International Top Stories from Associated Press (AP)
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Egypt opposition leader calls for election boycott
CAIRO (AP) , Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei called Saturday for a boycott of parliamentary elections, drawing immediate criticism from some within his movement who said it was a hasty decision.
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Battle for Syria's Aleppo airport intensifies
BEIRUT (AP) , The battle for Syria's second-largest airport intensified Saturday as government troops tried to reverse recent strategic gains the rebels have made in the northeast in their quest to topple President Bashar Assad.
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Battle for Syria's Aleppo airport intensifies
BEIRUT (AP) , The battle for Syria's second-largest airport intensified on Saturday as government troops tried to reverse recent strategic gains the rebels have made in the northeast in their quest to topple President Bashar Assad.
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Egypt opposition leader calls for election boycott
CAIRO (AP) , A key opposition leader called Saturday for a boycott of upcoming parliamentary elections, saying he will not take part in a "sham democracy." President Mohammed Morsi's Islamist party, the Muslim Brotherhood, shot back that the opposition was running away from the challenge and wants power without contesting elections.
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Egypt opposition: Election will add to tensions
CAIRO (AP) , Egypt's president set parliamentary elections to begin in April , a decision that an opposition leader denounced Friday as "a recipe for disaster" because of the ongoing political turmoil in the country. About 15,000 people took to the streets in the Suez Canal city of Port Said to demonstrate against President Mohammed Morsi, hanging effigies of him in the main square.
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Twin bombings kill 14, wound more in south India
HYDERABAD, India (AP) , A day after two bicycle bombs killed 14 people and wounded more than 100, investigators into India's worst bombing in more than a year searched Friday for possible links to anger over the execution of a Muslim militant.
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Twin bombings kill 13, wound more in south India
HYDERABAD, India (AP) , A pair of bombs exploded in a crowded shopping area in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, killing at least 13 people and wounding scores of others in the worst bombing in the country in more than a year.
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Twin bombings kill 13, wound more in south India
HYDERABAD, India (AP) , A pair of bombs exploded in a crowded shopping area in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, killing at least 13 people and wounding scores of others in the worst bombing in the country in more than a year.
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Twin bombings kill 13, wound more in south India
HYDERABAD, India (AP) , A pair of bombs exploded in a crowded shopping area in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, killing at least 13 people and wounding scores of others in the worst bombing in the country in more than a year, officials said.
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Twin bombings kill 12, wound more in south India
HYDERABAD, India (AP) , A pair of bombs exploded in a crowded shopping area in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, killing at least 12 people and wounding scores of others in the worst bombing in the country in more than a year, officials said.
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Car bomb kills at least 53 in Syrian capital
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , A car bomb exploded Thursday near Syria's ruling party headquarters in Damascus, killing at least 53 people and scattering mangled bodies among the blazing wreckage in one of the bloodiest days in the capital since the uprising began almost two years ago.
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3 British men convicted in terrorist bomb plot
LONDON (AP) , They were very ordinary would-be terrorists, with big plans but bad luck. On Thursday, a London jury convicted the three young British men of being ringleaders of an al-Qaida-inspired plot to explode knapsack bombs in crowded parts of Birmingham, England's second-largest city.
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Car bomb kills at least 53 in Syrian capital
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , A car bomb exploded Thursday near Syria's ruling party headquarters in Damascus, killing at least 53 people and scattering mangled bodies among the blazing wreckage in one of the bloodiest days in the capital since the uprising began almost two years ago.
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Car bomb kills at least 53 in Syrian capital
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , A car bomb exploded Thursday near Syria's ruling party headquarters in Damascus, killing at least 53 people and scattering mangled bodies among the blazing wreckage in one of the bloodiest days in the capital since the uprising began almost two years ago.
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SAfrica police replace top Pistorius investigator
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Ahead of a judge's decision on whether to release Oscar Pistorius on bail, South African police on Thursday appointed a new chief detective in the murder case, replacing a veteran policeman who was himself charged with attempted murder.
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Freed Afghan Taliban fighters return to insurgency
ISLAMABAD (AP) , At least half the Afghan Taliban recently freed from Pakistani prisons have rejoined the insurgency, a Pakistani intelligence official says, throwing into question the value of such goodwill gestures that the Afghan government requested to restart a flagging peace process.
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Rand Paul writes $600k check to U.S. Treasury
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is returning $600,000 to the U.S. Treasury that he saved by scrimping in the past year at his Senate office. "It's the only budget I control. ... It's not enough, but it's a start," the senator told reporters at a conference in downtown Louisville.
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Vatican feuds, fiefdoms, betrayals await next pope
VATICAN CITY (AP) , If evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict XVI's private papers is Exhibit A. The pope's own butler stole sensitive internal letters to the pontiff and passed them off to a journalist, who then published them in a blockbuster book.
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3 British men convicted in terrorist bomb plot
LONDON (AP) , They were very ordinary would-be terrorists, with big plans but bad luck. On Thursday, a jury convicted three young British men , including an unemployed pharmacy graduate nicknamed Chubbs , of being ringleaders of an al-Qaida-inspired plot to explode knapsack bombs in crowded parts of Birmingham, England's second-largest city.
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USAID chief visits Mogadishu, says US is committed
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) , Signaling the latest step forward in rapidly strengthening U.S.-Somalia relations, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development spent five hours in Mogadishu on Thursday, the highest ranking U.S. administration official to visit Somalia's capital in years.
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Reports urge Obama to ease policy on Cuba
The Obama administration could , and should , use its executive power to circumvent Congress and loosen the decades-old embargo on U.S. relations with Cuba, according to two white papers circulated among foreign policy insiders this week by an influential Latin America think tank and a leading Cuban exile group.
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Damascus car bomb kills at least 53
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , A massive car bomb exploded near Syria's ruling party headquarters in Damascus on Thursday, killing at least 53 people and scattering mangled bodies amid the smoldering wreckage. Syrian state media put the toll at 53 with more than 200 wounded.
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USAID chief visits Mogadishu, says US is committed
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) , Signaling the latest step forward in rapidly strengthening U.S.-Somalia relations, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development spent five hours in Mogadishu on Thursday, the highest ranking U.S. administration official to visit Somalia's capital in years.
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Markets rattled by Fed policy concerns
LONDON (AP) , An unexpected indication from the U.S. Federal Reserve that it is considering how to bring an end to its super-easy monetary policy rattled markets Thursday. While supposedly riskier assets such as stocks, the euro and oil prices fell sharply, the perceived safer financial assets, such as the dollar and German government bonds, were in demand.
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Top detective appointed new Pistorius investigator
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , South Africa's top detective was appointed lead investigator in the Oscar Pistorius case Thursday, replacing a veteran policeman who was charged with attempted murder in the latest shock development to hit a case being watched closely by the nation.
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Syria says 53 killed in Damascus car bomb
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , A car bombing near Syria's ruling party headquarters in Damascus killed 53 people on Thursday, according to state media, while mortar rounds exploded near the army's central command in the city. It was the third straight day of attacks on the center of the capital, among the deepest and fiercest on the heart of Bashar Assad's seat of power during the civil war.
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Three British Muslims found guilty in terrorist bomb plot
A London jury found three British Muslims guilty of planning terrorist bombings that were intended to cause more damage than the 2005 attacks against the city's transit system. On July 7, 2005, bombs rocked Britain's bus and subway system and killed 52 commuters.
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SAfrica police names new Pistorius investigator
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , South Africa's police head has appointed its top detective as the new lead investigator in the Oscar Pistorius murder case. The decision came after it emerged the initial investigator, Hilton Botha, was facing attempted murder charges. National Commissioner Riah Phiyega says Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo will take over the investigation.
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Markets rattled by Fed policy concerns
LONDON (AP) , An unexpected indication from the U.S. Federal Reserve that it is considering how to bring an end to its super-easy monetary policy rattled markets Thursday. While supposedly riskier assets such as stocks, the euro and oil prices fell sharply, the perceived safer financial assets, such as the dollar and German government bonds, were in demand.
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Prosecutors: Pistorius top cop should be dropped
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Prosecutors reinstated attempted murder charges against a policeman leading the murder investigation into Oscar Pistorius, in the latest twist in a case that has captivated South Africa and threatens to bring down a national idol.
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Egypt's Brotherhood still operates secretively
CAIRO (AP) , Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi says he has firsthand knowledge of opponents allegedly plotted against him at a meeting. A few months earlier, the most powerful man in his Muslim Brotherhood group, Khairat el-Shater, said he had access to recordings of former military rulers and electoral officials engineering his disqualification from last year's presidential race.
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Acclaimed Russian film director Alexei German dies
ST.PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) , Alexei German, a Russian film director best known for his works offering a bitter view of life in the Soviet Union under dictator Josef Stalin, died Thursday, his son said. German, 74, died of heart failure at a hospital in his hometown, St. Petersburg, his son, Alexei German Jr., said in a blog post.
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Syrian TV says 53 killed in Damascus car bomb
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , Syrian state TV says 53 people were killed and more than 200 wounded in a car bomb attack near the headquarters of the ruling Baath party in central Damascus. The bomb was one of at least three attacks in the heart of the city on Thursday. A second blast shook another neighborhood and mortar rounds exploded near the Syrian Army General Command.
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Prosecutors: Pistorius top cop should be dropped
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Prosecutors reinstated attempted murder charges against a policeman leading the murder investigation into world-famous athlete Oscar Pistorius, in the latest twist in a case that has captivated South Africa and threatens to bring down a national idol.
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West set to make 'serious offer' to Iran for nuclear...
A Western diplomat says world powers are prepared to make Iran a "substantial and serious offer" to move along agreements about its nuclear development program. The unnamed diplomat declined to specify what that offer might entail, according to a Newsmax report.
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Biden speaks on gun violence in shadow of Sandy Hook...
Vice president Joseph R. Biden, fresh off his comment encouraging Americans to "buy a shotgun,'" speaks on gun violence Thursday at conference being hosted just down the road of the December school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.
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MILLER: A gun tale of two cities
Nathan Haddad, a former Army staff sergeant in New York, was selling his gun magazines when he was arrested for violating a state law prohibiting possession of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. He was arrested and charged with five felonies. This is the crime that David Gregory of NBC News committed in Washington a few months ago; Mr.
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EDITORIAL: Mr. Musk comes to Washington, again
When the history of crony capitalism is written, Elon Musk will deserve a chapter to himself. Mr. Musk began his career as a risk-taker and entrepreneur, co-founding the innovative online-payment system PayPal. His latest ventures depend on taxpayers, K Street lobbyists and campaign contributions. His pals really pay.
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FIELDS: Genderfication of adolescence
Not so long ago "gender" was something mostly of interest to flirtatious nouns, but then, as the culture became both more vulgar and more squeamish, "gender" replaced "sex" as the distinction between "him" and "her." Now "date," which described how him and her got acquainted, is replaced by "hook-up."
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CAMPANELLA: School choice and kids' safety: Preventing...
When people think of school choice, they think of parents selecting new, rigorous, challenging schools for their children. For some parents, though, the need for choice isn't just about academics. It's about the safety, both physical and emotional, of their children.
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Prosecutors: Detective should be dropped from case
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority acknowledged Thursday that the timing of attempted murder charges against a policeman leading the investigation into Oscar Pistorius was "totally weird" and that the policeman should be dropped from the case against the world-famous athlete.
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Oscar Pistorius' lead investigator faces 7 attempted...
The detective who testified against Oscar Pistorius and said the Olympian should not be granted bail now faces scrutiny himself , for an attempted murder charge stemming from a 2011 incident. Detective Hilton Botha faces attempted murder charges for firing at a minibus, along with two other police officers, in 2011, The Associated Press reports. Mr.
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Germany's Angela Merkel pushes for EU-U.S. trade pact
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the time has come for the United States to join a trade agreement with the European Union. President Obama agrees. A month ago, he affirmed the U.S. believes "trade that is free and fair across the Atlantic supports millions of good-paying American jobs," according to a report by The Associated Press.
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Car bomb explosion rocks Damascus; Syria's Baath Party...
A car bomb exploded near the Russian Embassy and the headquarters of President Bashar Assad's ruling Baath party in central Damascus on Thursday. Television footage of the scene showed at least four bodies in the street, presumed dead, according to a report from The Associated Press.
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Markets rattled by Fed policy concerns
LONDON (AP) , An unexpected indication from the U.S. Federal Reserve that it is considering how to bring an end to its super-easy monetary policy rattled markets Thursday. While supposedly riskier assets such as stocks and the euro sank, the perceived safer financial assets, such as the dollar, the Swiss franc and the German bund, were in demand.
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Prosecutors: Detective should be dropped from case
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority acknowledged that the timing of attempted murder charges against a police detective leading the investigation into Oscar Pistorius is "totally weird" and that he should dropped from the case against the world-famous athlete.
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Sony shows PlayStation 4 capabilities, but no box
NEW YORK (AP) - Sony showed off what the PlayStation 4 can do, but not what it will look like. The Japanese electronics giant talked about its upcoming game console for the first time and said it will go on sale this holiday season.
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Police add more confusion to Oscar Pistorius case
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , The prosecution case against Oscar Pistorius began to unravel Wednesday with revelations of a series of police blunders and the lead investigator's admission that authorities have no evidence challenging the double-amputee Olympian's claim he killed his girlfriend accidentally.
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Northern Mali a breeding ground for terrorists long...
The French liberation of northern Mali from embedded Islamists finally has put Mali on everyone's radar screen. In the House Committee on Foreign Affairs last week, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, testified about the crisis in the West African nation and what the U.S. and other countries should do.
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Commercial cyberspying, theft promise rich payoff
BEIJING (AP) , For state-backed cyberspies such as a Chinese military unit implicated by a U.S. security firm in a computer crime wave, hacking foreign companies can produce high-value secrets ranging from details on oil fields to advanced manufacturing technology.
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Report: Mexico disappearances constitute 'crisis'
MEXICO CITY (AP) , Human Rights Watch called Mexico's anti-drug offensive "disastrous" in a report Wednesday that cites 249 cases of disappearances that the group says mostly show evidence of having been carried out by the military or law enforcement.
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Commercial cyberspying and theft gives rich payoff
BEIJING (AP) , For state-backed cyberspies such as a Chinese military unit implicated by a U.S. security firm in a computer crime wave, hacking foreign companies can produce high-value secrets ranging from details on oil fields to advanced manufacturing technology.
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Commercial cyberspying and theft gives rich payoff
BEIJING (AP) , For state-backed cyberspies such as a Chinese military unit implicated by a U.S. security firm in a computer crime wave, hacking foreign companies can produce high-value secrets ranging from details on oil fields to advanced manufacturing technology.
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Conclave brings out cardinals' dirty laundry
VATICAN CITY (AP) , Popular pressure is mounting in the U.S. and Italy to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony away from the conclave to elect the next pope because of his role shielding sexually abusive priests, a movement targeting one of the most prominent of a handful of compromised cardinals scheduled to vote next month.
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Chicago schools get $50k from feds to 'recover from...
The U.S. Department of Education announced last week that it is awarding $50,000 to Chicago-area schools to help "recover from multiple shootings." The Immediate Project School Emergency Response...
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Report: Mexico disappearances constitute 'crisis'
MEXICO CITY (AP) , A Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday calls Mexico's anti-drug offensive "disastrous" and cites 249 cases of disappearances, most of which show evidence of having been carried out by the military or law enforcement.
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Conclave brings out cardinals' dirty laundry
VATICAN CITY (AP) , Popular pressure is mounting in the U.S. and Italy to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony away from the conclave to elect the next pope because of his role shielding sexually abusive priests, a movement targeting one of the most prominent of a handful of compromised cardinals scheduled to vote next month.
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Russia offers to broker Syria talks
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , Russia and the Arab League proposed Wednesday to broker talks between the Syrian opposition and President Bashar Assad's regime to try to resolve the country's civil war, while a government airstrike on a rebellious Damascus suburb killed at least 20 people.
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British neighborhood wants its Banksy back
LONDON (AP) , A London neighborhood wants its Banksy back. A stencil by the famed but secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a north London bargain store last May.
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British neighborhood wants its Banksy back
LONDON (AP) , A London neighborhood wants its Banksy back. A stencil by the famed but secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a north London bargain store last May.
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Egypt moves to ban alcohol sales
Egypt's Islamic government will no longer be issuing alcohol permits and will not renew existing ones in certain areas of Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities, an official has said. "NUCA has stopped...
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Russia offers to broker Syria talks
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , Russia and the Arab League proposed Wednesday to broker talks between the Syrian opposition and President Bashar Assad's regime to try to resolve the country's civil war, while a government airstrike on a rebellious Damascus suburb killed at least 20 people.
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Boom in quinoa demand stresses Bolivia highlands
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) , The growing global demand for quinoa by health food enthusiasts isn't just raising prices for the Andean "super grain" and living standards among Bolivian farmers. Quinoa fever is running up against physical limits.
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Kenyan chief justice reveals threats ahead of vote
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) , In an extraordinary public statement only days before Kenya's high-tension national election, the country's chief justice on Wednesday said he has received a threatening letter warning of dire consequences if the judiciary doesn't allow a top candidate indicted by the International Criminal Court to run.
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Fergie and husband Duhamel study up on parenting
LONDON (AP) , Actor Josh Duhamel and his wife, Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie, have already started doing their homework as they prepare to welcome their first child. Duhamel tells The Associated Press the couple is "very excited" and that friends and family are passing on pregnancy advice.
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Pistorius applied for licenses for 6 more guns
JOHANNESBURG (AP) , Oscar Pistorius applied for firearm licenses for six more guns weeks before the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp inside his house on Feb. 14, according to official records obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday.
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Pope considers new conclave rules, date uncertain
VATICAN CITY (AP) , Pope Benedict XVI may enact a new law governing the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope amid continued uncertainty over when the voting can begin. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Wednesday that he didn't know for sure if the new law under consideration would address the timing of the conclave following Benedict's Feb. 28 resignation.
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Army plans huge cuts to civilian workforce
The Army is planning to furlough and/or lay off as many as 302,626 civilian workers across the country due to budget concerns, according to an official document obtained by The Washington Times. The layoffs...
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Conclave brings out cardinals' dirty laundry
VATICAN CITY (AP) , Popular pressure is mounting in the U.S. and Italy to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony away from the conclave to elect the next pope because of his role shielding sexually abusive priests, a movement targeting one of the most prominent of a handful of compromised cardinals scheduled to vote next month.
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Report: Time for U.S. to 'relinquish' control in global...
A U.S. program that has generated hopes around the world that the AIDS pandemic can be defeated should start "relinquishing" more control to its partner countries, according to an independent evaluation prepared for Congress.
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US housing starts dip but remain at solid pace
WASHINGTON (AP) , U.S. homebuilders began work at a slower pace in January than in December. But all of the drop occurred in the volatile area of apartment construction, which sank 24 percent. By contrast, the rate of single-family homebuilding rose 0.8 percent.
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Prosecution: Error in 'testosterone' testimony
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , The investigating officer in the Oscar Pistorius murder case made an error in his court testimony Wednesday when he identified a substance found in the athlete's bedroom as testosterone, the national prosecutor said.
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British neighborhood wants its Banksy back
LONDON (AP) , A London neighborhood wants its Banksy back. A stencil by the famed, secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a north London bargain store last May.
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Colo. lawmakers clash over Democrat's guns and rape...
DENVER , Colorado Republican women called on Democrats to denounce state Rep. Joe Salazar's remarks about rape and guns, but instead he received a vote of confidence. Colorado House Speaker Mark Ferrandino called Mr. Salazar "a great legislator and person," saying Tuesday his comments had been misconstrued.
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Conclave brings out cardinals' dirty laundry
VATICAN CITY (AP) , Popular pressure is mounting in the U.S. and Italy to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony away from the conclave to elect the next pope because of his role shielding sexually abusive priests, a movement targeting one of the most prominent of a handful of compromised cardinals scheduled to vote next month.
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Air raid kills at least 20 near Syrian capital
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , An air raid on a suburb of the Syrian capital killed at least 20 people and two mortars exploded next to a soccer stadium in the heart of Damascus killing one player as violence moved closer to the heart of President Bashar Assad's seat of power.
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Conclave brings out cardinals' dirty laundry
VATICAN CITY (AP) , Popular pressure is mounting in the U.S. and Italy to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony away from the conclave to elect the next pope because of his role shielding sexually abusive priests, a movement targeting one of the most prominent of a handful of compromised cardinals scheduled to vote next month.
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Police offer confused testimony in Pistorius case
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , The detective leading the police investigation into Oscar Pistorius' fatal shooting of his girlfriend offered confusing testimony Wednesday, at one point agreeing with the athlete's defense that officers had no evidence challenging the runner's claim he accidentally killed her.
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Russia: Adoption of boy by U.S. woman who hid she was...
Russia on Wednesday called the adoption of a Russian boy by a woman who revealed she was gay only after the adoption proceedings had wrapped up a "serious worry," according to various media reports.
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British neighborhood wants its Banksy back
LONDON (AP) , A London neighborhood wants its Banksy back. A stencil by the famed, secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a north London bargain store last May.
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Adam Lanza diagnosed with sensory disorder at age 6
Adam Lanza, the Newtown, Conn., teenager who shot and killed 20 Sandy Hook Elementary School students and six staffers , and then himself , in December, was diagnosed with a medical condition at age 6 that made it unbearable for him to be touched.
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Pope considers new conclave rules, date uncertain
VATICAN CITY (AP) , Pope Benedict XVI may enact a new law governing the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope amid continued uncertainty over when the voting can begin. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Wednesday that he didn't know for sure if the new law under consideration would address the timing of the conclave following Benedict's Feb. 28 resignation.
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U.S. lawmakers meet in Cuba with jailed Marylander
HAVANA (AP) , U.S. lawmakers confirmed Wednesday that they had visited an American man whose detention and long sentence in Cuba has hampered efforts to improve ties between the countries, but they gave no details on his condition or what was said. The seven-member delegation led by Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat, also met with Cuban President Raul Castro and other senior officials.
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Mortars kill soccer player in Syrian capital
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , Two mortars exploded next to a soccer stadium in central Damascus on Wednesday, killing one player as violence moved closer to the heart of President Bashar Assad's seat of power and into areas of the capital once considered safe.
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U.S. CEO to France: Keep your 'so-called workers'
France's work ethic has taken front and center as the chief executive of a U.S. tire maker issued a scathing letter denouncing the country's policy of trading high wages for little work, that has subsequently been published around the world.
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Markets subdued as focus turns to Fed
LONDON (AP) , Markets were subdued Wednesday ahead of a key release from the Federal Reserve that could provide a steer on what the central bank may do in the months ahead. The minutes to the last policy meeting of the Fed are due to be published later and traders will be interested to see the balance of opinion among rate-setters amid mixed signals over the outlook for the U.S.
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US Lawmakers meet with jailed American in Cuba
HAVANA (AP) , U.S. lawmakers confirmed on Wednesday that they visited an American man whose detention and long sentence in Cuba has hampered efforts to improve ties between the countries, but they gave no details on his condition or what was said. The seven-member delegation led by Sen. Patrick Leahy also met with Cuban President Raul Castro and other senior officials.
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US housing starts dip but remain at solid pace
WASHINGTON (AP) , U.S. homebuilders began work at a slower pace in January than in December. But all of the drop occurred in the volatile area of apartment construction, which sank 24 percent. By contrast, the rate of single-family homebuilding rose 0.8 percent.
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British premier lays wreath at India massacre site
NEW DELHI (AP) , Britain's prime minister laid a mourning wreath Wednesday at the site of a notorious 1919 massacre of hundreds of Indians by British colonial forces, calling the killings "a shameful event in British history."
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Gun bill giving sheriff right to inspect homes pulled by...
Washington lawmakers have pulled a contentious gun-control bill from the state's legislative tracking website, after calling a section that gave law enforcement authority to enter homes and check for proper weapons storage a "mistake."
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Conclave brings out cardinals' dirty laundry
VATICAN CITY (AP) , Popular pressure is mounting in the U.S. and Italy to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony away from the conclave to elect the next pope because of his role shielding sexually abusive priests, a movement targeting one of the most prominent of a handful of compromised cardinals scheduled to vote next month.
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US housing starts dip but remain at solid pace
WASHINGTON (AP) , U.S. homebuilders began work at a slower pace in January than in December, though activity was the third-highest since 2008. The steady pace of construction is a sign of continued strengthening in residential real estate.
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Cameroon president orders urgent rescue of French
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) , Military helicopters are searching for a vacationing French family of seven kidnapped in Cameroon and security around the region is being increased amid tensions over France's role in western Africa.
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Laura Bush, Colin Powell featured in $1M...
The pro-gay Respect for Marriage Coalition has launched a $1 million media campaign, complete with full-page newspaper ads and a television bit with President Obama, to rally for legislative reform. The television commercial also will feature former first lady Laura Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Politico reports.
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Portrait of accused China cyberspy unit emerges
BEIJING (AP) , Unit 61398 of the People's Liberation Army has been recruiting computer experts for at least a decade. It has made no secret of details of community life such as badminton matches and kindergarten, but its apparent purpose became clear only when a U.S. Internet security firm accused it of conducting a massive hacking campaign against North American targets.
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Commercial cyberspying offers rich payoff
BEIJING (AP) , For state-backed cyberspies such as a Chinese military unit implicated by a U.S. security firm in a computer crime wave, hacking foreign companies can produce high-value secrets ranging from details on oil fields to advanced manufacturing technology.
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BoE governor backed more stimulus for UK economy
LONDON (AP) , The Bank of England expressed growing concern over Britain's economy and came surprisingly close to backing another monetary stimulus in a move that piled further pressure on the pound. Minutes of the last policy meeting of the Bank of England released Wednesday showed outgoing Gov.
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Belgian prince injured in skiing accident
BRUSSELS (AP) , Belgium's Prince Laurent was injured during a skiing holiday in Austria and remained under observation on Wednesday in a local hospital to monitor internal bruising. The royal palace said that doctors want to make sure that there is no risk of bleeding from his injury, which is close to the liver.
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British neighborhood wants its Banksy back
LONDON (AP) , A London neighborhood wants its Banksy back. A stencil by the famed, secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a bargain store last May.
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Police: No inconsistencies in Pistorius account
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , A police detective testified at Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing Wednesday that authorities have not found any inconsistencies in the star athlete's description of his shooting of his girlfriend , a killing Pistorius says was accidental but which prosecutors call murder.
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Kansas City mall explosion injures 14; investigation...
A gas explosion at an upscale Kansas City mall that sparked a massive blaze and led to the injury of 14 could have been caused by a contractor, according to emergency responders and city officials. City Manager Troy Schulte said no fatalities have been reported in the blast that may have started due to a utility contractor, CBS reported. Cadaver dogs were searching through the rubble, however.
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Defense: Pistorius substance not banned
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , A substance found in Oscar Pistorius' bedroom was an "herbal remedy" and not banned, his defense lawyer said Wednesday, after police claimed they discovered two boxes of testosterone and needles in the Olympic athlete's house.
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Little audience for 'Zero Dark Thirty' in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (AP) , Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of Osama bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon.
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German antitrust probe into Amazon pricing policy
BERLIN (AP) , Online retailer Amazon may have broken antitrust laws in Germany by banning third-party traders from selling their products cheaper elsewhere, officials said Wednesday. German antitrust authorities said they have begun questioning 2,400 traders who signed up to Amazon's Marketplace platform, where they can sell products directly to the web giant's millions of users.
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European Commission gets new powers to oversee nations'...
The European Commission has been handed new powers to oversee the draft budgets of eurozone countries and ensure they meet European Union standards. Budgets that aren't in line can be sent back to the nation for revision, according to a Reuters report.
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Germany charges 2 with selling Iran drone motors
BERLIN (AP) , Two Iranian men have been charged with allegedly smuggling dozens of German-made aircraft motors to Iran to be used in its Ababil III surveillance and attack drone, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Germany prohibits the export of goods to Iran that could be used for military purposes, abiding by international sanctions.
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Cameroon president orders urgent rescue of French
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) , Military helicopters are searching for a vacationing French family of seven kidnapped in Cameroon and security around the region is being increased amid tensions over France's role in western Africa.
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Mortars hit Damascus stadium, kill soccer player
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , Two mortars exploded next to a soccer stadium in central Damascus Wednesday, killing one player and injuring several, Syria's state-run news agency said. The mortar attack was the second in as many days in the capital. On Tuesday, two mortars exploded near one of President Bashar Assad's palaces, causing material damage only.
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Greeks strike, march in protest against austerity
ATHENS, Greece (AP) , Tens of thousands of anti-austerity demonstrators took to the streets of Athens on Wednesday as unions staged a general strike to protest government spending cuts and tax hikes, which some predict will push unemployment to an alarming 30 percent.
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Defense: Pistorius substance not banned
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , A substance found in Oscar Pistorius' bedroom was an "herbal remedy" and not banned, his defense lawyer said Wednesday, after police claimed they discovered two boxes of testosterone and needles in the Olympic athlete's house.
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Police: No inconsistencies in Pistorius account
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , A police detective, testifying at Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing Wednesday, said that police have not found anything inconsistent with how the star athlete described his shooting of his girlfriend , a killing that Pistorius says was accidental but which prosecutors call murder.
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Markets subdued as focus turns to Fed
LONDON (AP) , Markets were subdued Wednesday ahead of a run of U.S. economic news that should provide a clearer steer on the state of the world's largest economy and what further steps the Federal Reserve might take in the months ahead.
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Markets subdued as focus turns to Fed
LONDON (AP) , Markets were subdued Wednesday ahead of a run of U.S. economic news that should provide a clearer steer on the state of the world's largest economy and what further steps the Federal Reserve might take in the months ahead.
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Greece hit by general strike against austerity
ATHENS, Greece (AP) , Tens of thousands of anti-austerity demonstrators took to the streets of Athens on Wednesday as unions staged a general strike to protest government spending cuts and tax hikes, which some predict will push unemployment to an alarming 30 percent. Police said up to 40,000 people were participating in two separate marches in central Athens that were so far peaceful.
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BoE governor backed more stimulus for UK economy
LONDON (AP) , The Bank of England expressed growing concern over Britain's economy and came surprisingly close to backing another monetary stimulus in a move that piled further pressure on the pound. Minutes of the last policy meeting of the Bank of England released Wednesday showed outgoing Gov.
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New North Korea video portrays Obama, U.S. troops in...
A new video from North Korea is portraying President Obama and members of the U.S. military in flames, with voice-over explanation of the nation's recent nuclear test due to American aggression. The video was posted Sunday on a YouTube account that was found to be affiliated with a government agency that favors reunification, The Associated Press reported.
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U.S. in cyberweapons race with China, Russia
Cybersecurity is to 2013 what the space program was to the 1950s and 1960s, and the United States is in an aggressive race with China and Russia to develop cyberweapons that can damage infrastructure, one industry expert says.
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Commercial cyber spying offers rich payoff
BEIJING (AP) , For state-backed cyber spies such as a Chinese military unit implicated by a U.S. security firm in a computer crime wave, hacking foreign companies can produce high-value secrets ranging from details on oil fields to advanced manufacturing technology.
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Commercial cyber spying offers rich payoff
BEIJING (AP) , For state-backed cyber spies such as a Chinese military unit implicated by a U.S. security firm in a computer crime wave, hacking foreign companies can produce high-value secrets ranging from details on oil fields to advanced manufacturing technology.
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Police oppose bail for Pistorius
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Killing suspect Oscar Pistorius is a flight risk and should not be granted bail, South African police argued in court Wednesday. Pistorius is charged with premeditated murder for the Valentine's Day shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp with a 9 mm pistol.
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Greece hit by general strike against austerity
ATHENS, Greece (AP) , Thousands of anti-austerity demonstrators took to the streets of Athens on Wednesday as unions staged a general strike to protest the government's spending cuts and tax hikes, which some predict will push unemployment to a stunning 30 percent this year.
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Bulgarian gov't resigns after violent protests
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) , Bulgaria's government resigned Wednesday after days of violent protests fueled by outrage over rising energy costs, corruption and a general economic decline in what is already the European Union's poorest nation.
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Shiites bury their dead in troubled Pakistani city
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) , Pakistani Shiites buried their kin killed in a massive bombing last weekend in the southwestern city of Quetta but the funeral on Wednesday was marred by gunfire as both protesters and police fired into the air. Shiite Muslims have increasingly come under attack in this Sunni Muslim-dominated country where many extremists do not consider them to be true Muslims.
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Shiites bury their dead in troubled Pakistani city
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) , Pakistani Shiites buried their kin killed in a massive bombing last weekend in the southwestern city of Quetta but the funeral on Wednesday was marred by gunfire as both protesters and police fired into the air. Shiite Muslims have increasingly come under attack in this Sunni Muslim-dominated country where many extremists do not consider them to be true Muslims.
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Police: testosterone, needles in Pistorius bedroom
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Police say they found two boxes of testosterone and needles in the bedroom of Oscar Pistorius, the Olympian who has been charged with murder in the shooting of his girlfriend.
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Detective in court: Pistorius a flight risk
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , A detective has testified that Oscar Pistorius is a flight risk and shouldn't be granted bail. Hilton Botha also said in the star athlete's bail hearing Wednesday that Pistorius illegally possessed .38-caliber ammunition in a safe in his bedroom.
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Greece's weakened workforce starts to crack
ATHENS, Greece (AP) , Looking out across a room full of reporters gathered to welcome French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday, Greece's President Karolos Papoulias gave a stark warning about the state of the country after three harsh years of government spending cuts, joblessness and tax hikes.
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Japan posts record $17.4B trade deficit in Jan
TOKYO (AP) , Japan posted a record 1.63 trillion yen ($17.4 billion) trade deficit in January as rebounding exports lagged behind surging imports of crude oil and gas due to rising prices and the weakening yen.
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Pistorius arrives for 2nd day of bail hearing
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Oscar Pistorius arrived at the court building in a police car with a blue blanket covering his head Wednesday as prosecutors prepare to detail why they believe the double-amputee Olympian shot and killed his girlfriend and should be denied bail.
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Japan posts record $17.4B trade deficit in Jan.
TOKYO (AP) , Japan posted a record 1.63 trillion yen ($17.4 billion) trade deficit in January as rebounding exports lagged behind surging imports of crude oil and gas due to rising prices and the weakening yen.
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NKorean propaganda video shows Obama in flames
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) , A new North Korean video portrays President Barack Obama and American troops in flames and says the North conducted its recent nuclear test because of U.S. hostility. The video follows a string of critical rhetoric against the United States. Another video posted earlier this month showed an American city being attacked by missiles.
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China's military accused of hacking scheme
A private security company on Tuesday accused China's military of launching cyberattacks on 115 U.S. companies, including defense contractors, highlighting the need for a more robust response to China's suspected role and security procedures.
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North Korea threat triggers global backlash
North Korea on Tuesday threatened to destroy South Korea and hinted at "stronger steps" after its third nuclear test last week, prompting a stern response from the Obama administration and European nations. North Korean diplomat Jon Yong-ryong lashed out at a U.N.
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Little audience for 'Zero Dark Thirty' in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (AP) , Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of Osama bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon.
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US ready to strike back against China cyberattacks
WASHINGTON (AP) , As public evidence mounts that the Chinese military is responsible for stealing massive amounts of U.S. government data and corporate trade secrets, the Obama administration is eyeing fines and other trade actions it may take against Beijing or any other country guilty of cyberespionage.
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Chavez back in Venezuela, stirs succession talk
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) , Hugo Chavez's sudden return to Venezuela after more than two months of cancer treatments in Cuba has fanned speculation that the president could be preparing to relinquish power and make way for a successor and a new election.
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Tiger Woods calls golfing with Obama 'pretty cool'
Tiger Woods said Tuesday that winning alongside President Barack Obama against a team of U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Houston Astros owner Jim Crane was "pretty cool." In a first, Mr. Obama and the famed golfer hit the links together Sunday in Palm City, Fla., at the Floridian Yacht and Golf Club.
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US ready to strike back against China cyberattacks
WASHINGTON (AP) , As public evidence mounts that the Chinese military is responsible for stealing massive amounts of U.S. government data and corporate trade secrets, the Obama administration is eyeing fines and other trade actions it may take against Beijing or any other country guilty of cyberespionage.
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China rejects status as world's biggest trader
BEIJING (AP) , China has a new status its government doesn't want , world's biggest trader. Official Chinese and American trade data indicate China passed the United States last year in total imports and exports by a margin of $3.866 trillion to $3.822 trillion. That is about $44 billion, or just over 1 percent of China's total.
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US ready to strike back against China cyberattacks
WASHINGTON (AP) , As public evidence mounts that the Chinese military is responsible for stealing massive amounts of U.S. government data and corporate trade secrets, the Obama administration is poised to spell out specific trade actions it may take against Beijing or any other country guilty of cyberespionage.
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Pistorius: Thought lover an intruder in shooting
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Oscar Pistorius wept Tuesday as his defense lawyer read the athlete's account of how he shot his girlfriend to death on Valentine's Day, claiming he had mistaken her for an intruder.
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Tabloid slams novelist Mantel over Kate comments
LONDON (AP) , A novelist, a duchess and a tabloid newspaper have ignited an explosive debate in Britain: Is it all right to criticize a pregnant Kate? The Daily Mail on Tuesday ran a front-page broadside against two-time Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel for what it called her "venomous attack" on the former Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge.
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Tunisia PM resigns after cabinet initiative fails
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) , Tunisia's prime minister announced his resignation Tuesday following a failed effort to form a technocratic government to see the country out of its political crisis. The resignation is expected to further deepen the country's political instability, which earlier Tuesday prompted an international ratings agency to downgrade the government's credit rating.
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$50 million in diamonds stolen at Brussels airport
BRUSSELS (AP) , When the armored car set off for the Brussels airport carrying $50 million worth of precious stones from Antwerp's diamond district, eight gunmen knew all about it. One of the biggest diamond heists in recent memory was about to go down.
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US, Iran find common ground: Olympic wrestling
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) , The caretakers of the Olympics may have inadvertently accomplished what has eluded diplomats: Galvanizing Iran and the U.S. on a common goal. Wrestling officials from the arch...
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Missile strike in northern Syria kills 33
BEIRUT (AP) , A Syrian missile strike leveled a block of buildings in an impoverished district of Aleppo on Tuesday, killing at least 33 people, almost half of them children, anti-regime activists said. Many were trapped under the rubble of destroyed houses and piles of concrete and the death toll could still rise further if more bodies are uncovered.
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UN: Drones killed more Afghan civilians in 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , The number of U.S. drone strikes in Afghanistan rose sharply last year compared with 2011, the United Nations said Tuesday. The increase was a sign that unmanned aircraft are taking a greater role as Americans try to streamline the fight against insurgents while preparing to withdraw combat forces in less than two years.
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US, Iran find common ground: Olympic wrestling
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) , The caretakers of the Olympics may have inadvertently accomplished what has eluded diplomats: Galvanizing Iran and the U.S. on a common goal. Wrestling officials from the arch...
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8 arrested in slaying of Russian councilman
MOSCOW (AP) , Zooming around in a Rolls Royce and boasting of ties to Chechnya's strongman ruler, Mikhail Pakhomov didn't live the life of the average provincial Russian lawmaker. He didn't die the death of one either.
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Diamond heist hits Swiss plane on Brussels tarmac
BRUSSELS (AP) , When the armored van set off for Brussels airport carrying $50 million worth of precious stones from Antwerp's high-security diamond district, eight robbers knew exactly what was up. One of the biggest diamond heists of recent memory was about to go down.
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Strike, protests hit Egypt's Port Said for 3rd day
PORT SAID, Egypt (AP) , A third day of protests and strikes brought the restive city of Port Said to a halt on Tuesday, as demonstrators demanded security officials be held accountable for the killings of over 40 residents in riots last month.
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Shiite leaders call end to protest in Pakistan
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) , Shiite leaders called for an end to three days of protests by thousands of members of the minority Muslim sect in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, after the government launched a paramilitary operation against militants responsible for a weekend bombing that killed 89 people.
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Jeep Twitter account hacked by apparent Cadillac...
Yesterday, an apparent McDonald's enthusiast hacked Burger King's Twitter account, today, A Cadillac fan has hacked @Jeep. In what appears to be a connected cyberhack, a photo of a group of young black males in a decked out McDonald's mobile was briefly posted to Jeep's Twitter background at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. One of the males held a Ronald McDonald doll out the window.
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Chavez back home in Venezuela, still out of sight
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) , President Hugo Chavez is back in Venezuela after 10 weeks of cancer treatment in Cuba, but he remained silent and out of sight on Tuesday, closed away in a tightly guarded military hospital, leaving the nation to speculate about whether he can still govern, and for how long.
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Diamond heist hits Swiss plane on Brussels tarmac
BRUSSELS (AP) , When the armored van set off for Brussels airport carrying $50 million worth of precious stones from Antwerp's high-security diamond district, eight robbers knew exactly what was up. One of the biggest diamond heists of recent memory was about to go down.
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Gen. John Allen to retire, won't seek NATO post
Gen. John Allen is retiring from the military instead of enduring what likely would have been a messy Senate confirmation process to be NATO supreme commander. In a statement Tuesday, President Obama said Gen.
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Mortars land near Syrian presidential palace
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , Two mortars exploded near one of Syrian President Bashar Assad's palaces in Damascus on Tuesday but caused only material damage, Syria's state news service said. The attack...
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Mortars land near Syrian presidential palace
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , Two mortars exploded near one of Syrian President Bashar Assad's palaces in Damascus on Tuesday but caused only material damage, Syria's state news service said. The attack...
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Tabloid slams novelist Mantel over Kate comments
LONDON (AP) , A novelist, a duchess and a tabloid newspaper have ignited an explosive debate in Britain: Is it all right to criticize a pregnant Kate? The Daily Mail on Tuesday ran a front-page broadside against two-time Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel for what it called her "venomous attack" on the former Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge.
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UN: Drones killed more Afghan civilians in 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , The number of U.S. drone strikes in Afghanistan jumped 72 percent in 2012, killing at least 16 civilians in a sharp increase from the previous year, the U.N. said Tuesday in a sign of the changing mission as international forces prepare to withdraw combat forces in less than two years.
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Pistorius: Thought lover an intruder in shooting
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Oscar Pistorius wept Tuesday as his defense lawyer read the athlete's account of how he shot his girlfriend to death on Valentine's Day, claiming he had mistaken her for an intruder.
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US, Iran find common ground: Olympic wrestling
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) , The caretakers of the Olympics may have inadvertently accomplished what has eluded diplomats: Galvanizing Iran and the U.S. on a common goal. Wrestling officials from the arch...
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Excerpts of Oscar Pistorius' court affidavit
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Here are excerpts from the affidavit made by Oscar Pistorius and read out in court by senior defense lawyer Barry Roux in a bail hearing Tuesday after the athlete was charged with premeditated murder over the Feb. 14 shooting death of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp:
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US security firm alleges massive Chinese hacking
BEIJING (AP) , Cyberattacks that stole massive amounts of information from military contractors, energy companies and other key industries in the U.S. and elsewhere have been traced to the doorstep of a Chinese military unit, a U.S. security firm alleged Tuesday.
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Pistorius: Thought lover an intruder in shooting
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Oscar Pistorius wept Tuesday as his defense lawyer read the athlete's account of how he shot his girlfriend to death on Valentine's Day, claiming he had mistaken her for an intruder.
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Iran agrees to nuclear talks in return for West's OK of...
Iran said it will open talks with the West about its nuclear program, as long as the United States publicly upholds Iran's right to enrich uranium, a spokesman for the nation's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The statements, from spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast, come just before world powers are due to meet in Kazakhstan, along with Iran, the Associated Press reports.
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China rejects status as world's biggest trader
BEIJING (AP) , China has a new status its government doesn't want , world's biggest trader. Official Chinese and American trade data indicate China passed the United States last year in total imports and exports by a margin of $3.866 trillion to $3.822 trillion. That is about $44 billion, or just over 1 percent of China's total.
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China rejects status as world's biggest trader
BEIJING (AP) , China has a new status its government doesn't want , world's biggest trader. Official Chinese and American trade data indicate China passed the United States last year in total imports and exports by a margin of $3.866 trillion to $3.822 trillion. That is about $44 billion, or just over 1 percent of China's total.
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Chavez back home in Venezuela, still out of sight
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) , President Hugo Chavez is back in Venezuela after 10 weeks of cancer treatment in Cuba, but he remained silent and out of sight on Tuesday, closed away in a tightly guarded military hospital, leaving the nation to speculate about whether he can still govern, and for how long.
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Mortars land near Syrian presidential palace
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , Two mortars exploded near one of Syrian President Bashar Assad's palaces in Damascus on Tuesday but caused only material damage, Syria's state news service said. The attack...
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AP Interview: Mali probes claims of atrocities
PARIS (AP) , Malian authorities are investigating claims of torture, killings and reprisals by its own soldiers against minority civilians suspected of links to Islamist militants , accusations that threaten to jeopardize international support for fighting terrorism in the Sahara.
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Nigeria hostage crisis differs from Algerian drama
LONDON (AP) , The kidnapping of seven foreign workers in Nigeria claimed by an Islamic extremist group has touched a nerve in Europe, coming just weeks after the tragic end of a hostage drama in Algeria in which 37 gas plant workers and 29 al Qaida-linked militants died. But analysts say the similarities probably end there and it's too early to know how this latest crisis will play itself out.
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Rosy German economic survey gives markets a lift
LONDON (AP) , Further evidence that the German economy, Europe's largest, is picking up steam helped shore up markets on Tuesday as trading resumed on Wall Street after a three-day holiday weekend. The German investor sentiment index from the ZEW institute rose to 48.2 points in February from 31.5 the previous month, way ahead of market expectations of a more modest rise to around 35.
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Pakistan targets militants, Shiites end protest
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) , Thousands of Shiite Muslims ended three days of protests in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday after the government launched a paramilitary operation against militants responsible for a weekend bombing targeting the minority sect that killed 89 people.
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UN: Drones killed more Afghan civilians in 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , The number of U.S. drone strikes in Afghanistan jumped 72 percent in 2012, killing at least 16 civilians in a sharp increase from the previous year, the U.N. said Tuesday in a sign of the changing mission as international forces prepare to withdraw combat forces in less than two years.
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Tony Sheridan, early Beatles associate, dies at 72
BERLIN (AP) , Tony Sheridan, a British singer who performed with the Beatles during their early years in Hamburg, has died in Germany. He was 72. Frank Orth, the owner of Wemo Records, a German label that issued his last album, said Sheridan died Saturday. He didn't have details of the cause.
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Dj vu: Tax code talks come to Capitol Hill with 2010...
Scratch past the surface of a proposed tax code overhaul and deficit-reduction plan shaping up Tuesday on Capitol Hill and it's clear: It's dej and a vu, all over again. The Wall Street Journal reports...
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Mortars land near Syrian presidential palace
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) , A Syrian official says two mortars have exploded near one of President Bashar Assad's palaces in the capital Damascus. The official said the rounds struck Tuesday near the southern wall of the Tishreen palace, in the capital's northwestern Muhajireen district, but caused only material damages.
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Afghan civilian casualties rose in 2nd half of 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , The number of Afghan civilians killed and wounded in the last half of 2012 rose sharply compared with the similar period in 2011 as insurgents took advantage of warmer weather to carry out more attacks, the United Nations said Tuesday.
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Pistorius says no intentions to kill girlfriend
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Oscar Pistorius told a packed courtroom Tuesday that he shot his girlfriend to death by mistake, thinking she was a robber. The prosecutor called it premeditated murder. ...
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AP Interview: Mali probes claims of atrocities
PARIS (AP) , Malian authorities are investigating claims of torture, killings and reprisals by its own soldiers against minority civilians with alleged links to Islamist militants , accusations that threaten to jeopardize international support for fighting terrorism in the Sahara.
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Syrian official says mortars explode near a presidential...
BEIRUT (AP) , Syrian official says mortars explode near a presidential palace in Damascus.
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Multimillion-dollar diamond heist in Brussels
BRUSSELS (AP) , Eight masked gunmen forced their way through the security fence at Brussels' international airport, drove onto the tarmac and snatched some $50 million worth of diamonds from the hold of a Swiss-bound plane without firing a shot.
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China rejects status as world's biggest trader
BEIJING (AP) , China has a new status its government doesn't want , world's biggest trader. Official Chinese and American trade data indicates China passed the United States last year in total imports and exports by a margin of $3.866 trillion to $3.822 trillion. That is about $44 billion, or just over 1 percent of China's total.
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US security firm alleges massive Chinese hacking
BEIJING (AP) , Cyberattacks that stole massive amounts of information from military contractors, energy companies and other key industries in the U.S. and elsewhere have been traced to the doorstep of a Chinese military unit, a U.S. security firm alleged Tuesday.
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Pistorius says no intentions to kill girlfriend
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Oscar Pistorius told a packed courtroom Tuesday that he shot his girlfriend to death by mistake, thinking she was a robber. The prosecutor called it premeditated murder. ...
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Tabloid slams novelist Mantel over Kate comments
LONDON (AP) , A novelist, a duchess and a tabloid newspaper have made an explosive combination in Britain. The Daily Mail on Tuesday ran a front-page broadside against two-time Booker Prize-winner Hilary Mantel for her "venomous attack" on the former Kate Middleton.
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Baubles to bars: India gold culture defies curbs
MUMBAI, India (AP) , India's steep new tax on gold imports doesn't deter Mousumi Rao as she holds up a glittering $5,000 filigree necklace that could adorn her daughter on her wedding day. Rao's daughter isn't getting married next month or even next year. The 12-year-old is at least several years away from her wedding.
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Novartis chairman foregoes $78 million payout
BERLIN (AP) , Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG has agreed with its outgoing chairman to scrap plans for a farewell non-compete deal that could have netted him up to 72 million francs ($78 million). The announcement followed criticism from some of the Basel-based company's shareholders and Swiss politicians.
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Hollande says France to miss 2013 growth target
ATHENS, Greece (AP) , France's economy, Europe's second-biggest, will grow by less than previously thought in 2013, President Francois Hollande confirmed Tuesday. While on a six-hour visit to Greece, Hollande said "everyone knows that for 2013, we will not reach our target, which was 0.8 percent." He said a new growth target will be announced by the end of next month.
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Hugo Chavez sent back to Venezuela to die, report says
Spanish media is saying that cancer-stricken Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been sent back to his country to die , not to recover from successful treatment received in Cuba, as previously and widely reported. Doctors in Cuba couldn't help him, according to Spain's ABC, as reported by United Press International.
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US security firm alleges massive Chinese hacking
BEIJING (AP) , Cyberattacks that stole massive amounts of information from military contractors, energy companies and other key industries in the U.S. and elsewhere have been traced to the doorstep of a Chinese military unit, a U.S. security firm alleged Tuesday.
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Pistorius says no intentions to kill girlfriend
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) , Oscar Pistorius told a packed courtroom Tuesday that he shot his girlfriend to death by mistake, thinking she was a robber. The prosecutor called it premeditated murder. ...
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BP ready for trial in Deepwater Horizon case
LONDON (AP) , BP acknowledged Tuesday it had failed to reach a settlement in advance of next week's civil trial on the Deepwater Horizon accident and is ready to defend itself vigorously against allegations of gross negligence in the U.S.'s biggest environmental disaster.
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AP Interview: Mali probes claims of atrocities
PARIS (AP) , Mali's foreign minister says authorities in the West African country are investigating accusations of torture, killings and reprisals by its own soldiers fighting against suspected militants. Concerns about abuses by Malian forces have mounted in recent weeks.
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Nestle finds horse meat in beef pasta meals
BERLIN (AP) , The world's biggest food and drinks maker Nestle SA has become the latest company to pull some of its products off European shelves after they were found to contain undeclared horse meat.
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China rejects status as world's biggest trader
BEIJING (AP) , China has a new status its government doesn't want , world's biggest trader. Official Chinese and American trade data indicates China passed the United States last year in total imports and exports by a margin of $3.866 trillion to $3.822 trillion. That is about $44 billion, or just over 1 percent of China's total.
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Afghan civilian casualties rose in 2nd half 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , The number of Afghan civilians killed and wounded in the last half of 2012 rose sharply compared with the same period in 2011 as insurgents took advantage of warmer weather to carry out more attacks, the U.N. said Tuesday.
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Tabloid slams novelist Mantel over Kate comments
LONDON (AP) , A novelist, a duchess and a tabloid newspaper have made an explosive combination in Britain. The Daily Mail on Tuesday ran a front-page story about Booker Prize-winner Hilary Mantel's "venomous attack" on the former Kate Middleton.
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Strike, protests hit Egypt's Port Said for 3rd day
PORT SAID, Egypt (AP) , Hundreds of protesters in the restive city of Port Said have pressured government employees to leave work early as they enforced the third day of a general strike. Thousands also rallied in a main square in the city on Tuesday, chanting against Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.
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