Feuding between forces of Ivory Coast's defense minister and a warlord threatens fragile peace

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) -- Volleys of gunshots erupted again in Abidjan Monday as a years-old feud between rival warlords came to a head, threatening Ivory Coast's fragile peace.

It is unclear if technocrat President Alassane Ouattara can control any of the six warlords who helped install him in power by ousting former strongman Laurent Gbagbo, who is under arrest.

The latest fighting is between the two men who fomented the 2002 rebellion that divided the country between the rebel-held north and government-run south - two-time coup plotter Ibrahim "IB" Coulibaly and Defense Minister Guillaume Soro, who also is prime minister.

They're not guys: New gear to fit female soldiers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Throughout history, military gear has been made with the male physique in mind. But for women in today's combat or close-to-combat jobs, that can mean body armor that fits so poorly it's tough to fire a weapon, combat uniforms with knee pads that hit around mid-shin and flight suits that make it nearly impossible to urinate while in a plane.

With women taking on new roles, the issue is getting fresh attention from the military.

Seven hundred female Army troops are testing a new combat uniform for women with shorter sleeves and with knee pads in the right place for their generally shorter legs. A committee on women's issues has recommended that flight suits be redesigned for both men and women so it's unnecessary to disrobe before urinating. And engineers have been looking at ways to design armor that better fits the contours of a woman's body.

Yahoo plans to keep search records for 18 months

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Yahoo plans to extend the amount of time it retains records on what its users search for online, less than two and a half years after breaking from the other big Internet search engines and promising to delete such data promptly.

The new policy brings the company in line with Google Inc., which dominates the industry and failed to follow Yahoo Inc.'s lead when it shortened the amount of time that it keeps online search records to 90 days in most cases.

Beginning this summer, after notifying customers, Yahoo will join Google in keeping search logs for 18 months.

Health Insurance Plans Advantages

Health insurance plans may seem like an added expenses that you might not actually need. Nevertheless, health insurance might be helpful for a number of reasons. You can research through health insurance plans to find the best one for you, whether it is something that only covers the a few and far-between doctor's visits you may need throughout the year, or disability coverage that takes into account any serious health issues that you may have. Health insurance, if it is the right plan, can serve as a hugely beneficial part of keeping you healthy.

Study: Half of supermarket meat may have staph bug

ATLANTA (AP) -- Half the meat and poultry sold in the supermarket may be tainted with the staph germ, a new report suggests.

The new estimate is based on just 136 samples of beef, chicken, pork and turkey purchased from grocery stores in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Flagstaff, Ariz. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Proper cooking kills the germs, and federal health officials estimate staph accounts for less than 3 percent of foodborne illnesses, far less than more common bugs like salmonella and E. coli.

A Consumer's Head to Health Care Modernize

The six-month anniversary age 26 on your health plan if he or she can't get coverage through a job. New policies can't deny coverage for children up to age 19 based on pre-existing medical circumstances. "Grandfathered" plans can, however, they also can set annual dollar limits on coverage and require patients to help pay for some preventive services.

Most people in the individual market are expected to move to new plans by 2014. Analysts say most plans in the group market will probably have lost their "grandfathered" status because of changes prepared to it.

Kobe hits the court in Miami _ long after loss

MIAMI (AP) -- Kobe Bryant stood on the Miami Heat's court, his shirt completely soaked. Sweat dripped onto the floor with his every step. He bent over at the waist, hands on his knees, breathing heavily.

Mind you, this wasn't during a Los Angeles Lakers game.

This was long afterward.

"It's my job," Bryant said.

Here's how Bryant responded to the Lakers' 94-88 loss at Miami on Thursday night: He worked out until Friday morning.

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Madoff to NY magazine: Government a Ponzi scheme

NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street swindler Bernard Madoff said in a magazine interview published Sunday that new regulatory reform enacted after the recent national financial crisis is laughable and that the federal government is a Ponzi scheme.

"The whole new regulatory reform is a joke," Madoff said during a telephone interview with New York magazine in which he discussed his disdain for the financial industry and for its regulators.

The interview was published on the magazine's website Sunday night.

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Cameroon Now Believes 13 Government Officials Kidnapped by Separatists

Cameroon is scrambling to locate more than a dozen government officials believed to have been kidnapped by separatists fighting for the independence of an oil-rich and long-disputed territory.

Cameroon's government now believes 13 members of its government have been abducted by militants and possibly waylaid to neighboring Nigeria, where kidnappings for ransom are a normal activity in the Nigerian oil delta.

The kidnapped officials, originally thought to number just 11, vanished sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning.

No rebel group has declared responsibility for the abductions.

Obama Calls for Egypt Transition to Begin Now, Urges Mubarak to Make 'Right Decision'

President Obama on Friday urged Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to begin the transition process "now," condemning the recent string of attacks on journalists while expressing hope that the country can emerge from the unrest with a democratic system that respects the rights of its people.

"We want to see this moment of turmoil turn into a moment of opportunity," Obama said. "The entire world is watching."

Superfood: Eat Your Lentils!

It seems like every day a new "super foods" list is published touting the benefits of this fruit, or that vegetable. The truth is that variety and moderation will always trump any short list of foods.

But if I had to make a list, lentils would certainly be on it. Why? Lentils are packed with nutritional benefits and cost pennies on the dollar compared to other nutrient dense foods. Lentils can be absolutely delicious, yet are widely misunderstood to be tasteless and tough.

African Leaders Urged to Listen to Peer Review Advice

A participant in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which promotes good governance on the continent, told VOA the process continues to function.

The APRM was started in 2003 to encourage conformity among participating African countries with regards to democracy, political, economic and socio-economic governance. Some have suggested it has been silent lately.

Attorney Akere Muna is a former chairman of Transparency International-Cameroon and an eminent person in the African Review Mechanism.

He said African leaders should listen to the peer review recommendations if they are to avoid what is happening in Tunisia and Egypt.

Selena Gomez win Favorite Breakout Artist

Selena Gomez proudly shows off her award for favorite breakout artist at the People's Choice Awards 2011 on Wednesday (January 5) at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

The 18-year-old singer and actress picked up the accolade after performing "A Year Without Rain" with her band, Selena Gomez & The Scene.

Another Latina Disney prodigy who won last night was pop singing sensation Selena Gómez and her band "The Scene," winners of the "People's Choice Award" as "Favorite Breakout Artist."

On the carpet, Selena wore a one shoulder pink cocktail dress with ruffle detail at shoulder from Paule Ka with Giuseppe Zanotti pumps.

Backstage, Selena met up with fellow winner Taylor Swift and joked that the country star was taking over the world! Taylor then said the same thing about Selena!

Petra Nemcova Engaged

Czech model Petra Nemcova is set to merry British actor Jamie Belman after just eight months of dating. The couple met last year after being introduced by mutual friends and the stars spent the holidays together with both of their families.

British Vogue magazine now reports Petra Nemcova Engaged to Jamie Belman after Belman recently proposed. In the past, Nemcova, 31, has been romantically associated to Oscar winner Sean Penn and singer James Blunt. She lost her previous fiance, Simon Atlee, in December 2004 when he was killed in the catastrophic Asian tsunami. The model was a survivor of the disaster.

Since the tragic event, She has dedicated herself to aiding others affected by the tsunami, and is now President and Chairwoman of the euphoric Hearts Foundation which works with the children who survived the disaster. "When the tsunami happened, I wanted to aid in any possible way," she said.

Maria Menounos: Miami Beach Bikini Babe

Opting to ring in the new year in sunny Florida, Maria Menounos was spotted flaunting her fit and fine beach body in Miami on Friday afternoon (December 31).

Dressed in an oh-so-hot black bikini, the TV personality roughly around the sandy shoreline while partaking in a game of football with "No Ordinary Family" actor Michael Chiklis.Maria Menounos Bikini Beach

Tweeting about the active outing, Miss Menounos wrote, "Beach football today w/@MichaelChiklis…paparazzi had some fun! Hope the bikini shots are flattering!"

Getting more than she hoped for, the brunette beauty ended up offering up a few swimsuit malfunction shots before closing out her beach football festivities and heading back to the hotel to ready for the NYE 2011 parties.