France to answer ratings downgrade with reforms

PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Tuesday it would respond to a Moody's credit downgrade by pushing on with reforms but complained the ratings agency had overlooked steps already taken to revamp the euro zone's second-largest economy. France lost its prized triple-A badge from the Standard & Poor's in January and so Monday's move by Moody's was not surprising but it underlined doubts...

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Truce mediator Egypt sees imminent end to Gaza conflict

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Egypt's president predicted on Tuesday that Israel's Gaza offensive would end later in the day, Egyptian state media said, as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton headed to the region to try to calm the conflict. "President Mohamed Mursi announced that the farce of Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip will end on Tuesday," the MENA news agency and state...

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N.Y. police officer says not guilty of plan to cook, eat women

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A New York City police officer pleaded not guilty on Monday to conspiring to kidnap, torture, cook and eat women.Gilberto Valle, 28, of Forest Hills, Queens, was charged and arrested in October with conspiring to cross state lines to kidnap the women and with illegally accessing a federal database. Prosecutors...

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Robin Roberts: I'm Starting Life with a Clean Slate

TV Watch TV News By Aaron Parsley 11/20/2012 at 09:40 AM EST Robin and Sally-Ann Roberts Courtesy Robin Roberts A recent visit to the hospital for a "tune-up" took an emotional toll, but Good Morning America host Robin Roberts says she has a lot to be thankful for...

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EU drug regulator OKs Novartis' meningitis B shot

LONDON (AP) — Europe's top drug regulator has recommended approval for the first vaccine against meningitis B, made by Novartis AG.There are five types of bacterial meningitis. While vaccines exist to protect against the other four, none has previously been licensed for type B meningitis. In Europe, type B is the most common, causing 3,000 to 5,000 cases every year.Meningitis mainly affects infants...

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Wall Street rises on budget talk optimism

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are coming to the end of their whirlwind international promotional tour for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2," and while the on-screen couple have yet to confirm they've reunited off-screen, they appear to be enjoying each other's company. Following the final "Twilight" film's Germany premiere in Berlin on Friday, Robert, 26, and Kristen, 22, were photographed...

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Israel says prefers diplomacy over Gaza invasion option

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel bombed dozens of targets in Gaza on Monday and said that while it was prepared to step up its offensive by sending in troops, it preferred a diplomatic solution that would end Palestinian rocket fire from the enclave. As international pressure mounted for a truce, mediator Egypt said a deal to end the fighting could be close. Twelve Palestinian...

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Wii U Launch Day: Everything You Need to Know

For Nintendo fans, the big day has arrived. Nintendo‘s newest console, the Wii U, began selling at midnight on Sunday morning across the United States.[More from Mashable: Meet the Super Fan Who Waited in Line for a Month for a Wii U [VIDEO]] The Wii U boasts high definition graphics and an innovative, new tablet controller...

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RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 Contestants Announced

TV Watch By Maggie Coughlan 11/19/2012 at 09:30 AM EST Start your engines ... RuPaul's Drag Race is back!Fresh on the heels of RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race, the fifth season ofRuPaul's Drag Race is slated to premiere in January 2013. Not only will 14 contestants from around the world compete for the coveted title...

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EU drug regulator OKs Novartis' meningitis B shot

LONDON (AP) — Europe's top drug regulator has recommended approval for the first vaccine against meningitis B, made by Novartis AG.There are five types of bacterial meningitis. While vaccines exist to protect against the other four, none has previously been licensed for type B meningitis. In Europe, type B is the most common, causing 3,000 to 5,000 cases every year.Meningitis mainly affects infants...

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