Thursday, February 2, 2012

Divisions within Taliban makes peace elusive - CBS News

Divisions within Taliban makes peace elusive - CBS News: "Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made news Wednesday when he said the combat role for U.S. troops in Afghanistan could end next year instead of 2014. On Thursday, he took a step back -- insisting U.S. forces will remain combat ready -- even as they transition into their new role of training Afghan troops."

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Minor Senate bill transformed into broad reform package - The Washington Post

Minor Senate bill transformed into broad reform package - The Washington Post: "In a sign of just how unpopular Congress has become, rank-and-file senators hijacked a debate over a narrowly tailored ethics bill and won broad approval Thursday of a more far-reaching reform package that would impose new conflict-of-interest rules and mandate more transparency on K Street."

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Romney plays Trump card in Las Vegas | Reuters

Romney plays Trump card in Las Vegas | Reuters: "After stumbling with remarks suggesting he was indifferent to America's poor, Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney was endorsed on Thursday by one of the country's most famous wealthy businessmen - real estate mogul and reality television star Donald Trump."

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Cancer Charity Confronts Backlash Over Grant Cuts | Fox News

Cancer Charity Confronts Backlash Over Grant Cuts | Fox News: "The renowned breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure faced an escalating backlash Thursday over its decision to cut breast screening grants to Planned Parenthood. Some of Komen's local affiliates are openly upset, including all seven in California, and at least one top official has quit, reportedly in protest."

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Zuckerberg Tops Google Founders With $28.4 Billion Facebook Haul - Bloomberg

Zuckerberg Tops Google Founders With $28.4 Billion Facebook Haul - Bloomberg: "Facebook Inc. (FB)’s initial public offering may value Mark Zuckerberg’s stake at $28.4 billion, making him richer than Google Inc. (GOOG)’s co-founders and almost on par with Larry Ellison, who started Oracle Corp. (ORCL) 35 years ago."

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Bernanke urges caution in overly rapid deficit cutting – USATODAY.com

Bernanke urges caution in overly rapid deficit cutting – USATODAY.com: "WASHINGTON – Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke defended the central bank's decision to hold interest rates at record-low levels for the next three years, during a contentious hearing Thursday before federal lawmakers."

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Panetta Surprises Afghans, NATO With Earlier Date for End of Combat Mission - Yochi J. Dreazen - NationalJournal.com

Panetta Surprises Afghans, NATO With Earlier Date for End of Combat Mission - Yochi J. Dreazen - NationalJournal.com: "Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s comment while en route to a NATO conference in Brussels -- that the U.S. would end its combat mission in Afghanistan in 2013, a year earlier than thought -- surprised key U.S. allies, alarmed many Afghans, and forced the White House to spend more than a day trying to walk it back."

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NASA Probe Captures 1st Video of Moon's Far Side | NASA Twin Grail Probes Ebb & Flow | Far Side of the Moon | Space.com

NASA Probe Captures 1st Video of Moon's Far Side | NASA Twin Grail Probes Ebb & Flow | Far Side of the Moon | Space.com: "A gravity-mapping spacecraft orbiting the moon has beamed home its first video of the lunar far side — a view people on Earth never see."

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Concerns grow over volcanic eruptions – USATODAY.com

Concerns grow over volcanic eruptions – USATODAY.com: "Scientists have known for decades that hidden under those impressive vistas at sites such as Death Valley and Yellowstone National Park are magma pools that under the right conditions can trigger explosive eruptions."

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Is Israel preparing to attack Iran? - The Washington Post

Is Israel preparing to attack Iran? - The Washington Post: "Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has a lot on his mind these days, from cutting the defense budget to managing the drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. But his biggest worry is the growing possibility that Israel will attack Iran over the next few months."

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