Yahoo! News - Top Stories

Judge apologizes for lag in unsealing documents

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:42:56 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge apologized Wednesday for an 18-month delay in unsealing documents in a case involving an alleged leak of classified information to a reporter.

Man shot to death while questioned in Boston probe

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:42:39 -0400

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Chechen immigrant who was being questioned about his ties to one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects was shot to death early Wednesday after he lunged at an FBI agent with a knife, officials said.

Egypt leader claims victory in captives' release

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:42:11 -0400

CAIRO (AP) — The safe release Wednesday of seven conscripts kidnapped by suspected militants in Sinai brought a victory for Egypt's Islamist president after months of criticism that his government is mismanaging the country.

FDA panel backs experimental Merck insomnia drug

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:41:53 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal panel of medical experts says that an experimental insomnia drug from Merck & Co Inc. appears safe and effective, despite evidence from company trials that the pill can cause daytime sleepiness and difficulty driving.

AG: 4 Americans killed since 2009 in drone strikes

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:41:29 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder says four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes since 2009.

Boy Scout leaders to vote on lifting gay ban

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:40:04 -0400

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — The Boy Scouts of America has started its meeting in which members of its national council are to decide whether to change the group's long-standing ban on openly gay boys.

Vatican releases 1st report of financial watchdog

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:33:10 -0400

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican took another step Wednesday to show greater financial transparency by publishing the first annual report from its financial watchdog agency and announcing new regulations to fight money laundering and terror financing.

With Hezbollah coffins, Syria now exporting conflict

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:32:47 -0400

By Erika Solomon HERMEL, Lebanon (Reuters) - On a country road in Lebanon's northeast, traffic is heavy; ambulances screech by, sirens blaring, and cars packed with mourners follow coffins as Hezbollah brings wounded fighters home from Syria, and its dead. ...

Oklahoma tornado victims astounded at how they survived

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:31:10 -0400

By Carey Gillam and Ian Simpson MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - Tornado survivors thanked God, sturdy closets and luck in explaining how they lived through the colossal twister that devastated an Oklahoma town and killed 24 people, an astonishingly low toll given the extent of destruction. At least one family took refuge in a bathtub and some people shut themselves in underground shelters built into their houses when the powerful storm tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday. ...

Senators warm to transportation nominee

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:28:14 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's nominee for transportation secretary is getting a friendly reception from senators of both parties laced with warnings that the nation needs to make a host of transportation improvements with no clear way to pay for them.

Judge seals affidavit of Maine man in teen's death

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:27:32 -0400

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Police laid out their case Wednesday against a man accused of killing a 15-year-old girl whose body was found in a wooded area miles from her home, but the details remained hidden from public view after a judge sealed a crucial affidavit at the request of the suspect's lawyer.

Man who kidnapped 2 Iowa girls had long record

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:26:08 -0400

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — When Michael Klunder enticed two girls to enter his pickup truck near a rural Iowa school bus stop Monday, it was at least his third kidnapping in a long criminal history in which he was ordered to receive sex offender treatment as a teenager, according to police.

HP's slumps deepens in 2Q as earnings fall 32 pct

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:24:50 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Hewlett-Packard's slump is deepening as the world's largest personal computer maker scrambles to meet the growing demand for more versatile and less expensive mobile devices.

Faith healers charged with murder after 2nd death

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:21:57 -0400

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia couple who believe in faith healing over medicine and who were on probation in their son's pneumonia death were charged with murder Wednesday after a second young child died under what a prosecutor called "eerily similar" circumstances.

Boy achieves family dream with geography bee win

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:19:01 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — Passion for geography runs deep in Sathwik Karnik's family.

Polish man gets quick face transplant after injury

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:18:22 -0400

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A 33-year-old Polish man received a face transplant just three weeks after being disfigured in a workplace accident, in what his doctors said Wednesday is the fastest time frame to date for such an operation. It was Poland's first face transplant.

Soldier charged with videotaping women

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:17:38 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Army soldier has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.

UK officials: Radical Islam drives London attack

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:17:29 -0400

LONDON (AP) — Two U.K. government officials say a brutal attack that left one man dead near a London military barracks appears to have been motivated by radical Islam.

Bears LB Urlacher announces his retirement

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:17:10 -0400

CHICAGO (AP) — Brian Urlacher wasn't sure how dominant he could be any longer, so he's calling it a career after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Who else took the 5th? Baseball star, banker, more

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:15:56 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — The baseball star, the Hollywood 10, Oliver North. And Lois Lerner of the IRS.

Obama threatens veto of House student loan plan

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:14:22 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Wednesday threatened to veto legislation by House Republicans that would avert a doubling of student loan interest rates on July 1 but allow them to vary with the markets going forward.

Stocks fall on news Fed weighed cutting stimulus

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:11:23 -0400

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower on news that several Federal Reserve policymakers favored cutting back on stimulus programs as early as June if the economy continues to improve.

Mexico cartel dominates, torches western state

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:10:00 -0400

LA RUANA, Mexico (AP) — Michoacan is burning. A drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a medieval-like reign of terror.

ND ad agency sues creators of Cartoon Network show

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:09:54 -0400

A North Dakota advertising agency is suing the creators of a Cartoon Network show, alleging that they copied a state marketing campaign.

House panel moves to curb military sexual assaults

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:08:15 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers have approved legislation to stem the growing epidemic of sexual assaults in the military.

Ex-US captain Reyna to direct NYC soccer team

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:08:12 -0400

NEW YORK (AP) — A day after New York City FC was born, Claudio Reyna became the team's first employee.

Kerry: US, allies, ready to step up aid rebels

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:46 -0400

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The U.S. and several key allies looked again Wednesday for a strategy to end Syria's civil war, their united efforts unable at the moment to stem the Assad regime's military gains and Washington still unwilling to join those providing the rebels with lethal military aid.

Arias jury deadlocked but must keep deliberating

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:38 -0400

PHOENIX (AP) — Jurors in the Jodi Arias murder trial told the judge Wednesday they are unable to reach a unanimous verdict on whether the convicted murderer should be sentenced to life in prison or death for killing her one-time boyfriend, prompting the judge to send them back to the deliberation room to work through their differences.

Capsule reviews of new movie releases

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:02:27 -0400

"Before Midnight" — The final scene of 2004's "Before Sunset" was so romantic it drove moviegoers crazy — happily crazy — especially because it was so tantalizingly ambiguous. Jesse and Celine, that appealing (and extremely talkative) couple played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who had fallen in love in the 1995 "Before Sunrise," had reunited at last. In the gorgeous afternoon light of Paris, no less. But we didn't know what would happen next. Nine years later, we have our answer, and it was sure worth the wait. "Before Midnight," the third movie in the Richard Linklater series, is not only as good as the first two, it's arguably better, tackling weightier, trickier issues with wit, humor and breathtaking directness. The setting is still gorgeous — it's a summer vacation in Greece. (Will these two ever venture to an ugly locale?) But the rest is different. Delpy gives Celine a new hardness here, an edge that we saw only a bit in the previous film. And Hawke is extremely effective as a man who adores his partner but is increasingly frustrated with her. It all comes to a head in a humdinger of a fight — just Jesse and Celine in a hotel room, plus a bottle of wine that doesn't get drunk. It gets poured, though, and you'll be so frazzled, you'll want to reach through the screen and chug it down yourself. Rated R for sexual content/nudity and language. 109 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

UK PM: London attack near barracks could be terror

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:32 -0400

LONDON (AP) — A brutal attack in broad daylight near a military barracks in London left one man dead and two suspects hospitalized Wednesday after a shootout with police. British Prime Minister David Cameron said the attack appeared to be terror related.

Twitter adds security measure to logins

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:57:56 -0400

NEW YORK (AP) — Twitter is adding an extra security measure to users' accounts in an effort to prevent unauthorized logins.

Am. Samoa to keep flier miles for govt travelers

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:55:57 -0400

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) — American Samoa plans to take away frequent flier miles from government workers who travel on behalf of the U.S. territory.

Float driver says train seemed still before crash

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:54:42 -0400

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — The driver of a parade float involved in a train wreck that killed four war veterans in Texas told investigators that the oncoming train appeared to be stationary, and that he didn't notice anything was wrong until he saw people jumping from the float, according to documents released Wednesday.

Others who took the 5th: McGwire, Abramoff, North

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:49:53 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — The baseball star, the banker, the Hollywood 10. And Lois Lerner of the IRS.

UK PM: London attack terror could be terror

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:46:59 -0400

Iceland forms center-right govt, halts EU talks

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:45:50 -0400

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — The leader of the center-right Progressive Party was chosen as Iceland's new prime minister Wednesday and promptly announced a halt to talks with the European Union about joining the 27-nation bloc.

Garcetti elected LA mayor after promising jobs

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:42:55 -0400

LOS ANGELES (AP) — City Councilman Eric Garcetti defeated Controller Wendy Greuel to become the next mayor of Los Angeles after a caustic campaign in which he depicted his fellow Democrat as a pawn of powerful labor bosses.

Obama to honor Carole King at White House concert

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:38:35 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is showing singer-songwriter Carole King that she has friends at the White House.

Bernanke says more progress needed before stimulus pullback

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:36:27 -0400

By Pedro da Costa and Alister Bull WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's monetary stimulus is helping the economy recover but the central bank needs to see further signs of traction before taking its foot off the gas, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday. A decision to scale back the $85 billion in bonds the Fed is buying each month could come at one of the central bank's "next few meetings" if the economy looked set to maintain momentum, Bernanke told Congress. But minutes from the Fed's most recent meeting released on Wednesday showed the bar was still relatively high. ...

Amid signs of turmoil, S Sudan says oil will flow

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:32:56 -0400

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Following a lengthy Cabinet meeting, South Sudan's government spokesman said Wednesday that the country will continue to export oil through Sudan and that there had been only a temporary slowdown in production.