(AP) US economy adds 74K jobs, rate falls to 6.7 pct.By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABERAP Economics WriterWASHINGTONU.S. employers added a scant 74,000 jobs in December, the fewest in three years. The disappointing gain ends 2013 on a weak note and could
(AP) Syrian army kills dozens of rebels in central cityBEIRUTSyrian state media and anti-government activists say army troops have killed dozens of rebels who tried to break the military’s siege on opposition-held areas of the central city of Homs. The
(AP) France: Miley, Britney videos only OK after darkPARISMiley Cyrus and Britney Spears are too racy for daytime French TV. France’s broadcast watchdog says TV channels should only show Cyrus’ video for “Wrecking Ball” and Spears’ video for “Work B(asterisk)(asterisk)tch”
(AP) Indian diplomat indicted in NY, leaves USBy LARRY NEUMEISTERAssociated PressNEW YORKAn Indian diplomat accused of lying about how much she paid her housekeeper was indicted Thursday on two criminal charges, though prosecutors told a judge that she had been
A Canadian student’s request not to interact with female peers on religious grounds provoked a national debate Thursday on how far secular institutions should go to accommodate faith. The unusual case also has set the young man’s sociology professor, who
By JOHN RABYAssociated PressCHARLESTON, W.Va.West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency for five counties Thursday night because of a chemical spill into the Elk River in Charleston, advising residents not to drink, bathe, cook or wash
On Dec. 17, the Turkish public watched the largest government corruption scandal in their history unfold before their eyes. Bribery schemes, gold-for-oil-trades, and shoe boxes stuffed with $4.5 million dominated news coverage. Within a week, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had fired
(AP) Some find health insurers have no record of themBy TOM MURPHY and RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVARAssociated PressINDIANAPOLISRecord-keeping snags could complicate the start of insurance coverage this month as people begin using policies they purchased under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.Insurance
(AP) Deep freeze may have cost economy about $5 billionBy STEVE KARNOWSKIAssociated PressMINNEAPOLISHunkering down at home rather than going to work, canceling thousands of flights and repairing burst pipes from the Midwest to the Southeast has its price. By one
(AP)By JOSH LEDERMANAssociated PressWASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama is setting up a panel to study the United States’ energy strategy and then report to the president every four years. In a presidential memorandum, Obama says the U.S. needs a comprehensive, coordinated strategy
(AP)By STEVE ROTHWELLAP Markets WriterThe price of corn fell to its lowest level in nearly 3 1/2 years ahead of a government report that could show supplies are abundant following a bumper crop in the U.S. U.S. farmers had a
(AP) Stewart vows to do job 100 percent upon returnBy JENNA FRYERAP Auto Racing WriterDAYTONA BEACH, Fla.Tony Stewart says he’ll be ready to race at full speed when the NASCAR season opens next month. The three-time NASCAR champion missed the
According to a poll released Thursday from Investors Business Daily and TIPP, twenty percent of Democrats now oppose Obamacare, and over one in six want to see President Obama’s signature program repealed completely. A whopping 55 percent of Americans are
On Wednesday, Quinnipiac University released a new poll which showed that while half of Americans believe an increase in the minimum wage will kill jobs, a vast majority of the American people want the minimum wage increased. Overall, 71 percent
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Easy on the cinnamon! That advice from Denmark’s food authority has rankled pastry chefs whose cinnamon rolls were found to violate the European Union’s spice rules. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration recently discovered that Danish
(AP) Christie fires aide, apologizes for traffic jamsBy ANGELA DELLI SANTI and GEOFF MULVIHILLAssociated PressTRENTON, N.J.Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday apologized to his constituents and said he was “embarrassed and humiliated” by his staff but had no idea his aides
(AP) Man crashes into Conn. gas station, steals bananaNEWINGTON, Conn.Call it the case of the banana-eating bandit. Police in Connecticut say they’re looking for a man who smashed his vehicle into a gas station in Newington, swiped a banana from
(AP) Dead cows stun beachgoers in Sweden, DenmarkCOPENHAGEN, DenmarkThe carcasses of almost a dozen cows have washed ashore in Denmark and Sweden, puzzling police in the Scandinavian countries. Since Dec. 29, eight dead cows have been found by people strolling
(AP) Israel: Ex-PM Sharon’s condition worsensJERUSALEMThe Israeli hospital treating Ariel Sharon says the former prime minister has deteriorated further and he is now in `grave’ condition. Sharon, who has been comatose since suffering a stroke eight years ago, suffered a
Afghanistan on Thursday said it would release scores of suspected Taliban fighters from jail, despite US objections that the men are “dangerous individuals” who could return to the battlefield as NATO troops withdraw. A meeting chaired by Afghan President Hamid
(AP) Google launches private ferry service for workersSAN FRANCISCOGoogle workers commuting from San Francisco to the company’s Mountain View campus can now make the trip on an 83-foot, Wi-Fi-equipped catamaran. The San Jose Mercury News reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1e5eDt3 ) that
The National Broadcasting Co., which paid $775 million to cover the Sochi Olympics, insists it won’t be used by Russian president Vladimir Putin when the 2014 Winter Games begin February 6. Mark Lazarus, chairman of the NBC Sports Group, said
(AP) Food companies cut 6.4 trillion caloriesBy MARY CLARE JALONICKAssociated PressWASHINGTONSome of the nation’s largest food companies have cut calories in their products by more than 6.4 trillion, according to a new study. The study sponsored by the Robert Wood
(AP) Bombing kills 21 at Iraq army recruiting centerBy QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and ADAM SCHRECKAssociated PressBAGHDADA suicide bomber blew himself up at a military recruiting center in Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 21 people in an attack likely meant to
(AP) Forced abortion highlights abuses in China policyBy DIDI TANGAssociated PressBEIJINGWhen her mind is clear, Gong Qifeng can recall how she begged for mercy. Several people pinned her head, arms, knees and ankles to a hospital bed before driving a
