BEIRUT (AP) - With just days to go before a deadline for a cease-fire brokered by the U.N., Syrian troops have launched a fierce assault on a suburb of the capital, Damascus. The operation and other offensives around the country are boosting the claim of opponents who say President Bashar Assad is hoping to make gains on the ground before the truce is supposed to take effect.

     TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - There are new questions about whether international talks on Iran's nuclear program can begin as scheduled next week. An influential Iranian lawmaker says he doesn't want Turkey to host the talks between Iran and world powers. That's because Turkey is putting increasing pressure on the government of Syria's Bashar Assad -- an ally of Iran.

     LONDON (AP) - European markets have given up their early gains today. Investors are worried about Spain's debt problems. They're also watching for the latest numbers of U.S. jobless claims this morning, ahead of the long Easter weekend.

     VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict says priests who have questioned church teaching on celibacy and ordaining women are being selfish in disobeying his authority. The pope's denunciation came on Holy Thursday, a day on which priests recall the promises they made when they were ordained. He says the dissidents claim to be motivated by concern for the church, but they're really just trying to make changes based on their own "preferences and ideas."

     SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Officials in California and Nevada are joining forces in an effort to lure the Winter Games back to the Lake Tahoe area in 2022. A resort on the California side hosted the Winter games in 1960. Salt Lake City and Denver are also vying for the 2022 Winter Games.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Hillsborough Sheriff's detectives are investigating a warehouse that they say is a hub for synthetic marijuana distribution in Tampa.   On Wednesday, Hillsborough officials say they found about 500 to 600 pounds of K2, a drug commonly known as synthetic marijuana.   The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating possible safety hazards, along with Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Fire Marshal's Office.     Authorities say the substance was being soaked in chemicals at the warehouse.

SPRING HILL, Fla. (AP) - A Tampa Bay area woman has been charged with child neglect after deputies say she called 911 and yelled for dispatchers to "send someone out here" before hanging up when they asked for more information about her emergency.   A Hernando County Sheriff's Office report issued Wednesday says 36-year-old Melinda Sue Vairo made no mention of a 1-year-old child being face-down in a backyard pool on Tuesday.  The Tampa Bay Times (http://bit.ly/HjdVHf ) reports emergency crews revived the boy and took him to a hospital where he was in stable condition on Wednesday.   Deputies found nine empty bottles of beer and an empty bottle of rum at the home. The report didn't explain the woman's relationship to the boy.  Vairo was charged with two counts of child neglect.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The fishing will be free in Florida on Saturday.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is letting anglers wet their lines even if they don't have freshwater fishing licenses.  The fishing will be license-free on 3 million acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs and 12,000 miles of rivers, streams and canals.  It's part of the commission's effort to promote recreational fishing, a multi-billion dollar business in Florida.  Saturday is one of four license-free days scheduled this year. June 2 and Sept. 1 will be license-free for saltwater fishing. June 9 will be another freshwater license-free day.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say former NBA player Loren Woods was arrested on DUI charges in Tampa.  Jail records show 33-year-old Woods refused a blood-alcohol test when he was arrested early Wednesday. He was later released on $2,500 bail.  According to the NBA's website, played for six years, including a brief stint with the Miami Heat.  Woods was charged with a misdemeanor DUI charge and a felony count of bribery of a public servant.