The United Nations said Friday that conditions in Somalia have improved enough to downgrade the country’s famine, but the world body’s Food and Agricultural Organization warned that continued assistance is needed to stop the region from slipping back …

AP – msnbc.com • February 02, 2012, 11:32 PM (PST)

Town Hall

NATO mulls paying for Afghan forces after 2014

NATO defense ministers on Friday tackled the controversial issue of how to pay for Afghanistan’s expanding security forces after they assume responsibility for the war in 2014. Since Afghanistan – one of the world’s poorest nations – cannot foot the …

Seattle Times • February 03, 2012, 3:50 AM (PST)

Washington Post

PRESS DIGEST – Russia – Feb 3

The following are some of the leading stories in Russia’s newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. – Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom says it is confused by reports coming from Europe that gas …

Reuters • February 02, 2012, 11:18 PM (PST)

USA Today

Egypt mourns soccer riot victims; thousands march in Cairo

The coffins came down the hill in an intermittent procession Thursday as families focused their rage on police and military forces for not preventing a soccer riot that left 74 people dead and heightened the lawlessness threatening Egypt’s unfinished …

Los Angeles Times • February 02, 2012, 8:05 PM (PST)

CNN

Iran’s Khamenei warns over military strike, oil embargo threat

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday the Islamic Republic would not yield to international pressure to abandon its nuclear course, threatening retaliation for sanctions aimed at Iran’s oil exports. …

YAHOO! • February 03, 2012, 1:48 AM (PST)

Associated Press

Analysis: China security blanket for citizens abroad has limits

In a demonstration of its growing military power, China is increasingly willing to deploy its armed forces to protect Chinese nationals abroad, but analysts say it still lacks the capacity to mount a complex hostage rescue. A crisis in Sudan where 29 …

msnbc.com • February 03, 2012, 1:41 AM (PST)

AP – msnbc.com

North Korea Opens Door to Talks With South Korea

North Korea is open to immediate talks with rival South Korea if Seoul responds to several preconditions for dialogue, a North Korean military official told The Associated Press on Thursday. But Ri Son Gwon, a colonel working for the Policy Department …

ABC News • February 03, 2012, 3:21 AM (PST)

The United Nations said Friday that conditions in Somalia have improved enough to downgrade the country’s famine, but the world body’s Food and Agricultural Organization warned that continued assistance is needed to stop the region from slipping back …

AP – msnbc.com • February 02, 2012, 11:32 PM (PST)

Town Hall

SydFC play it safe with Lavicka successor

Some big names in world football and some familiar faces are being tossed up as candidates to coach Sydney FC next season but the Sky Blues plan to take their time to find the right successor for Vitezslav Lavicka. Sydney announced on Friday Lavicka …

ESPN Soccernet • February 02, 2012, 11:03 PM (PST)

ABC Online

Will you pay for Facebook?

Are you ready to pay for Facebook? You just may. Analyst Foad Fadaghi of Telsyte, an Australian technology research firm, tells news.com.au that premium accounts are an option to increase revenues. As I argued on Wednesday, Facebook now must answer to …

Beta News • February 03, 2012, 2:17 AM (PST)

USA Today

Oil hovers above $96 ahead of key US jobs report

SINGAPORE – Oil prices hovered above $96 a barrel Friday in Asia as traders awaited a key jobs report for evidence about the strength of the U.S. economy. Benchmark crude for March delivery was up 13 cents at $96.49 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore…

Philadelphia Daily News • February 03, 2012, 12:44 AM (PST)

Newt Gingrich accuses Mitt Romney, President Obama of favoring ‘safety net’ over ‘trampoline’

LAS VEGAS – Newt Gingrich today accused both his primary rival, Mitt Romney, and his hoped-for general election opponent, President Obama, of favoring maintaining a social safety net to help the poor rather than helping them get jobs to lift themselves…

Boston Globe • February 03, 2012, 1:41 AM (PST)

Washington Post

NATO mulls paying for Afghan forces after 2014

NATO defense ministers on Friday tackled the controversial issue of how to pay for Afghanistan’s expanding security forces after they assume responsibility for the war in 2014. Since Afghanistan – one of the world’s poorest nations – cannot foot the …

Seattle Times • February 03, 2012, 3:50 AM (PST)

Washington Post

Accused teacher Mark Berndt was target of investigation in 1994

Mark Berndt, the teacher accused of committing lewd acts against nearly two dozen elementary school children, was the target of a police investigation 18 years ago when a female student reported that he had tried to fondle her, authorities said. The …

Los Angeles Times • February 02, 2012, 9:52 PM (PST)

Los Angeles Times

Don Cornelius’ health problems probed by investigators

Authorities investigating the death of "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius continued to sift for clues after he was found in his Encino home Wednesday with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Sources close to the investigation said …

Los Angeles Times • February 02, 2012, 5:49 PM (PST)

CNN

UNITED NATIONS – Security Council ambassadors began working on Thursday on a revised Syria resolution, with references to sanctions removed as bartering focused in good part on the conditions under which President Bashar al-Assad could be asked to cede…

New York Times • February 02, 2012, 10:46 AM (PST)

msnbc.com

Egypt police, protesters clash after soccer riot

CAIRO (AP) – Anger over a deadly soccer riot erupted in fresh clashes that injured nearly 400 people Thursday as security forces fired tear gas at fans and other protesters who accused police of failing to stop the violence. The bloodshed – which comes…

CNN Sports Illustrated • February 02, 2012, 12:34 PM (PST)

USA Today

Palestinians hurl shoes at visiting U.N. chief

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip – Palestinians tried to block the U.N. chief from entering the Gaza Strip and flung shoes at his armored convoy on Thursday, the second day of Ban Ki-moon’s mission to the region to keep informal peace talks alive. About 40 …

CBS News • February 02, 2012, 8:02 AM (PST)

msnbc.com

UN official: SSudan crises need more than $760m

A top U.N. official says South Sudan may need more than the $760 million the agency predicted they would need to cope with the new country’s myriad humanitarian crises. U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos visited South …

AP – msnbc.com • February 02, 2012, 9:42 AM (PST)

Wall Street Journal

Seven aid workers in Yemen freed, U.N. says

Tribesmen in Yemen freed six U.N. aid workers on Thursday, two days after they were kidnapped to secure the release of a jailed man from police custody, one of the hostage-takers said. Valerie Amos, the U.N. emergency relief coordinator, had somewhat …

msnbc.com • February 02, 2012, 10:18 AM (PST)

msnbc.com

It isn’t just the left that’s attacking Mitt Romney for saying he’s "not concerned about the very poor." The right is also in high dudgeon – and not just because Mr. Romney made it easy (again) for his detractors to portray him as an out-of-touch rich …

The Christian Science Monitor • February 02, 2012, 10:32 AM (PST)

CNN

Fan Fight 6: Giants ‘D’ vs. Tom Brady

I’ve challenged Jeremy Fuchs, site editor for GiantsGab, a leading Giants blog, to a series of debates in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. Jeremy is a longtime New York sports fan who is looking forward to the Giants raising the Lombardi trophy …

Boston Globe • February 02, 2012, 9:42 AM (PST)

CBS Sports

Diplomats at U.N. Work on Revisions to Syria Resolution

UNITED NATIONS – Security Council ambassadors began working on Thursday on a revised Syria resolution, with references to sanctions removed as bartering focused in good part on the conditions under which President Bashar al-Assad could be asked to cede…

New York Times • February 02, 2012, 10:46 AM (PST)

msnbc.com

Insight: Deficits, the U.S. election and politics of fear

(Reuters) – The top contenders in the U.S. presidential race seem to have a simple plan for the gaping budget deficit: use it to strike fear into the hearts of voters. Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney says President Barack Obama is such a big spender…

YAHOO! • February 02, 2012, 11:36 AM (PST)

USA Today

Facebook filing lifts Zynga, other recent IPOs

Facebook’s long-awaited IPO filing is lifting shares of freshly minted public Internet companies, including recent laggards Zynga and Groupon. Zynga Inc.’s business depends on Facebook’s growth. Facebook’s filing revealed 12 percent of the …

Seattle Times • February 02, 2012, 10:53 AM (PST)

USA Today

Saying RIP to the hippest cat in America

For 23 years, Don Cornelius hosted "Soul Train," "the hippest trip in America." For many young African-Americans and fans of R&B, soul and eventually hip-hop, the syndicated Saturday morning mainstay’s tagline was the …

Boston Herald • February 02, 2012, 10:53 AM (PST)

USA Today

ANDY REID talked for 48 minutes and 23 seconds yesterday, and we still can’t say we know for sure why it took a month after the season ended to announce Juan Castillo was coming back as defensive coordinator, or for Reid to opine that the combination …

Philadelphia Daily News • January 31, 2012, 11:56 PM (PST)

Philadelphia Daily News

Romney’s Florida landslide doesn’t mean Gingrich is quitting

Mitt Romney may have won a blowout victory in Florida’s presidential primary, but Newt Gingrich is not about to concede defeat. Sounding as though he had already wrapped up the nomination, Romney commended Gingrich and other rivals Tuesday night for a …

Baltimore Sun • February 01, 2012, 4:35 AM (PST)

Wall Street Journal

Russia says U.N. must rule out Syria intervention

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia signaled on Wednesday it would veto a draft U.N. resolution calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down unless it explicitly ruled out military intervention in the bloodshed touched off by protests against his …

YAHOO! • February 01, 2012, 2:05 AM (PST)

USA Today

Greek PM seeks reform backing, IMF warns on fiscal pain

ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s prime minister is seeking backing from the country’s political leaders for more austerity measures, with the International Monetary Fund warning that long-term commitment to reforms is key to securing a new bailout. Athens …

Chicago Tribune • February 01, 2012, 4:06 AM (PST)

msnbc.com

Patriots’ offense set to rebound from subpar game

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Tom Brady overthrew a wide-open Rob Gronkowski in the first quarter. Then he threw an interception in the fourth. He was right on target, though, in his postgame assessment. The three-time Super Bowl champion admitted that he played…

Seattle Post Intelligencer • February 01, 2012, 1:43 AM (PST)

CNN Sports Illustrated

Democrats in Congress step up tax-the-rich efforts

Little more than a year ago, Democrats in Congress were hesitant to raise taxes on the wealthy. In the Senate, they could not find enough support for boosting taxes on people making $1 million or more a year, much less on families making $250,000. The …

Baltimore Sun • January 31, 2012, 8:00 PM (PST)

AP – msnbc.com

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia signaled on Wednesday it would veto a draft U.N. resolution calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down unless it explicitly ruled out military intervention in the bloodshed touched off by protests against his …

YAHOO! • February 01, 2012, 2:05 AM (PST)

USA Today

UN Nuke Official: New Trip to Iran Planned

A senior U.N. nuclear expert on Wednesday announced plans to revisit Tehran soon after a "good trip," indicating progress on his team’s quest to probe suspicions that the Islamic Republic is secretly working on an atomic arms program. The …

ABC News • February 01, 2012, 4:42 AM (PST)

msnbc.com

Taliban deny reports of talk with Afghan officials

The Taliban have denied reports that they are planning to send representatives to meet with Afghan government officials in Saudi Arabia. Rumors have swirled for days that President Hamid Karzai’s government was seeking direct talks to be held in the …

Seattle Times • February 01, 2012, 3:52 AM (PST)

msnbc.com

Italy ends search for those missing in shipwreck

GIGLIO, Italy – Italian emergency officials say they are calling off a search for missing people in the submerged part of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, due to the danger to rescue workers. Italy’s Civil Protection agency said Tuesday that technical …

Boston Herald • January 31, 2012, 6:05 PM (PST)

Denver Post

Egypt snubs U.S. envoy regarding Americans barred from leaving

CAIRO (AP) – The Egyptian justice minister returned a letter Tuesday from the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt asking him to re-examine the issue of Americans barred from leaving the country. The snub is the latest in a spat between the allies over a …

Indianapolis Star • January 31, 2012, 7:31 PM (PST)

CNN

UN chief tries to salvage Mideast peace talks

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon is on a Mideast peace mission aimed at salvaging the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian talks. The sides began low-level discussions last month about restarting formal peace negotiations after a three-year lull. But the dialogue…

AP – msnbc.com • February 01, 2012, 4:42 AM (PST)

AP – msnbc.com

Sudan, Egypt abductions highlight risks to Chinese

The plight of two groups of Chinese workers in Africa – one freed Wednesday a day after being snatched in Egypt and the other in captivity for a fifth day in Sudan – highlights the dangers China faces as its worldwide presence grows. China has …

AP – msnbc.com • February 01, 2012, 3:52 AM (PST)

Wanna buy a revolution?

Margaret Thatcher once said, "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money." During my week in Cuba, I saw firsthand the truth of her case. Havana, a once-glorious architectural gem, is falling down – literally. …

New York Post • February 01, 2012, 12:39 AM (PST)

Boston Globe

Japan Cabinet OKs bill to cap nuke reactor life

TOKYO – Japan’s Cabinet approved bills Tuesday aimed at bolstering nuclear safety regulations following last year’s Fukushima disaster, including one that would put a 40-year cap on the operational life of nuclear reactors. The approval came as a team …

Philadelphia Daily News • January 31, 2012, 7:24 PM (PST)

Bloomberg

Starting at dawn and pushing deep into the night, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich stormed Florida on Monday in a final blitz of sharply negative campaigning, trading accusations on the eve of the state’s crucial Republican presidential primary. Romney, …

Los Angeles Times • January 30, 2012, 10:03 PM (PST)

Wall Street Journal

Bobcats encouraged by Kemba Walker’s progress

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Bobcats coach Paul Silas spent the better part of a week preaching to Kemba Walker the importance of passing first, shooting second. Apparently Walker’s a pretty good listener. In just his fourth start at point guard Walker …

CBS Sports • January 31, 2012, 4:29 AM (PST)

Shelby Star

China says 29 abducted in Sudan still being held

BEIJING-None of the 29 Chinese workers abducted after an attack in a volatile region of Sudan have been freed, Chinese state media said Tuesday, dismissing reports that some of the workers had been released …

Boston Globe • January 30, 2012, 10:24 PM (PST)

FOXSports.com

Twitter CEO says new policy is for transparency: report

(Reuters) – Twitter Chief Executive Dick Costolo said the company’s recently announced online content policy was meant to be a transparent way to handle government requests for the removal of certain content and did not mean it is actively monitoring …

YAHOO! • January 31, 2012, 1:02 AM (PST)

CNET News

Apple names European exec to head retail ops

CUPERTINO, Calif.-Apple Inc. has named Dixons Retail CEO John Browett as its top retail executive, charged with developing the sales strategy for the iPhone and iPad maker as it expands Apple stores around the world. Browett will take on his new job as…

Denver Post • January 31, 2012, 4:29 AM (PST)

Colts’ Irsay won’t discuss Manning during Super Bowl week

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Irsay did his own politicking Monday. Instead of talking about Peyton Manning and the franchise quarterback’s future in Indianapolis, the Colts owner quickly tossed the football to a real politician. "When I was asked about …

NFL • January 30, 2012, 4:40 PM (PST)

New York Times

Death toll from European cold spell hits 54

(AP) KIEV, Ukraine – Thirty people, most of them homeless, have died of hypothermia in recent days in Ukraine, part of a surge of deaths across eastern Europe as the region grapples with an unusually severe cold spell. In all, at least 54 people have …

CBS News • January 31, 2012, 4:29 AM (PST)

Idaho Statesman

Rose responds to missed FTs with 35-point game

Sure, the Bulls were playing the struggling Washington Wizards Monday, but the opponent hardly mattered to guard Derrick Rose. He was ready to make amends for missing two late free throws against Miami while the Bulls trailed by a point. Before facing …

CBS Sports • January 31, 2012, 4:29 AM (PST)

Steve Jones & Nicole Scherzinger Part Ways With ‘X Factor’; Paula Abdul Out Too?

Host Steve Jones and judge Nicole Scherzinger have both parted ways with "The X Factor," Access Hollywood has confirmed. Additionally, according to Deadline, Paula Abdul is also out. A rep for FOX, the network behind Simon Cowell’s reality …

YAHOO! • January 30, 2012, 10:38 PM (PST)

MTV

Fla. highway patrol defends reopening I-75

By MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – A split decision between two pastors regarding when to return to the Atlanta area from Florida was the difference between life and death. They’d just finished a religious conference in Florida…

msnbc.com • January 31, 2012, 1:16 AM (PST)

Philadelphia Daily News

BEIJING-None of the 29 Chinese workers abducted after an attack in a volatile region of Sudan have been freed, Chinese state media said Tuesday, dismissing reports that some of the workers had been released …

Boston Globe • January 30, 2012, 10:24 PM (PST)

FOXSports.com

Death toll from European cold spell hits 54

(AP) KIEV, Ukraine – Thirty people, most of them homeless, have died of hypothermia in recent days in Ukraine, part of a surge of deaths across eastern Europe as the region grapples with an unusually severe cold spell. In all, at least 54 people have …

CBS News • January 31, 2012, 4:29 AM (PST)

Idaho Statesman

Iran launches Spanish TV in jab at US ‘dominance’

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s president on Tuesday lauded his country’s newly launched Spanish-language satellite TV channel, saying it would deal a blow to "dominance seekers" – remarks that were an apparent jab at the U.S. and the West. The launch …

Atlanta Journal Constitution • January 31, 2012, 2:35 AM (PST)

CNN

Syrian troops push further into Damascus suburbs

Syria’s troops crushed pockets of resistance on Damascus’ outskirts Tuesday as they advanced into suburbs briefly held by rebel forces, just hours before key U.N. talks over a draft resolution demanding President Bashar Assad step aside. Government …

AP – msnbc.com • January 31, 2012, 2:42 AM (PST)

CNN

Oakland tries new tactics against Occupy

OAKLAND — City leaders are preparing new strategies to strike back against Occupy Oakland, but law enforcement experts say there is little authorities can do to keep the movement from continuing with costly demonstrations. Mayor Jean Quan said Monday …

San Jose Mercury News • January 30, 2012, 7:54 PM (PST)

USA Today

Search on Costa Concordia shipwreck put on hold

Rome – Rescuers on Tuesday put on hold plans to resume searching the wreck of the Costa Concordia amid forecasts of strong winds and rough seas. Scuba divers broke off their search of the half-sunken cruise ship on Monday and officials said they would …

Monsters and Critics • January 31, 2012, 1:52 AM (PST)

Forbes

NATO sticks to 2014 for Afghan pullout

BRUSSELS, Belgium – NATO’s top official said Monday that the alliance will adhere to its plans to hand over security to local forces in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, comments that came after France said it would push NATO to speed up its timeline for…

AZCentral.com • January 30, 2012, 11:29 PM (PST)

Philadelphia Daily News

Palestinians blame Israel for "failure" of Amman talks

Ramallah – Palestinian leaders blamed Israel overnight for what they called the failure of preliminary talks in Amman which international mediators had hoped would lead to peace negotiations. ‘In light of the results of the Amman meetings, the …

Monsters and Critics • January 30, 2012, 10:53 PM (PST)

ABC News

An American man accused of killing a U.S. jewelry store owner, stealing $300,000 (euro228,200) in diamonds and fleeing to Europe has been found dead in Spain. The U.S. Embassy in Madrid said in a statement that American officials were notified Thursday…

Seattle Times • January 26, 2012, 12:42 PM (PST)

Hartford Courant

Bering Sea ice threatening crab fishery

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Sea ice that is encroaching on the central Bering Sea is threatening to shut down the snow crab fishery at the peak of the season, according to the Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association. The fishery was expected to net 80 million …

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner • January 26, 2012, 12:42 PM (PST)

Anchorage Daily News

Oil Seesaws on Iran Threat

NEW YORK-Iran’s threat to immediately halt oil sales to the European Union pushed prices above $101 a barrel, but crude retreated after the International Energy Agency later said it could release strategic inventories if a supply emergency occurred. …

Wall Street Journal • January 26, 2012, 12:28 PM (PST)

The Christian Science Monitor

French breast implant firm’s former execs arrested

Police in pre-dawn sweeps Thursday arrested two top former executives of the now-defunct French company at the center of a breast implant scandal affecting tens of thousands of women worldwide. Jean-Claude Mas, who founded and ran implant-maker Poly …

AP – msnbc.com • January 26, 2012, 12:28 PM (PST)

Examiner

Tuareg rebels launch new attacks in Mali

Tuareg rebels and Malian troops fought over the northeastern town of Anderamboukane on Thursday, officials said, as the rebels carried out their first major offensive in the region in three years. The Tuareg rebels, many of whom recently returned from …

YAHOO! • January 26, 2012, 12:42 PM (PST)

SkySports

Appeals court: Judge should not have halted $18 billion judgement against Chevron

NEW YORK — A judge overstepped his authority when he tried to ban enforcement around the world of an $18 billion judgment against Chevron for environmental damage in Ecuador, a federal appeals court said Thursday. The three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S….

San Jose Mercury News • January 26, 2012, 11:37 AM (PST)

indiatvnews.com

Somali captors move US hostage after SEAL raid

Pirates moved an American hostage at least three times in 24 hours and threatened Thursday to kill him after U.S. Navy SEALs rescued an American and a Dane in a bold, dark-of-night raid that raises questions about whether other Western captives are now…

AP – msnbc.com • January 26, 2012, 12:42 PM (PST)

CBS News

Egypt bans travel for US official’s son, 9 others

Egypt banned at least 10 Americans and Europeans from leaving the country, including the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, hiking tensions with Washington over a campaign by Egypt’s military against groups promoting democracy and human …

AP – msnbc.com • January 26, 2012, 12:28 PM (PST)

ABC News

LEAD: Arab League to push Syria plan at UN

Cairo/Beirut – Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said Thursday he would brief the United Nations Security Council on a plan to end 11 months of bloodshed in Syria. Al-Arabi and Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim, who heads an Arab committee on Syria…

Monsters and Critics • January 26, 2012, 8:24 AM (PST)

Washington Post

LEAD: Monti: Italy won’t abandon Afghanistan

Rome – Italy intends to continue supporting peace efforts in Afghanistan, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said after meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Rome. ‘Italy supports the Afghan government in the delicate reconciliation process with the…

Monsters and Critics • January 26, 2012, 8:53 AM (PST)

CBS News

Newt Gingrich won 46 percent of the evangelical vote in South Carolina. Evangelicals have long celebrated their status faith, family and values voters. What explains this? Expediency. When Rick Perry, a devout conservative Christian, withdrew from the …

Washington Post • January 26, 2012, 12:42 PM (PST)

ABC News

Merle Haggard returns to Calif. home to recuperate

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-Country music legend Merle Haggard has returned home to northern California to recuperate from multiple illnesses. Haggard had been hospitalized in Macon, Ga., for about a week with double pneumonia. While there, doctors discovered …

San Jose Mercury News • January 26, 2012, 12:35 PM (PST)

Boston Globe

Phil Knight at JoePa event: Who’s real trustee?

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Nike founder and chairman Phil Knight got a standing ovation at Joe Paterno’s public memorial Thursday for defending the late coach’s response to an accusation of child sex abuse against a former assistant. Speaking at a …

Associated Press • January 26, 2012, 12:35 PM (PST)

CNN

Obama’s green tint signals shift to campaign mode

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Not long before his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama ventured to a place he’d never been in three well-traveled years as president: the Environmental Protection Agency. For a Democrat who won the White House …

Reuters • January 26, 2012, 11:02 AM (PST)

Bloomberg

American murder suspect found dead in Spain

An American man accused of killing a U.S. jewelry store owner, stealing $300,000 (euro228,200) in diamonds and fleeing to Europe has been found dead in Spain. The U.S. Embassy in Madrid said in a statement that American officials were notified Thursday…

Seattle Times • January 26, 2012, 12:42 PM (PST)

Hartford Courant

Bering Sea ice threatening crab fishery

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Sea ice that is encroaching on the central Bering Sea is threatening to shut down the snow crab fishery at the peak of the season, according to the Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association. The fishery was expected to net 80 million …

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner • January 26, 2012, 12:42 PM (PST)

Anchorage Daily News

Illumina’s ‘Poison Pill’ Aims to Block Roche’s Hostile Bid

Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) — Illumina Inc. is granting investors the right to buy shares at half the price in a so-called poison- pill defense, following Roche Holding AG’s hostile $5.7 billion bid for the maker of gene-mapping tools. Shareholders will …

BusinessWeek • January 26, 2012, 10:26 AM (PST)

CNBC

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank to get married

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, the openly gay Newton Democrat who announced his retirement in November, plans to marry his longtime partner in a Massachusetts ceremony, Frank’s spokesman confirmed today. There is no timetable for when Frank, 71, and his …

Boston Herald • January 26, 2012, 11:52 AM (PST)

USA Today

Summary Box: Gates injects $750M in health fund

THE NEWS: Bill Gates pledged $750 million Thursday to fight three deadly diseases and rescue a beleaguered health fund whose financial losses have cost it donor support. THE BACKGROUND: Gates’ announcement at the Davos World Economic Forum – a magnet …

AP – msnbc.com • January 26, 2012, 9:07 AM (PST)

Politico.com