Exclusive: Alibaba plans to take Hong Kong unit private (Reuters) 41 minutes ago

Reuters - Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group plans to take its Hong Kong-listed unit private, two sources familiar with the matter said, and is working with Yahoo on an asset-swap deal that may result in Yahoo owning a direct stake in one of Alibaba Group's operating businesses. (read more...)

Homs fears big push by Syrian tanks on stronghold (Reuters) 2 hours ago

Reuters - Tanks amassed outside opposition neighborhoods in Homs on Friday as Alawite-led forces bombarded the Syrian city for the fifth day and residents expected a major push to subdue the centre of revolt against President Bashar al-Assad's rule. (read more...)

Women at war: Pentagon is easing its job limits (AP) 3 hours ago

AP - 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, reflecting what's already been going on as female American soldiers fight and die next to their male comrades. (read more...)

Who is to blame for LA school sex abuse? Push for answers poised to escalate. (+.. 4 hours ago

The Christian Science Monitor - As the child sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Miramonte Elementary School and the Los Angeles Unified School District expands, a dramatic push for accountability is just beginning to take off. (read more...)

Catholic furor over birth control rule turns Democrats on one another (The .. 4 hours ago

The Christian Science Monitor - So what does contraception at a Catholic hospital or college have to do with a $109 billion highway bill? (read more...)

Euro ministers cold on deal to bail out Greece (AP) 4 hours ago

AP - Just hours after Greece gave in to painful new job and spending cuts, European ministers declared Thursday that Athens didn't go far enough and demanded more within a week in exchange for a euro130 billion ($170 billion) bailout to stave off bankruptcy. (read more...)

Biden says contraceptives fight can be worked out (Reuters) 4 hours ago

Reuters - Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday the White House was working to address concerns raised by the Catholic Church over a new rule on contraceptives, and he believed an escalating election-year battle over the issue would be resolved. (read more...)

Will Adele be the belle of the Grammy ball? (AP) 4 hours ago

AP - Adele is the rare star who doesn't need multiple magazine covers, a cosmetics contract or a clothing line to sell albums. She does it all based on the strength of that sumptuous voice and those stirring songs. (read more...)

Family plucked from Pacific after boat capsizes (AP) 5 hours ago

AP - Three family members attempting their first voyage across the Pacific in a sailboat were left adrift in rough seas hundreds of miles from land when their mast broke in high winds. (read more...)

Jobless claims drop brightens labor market picture (Reuters) 5 hours ago

Reuters - The number of Americans signing up for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, the latest sign of recovery in the labor market. (read more...)