Crimea parliament votes to join Russia
The Moscow-backed government sets a referendum on the decision within 10 days.
General to admit guilt on 3 counts; denies assault
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A U.S. Army general accused of sexual assault was set to plead guilty to three lesser charges Thursday in a move that his lawyer says will strengthen his position going into trial.
Pope very popular in U.S., but no 'Francis effect': poll
One year after his election, Pope Francis is "immensely popular among American Catholics," a survey said on Thursday, but there is no sign of a "Francis effect" inspiring more to attend Mass or do volunteer work. The Washington-based Pew Research Center said 85 percent of Catholics in the United States viewed the Argentine-born pontiff favorably, with 51 percent reporting a "very favourable" view of him, while only 4 percent expressed a negative opinion. Among Catholics, 68 percent thought he represented "a major change for the better," a view shared by 51 percent of the non-Catholics responding to the poll in telephone interviews of 1,340 Americans from February 14 to 23. "Nor has there been a statistically significant change in how often Catholics say they go to Mass." Forty percent of Catholics said they were now praying more often and 26 percent were "more excited" about their faith, but their frequency of going to confession or volunteering at church has not changed.
Congress rushes to put in place Russia sanctions
Lawmakers hope Europe will follow the U.S. lead in upping the pressure on Vladimir Putin.
Witness: Pistorius prayed over his shot girlfriend
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — As the girlfriend he shot lay dead or dying in his home, a weeping, praying Oscar Pistorius knelt at her side and struggled in vain to help her breathe by holding two fingers in her clenched mouth, a witness testified Thursday at the double-amputee runner's murder trial.
Military sexual assault bill heads for Senate vote
WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation to curb sexual assaults in the military by stripping senior commanders of their authority to prosecute rapes and other serious offenses is headed for a highly anticipated vote in the Senate.
Under new SAT, 1,600 is perfect again
WASHINGTON (AP) — The perfect score will again be 1,600. What's more, the essay will be optional, students will no longer be penalized for wrong answers and the vocabulary is shifting to do away with some high-sounding words such as "prevaricator" and "sagacious."
Silicon Valley boom eludes many, drives income gap
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Arwin Buditom guards some of the most successful high-tech firms in America. Joseph Farfan keeps their heat, air and electric systems humming. But these workers and tens of thousands like them who help fuel the Silicon Valley's tech boom can't even make ends meet anymore. Buditom rooms with his sister an hour's drive from work. Farfan gets his groceries at a food pantry.
Libya: Niger extradites Gadhafi's son al-Saadi
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Niger on Thursday extradited to Libya one of Moammar Gadhafi's sons, al-Saadi, who fled as his father's regime crumbled in 2011 and who was under house arrest in the desert West African nation ever since, the government in Tripoli said.
CEO of bitcoin exchange found dead in Singapore
SINGAPORE (AP) — The CEO of a virtual currency exchange was found dead near her home in Singapore.
EU leaders weighing sanctions against Russia
BRUSSELS (AP) — Russia will face sanctions over its military incursion in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula unless it withdraws its troops or engages in credible talks to defuse the situation, European leaders said Thursday.
Survey: Cost a growing factor in college decisions
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A new survey of the nation's college freshmen has found that the percentage attending their first-choice school has reached its lowest level in almost four decades, as cost and the availability of financial aid have come to play an influential role in decisions of where to enroll.
Israeli naval raid nabs rocket shipment
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli naval forces on Wednesday seized a ship laden with rockets allegedly bound for militants in the Gaza Strip, and officials accused Iran of orchestrating the delivery in an elaborate 5,000-mile (8,000-kilometer) journey that included covert stops across the region.
16th-century manual shows 'rocket cat' weaponry
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — You're a 16th century German prince plotting to crush a peasant rebellion, or perhaps you're leading an army against the Ottoman Empire or looking to settle the score with a rival nobleman. What's a guy looking for a tactical edge to do?
Crimea: 11,000 pro-Russian troops in control
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (AP) — Pro-Russian forces numbering more than 11,000 controlled all access to Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and have blockaded all military bases that have not yet surrendered, Crimea's new leader said.
Pakistani woman on a mission to educate children
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Humaira Bachal knows firsthand how lack of education hurts her community. She had a cousin that died because his mother couldn't read the expiration date on a bottle of medicine. She knows women in her neighborhood who died giving birth at home because their families didn't know to send them to the hospital.
Canceled health plans get 2-year extension
Decision helps defuse a political problem for Democrats in fall re-election battles.
Chicago family accused in $7 million shoplifting spree
CHICAGO (AP) — A father, mother and daughter from a posh Chicago suburb stole $7 million in merchandise during a decadelong shoplifting spree — traveling to stores nationwide and targeting dolls, toys, cosmetics and other valuables — according to a federal complaint released Wednesday.
Biden highlights $35 million proposal for rape kit testing
Vice President Joe Biden proposed $35 million in grant funding Wednesday afternoon to help clear the hundreds of thousands of backlogged rape kits off the shelves of police stations and labs.
Photos: UK's underground wonders
Sewer Tunnel, The River Westbourne, London. (Mike Deere/Caters News)
