Iran appears to advance in construction of Arak nuclear plant

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran appears to be advancing in its construction of a research reactor Western experts say could offer the Islamic state a second way of producing material for a nuclear bomb, if it decided to embark on such a course, a U.N. report showed. Iran has almost completed installation of cooling and moderator circuit piping in the heavy water plant near the town of Arak, the...

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Shares, euro extend rout as Europe recovery hopes dim

LONDON (Reuters) - Worries about Europe's economic health sent shares, commodities and the single currency lower on Thursday, extending losses caused by growing uncertainty over the U.S. Federal Reserve's future monetary policy. The combination of factors put the MSCI world equity index <.miwd00000pus> on course for its biggest daily loss of year, sent oil sliding towards $114 a...

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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.Bulewa Makeke, spokeswoman for the NPA, said it was a decision for police and not prosecutors...

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Drones Large and Small Coming to US

Most of the drones that have begun to appear in the skies above the U.S. homeland don’t resemble the Predators or Reapers flown by the U.S. military and CIA above Afghanistan and Pakistan. Instead, these smaller versions of flying, unmanned vehicles almost rival the animal kingdom in their diversity.Government agencies such as NASA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection operate aircraft-size military...

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How secure is the papal election?

The Conclave of Cardinals that will elect a new pope will meet in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. STORY HIGHLIGHTSBruce Schneier: Rules for picking a new pope are very detailedHe says elaborate precautions are taken to prevent election fraudEvery step of the election process is observed by people who know each otherSchneier: Vatican's procedures, centuries in the making, are very secureEditor's...

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Tribune exclusive: 'We were just regular parents who were slapped in the face'

The parents of slain teen Hadiya Pendleton talk about her life...

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French hostages seized in Cameroon found safe: report

PARIS (Reuters) - Seven French hostages kidnapped in Cameroon have been found alive in a house in northern Nigeria and are safe with Nigerian authorities, French television reported on Thursday. The hostages, four children and three adults, were captured by Islamist militants this week while on a tourist excursion to the Waza national park near the Nigerian border with Cameroon. ...

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Stock index futures signal more gains

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly firmer open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones 0.1 percent higher at 0936 GMT, while those for the Nasdaq 100 added 0.2 percent. U.S. producer prices, housing starts and building permits for January are all due at 1330 GMT, with the data expected to show a slight acceleration in...

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Police: Testosterone found in Pistorius' bedroom

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Police say they found two boxes of testosterone and needles in the bedroom of Oscar Pistorius' bedroom, but his defense lawyer says it was an "herbal remedy" and not a banned substance.Detective Hilton Botha made the revelation in a bail hearing Wednesday after Pistorius was charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp. Botha said police made the discovery...

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Singer Morrissey requests meat-free venue for Los Angeles concert

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – British singer Morrissey has convinced a Los Angeles concert venue to not sell meat at concessions during his performance next month.The longtime animal rights activist and former singer for 1980s rock group The Smiths urged the Staples Center arena to shutter the concession stands of fast food chain McDonald’s and to halt the sale of meat by other outlets at the venue for...

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