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AP Top News at 3:29 p.m. EDT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) 20 killed in Syria despite Assad's pledge to UNBEIRUT (AP) _ Syrian security forces killed at least 20 protesters Friday despite promises by President Bashar Assad that the military operations against the 5-month-old uprising are over. The killings, which came as thousands poured into the streets across Syria, suggest the autocratic leader is either unwilling to stop the violence _ or not fully in control of his own regime. Stocks turn lower as traders prepare for weekendNEW YORK (AP) _ The stock market piled on more losses Friday as investors began seeking the safety of cash or bonds ahead of the weekend. The major indexes had fluctuated in a narrow range after Thursday's 419-point plunge in the Dow Jones industrial average. There was little news to help investors determine their next moves. But some traders did not want to take the chance of holding stocks if one of their biggest concerns, the European debt situation, worsened over the weekend. 3 men convicted in 1993 Cub Scout slayings go freeJONESBORO, Ark. (AP) _ Three men convicted in the nightmarish slayings of three Cub Scouts went free Friday, nearly two decades after they were sent to prison in a case so gruesome it raised suspicions the children had been sacrificed in a Satanic ritual. Doubts about the evidence against the trio had persisted for years and threatened to force prosecutors to put on a second trial in 2012. Suicide bomber kills 48 in Pakistan mosquePESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) _ A suicide bomber struck worshippers during prayers Friday at a mosque close to the Afghan border, killing 48 people in an attack one official said may have been aimed at anti-Taliban elders praying during the holy month of Ramadan. Militants have frequently attacked tribesmen who have dared speak up _ or raise arms _ against them in the border region, where al-Qaida and the Pakistan Taliban have long held sway. Rifts between insurgent factions have also led to mass casualty attacks there. Liberals complain about Obama; will it cost votes?WASHINGTON (AP) _ Liberals argue that he caved on the debt ceiling. Unions are upset over his handling of unemployment and labor issues. Hispanics brought the immigration debate directly to his campaign doorstep. President Barack Obama's summer of discontent has been marked by rumblings within his Democratic political base over his willingness to fight congressional Republicans and his approach to fixing the economy. Are military pensions too 'generous'?WASHINGTON (AP) _ It sounds like a pretty good deal: Retire at age 38 after 20 years of work and get a monthly pension of half your salary for the rest of your life. All you have to do is join the military. As the nation tightens its budget belt, the century-old military retirement system has come under attack as unaffordable, unfair to some who serve and overly generous compared with civilian benefits. US makes criminals priority for deportationWASHINGTON (AP) _ Many illegal immigrants who were facing deportation despite having no criminal record will be allowed to stay in the country and apply for a work permit under new rules from the Homeland Security Department. Republicans are balking at the change. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced Thursday that the department will focus on deporting illegal immigrants who are criminals or pose a threat to national security or public safety. Burger King mascot retiringMIAMI (AP) _ The king is dead. Burger King's spooky "The King" mascot is retiring so the struggling burger chain can refocus its marketing to reach new customers. The mascot has been around for years, but recently has become a more prevalent and somewhat creepy presence in ads - showing up in people's beds and peeping in their windows. In nod to IBM, HP overhaul minimizes consumersSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Hewlett-Packard's decision to surrender in smartphones and tablet computers and possibly get rid of its personal computer business underscores how Apple has transformed consumer electronics in just four years. HP's new CEO Leo Apotheker is now trying to turn the Silicon Valley stalwart into a twin of East Coast archrival IBM Corp. In doing so, he is acknowledging that his company has failed to balance the demands of both the consumer and corporate markets. As a result, it needs to exit most of its consumer businesses, just as IBM did six years ago. Texting, grand theft auto style; alarms pose riskSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Texting and driving don't go well together _ though not in the way you might think. Computer hackers can force some cars to unlock their doors and start their engines without a key by sending specially crafted messages to a car's anti-theft system. They can also snoop at where you've been by tapping the car's GPS system. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |