| Crimean village sharply divided by crisis Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:26 PM PST  There's little left to the once-secretive community of Novo-Ozerne -- but Russia wants it.
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| Potential jurors face bin Laden's son-in-law at NYC trial Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:51 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Osama bin Laden's son-in-law was introduced to prospective jurors on Monday at the start of his trial on charges that he conspired to kill Americans and support terrorists in his role as al-Qaida's spokesman after the Sept. 11 attacks.
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| Epilepsy group asks gov't to reclassify marijuana, drops warning Posted: 03 Mar 2014 01:48 PM PST  A medical group of epilepsy experts on Monday called on the federal government to reconsider classifying marijuana as a dangerous drug so its impact on seizures can be studied.
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| Map uses census data to show how baby names spread Posted: 03 Mar 2014 12:36 PM PST  A new interactive graphic shows the ebb and flow of baby name popularity over time. Creator Brian Rowe used census data to show the prevalence of more than 29,000 baby names across the country, state-by-state. Sophia, the No. 1 name for girls, takes off in the late 1990s, with Rhode Island leading the pack in proportion of girls with this name. Other names are newbies: Neveah, which is "heaven" spelled backwards and often tops lists of most-hated baby names, doesn't appear on Census records until 2001.
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| What's behind Putin’s actions on Ukraine? Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:57 AM PST  The Russian president has yet to address his nation, so the full calculus behind Moscow's stunning weekend decision to assert its right to use military force "on the territory of Ukraine" remains a matter of guesswork. But judging from officials' public comments and interviews with Kremlin-connected analysts, it appears that Russia sees itself as acting defensively to protect fellow Russians in Crimea, and possibly Russian-speakers in other parts of eastern Ukraine. The threat, in their eyes: a Western-inspired "coup d'état" in Kiev, which brought an illegitimate, minority-backed, and anti-Russian government to power in Ukraine. Ukraine is not only one of Russia's closest neighbors and trade partners, but also a land whose eastern half was part of Moscow-led states for over 300 years.
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| Sushi and sleep: World's oldest person shares her secrets Posted: 03 Mar 2014 10:19 AM PST  Seeking advice on how to live a long time? You could do a lot worse than Misao Okawa. The Japanese woman will turn 116 on Wednesday.
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| 3D printer produces custom-fit pacemaker Posted: 03 Mar 2014 10:16 AM PST  Scientists have designed an artificial heart membrane that may one day revolutionize pacemakers. Using a 3D printer, high-resolution images and computer modeling, researchers at the University of Illinois and Washington University created a 3D replica of a rabbit's heart then used it as a template...
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| U.S. and Russia trade sharp words at U.N. Posted:  Live blog: Latest developments and exclusive video on the crisis in Ukraine.
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| Trial to offer rare window into claims against Kansas military school Posted: 03 Mar 2014 10:59 AM PST  WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — For years, a Kansas military boarding school has quietly settled multiple lawsuits alleging cadet abuse outside of courtrooms.
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| Cruz steering Texas Republicans further right in primary fights Posted: 03 Mar 2014 09:40 AM PST  By Jon Herskovitz and Marice Richter AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The longest shadow in Tuesday's primary election in Texas is being cast by a politician not even in the running, freshman U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican. Cruz, just two years into his first major elected office, has arguably become the most loved politician among Republicans in Texas, an incubator for national conservative policies where the party dominates the statehouse and has not lost a statewide race since 1994. Cruz has turned an already right-leaning Texas Republican Party even further to the right, analysts said. "Cruz scared the daylights out of center and center-right conservatives to the extent that they do not feel comfortable enough to run on their true positions and feel compelled to cater to the most conservative elements of the Texas Republican primary electorate," said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston.
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| High court to consider cases on teeth-whitening, inmate's facial hair Posted: 03 Mar 2014 12:30 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Facial hair and teeth-whitening will be getting unusually prominent attention from the Supreme Court.
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| First lady plans visit to China Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:22 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama plans a weeklong solo visit to China this month that includes meetings with China's first lady and high school and university students.
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| Obama's 2015 budget appeals to Democrats Posted: 03 Mar 2014 02:45 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Striving for unity among Democrats rather than compromise with Republicans, President Barack Obama will unveil an election-year budget on Tuesday that drops earlier proposals to cut future Social Security benefits and seeks new money for infrastructure, education and job training.
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| Sunken Great Lakes oil pipeline raises spill fears Posted: 03 Mar 2014 02:50 PM PST  TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A freshwater channel that separates Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas is a premier Midwestern tourist attraction and a photographer's delight, offering spectacular vistas of two Great Lakes, several islands and one of the world's longest suspension bridges.
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| Witness at Pistorius trial recalls hearing screams Posted: 03 Mar 2014 12:36 PM PST  PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — "Bang ... bang, bang, bang."
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| Friends common source of abused prescription meds Posted: 03 Mar 2014 01:44 PM PST CHICAGO (AP) — Most people who abuse addictive prescription painkillers get them for free from friends or relatives, while drug dealers are a relatively uncommon source for those at highest risk for deadly overdoses, a government study found. |
| Harsh US winter extends into March Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:59 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — On the latest snow day in a winter full of them, residents of parts of the South, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast were coping with several inches of snow on top of a layer of slush.
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| AP source: Jason Collins to get second 10-day deal Posted: 03 Mar 2014 04:36 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Collins spent part of his off day on Sunday shopping at Costco.
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| Ellen's Oscar celeb selfie a landmark media moment Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:21 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Ellen DeGeneres' celeb-studded selfie from the most-watched Oscars telecast in a decade was a landmark social media moment at a time online conversation is boosting television viewership and vice versa.
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| Gates back on top of Forbes' billionaire rankings Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:14 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is back on top of the list of the world's richest people.
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| Cold weather heats up sales for some companies Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:03 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — The harsh winter has been rough for some businesses, but for a lucky few, the frigid weather means more cold, hard cash.
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| Court skeptical of IQ scores in deciding execution Posted: 03 Mar 2014 12:12 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court indicated Monday that states should look beyond an intelligence test score in borderline cases of mental disability to determine whether a death row inmate is eligible to be executed.
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| US, Europeans try to rally Western front vs Russia Posted: 03 Mar 2014 03:56 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S and major allies strained on Monday to rally a strong Western front to persuade Russia to step back from a military takeover of Ukraine's strategic Crimea region. But several acknowledged there are few options beyond already-threatened economic and diplomatic penalties, and critics said administration efforts were too little, too late after years of pressing for friendlier relations with Moscow.
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| A look at Russian, Ukrainian militaries Posted: 03 Mar 2014 01:03 PM PST MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has effectively seized control of Ukraine's strategic Crimean peninsula without firing a shot, but many in Ukraine and elsewhere fear the Kremlin might follow up by sending troops into Russian-speaking regions of eastern Ukraine. Such a move could trigger open hostilities between the Russian and Ukrainian militaries. Here's a look at the two forces: |
| Invasion of Ukraine isn't Putin's only option Posted: 03 Mar 2014 02:25 PM PST  MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin knows there is little the West can do to get him to reverse his mobilization in Crimea, or to stop him from sending additional troops into other parts of Ukraine. But trade sanctions against Russia could be painful, and there are ways for him to get what he wants — keeping Ukraine from slipping out of his grasp — without ratcheting up the military pressure.
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| Pistorius trial: Neighbor heard 'bloodcurdling screams' Posted: 03 Mar 2014 12:04 PM PST  South African Paralympian star Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty Monday to murdering his girlfriend as his trial opened with a neighbour's account of "bloodcurdling" screams before shots rang out on the night of the killing. Pistorius, whose trial is being broadcast live around the world, faces a life sentence if convicted of the fatal Valentine's Day shooting of model and reality television star Reeva Steenkamp a year ago. After a state prosecutor charged that Pistorius "unlawfully and intentionally did kill" Steenkamp, he entered a plea of "not guilty, my lady". Pistorius, 27, a double amputee sporting hero known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre running blades, also pleaded not guilty to three unrelated gun charges.
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| Another week, another winter storm hits eastern U.S. Posted: 03 Mar 2014 08:07 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Winter kept its icy hold on much of the country Monday, with snow falling and temperatures dropping as schools and offices closed and people from the South and Mid-Atlantic to Northeast reluctantly waited out another storm indoors.
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| '12 Years a Slave,' 'Gravity' top 2014 Oscars Posted:  The slavery drama takes home Best Picture, while the sci-fi epic wins seven awards.
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| Obama says Russia on 'wrong side of history' on Ukraine Posted: 03 Mar 2014 04:18 PM PST  Europe and Washington appear to have limited options as Putin flexes his military muscle.
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| A Cold War reprise as U.S. seeks Moscow's isolation Posted: 03 Mar 2014 04:31 AM PST  The U.S. and its allies weigh sanctions on Moscow in response to Russia's advances.
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| Pistorius murder trial begins, pleads not guilty Posted: 03 Mar 2014 01:51 AM PST PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty Monday to murdering his girlfriend on Valentine's Day last year, marking the start of the Olympian's murder trial that had South Africans watching live broadcasting of the proceedings against their country's most famous living citizen. |
| G7 leaders condemn Russia over Ukraine Posted: 02 Mar 2014 08:27 PM PST  The leaders of the world's top industrialized powers turned on fellow G8 member Russia for its "clear" violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, withdrawing from preparations for June's G8 summit in Sochi. Symbolically billing themselves as the "G7," the leaders said Russia's actions were incompatible with the Group of Eight Nations, which Moscow joined in 1997, and said they would stay out of the Black Sea resort summit until the G8 can return to "meaningful" dialogue. The leaders said they joined together to "condemn the Russian Federation's clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in contravention of Russia's obligations under the UN Charter and its 1997 basing agreement with Ukraine." "We call on Russia to address any ongoing security or human rights concerns that it has with Ukraine through direct negotiations, and/or via international observation or mediation under the auspices of the UN or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe."
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| Pistorius trial witness: 'bloodcurdling screams' then shots Posted: 03 Mar 2014 01:53 PM PST  By David Dolan PRETORIA (Reuters) - The first witness at Oscar Pistorius' murder trial told the court on Monday she heard "bloodcurdling screams" from a woman followed by shots, a dramatic opening to a case that could see one of global sport's most admired role models jailed for life. Taking the stand after the Paralympic and Olympic star pleaded not guilty to murdering his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day last year, neighbor Michelle Burger testified that she was woken in the middle of the night by a woman shouting for help. "I was still sitting in the bed and I heard her screams," Burger, who lives 177 meters (194 yards) from Pistorius' home in an adjacent housing complex, told the Pretoria High Court. Thinking it was a violent break-in - a possibility in crime-ridden South Africa - Burger said her husband called the private security firm guarding their upmarket Pretoria housing estate before the pair heard more shouts.
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