AP

Workers at Spain’s Iberia begin 15 days of strikes

MADRID (AP) — Protesters clashed with police at Madrid’s international airport as ground staff and cabin crews for Spain’s Iberia began 15 days of strikes to protest plans to lay off 3,800 staff. The company, which is looking to cut jobs after it reported substantial losses last year, says the stoppages will lead to more […]

Read More

Girlfriend’s mom: Why did he do this?

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The mother of the model shot dead at Oscar Pistorius’ house says the family wants answers following her Valentine’s Day killing. June Steenkamp was quoted by the Times newspaper in South Africa in a front page interview Monday asking: “Why my little girl? … Why did he do this?” She says of […]

Read More

Amazon fires German security firm amid probe

BERLIN (AP) — Amazon says it has fired a German security company amid mounting criticism after reports that temporary workers had been mistreated. An Amazon spokeswoman in Germany, Ulrike Stoecker, said Monday the online retailer has ended its relationship with Hensel European Security Services “with immediate effect.” A documentary shown on ARD public television last […]

Read More

Bundesbank: German economy to avoid recession

FRANKFURT (AP) — German’s central bank says the country’s economy is on track to avoid a recession as it shows signs of growth in the first three months of the year. Europe’s largest economy shrank 0.6 percent in the last quarter of 2012. Two straight quarters of falling output is a common definition of recession. […]

Read More

Israel PM: North Korea nuke test is lesson on Iran

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister says North Korea’s recent nuclear test shows that “sanctions alone will not stop” Iran’s atomic program. Benjamin Netanyahu told a gathering of international Jewish leaders on Monday that the Western sanctions against Tehran “have to be coupled with a robust, credible, military threat. If they are not, then there […]

Read More

Al-Qaida in Iraq claims deadly Baghdad attack

BAGHDAD (AP) — Al-Qaida’s local franchise in Iraq has claimed responsibility for car bombings that killed at least 37 people in mostly Shiite areas of Baghdad. The U.S. SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant forums, says the Islamic State of Iraq issued a statement on militant websites saying Sunday’s attacks came in revenge for alleged […]

Read More

Obama offering immigration plan as backup

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is downplaying its draft proposal as merely a backup plan if lawmakers don’t come up with an immigration overhaul of their own. It won’t be necessary, Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike are telling the Obama administration. White House chief of staff Denis McDonough said Sunday that President Barack Obama […]

Read More

Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide

HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star appears to have taken her own life Sunday afternoon in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, the mother of […]

Read More

Long-missing WWII medals awarded in LA

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California woman who grew up knowing little of her father — a heroic casualty of World War II — is now the proud owner of his long-lost battle medals, including a Silver Star and Purple Heart. Hyla Merin’s mother never spoke about the Army officer who died before she […]

Read More

Hagel’s GOP foes signal vote should go on

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Republican opponents are sending signals that Chuck Hagel’s bid to become defense secretary will probably come to an up-or-down vote soon in the Senate. That’s unless more information damaging to the nominee — and the Obama administration — surfaces in the coming week. Critics maintain the decorated Vietnam combat […]

Read More