Ebola virus was to be discharged Thursday from an Atlanta hospital, a spokeswoman for the aid group he was working for said.

Teen gets 11 years for carving swastika on boy Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:37 PM PDT PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon teenager who carved a swastika into another teen's forehead as he and others tortured the boy has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Exclusive: France forced to import wheat as rain hits crop quality Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:36 PM PDT By Valerie Parent PARIS (Reuters) - France's rain-hit wheat crop has delivered the first shock of the 2014/15 season: the EU's top grower and exporter is buying Lithuanian and British milling wheat to mix with its unusually poor-grade crop to meet contracts signed before the harvest. French exports exceed those of Britain and Lithuania on the world market, but a wet summer has meant France is set to produce more wheat for animal feed and less higher grade bread-making grain this year. The imports are the latest signal that France might struggle to retain its market share of milling wheat exports this season because a large part of its crop is failing to live up to its traditional clients' criteria. During the past 13 years for which Reuters has records, France has only once imported significant amounts of Lithuanian wheat.

AP NewsAlert Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:29 PM PDT MIAMI (AP) — Federal judge rules Florida gay marriage ban unconstitutional, but delays issuing of licenses.

Supreme Court case to shape Ferguson investigation Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:24 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — It started with a bottle of orange juice 30 years ago.

GAO: Pentagon violated law with Bergdahl swap Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:23 PM PDT Congressional investigators say the Pentagon violated the law when it swapped five Taliban leaders for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held prisoner in Afghanistan for five years.

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