| US confirms warrantless searches of Americans Posted: 01 Apr 2014 02:50 PM PDT  Letter says NSA searched for Americans' communications within material on foreigners.
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| Obama declares victory in health care debate Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:59 PM PDT  Says 7.1 million Obamacare sign-ups prove "the Affordable Care Act is here to stay."
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| GM CEO hints at possible victims' compensation fund Posted: 01 Apr 2014 02:29 PM PDT  By Ben Klayman and Eric Beech WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Motors Co CEO Mary Barra on Tuesday called her company's slow response to at least 13 deaths linked to faulty ignition switches "unacceptable," but could not give U.S. lawmakers many answers as to what went wrong as she pointed to an ongoing internal investigation. After taking an oath administered by House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy, Barra kicked off the contentious hearing by declaring, "I am deeply sorry" for the company's failure to respond quickly to the safety problem and subsequent deaths. Representative Henry Waxman, a veteran Democrat who has spearheaded past attempts to tighten U.S. laws on automotive safety, bluntly told Barra: "Because GM didn't implement this simple fix when it learned about the problem, at least a dozen people have died in defective GM vehicles." GM first learned of a problem with its ignition switches on Chevrolet Cobalts, Saturn Ions and other models in 2001, documents have shown, but took no steps to recall any cars until this past February.
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| World Health Organization downplays extent of Ebola outbreak Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:25 PM PDT  By Saliou Samb CONAKRY (Reuters) - The World Health Organization on Tuesday played down the extent of an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus suspected to have killed over 80 in Guinea, a day after medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) warned of an unprecedented epidemic. MSF has warned they face an uphill task because the infections are scattered across several locations, most worryingly in Guinea's densely populated capital Conakry. It blasted governments and international public health organizations for not doing enough to tackle it. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the number of suspected and confirmed cases in Guinea was unchanged from the previous day at 122, of whom 80 had died.
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| U.S. Bishops pass communion through Mexico border fence Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:00 PM PDT  NOGALES, Arizona (AP) — Roman Catholic leaders made a rare visit to the border and celebrated Mass on Tuesday in the shadow of the fence separating the U.S. and Mexico, offering Holy Communion through the steel barrier to people on the Mexican side as they sought to bring attention to the plight of immigrants.
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| Palestinian president blasts Israel after prisoner deadline passes Posted: 01 Apr 2014 12:25 PM PDT  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed more than a dozen international conventions on Tuesday citing anger at Israel's delay of a prisoner release, in a move jeopardized U.S. efforts to salvage fragile peace talks. His unexpected decision came just a day before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had been due to travel to Ramallah for talks aimed at finalizing a complex, three-way deal that would enable the talks to continue into 2015. Israel had promised in exchange to free more than 100 prisoners by the end of March, but failed to release the final batch, saying it wanted guarantees that the Palestinians would extend the negotiations beyond the April 29 deadline. In his remarks to Palestinian leaders in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Abbas made clear he was not abandoning the negotiations, but blasted Israel's delay in freeing prisoners.
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| Behind the scenes with 'Rosie the Riveters' at the White House Posted: |
| GM CEO in the hot seat over recall deaths Posted: 01 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT  New chief grilled on why automaker used part that didn't meet GM's own specifications.
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| Why Jonathan Pollard provokes passions Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:02 AM PDT  American seen as the Edward Snowden of his day eyed as Mideast peace incentive.
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| Ryan budget proposal slashes $5.1 trillion—and food stamps—over decade Posted: 01 Apr 2014 02:32 PM PDT  The updated Republican plan cuts food stamps, health care for the poor, and Pell Grants.
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| Back problems sideline Wood for Masters Posted: 01 Apr 2014 03:47 PM PDT  Tiger Woods announced on Tuesday he would miss next week's Masters after undergoing back surgery for a pinched nerve that has troubled him for months. The world number one pulled out of his traditional Masters warm-up event in Florida last month and released a statement on his website on Tuesday saying he was withdrawing from the first major of 2014, starting at Augusta National on April 10. "After attempting to get ready for the Masters, and failing to make the necessary progress, I decided, in consultation with my doctors, to have this procedure done," said Woods. "I'd like to express my disappointment to the Augusta National membership, staff, volunteers and patrons that I will not be at the Masters.
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| GM CEO in the hot seat over recall deaths Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:32 AM PDT  New chief tells Congress she's "disturbed" automaker weighed cost of fixing ignitions.
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| Bieber photographer wants to prevent future assaults Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:53 AM PDT  MIAMI (AP) — A celebrity photographer sought to boost the potential damages he could win from Justin Bieber in a lawsuit that accuses the singer and a bodyguard of battery in a confrontation outside a recording studio.
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| Boy Scouts boot openly gay leader Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:49 AM PDT  The organization removes the scoutmaster for "deliberately" promoting his sexuality.
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| France's Hollande seeks fresh start as new PM begins Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:18 AM PDT  Francois Hollande launched what he has billed as a fresh start to his unpopular 22-month-old presidency on Tuesday, as new prime minister Manuel Valls took up his post and set about forming a reshuffled government. The 51-year-old centrist, who as tough-talking interior minister has consistently been Hollande's most popular minister in surveys, replaced Jean-Marc Ayrault who quit following the ruling Socialist Party's rout in weekend local elections. While Valls is a public favorite, including with conservative voters, his centrist views make him more controversial with the left wing of the Socialist Party. Speculation has centered on whether Pierre Moscovici will remain in the powerful finance minister's job, while coalition sources have also talked about a possible return to government for Segolene Royal, Hollande's ex-partner and a former Socialist presidential candidate.
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| British sniper's bullet took out suicide bomber, Taliban insurgents Posted: 01 Apr 2014 03:40 AM PDT  A single shot from a British sniper killed six Taliban insurgents when the bullet hit the trigger switch of a would-be suicide bomber's device, the Ministry of Defence has said. The 20-year-old marksman, a lance corporal in the Coldstream Guards, fired the shot from 850 metres away, hitting the device which then exploded, killing the bomber and five men around him, an MoD spokesman said. Lt. Col. Richard Slack, commanding officer of 9/12 Royal Lancers, told The Daily Telegraph the unnamed soldier also prevented another major attack as a second suicide vest packed with 20 kgs (44lbs) of explosives was found nearby. "There was a pause on the radio and the sniper said, 'I think I've just shot a suicide bomber'.
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| Obamacare enrollment drive’s secret weapon: Radio Posted: 01 Apr 2014 03:01 AM PDT  In the home stretch, the administration turned to a century-old technology to sell the ACA.
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| New report details racial gap among U.S.children Posted: 01 Apr 2014 12:07 AM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — In every region of America, white and Asian children are far better positioned for success than black, Latino and American Indian children, according to a new report appealing for urgent action to bridge this racial gap.
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| Sources: U.S. considers release of Israeli spy Pollard Posted: 31 Mar 2014 09:35 PM PDT  JERUSALEM (AP) — The United States is talking with Israel about releasing convicted spy Jonathan Pollard early from his life sentence as an incentive to the Israelis in the troubled Mideast peace negotiations, people familiar with the talks said Monday. Releasing Pollard, a thorn in U.S.-Israeli relations for three decades, would be an extraordinary step underscoring the urgency of U.S. peace efforts.
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| Palestinians resume bid for further UN recognition Posted: 01 Apr 2014 04:05 PM PDT  RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — In a surprise move that could derail U.S. peace efforts, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday resumed a campaign for further international recognition of a state of Palestine, despite a previous promise to suspend such efforts during nine months of negotiations with Israel.
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| 13 GM traffic deaths are tied to a 57-cent part Posted: 01 Apr 2014 02:56 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The fix for a faulty ignition switch linked to 13 traffic deaths would have cost just 57 cents, members of Congress said Tuesday as they demanded answers from General Motors' new CEO on why the automaker took 10 years to recall cars with the defect. |
| Industry group seeks continuous flight tracking Posted: 01 Apr 2014 04:49 PM PDT  KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — An aviation industry group is creating a task force to make recommendations this year for continuously tracking commercial airliners because "we cannot let another aircraft simply vanish" like Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
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| Atlanta archbishop apologizes for posh residence Posted: 01 Apr 2014 12:57 PM PDT  ATLANTA (AP) — Archbishop Wilton Gregory seems to have gotten the pope's message about modest living.
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| California's $425M Powerball winner comes forward Posted: 01 Apr 2014 04:32 PM PDT MILPITAS, Calif. (AP) — The sole winner of February's $425 million Powerball jackpot came forward to claim his prize Tuesday. |
| Union question looms as Northwestern practices Posted: 01 Apr 2014 03:05 PM PDT  EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — When members of Northwestern's football team had the chance to sign union cards back in January, some players signed their names, others did not.
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| Malaysian credibility in jet hunt challenged again Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:24 AM PDT  KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — It may mean little to investigators that the last words air traffic controllers heard from the lost jetliner were "Good night, Malaysian three-seven-zero," rather than "All right, good night." But to Malaysian officials whose credibility has been questioned almost from the beginning, it means a great deal.
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| Obama signs bill temporarily fixing Medicare fees Posted: 01 Apr 2014 03:05 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama Tuesday signed into law legislation to give doctors temporary relief from a flawed Medicare payment formula that threatened them with a 24 percent cut in their fees. |
| Woods has back surgery, will miss the Masters Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:06 PM PDT  Tiger Woods chose surgery to heal his ailing back over a quest for another green jacket, announcing Tuesday that he will miss the Masters for the first time in his career.
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| Outgunned Ukraine strives for military overhaul Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:45 AM PDT  KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Tanks headed north into Ukraine this week from Russian-controlled Crimea. Not at the head of an invading army, but on a trainload of military equipment in such poor shape that Moscow had no use for it.
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| Crowe meets Anglican leader after 'Noah' premiere Posted: 01 Apr 2014 12:20 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — The pope said no but the leader of the world's Anglicans was happy to meet Russell Crowe, star of watery Biblical epic "Noah."
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| Congress demands answers from GM's CEO on defect Posted: 01 Apr 2014 02:00 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The fix for a faulty ignition switch linked to 13 traffic deaths would have cost just 57 cents, members of Congress said Tuesday as they demanded answers from General Motors' new CEO on why the automaker took 10 years to recall cars with the defect. |
