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AP Top News at 7:42 a.m. EST - December 16

Climate talks deadlocked as clashes erupt outside

COPENHAGEN (AP) - Danish police fired pepper spray and beat protesters with batons outside the U.N. climate conference on Wednesday, as disputes inside left major issues unresolved just two days before world leaders hope to sign a historic agreement to fight global warming. With the talks so clearly deadlocked, Connie Hedegaard, former Danish climate minister, resigned from the conference presidency to allow her boss, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen to preside as world leaders from 115 nations streamed into Copenhagen. She was to continue overseeing the closed-door negotiations.

Dems ready to push health bill despite setbacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — History may be calling but time's running out to act by Christmas, so Senate Democrats are coming to terms with the idea they won't get everything they want from health care overhaul. For the second time in less than two weeks, President Barack Obama cajoled restive Democrats on Tuesday, urging them not to lose perspective amid intense intraparty battles over government's role and reach in health care. The public plan liberals hoped for appeared dead in the Senate, as did a Medicare buy-in scheme offered as a fallback.

Fed to strike upbeat note on economy

WASHINGTON (AP) - Focused on keeping the recovery going and driving down double-digit unemployment, the Federal Reserve is poised to leave interest rates at a record low. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues, at the end of their two-day meeting Wednesday afternoon, will likely to strike an upbeat note about the progress the economy is making. But they'll also caution that now is not the time to be complacent against risks.

Iran test-fires its most advanced missile

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran announced Wednesday it successfully test-fired an upgraded version of its longest-range missile, which is capable of hitting Israel and parts of Europe and which it said is now faster and harder to shoot down. The test is Iran's latest show of military strength at a time when it is locked in a standoff with the West over its nuclear program. Tehran has been intent on demonstrating it can retaliate against any military strike on its nuclear facilities by the United States or Israel.

Time magazine names Bernanke 'Person of the Year'

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (bur-NANG'-kee) has been named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2009. Last year's winner was then-President-elect Barack Obama. The 2007 winner was Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Bail hearing for Pa. police accused of cover-up

SHENANDOAH, Pa. (AP) - After taking part in a fight that left a Mexican immigrant mortally wounded on the street, teenagers Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak fled. They didn't get very far before running into two police officers responding to a 911 call about the assault. These were no ordinary officers. Patrolman Jason Hayes dated Piekarsky's mother, and Lt. William Moyer's son played with Piekarsky on the high school football team. Their commanding officer, Chief Matthew Nestor, was a friend of Piekarsky's mother and even vacationed with her.

Evangelist Oral Roberts leaves a complex legacy

Revered by millions who heard his message of God's healing power, ridiculed by others for tying his own mortality to a fundraising need, Oral Roberts was a towering figure in 20th century American Christianity. Roberts, who died Tuesday at 91, was largely out of the public's consciousness in his later years. His most visible legacy predated his death by 45-plus years: his namesake university in Tulsa, Okla., the first Pentecostal university in the world, built by a man who never finished college.

EU drops Microsoft browser charges

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union said Wednesday it is dropping antitrust charges against Microsoft Corp. after the company agreed to give Windows users a choice of up to 12 other Web browsers. Under the terms of the deal with regulators, Microsoft will avoid further EU fines if it provides a pop-up screen that lets European users — from March — replace Microsoft's Internet Explorer or add another browser such as Mozilla's Firefox or Google's Chrome.

YouTube's top 2009 videos feature eclectic cast

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The year's biggest hits on the Internet's top video channel were anchored by an improbable singing sensation, a groggy boy nursing a sore mouth, a bride and groom dancing down the wedding aisle, supernatural heartthrobs and roller-skating babies. The eclectic cast of characters starring in YouTube's most-watched videos of 2009 served as a reminder of the quirky appeal of a Web site that accepts about 20 hours of new video every minute.

AP source: Canadian doctor probed in doping case

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Canadian doctor who has treated golfer Tiger Woods and many other pro athletes is under a joint U.S.-Canadian investigation for possibly providing performance-enhancing drugs, a U.S. official said. The official familiar with the investigation said Canadian authorities have been investigating Dr. Anthony Galea, who was arrested Oct. 15 in Toronto, and the FBI has been brought into the case.

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