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Beatles' lyrics headed for British Library
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:13:03 -0400
LONDON (AP) — Shakespeare, the Magna Carta — and now some of John Lennon's finest lyrics.
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IRS official refuses to answer questions at scandal hearing
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:56 -0400
By Kim Dixon and Patrick Temple-West WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of a scandal about extra tax scrutiny of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday she had done nothing wrong but invoked her constitutional right not to answer questions. Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS tax-exempt unit, angered lawmakers by reading a statement before refusing to testify, but she was dismissed from the hearing with a warning that she could be called back for another appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. ...
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IRS official Lerner: 'I did nothing wrong'
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:32 -0400
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency's targeting of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong in the episode, and then invoked her constitutional right to refuse to answer lawmakers' questions.
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UK official: London attack could be terror-related
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:55 -0400
LONDON (AP) — A British official says a violent attack near a London barracks is being investigated as a possible terrorist act.
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Bernanke suggests Fed not ready to pull back on stimulus
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:42 -0400
By Pedro da Costa and Alister Bull WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's monetary stimulus is helping the U.S. economy recover but the U.S. central bank needs to see further signs of traction before taking its foot off the gas, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday. In testimony that offered little sign he is ready to retreat from the Fed's latest round of bond buying, Bernanke emphasized the high costs of unemployment and inflation that continues to run below the Fed's target. ...
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Complaint accuses Exxon Mobil of anti-gay bias
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:10:09 -0400
NEW YORK (AP) — One after another, major U.S. corporations have updated anti-discrimination policies to protect gay, lesbian and transgender workers, drawing plaudits from gay-rights groups. There's one prominent exception: Exxon Mobil Corp.
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State-backed banks gain approval for capital plans
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:09:24 -0400
By Matt Scuffham and Steve Slater LONDON (Reuters) - State-backed British lenders Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland have agreed plans to shore up their capital with the financial regulator, removing a barrier to the government offloading its shares. The regulator said on Wednesday it had finalised capital requirements for the two banks and the lenders had submitted their plans. Both banks said they did not need to issue new equity and could raise the necessary capital by selling assets and through their restructurings, which are already under way. ...
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Bernanke signals Fed to maintain stimulus efforts
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:07:08 -0400
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Wednesday that the U.S. job market remains weak and that it is too soon for the Federal Reserve to slow its extraordinary stimulus programs.
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House committee passes Iran sanctions legislation
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:03:28 -0400 WASHINGTON (AP) — A new push to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions by crippling the country's economy is gathering momentum on Capitol Hill. |
AP PHOTOS: Nigeria prepares to bury writer Achebe
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:03:10 -0400
OGIDI, Nigeria (AP) — Writer Chinua Achebe, whose works focused on the conflict between modernity and the way of life in rural Nigeria, has returned home for the final time.
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NY funeral for student accidentally shot by police
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:02:31 -0400
SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. (AP) — Weeping filled a church Wednesday during a funeral for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police responding to a Long Island home invasion, with friends describing her fearlessness and love of life — riding bikes, climbing trees, going to more concerts than they could count.
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Weak yen a help for Japan, but headache elsewhere
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:16 -0400
TOKYO (AP) — A steady fall in the value of the yen is proving a godsend for exporters such as Toyota. The cheaper yen is making their products more affordable overseas.
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One block: How neighbors saw twister's deadly path
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:05 -0400
MOORE, Okla. (AP) — Dan Garland could feel the latch on the shelter door begin to turn in his hand. It was as if the storm outside were a living, breathing thing — and it was trying desperately to get in.
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Officials: Suspect lunged at FBI agent with knife
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:57:50 -0400
BOSTON (AP) — Law enforcement officials say a man was shot while he was being questioned in the Boston Marathon bombing case after he lunged at an FBI agent with a knife.
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Police: 1 dead, 2 injured in attack in London
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:57:23 -0400
LONDON (AP) — One person has died and at least two people were wounded in a violent attack near a military training barracks in London, British officials said Wednesday, as Prime Minister David Cameron called an emergency meeting in response.
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Oklahoma tornado damage could top $2 billion
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:57:21 -0400
MOORE, Okla. (AP) — The cost of a massive tornado that battered an Oklahoma City suburb could be more than $2 billion, according to a preliminary official estimate announced Wednesday. State authorities meanwhile said two infants were among the 24 people who perished in the twister.
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Judge: Hollister clothing unfriendly to disabled
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:56:11 -0400 DENVER (AP) — A federal judge in Denver is contemplating an injunction against Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and J.M. Hollister LLC after ruling earlier that nearly 250 of their clothing stores that cater to a hip, young clientele are unfriendly to the disabled. |
Bahrain opposition group snubs crisis talks
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:55:42 -0400 MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Bahrain's main Shiite opposition group says it will temporarily boycott talks aimed at easing the Gulf nation's more than two-year unrest because of increased crackdowns by security forces. |
Miliband says Google tax behaviour "wrong"
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:55:39 -0400
By Andrew Osborn and Costas Pitas LONDON (Reuters) - Google Inc's tax affairs came under renewed scrutiny in Britain on Wednesday when the leader of the opposition Labour party accused the Internet company of wrongly going to "extraordinary lengths" to avoid paying tax. In comments designed to politically outflank Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of next month's G8 summit on what has become a high-profile issue, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said he was disappointed that Google paid so little tax. "I can't be the only person here who feels disappointed that such a great company as Google ...
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AP Source: Coach K returning to US men's team
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:15:33 -0400 Mike Krzyzewski had decided to remain coach of the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team. |
Stocks rise on Fed stimulus hopes, home sales
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:55:14 -0400
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are moving higher Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said it was too soon for the central bank to pull back on its economic stimulus programs.
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Israeli air force chief warns of Syrian attacks
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:54:07 -0400 JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's air force chief says his troops need to be ready to act quickly in case of an attack from Syria. |
Senate rejects bid to let states run food stamps
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:47:34 -0400 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has rejected a Republican amendment to turn the federal food stamp program over to the states. |
Intercontinental missile test-launched in Calif.
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:46:37 -0400
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. Air Force launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile from a California base on Wednesday, a month after the test flight was postponed because of tensions with North Korea.
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Twins' Plouffe has concussion, on 7-day DL
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:46:02 -0400
ATLANTA (AP) — The Minnesota Twins placed third baseman Trevor Plouffe on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion Wednesday after he was struck in the head by Dan Uggla's shin while breaking up an attempted double play.
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Fox show brings messy workplaces to television
Wed, 22 May 2013 13:16:13 -0400
NEW YORK (AP) — This time "you're fired" is more than a Donald Trump catchphrase. Fox is turning the firing of real people from real jobs into prime-time entertainment starting this week.
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Woods: Garcia comment hurtful, time to move on
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:44:51 -0400
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — Sergio Garcia apologized to Tiger Woods for saying he would have "fried chicken" at dinner with his rival, a comment that Woods described as hurtful and inappropriate.
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U.S. may boost Syria rebels if Assad won't talk peace
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:44:50 -0400
By Arshad Mohammed and Erika Solomon AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The United States and its allies are ready to increase support for Syria's rebels if President Bashar al-Assad refuses to discuss a political solution to his country's civil war, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday. Rebels called for reinforcements to combat President Bashar al-Assad's forces, which have launched an offensive in recent days against a strategic town backed by Assad's allies from Lebanon's powerful Shi'ite militia Hezbollah. ...
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France says Syria's Assad must give up power to end war
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:44:04 -0400 AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must turn over power to a transitional government in order for a U.S.- and Russian-backed peace conference to have any chance of success, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday. "It is perfectly clear that the main aim of this possible conference is to bring in a transitional government for Syria which will have the full executive power," Fabius said before a meeting of the Friends of Syria alliance in Jordan's capital. "The position of France is ... there has to be a transitional body which will have all the executive power. ... |
Kerry: US, allies, ready to step up aid rebels
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:43:28 -0400
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The United States and its Arab and European allies will step up their support for Syria's opposition to help them "fight for the freedom of their country" if President Bashar Assad's regime doesn't engage in peace talks in good faith, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry vowed Wednesday.
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House preserves its own budget as others face cuts
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:37:20 -0400 WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers are moving to protect Capitol Hill's budget even as they slash programs like education, health research, water projects and housing aid for the poor. |
Syria to decide soon on peace talk participation: minister
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:35:54 -0400 MOSCOW (Reuters) - Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said on Wednesday that President Bashar al-Assad's government would decide soon whether to take part in peace talks with the opposition, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported. Asked whether the Syrian government had committed to a Russian-U.S. effort to hold a peace conference, Mekdad told Itar-TASS: "We are still discussing this question." "A final decision will be taken after our return to Damascus," Mekdad said following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. ... |
House Republicans promote 20-week abortion ban
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:34:41 -0400 WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republican who oppose abortion promoted legislation Wednesday that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. |
EU steps up fight against tax evasion by end 2013
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:33:40 -0400
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's leaders have agreed to push through a major policy to tackle tax evasion by the end of the year.
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Bears LB Urlacher announces his retirement
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:32:12 -0400
CHICAGO (AP) — Star linebacker Brian Urlacher is calling it a career after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.
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Blake Shelton putting together Okla. benefit show
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:32:03 -0400
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Shelton and NBC are putting together a benefit for Oklahoma tornado victims.
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2 infants among 10 kids killed in Oklahoma tornado
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:29:23 -0400
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two infants were among the 24 people killed by the tornado that ripped across the Oklahoma City area this week, the Oklahoma medical examiner's office said Wednesday.
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Stocks surge as Bernanke retains dovish tone
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:28:51 -0400
LONDON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's signal that monetary policy will remain loose gave stocks another lift Wednesday, paving the way for many indexes to advance to new record highs.
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Kerry warns Syria's Assad against rejecting political solution
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:27:44 -0400 By Arshad Mohammed AMMAN (Reuters) - Western governments are ready to increase support to opponents of President Bashar al-Assad if he rejects a political solution to Syria's civil war, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday. Kerry said recent military gains by Assad's forces were only temporary and that if the Syrian leader believed that the counter-offensives against the rebels would be decisive, "then he is miscalculating". ... |
Sathwik Karnik wins National Geographic Bee
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:25:30 -0400 WASHINGTON (AP) — Twelve-year-old Sathwik Karnik of Plainville, Mass., has won the 2013 National Geographic Bee. |