Khamenei rebuffs U.S. offer of direct talks

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's highest authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday slapped down an offer of direct talks made by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden this week, saying they would not solve the problem between them. "Some naive people like the idea of negotiating with America, however, negotiations will not solve the problem," Khamenei said in a speech to officials and members of...

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Stock futures dip after Tuesday rally, earnings in focus

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures dipped on Wednesday, indicating the S&P 500 may pull back from a rally of more than 1 percent a day earlier as the index struggles to push past 5-year highs. Walt Disney Co beat estimates for quarterly adjusted earnings and said it expected the next few quarters to be better, with a stronger lineup of movies and rising attendance at its theme...

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No. 3 Michigan edges No. 10 Ohio State 76-74 in OT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke made nearly every shot they took from 3-point range in the second half.When that somehow wasn't enough, Michigan's talented tandem sealed a win with a little desperation on defense.Hardaway blocked Ohio State's Aaron Craft on the final play, giving the third-ranked Wolverines a 76-74 overtime win over the 10th-ranked Buckeyes. Hardaway kept Michigan...

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Can Solar Energy and Farming Get Along?

Food vs. fuel: It turns out the tug-o-war between the two isn’t only a story about biofuels and our nation’s ethanol mandate. It’s also a tale about producing clean, green energy, which is putting some of California’s most productive farmland at risk.According to a report released last month by the American Farmland Trust (AFT), 61 percent of all development in California’s San Joaquin Valley is taking...

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What follows N. Korea's nuclear test?

STORY HIGHLIGHTSLopez: Uranium-based blast would pose new challenge to U.N. Security CouncilIndicates Pyongyang has advanced centrifuge technologies and related systemsNorth Korea's young leader appears to care little about what U.N. or China thinkProduct-based sanctions may stifle the North's ability to continue nuclear programEditor's note: George A. Lopez holds the Hesburgh Chair in Peace Studies...

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Post office to end Saturday mail service

United States Postal Service trucks in Manhasset, N.Y. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters...

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Tunisia protests after government critic shot dead

TUNIS (Reuters) - A Tunisian opposition politician was shot dead on Wednesday, sending protesters onto the streets of cities nationwide two years after the uprisings that swept Tunisia's president from power and inflamed the Arab world. The headquarters of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which rules in a fractious coalition with secularists, was set ablaze after Chokri Belaid, an...

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Stock futures point to higher open, ADM up early

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a modestly higher open on Tuesday, retracing lost ground on Monday in the market's worst daily session since November. Investors will be looking to the Institute for Supply Management's January non-manufacturing index, due at 10 a.m. Economists forecast a reading of 55.2 versus 55.7 in December. Last week, ISM manufacturing...

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Niners have better chance than Ravens to be back

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens carried off the Lombardi Trophy. Their beaten opponent has a better chance of doing it next season.San Francisco running back Frank Gore insisted the 49ers were the more talented team even after losing 34-31 to the Ravens in Sunday's Super Bowl. The scoreboard said otherwise, but when the conference champions meet at the Meadowlands next February — yes, outdoors...

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Richard III still the criminal king

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