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For the top brass of companies such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard, talk of cyberweapons and cyberwar could be abstract. But at a classified security briefing in spring 2010, it suddenly became quite real. "We can turn your computer into a brick," government officials reportedly told the startled executives.

Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., who represents California's 10th Congressional District, faces two main challengers in next week's primary: former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez, a Democrat, and independent Chad Condit, son of former Congressman Gary Condit. Under California's new "jungle primary" system, the top two finishers will go on to the general election in the fall.

Perhaps more than any other major professional sports league in this country, the National Basketball Association is star-driven. A Christmas slate of season-opening games featured the electric play of the league's Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose, the NBA's top scorer Kevin Durant and LeBron James, too.

European Union leaders meet in Brussels for their latest summit aimed at saving the eurozone from financial meltdown. The top-level meeting will pit German chancellor Angela Merkel against her increasingly unified partners, France, Italy and Spain, which are determined to win concessions from Europe's economic powerhouse.

Forbes in Israel has published a first-of-its-kind ranking of the country's richest rabbis. The estimated wealth of the top-ranked rabbi? $335 million. Some self-styled Jewish mystics attract wealthy, high-profile followers who donate huge sums in exchange for blessings and advice.

Gadgets are always popular choices as holiday presents. Linda Wertheimer talks to regular technology commentator Rich Jaroslovsky, of Bloomberg News, about the gadgets he likes. Tops on the list are a Lytro camera, Zik wireless headphones, and a Saeco coffee machine.

The Spanish newspaper El Pais has published excerpts of accounting logs that allegedly belonged to the former treasurer of Spain's ruling party. Luis Barcenas is accused of handing out envelopes stuffed with cash at party headquarters for years. His notebooks reveal payments to most top Spanish politicians — including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was a deputy party secretary at the time. If the documents are authentic, they are evidence that Rajoy received "black money" for years. The ruling party has denied all charges.

Stock prices are lower and energy prices are higher, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. stock market opened sharply lower, while crude oil prices topped $100 a barrel.

Top U.S. military commanders are revising assessments of how soon U.S. troops can begin withdrawing from Iraq. Gen. George Casey said before a skeptical Senate Armed Services Committee that U.S. troops may be able to return home next year. But he also said there is currently just one Iraqi battalion capable of combat.

The UN's top official for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, is in China this week and will visit the western region of Xinjiang, where Beijing has been accused of genocide and crimes against humanity.