HONOLULU

Obama signs defense bill, criticizes terror provisions

President Obama signed a wide-ranging defense bill into law Saturday despite having “serious reservations” about provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation and prosecution of suspected terrorists.

The bill also applies penalties against Iran’s central bank in an effort to hamper Tehran’s ability to fund its nuclear enrichment program. The Obama administration is looking to soften the impact of those penalties because of concerns that they could lead to a spike in global oil prices or cause economic hardship on U.S. allies that import petroleum from Iran.

In a statement, the president chastised some lawmakers for what he contended were their attempts to use the bill to restrict the ability of counterterrorism officials to protect the country.

WASHINGTON

U.S. to sell $3.48 billion in missiles to Mideast ally

The United States has reached a deal to sell $3.48 billion worth of missiles and related technology to the United Arab Emirates, a Mideast ally, as part of a massive buildup of defense technology among friendly Mideast nations near Iran.

Pentagon spokesman George Little announced the Christmas Day sale Friday night.

He noted that the U.S. and U.A.E. have a strong defense relationship and are both interested in “a secure and stable” Persian Gulf region.

The deal includes 96 missiles, along with supporting technology and training support that Little says will bolster the nation’s missile defense capacity.

The deal includes a contract with Lockheed Martin to produce the highly sophisticated Terminal High Altitude Area Defense weapon system for the U.A.E.

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark.

Police work to identify body found in search for woman

Searchers looking for a missing police dispatcher found a body Saturday in the wilderness several miles from her home, and while police wouldn’t confirm it was the missing woman’s body, they told her family of the find.

Debbie Shingler, whose sister Dawna Natzke, 46, was last seen leaving a Dec. 21 Christmas party with her boyfriend, said that police notified her family that searchers found a body about five miles from her home in Hot Springs Village and about five miles from where her burned-out car was found.

“They told us yes, they found a body, but it’s not confirmed to be Dawna. But we all know,” Shingler said.

Police have not named any suspects in Natzke’s disappearance.

MIDLAND, Texas

Man detained after entering airport with explosives

An official in Texas says a man has been detained after entering an airport in Midland with military-grade explosives.

City of Midland spokeswoman Tasa Watts said Saturday that she had no information on the suspect, who was taken into custody by the FBI. An FBI spokesman did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press.

Watts said the explosives were found as the man was going into a terminal at Midland International Airport.

She said the incident happened shortly before 9:30 a.m. Saturday. A sweep was done and the airport terminal was cleared, and normal operations have resumed.

SAN FRANCISCO

Zoo officials step up security after squirrel monkey stolen

San Francisco Zoo officials are stepping up security after a squirrel monkey was stolen from an exhibit.

Two security guards were patrolling the 100-acre zoo Thursday night when the monkey named Banana Sam was apparently taken.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that security has been doubled this holiday weekend in case the thieves try to return.

The zoo’s remaining 17 squirrel monkeys are also now being kept indoors.

Banana Sam was taken after thieves cut through a back perimeter gate and then made two holes into the mesh around the monkey exhibit.

A $5,000 reward has been offered for the male monkey’s safe return.

— From news service reports