| 'On the brink of disaster' Posted: 02 Mar 2014 03:23 PM PST  Now Russia has invaded Ukraine's Crimea, what moves does the West have?
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| Huge storm system headed for Midwest, East Posted: 02 Mar 2014 12:28 PM PST  By Victoria Cavaliere NEW YORK (Reuters) - A massive winter storm system packing cold air, snow and freezing rain was pummeling the central United States on Sunday and headed for the East Coast, sending temperatures plummeting and causing major delays for weekend travelers. The storm "is going to be a real mess," said Bruce Sullivan, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Silver Spring, Maryland. "Ripple-effect flight delays and cancellations are likely to reach nationwide," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. SNOW EMERGENCY Boston and New York City should see only light snowfall, but lingering freezing rain could complicate Monday morning's rush hour for commuters.
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| Movie stars arrive on red carpet for 86th Oscar ceremony Posted: 02 Mar 2014 04:32 PM PST  By Mary Milliken LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bedecked in gowns, tuxedos and even shorts, the world's top actors and actresses strode down the red carpet at the Academy Awards on Sunday with all eyes on the cliffhanger best picture race between frontrunners "12 Years a Slave" and "Gravity." As if on cue, the sun came out after four days of heavy rain just before the first movie stars exited their limos in a mix of outfits as diverse as the films competing for the Oscars, Hollywood's top honors. Amy Adams, best actress nominee for her role as a con woman in "American Hustle," graced the red carpet in a strapless navy gown. British best actor nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays the slave Solomon Northup in "12 Years a Slave," showed up in the classic tuxedo, while singer Pharrell Williams wore a Lanvin tux with shorts rather than trousers. Another best actor nominee, 77-year-old Bruce Dern, star of "Nebraska," came on the arm of his daughter, Laura Dern, dressed in a pastel pink gown, who said "I'm very moved to get to celebrate him and be here." The 86th annual Academy Awards will be hosted by comedian and day-time talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who producers are banking on to deliver an entertaining yet tasteful three-hour show after critics widely panned last year's ceremony and host Seth MacFarlane's provocative humor.
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| Separatists blamed for China knife attack; 33 dead Posted: 02 Mar 2014 12:52 PM PST  KUNMING, China (AP) — Authorities on Sunday blamed a slashing rampage that killed 29 people and wounded 143 at a train station in southern China on separatists from the country's far west, while local residents said government crackdowns had taken their toll on the alleged culprits.
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| Wide range of wintry conditions affects half of US Posted: 02 Mar 2014 04:32 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Tourists flocked to the monuments in the nation's capital Sunday to enjoy 50-degree temperatures before yet another winter storm was expected to dump up to a foot of snow on parts of the East Coast.
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| Rap disrespect of black icons raises concerns Posted: 02 Mar 2014 02:25 PM PST  Malcolm X and rap music have always fit together like a needle in the groove, connected by struggle, strength and defiance. But three recent episodes involving the use or misuse of Malcolm and other black icons have raised the question: Has rap lost touch with black history?
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| Disney ends funding to Boy Scouts over gay policy Posted: 02 Mar 2014 03:29 PM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Walt Disney Company will cut funding to the Boy Scouts of America beginning in 2015 because of a policy that bans gay adult leaders in the organization. |
| Murder trial of Pistorius to start in South Africa Posted: 02 Mar 2014 07:41 AM PST  JOHANNESBURG (AP) — It could all hinge on the toilet door.
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| Jimmy Fallon, Chicago mayor take a chilly dip Posted: 02 Mar 2014 10:55 AM PST  CHICAGO (AP) — Comedian Jimmy Fallon took a quick but icy dip in Lake Michigan — dressed in a full suit and tie — eyes bulging as he darted out of the slushy water and headed straight for a pile of dry towels.
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| Kerry to meet with Ukrainian officials in Kiev Posted: 02 Mar 2014 02:17 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior administration official says Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev Tuesday to meet with government officials. |
| Surprises at Academy Awards may be few Posted: 02 Mar 2014 02:34 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a blustery few days of torrential downpours, Hollywood appears ready for smooth sailing at Sunday's Academy Awards. But things got off to a soggy start as lingering showers persisted through midafternoon, soaking portions of the red carpet that had been uncovered in anticipation of clearing skies.
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| High court looks at death row inmate with low IQ Posted: 02 Mar 2014 07:51 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — A Floridian with an IQ as high as 75 may be diagnosed as mentally disabled and be eligible for help getting a job. But on death row, the state says having an IQ higher than 70 categorically means an inmate is not mentally disabled and may be executed.
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| Thousands march in pro-invasion rally in Moscow Posted: 02 Mar 2014 12:32 PM PST  MOSCOW (AP) — Thousands marched freely through Moscow on Sunday in support of Russia using military force in neighboring Ukraine, while at an anti-invasion protest nearby dozens were detained.
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| Netanyahu vows tough line for White House talks Posted: 02 Mar 2014 01:31 PM PST  JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's prime minister headed to Washington on Sunday for a high-stakes meeting with President Barack Obama about U.S.-led Mideast peace efforts, vowing to maintain a tough line in the face of heavy international pressure to begin making concessions to the Palestinians.
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| Kerry: Repercussions for Putin 'act of aggression' Posted: 02 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Western powers are prepared "to go to the hilt" to isolate Russia for its military incursion into Ukraine, "an incredible act of aggression" that may lead to visa bans, asset freezes, trade and investment penalties, and a boycott of a Russian-hosted economic summit of global powers in June, Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday.
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| Ukraine asks UN council: Stop Russian 'aggression' Posted: 01 Mar 2014 07:00 PM PST  Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations asked an emergency session of the Security Council on Saturday "to do everything possible now" to stop Russia's "aggression" as its troops took over the strategic Crimea region.
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| Oscars take risk of rain on red carpet Posted: 02 Mar 2014 03:37 PM PST  In true Hollywood fashion, the Academy Awards on Sunday promised a cliffhanger finale to the tight race for best picture Oscar between favorites "12 Years a Slave" and "Gravity" and a big gamble on rain and the red carpet. After three days of heavy downpours soaked parts of the red carpet along Hollywood Boulevard, workers removed the plastic tenting and unwrapped the golden Oscar statues hours before hundreds of movie stars in designer dresses and tuxedos begin arriving for Hollywood's biggest night. And while it was still drizzling outside the Dolby Theatre as TV crews from around the world went live from Hollywood, organizers were confident that the most glamorous of red carpet shows would go off without a hitch.
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| Hundreds of gunmen surround Ukraine military base Posted: 02 Mar 2014 07:35 AM PST  Hundreds of armed men in trucks and armored vehicles surrounded a Ukrainian military base Sunday in Crimea, blocking its soldiers from leaving. The outnumbered Ukrainians placed a tank at the base's gate, leaving the two sides in a tense standoff.
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| Ukraine mobilizes after Putin's 'declaration of war' Posted: 02 Mar 2014 03:54 PM PST  Ukraine's security council ordered the general staff to immediately put all armed forces on highest alert, the council's secretary Andriy Parubiy announced.
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| Ukraine leader urges Putin to pull back military Posted: 02 Mar 2014 03:54 AM PST  SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's new prime minister urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull back his military Sunday in the conflict between the two countries, warning that "we are on the brink of disaster."
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| Obama, Putin: Starkly differing views on Ukraine Posted: 02 Mar 2014 12:55 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, strongly disagree over what's at stake in the Ukraine crisis.
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| California governor signs $687M drought relief legislation Posted: 01 Mar 2014 05:46 PM PST  California Governor Jerry Brown on Saturday signed into law a $687 million drought-relief package to deal with a water shortage he has called the worst in the state's modern history. The largest share of the drought relief package - $549 million - comes from accelerated spending of bond money voters previously approved in two ballot propositions. Those measures will fund storm water recapturing, expanded use of recycled water, better management of groundwater storage and stronger water conservation measures. While much of the United States has been pummeled by a series of snow storms, California in recent months has struggled with a drought that threatens to inflict the worst water crisis in recorded state history.
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| China blames separatists for knife attack; 33 dead Posted: 02 Mar 2014 05:07 AM PST  KUNMING, China (AP) — Authorities blamed a slashing rampage that killed 29 people and wounded 143 at a train station in southern China on separatists from the country's far west and vowed a harsh crackdown Sunday, while residents wondered why their laid-back city was targeted.
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