Bold rebel bombing strikes Syria’s inner circle; president’s brother-in-law among the dead BEIRUT (AP) — Rebels penetrated the heart of Syria’s power elite Wednesday, detonating a bomb inside a high-level crisis meeting in Damascus that killed three leaders of the regime, including President Bashar Assad’s brother-in-law and the defense minister. The unprecedented blow to the ruling dynasty could mark a turning point in the civil war, suggesting that those once close to Assad are turning against him. The bombing follows some of the worst bloodshed in Damascus of the 16-month uprising, a growing list of high-ranking defections and mounting frustration by world leaders over their inability to find a diplomatic solution. The White House said the bombing showed Assad was ‘‘losing control’’ of Syria. Rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had been planning it for two months and finally decided to plant the bomb in the room where the top government security officials in charge of crushing the revolt were holding a crisis meeting. ‘‘God willing, this is the beginning of the end of the regime,’’ said Riad al-Asaad, a commander of the disparate rebel forces who operate across the country. Al-Asaad, who is not related to the president, spoke to The Associated Press by telephone from Turkey, where he is based. ——— Israel vows tough response to Iran after deadly bus attack kills 7 in Bulgaria SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Israel vowed to strike back at Iran for a brazen daylight bombing Wednesday that killed at least seven people on a bus full of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria. The bombing was the latest in a series of attacks attributed to Iran that have targeted Israelis and Jews overseas and threatened to escalate a shadow war between the two arch-enemies. Iran has denied involvement in the past but did not comment on Wednesday’s attack. President Barack Obama termed it a ‘‘barbaric terrorist attack’’ and called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pledge U.S. help in finding the perpetrators. The blast gutted the bus at the airport in the quiet Black Sea resort city of Burgas, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the capital, Sofia, where the Israelis had just arrived on a charter flight from Tel Aviv carrying 154 people, including eight children. Black smoke billowed into the sky from the stricken bus after the bomb exploded. Young Israelis said they were just boarding when the blast ripped through the white vehicle in the airport parking lot. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said at least seven people were killed. ——— Romney criticizes Obama on employment issues, ignores more calls that he release tax returns BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP) — A defiant Mitt Romney brushed aside more calls for the release of his tax returns on Wednesday and instead accused President Barack Obama of protecting his job at the expense of millions of unemployed Americans. Intensifying his attacks as Obama focused on official meetings in Washington, the Republican presidential candidate told an overflowing Ohio crowd that the Democrat hasn’t met with his jobs council in more than six months. In that time, however, Romney says Obama held 100 fundraisers. ‘‘His priority is not creating jobs for you,’’ Romney declared in Bowling Green. ‘‘His priority is trying to keep his own job. And that’s why he’s going to lose it.’’ For the often-reserved Romney, the fiery rhetoric marks an aggressive shift as he struggles to answer questions about his business career and personal tax returns. The former businessman, who would be among the nation’s wealthiest presidents if elected, has broken from tradition so far, having released just one year of personal income tax returns and promised to release a second. But in speeches across four states this week, Romney has thrilled supporters with aggressive attacks on Obama and charges of ‘‘crony capitalism.’’ At the same time, the Republican’s campaign has teased reporters with news that Romney’s selection of a running mate could come any day, forcing new attention on what may be the most important decision of the campaign so far. ——— George Zimmerman tells Fox News he was not pursuing Trayvon Martin before fatal encounter MIRAMAR, Fla. (AP) — In his first lengthy TV interview, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman said Wednesday he wanted to apologize to Trayvon Martin’s parents for fatally shooting their son but insisted he was not pursuing the teenager on the rainy night they confronted one another. When asked in a nationally televised interview by Fox News host Sean Hannity what he would tell the teen’s parents, he said ‘‘I’m sorry,’’ and that he would be open to talking to them about what happened the night of the shooting. ‘‘I can’t imagine what it must feel like. And I pray for them daily,’’ Zimmerman said. Later, he added: ‘‘I am sorry that this happened.’’ The teenager’s father, Tracy Martin, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that he rejected a comment Zimmerman made about the events of that night being part of ‘‘God’s plan.’’ ‘‘We must worship a different God. There is no way that my God wanted George Zimmerman to murder my teenage son,’’ Tracy Martin said. ——— SPIN METER: Who are the middle class? Just about everyone, when it comes to courting US voters WASHINGTON (AP) — In a recent speech, President Barack Obama referred to the ‘‘middle class’’ 14 times, defining it as a family that makes up to $250,000 a year. Republican challenger Mitt Romney has looked at it from the other direction, saying that someone who falls into poverty ‘‘is still middle class.’’ In the fuzzy labels and loose speech of this political season, ‘‘middle class’’ has ballooned to cover just about everyone. So what does the term really mean? There’s no official definition. If anything, a slew of economic data suggests a middle class that’s actually shrinking. Mid-wage manufacturing and other jobs are disappearing due to automation and outsourcing, while lower-income positions and poverty spike higher. The White House’s chief economist, Alan Krueger, said in January that the middle class fell from 50 percent of U.S. households in 1970 to 42 percent in 2010, as more families moved to the extreme ends of income distribution. But it’s not just about economic ranges. And politicians are not bound by such gauges anyway. ——— AP NewsBreak: Punishment, no criminal charges for military in Secret Service prostitution case WASHINGTON (AP) — Seven Army soldiers and two Marines have received administrative punishments, but are not facing criminal charges, for their part in the Secret Service prostitution scandal in Colombia this year, The Associated Press has learned. U.S. officials said that one Air Force member has been reprimanded but cleared of any violations of the Military Code of Justice. And final decisions are pending on two Navy sailors, whose cases remain under legal review. U.S. Southern Command, headed by Gen. Douglas Fraser, conducted the investigation into the military members’ involvement in the April incident, which brought shame to the elite presidential protection force and unearthed revelations of other episodes of misconduct within the Secret Service. The military service members, all enlisted personnel, were assigned to support the Secret Service in preparations for a visit to the coastal resort of Cartagena by President Barack Obama. All of the military had behind-the-scenes roles and were not directly involved in presidential security. The U.S. officials spoke about the investigation on condition of anonymity because the results have not been released. Military officials were expected to brief Congress members on the matter. ——— Feuding with Roberts over health care decision? Not me, says Scalia WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Antonin Scalia said Wednesday he hasn’t had a ‘‘falling out’’ with Chief Justice John Roberts over the Supreme Court’s landmark 5-4 decision validating much of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. In an interview on CNN’s ‘‘Piers Morgan Tonight,’’ the justice said despite reports that he and Roberts had clashed, there is not a personal feud going on between the court’s two leading conservatives. ‘‘There are clashes on legal questions but not personally,’’ Scalia said of the court. The Supreme Court earlier this month upheld much of Obama’s signature health care law, with Roberts siding with the court’s liberals to uphold the hotly debated core requirement that nearly every American have health insurance. The decision allowed the law to go forward with its aim of covering more than 30 million uninsured Americans. Since then, Roberts has been the focus of derision from some of the nation’s leading conservatives, and there have been reports of fractures in the relationships on the court’s conservative wing, of which Roberts and Scalia are members. ——— Swarming invasive insect discovered in US for first time, federal officials say BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An invasive insect commonly found in south-central Europe has been detected in southwestern Idaho, marking the first time the elm seed bug has been spotted in the U.S., according to federal officials. A U.S. Agriculture Department specialist has confirmed the discovery of the pests that officials say don’t pose a threat to trees, despite their name — but do tend to enter houses and buildings in huge swarms. The Idaho Department of Agriculture issued a statement Wednesday warning that the bugs recently found in Ada and Canyon counties can prove to be a ‘‘significant nuisance’’ for homeowners. Elm seed bugs invade homes during the summer to escape heat, and then stick around through the winter, the department said. The quarter-inch pests, which feed on elm tree seeds and resemble tiny, brown cockroaches with triangular back markings, do not pose a public health risk, officials said. But the bugs can have an unpleasant odor, ‘‘especially when crushed,’’ said Pamela Juker, a spokeswoman for the Idaho Agriculture Department. Federal authorities will take the lead role in investigating how the insects got to the U.S. and how they might spread. ——— Batman director defends fans angry over sporadic bad ’Dark Knight’ reviews LONDON (AP) — Director Christopher Nolan is defending fans irate over negative reviews of ‘‘The Dark Knight Rises.’’ While the final piece of Nolan’s ‘‘Dark Knight’’ trilogy has gotten mostly positive reviews, a few critics, including The Associated Press’ Christy Lemire, gave it a negative review. Fan response to those critics became so venomous on the review aggregator site RottenTomatoes.com that it suspended user comments late Monday. Appearing at Wednesday’s London premiere of ‘‘The Dark Knight Rises,’’ Nolan was quick to defend fans’ heated response to the reviews. ‘‘I think the fans are very passionate about these characters the way a lot of people are very passionate. Batman’s been around for over 70 years and there’s a reason for that. He has a huge appeal, so I think you know people certainly respond to the character,’’ he said. Nolan also weighed in on conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh’s contention that the villain in the movie, Bane, was an attempt to make a disparaging link to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s former company Bain Capital. ——— Rockets win in grab for Lin; now Houston braces for Linsanity HOUSTON (AP) — Jeremy Lin loves New York. He wanted to stay. Even so, it was more important to him to be on the court as a starting point guard, and he’s convinced the Houston Rockets will put him there. ‘‘They made a very compelling pitch in terms of what I could bring to the team and for the city,’’ Lin said in a statement released through the team Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the Knicks decided not to match Houston’s bold three-year, $25 million offer sheet. ‘‘I am also impressed with (Houston owner Leslie) Alexander and the management’s commitment to improving the team.’’ The Rockets put out the statement not long after SI.com reported that Lin had acknowledged in an interview, ‘‘Honestly, I preferred New York. But my main goal in free agency was to go to a team that had plans for me and wanted me. I wanted to have fun playing basketball.’’ Fun is what the 23-yeaH5A8422limitu s BC-BBA--AmericanLeagueGl 07-19 0342 <B>BC-BBA--American League Glance,0123 American League At A Glance All Times EDT By The Associated Press East Division W L Pct GB<P> New York 57 34 .626 — Baltimore 47 44 .516 10 Boston 47 45 .511 10 1/2 Tampa Bay 47 45 .511 10 1/2 Toronto 45 47 .489 12 1/2 <B>Central Division W L Pct GB<P> Chicago 50 41 .549 — Detroit 48 44 .522 2 1/2 Cleveland 47 44 .516 3 Kansas City 39 51 .433 10 1/2 Minnesota 38 53 .418 12 <B>West Division W L Pct GB<P> Texas 55 36 .604 — Los Angeles 50 42 .543 5 1/2 Oakland 47 44 .516 8 Seattle 39 54 .419 17
——— <B>Tuesday’s Games<P> L.A. Angels 13, Detroit 0 N.Y. Yankees 6, Toronto 1 Chicago White Sox 7, Boston 5 Tampa Bay 4, Cleveland 2 Minnesota 6, Baltimore 4 Seattle 9, Kansas City 6 Texas 6, Oakland 1 <B>Wednesday’s Games<P> N.Y. Yankees 6, Toronto 0, 7 innings Oakland 4, Texas 3 Detroit 7, L.A. Angels 2 Boston 10, Chicago White Sox 1 Cleveland 10, Tampa Bay 6 Baltimore 2, Minnesota 1 Kansas City 8, Seattle 7 <B>Thursday’s Games<P> Cleveland (Jimenez 8-8) at Tampa Bay (Price 12-4), 12:10 p.m. L.A. Angels (Williams 6-6) at Detroit (Scherzer 8-5), 1:05 p.m. Baltimore (W.Chen 7-5) at Minnesota (De Vries 2-2), 1:10 p.m. Seattle (F.Hernandez 7-5) at Kansas City (W.Smith 1-2), 2:10 p.m. Chicago White Sox (Quintana 4-1) at Boston (Buchholz 8-3), 7:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (F.Garcia 4-2) at Oakland (Griffin 1-0), 10:05 p.m. <B>Friday’s Games<P> Baltimore at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox at Detroit, 7:05 p.m. Seattle at Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m. Toronto at Boston, 7:10 p.m. Minnesota at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Oakland, 10:UA95a A8421limitu s BC-BBN--NationalLeagueGl 07-19 0367 <B>BC-BBN--National League Glance,0123 National League At A Glance All Times EDT By The Associated Press East Division W L Pct GB<P> Washington 53 36 .596 — Atlanta 49 40 .551 4 New York 46 45 .505 8 Miami 44 47 .484 10 Philadelphia 41 52 .441 14 <B>Central Division W L Pct GB<P> Cincinnati 51 40 .560 — Pittsburgh 51 40 .560 — St. Louis 47 45 .511 4 1/2 Milwaukee 44 47 .484 7 Chicago 37 53 .411 13 1/2 Houston 34 58 .370 17 1/2 <B>West Division W L Pct GB<P> San Francisco 50 40 .556 — Los Angeles 49 44 .527 2 1/2 Arizona 44 47 .484 6 1/2 San Diego 38 55 .409 13 1/2 Colorado 35 56 .385 15 1/2
——— <B>Tuesday’s Games<P> Washington 5, N.Y. Mets 4, 10 innings Cincinnati 4, Arizona 0 San Francisco 9, Atlanta 0 Miami 9, Chicago Cubs 5 Milwaukee 3, St. Louis 2 Pittsburgh 6, Colorado 2 San Diego 8, Houston 2 Philadelphia 3, L.A. Dodgers 2 <B>Wednesday’s Games<P> Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 3 L.A. Dodgers 5, Philadelphia 3, 12 innings Pittsburgh 9, Colorado 6 San Diego 8, Houston 4 Washington 4, N.Y. Mets 3 Arizona 7, Cincinnati 1 San Francisco at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m. Chicago Cubs 5, Miami 1, 8 innings <B>Thursday’s Games<P> San Francisco (Bumgarner 11-5) at Atlanta (T.Hudson 7-4), 12:10 p.m. Arizona (J.Saunders 4-6) at Cincinnati (Leake 3-6), 12:35 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Dickey 12-1) at Washington (G.Gonzalez 12-4), 12:35 p.m. Miami (Buehrle 9-8) at Chicago Cubs (Maholm 7-6), 2:20 p.m. Houston (Harrell 7-6) at San Diego (Volquez 5-7), 10:05 p.m. <B>Friday’s Games<P> Atlanta at Washington, 7:05 p.m. Miami at Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m. San Francisco at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m. Milwaukee at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m. Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m. Houston at Arizona, 9:40 p.m. Colorado at San Diego, 10:05 p.m.
