Blasts hit security HQs in Syrian city of Aleppo

Beirut — Two explosions struck security compounds in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Friday, killing 25 people and wounding 175, state media reported, in a major city that has largely stood by President Bashar Assad in the nearly 11-month-old uprising against his rule.

Judge to consider Sandusky jury, bail issues

Bellefonte, Pa.— State prosecutors don't want the people who live near former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky in central Pennsylvania to sit as jurors in his pending child sex-abuse trial. On Friday, they will try to persuade a judge to fill the jury box with people from outside the State College area instead.

Arab Spring shot wins World Press Photo award

Amsterdam— Spanish photographer Samuel Aranda won the 2011 World Press Photo of the Year award Friday for an image of a veiled woman holding a wounded relative in her arms after a demonstration in Yemen.

Greece on strike as bailout deal in limbo

Athens, Greece— Thousands took to the streets of Athens as Greek unions launched a two-day general strike against planned austerity measures on Friday, a day after the country's crucial international bailout was put in limbo by its partners in the 17-nation eurozone.

Love stinks: Sewage plant to offer Valentine's Day tours

New York— It may not smell like a rose but a New York City sewage plant is offering tours for lovers on Valentine's Day.

Michigan to get $790M in foreclosure-abuse settlement

Washington — The Justice Department said Thursday 49 states, including Michigan, struck a $25 billion deal with the nation’s five biggest mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses.

Military roles for women expand

Washington — New orders from the Pentagon: The military on Thursday formally opened thousands of jobs to women in units that are closer to the front lines than ever before.

Officials seek new solution in Syria

Beirut — Diplomats on Thursday were seeking new approaches to remedy the worsening conflict in Syria as opposition activists reported that government shelling and attacks had killed more than 100 more people.

Marines posed with Nazi symbol

San Diego — The Marine Corps on Thursday once again did damage control after a photograph surfaced of a sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS — a special unit that murdered millions of Jews, gypsies and others.

Brit wanted in ’93 heist arrested in Missouri

Ozark, Mo. — A British armored car guard suspected of driving off with a fortune worth $1.5 million back in 1993 has been captured in rural Missouri, where he had been working as a cable guy and raising a son who apparently knew nothing of his father’s past.

Briefs: NRC OKs nuclear plant in Ga., first in 3 decades

Washington — The nation’s first new nuclear power plant in a generation won approval Thursday as federal regulators voted to grant a license for two new reactors at a site in eastern Georgia.

Groups push probe of Marine photo with Nazi-like symbol

San Diego— A leading Jewish organization and others outraged by a photo showing Marine snipers in Afghanistan posing with a logo resembling a notorious Nazi symbol are demanding President Barack Obama order an investigation and hold the troops accountable.

LA district hopes to restore trust with shake-up at school

Los Angeles — The scandal embroiling an elementary school where two teachers were arrested last week on lewdness charges widened Wednesday with revelations of 200 more inappropriate photos of children and that one teacher sent warmly written birthday cards and presents to students who participated in his “games.”

Doctors telling more adults to get out, exercise

Heather Mills says McCartney calls were hacked

Gorbachev: Putin has ‘exhausted’ his potential

Hold the mystery meat: Military food gets upgrade

Police issue warrant for ex-Maldives president

California marriage ban path to High Court unclear

Lipstick-sized tube newest way for caffeine fix

City of Homs becomes focus of Syrian uprising

Study finds doctors are not always honest with patients

Briefs: Indiana builder cited in fair stage collapse that killed 7, injured 58

Florida mogul, facing trial, adopts his girlfriend

Judge: Firing for lactation not sex discrimination

Virginia moves forward to let agencies bar gay adoption

Purple squirrel spotted by central Pa. couple

Smoke from dump fire blankets Jamaica capital