It’s been six months since three young Americans were taken into captivity in Iran, and the mother of one said even hiring an attorney in Iran has brought no new information on how they are doing. “It’s like there’s this brick wall in front of us, and we can’…

Iran – United States – Middle East – Politics – Travelogues

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3 Americans now held in Iran for half of a year

Actor Elmore “Rip” Torn has been charged with breaking into a Connecticut bank and carrying a loaded handgun while intoxicated. State police say the 78-year-old Salisbury resident was arrested Friday night after police found him inside the Litchfield Bancorp…

Police – Handgun – Connecticut – Rip Torn – Business

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Rip Torn charged with breaking into Conn. bank

Policy makers and bankers called a truce after a week of mutual recrimination at the World Economic Forum annual meeting, saying they agreed on the need for global financial regulations.

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Banks, Officials Find Common Ground on Rules at Davos Meeting

Salt Lake City has been selected as one of four finalists to host the 2012 Republican National Convention. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the Salt Lake bid committee was notified of the decision in an e-mail late Friday. Committee Chairman Jeff Hartley…

Salt Lake City – Salt Lake – 2012 Republican National Convention – United States – Utah

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Salt Lake a finalist to host 2012 GOP convention

The first fan left the White House on a snowy Saturday afternoon to watch two Top 10-ranked college basketball teams play at the Verizon Center in Washington.

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Obama Watches Top College Basketball Matchup on Snowy Saturday

Kerwin Dunham’s basket with 40 seconds left lifted Northern Iowa to a 55-54 win over Missouri State Saturday. Northern Iowa (19-2, 10-1 Missouri Valley) trailed 54-50 with 1:38 left. The conference-leading Panthers led by as many as seven with 10:57 left but…

United States – Northern Iowa Panthers – Missouri State University – Missouri – Iowa

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Northern Iowa tips Missouri State 55-54

News Corp. said it settled a federal lawsuit filed against the company by Valassis Communications Inc. for $500 million, a figure which includes $300 million awarded during an earlier trial in July.

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News Corp. Settles With Valassis for $500 Million (Update1)

News Corp. subsidiary News America Marketing has agreed to pay rival Valassis Communications Inc. $500 million to settle antitrust charges. Valassis, a marketing company that provides direct mail and coupons, said the deal settles lawsuits it filed in several…

Valassis Communications – Marketing – Business – Advertising mail – Advertising and Marketing

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News Corp. to pay $500M settlement to Valassis

Officials with knowledge of the talks say the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates declined to listen to separate proposals to buy the team last year, including one from Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to The…

Pittsburgh Penguins – Mario Lemieux – Pittsburgh Pirates – Sports – Hockey

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Pirates owner rejected Lemieux offer to buy team

Federal regulators have cleared Toyota’s plan to fix millions of sticky gas pedals, and dealers could get parts to make the repairs as early as Thursday or Friday, people briefed on the matter said Saturday. Two dealers said they were told the news by Toyota…

Toyota – Automobile pedal – Associated Press – Corporation – Toyota Motor Corp

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AP Sources: Govt clears Toyota gas pedal fix

PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s second-largest automaker, will recall more than 90,000 cars because they may share a gas-pedal flaw that prompted Toyota Motor Corp. to recall millions of vehicles.

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PSA Peugeot Citroen Recalls Autos Made With Toyota (Update3)

The Obama administration is considering new locations for the trial of Sept. 11 terror suspects after New York’s mayor and Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about holding it in lower Manhattan, an administration official said.

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Obama Said to Consider Moving Terror Trial (Update1)

New copies of Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall,” Andrew Young’s “The Politician” and other books published by Macmillan were unavailable Saturday on Amazon.com, apparently the biggest rift yet in the ongoing dispute over e-book prices. An official with knowledge of…

Amazon.com – MacmillanPublishers – Wolf Hall: A Novel – Hilary Mantel – Andrew Young

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Books pulled from Amazon in pricing dispute

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by 35 this week to 1,317. Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday that 861 rigs were exploring for natural gas and 444 for oil. Twelve were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago…

Baker Hughes – Natural gas – United States – Business – Energy

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Rig count rises by 35

Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell scored for the Flyers in a 2-1 victory over the Islanders on Saturday that gave Philadelphia its 14th straight win over New York. Philadelphia’s winning streak against the Islanders is the longest active winning streak in the…

Scott Hartnell – Philadelphia Flyers – New York – Philadelphia – Win–loss record

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Briere, Hartnell lift Flyers over Islanders 2-1