Italians, backed by the Catholic Church, aim to stop Sunday shopping

Italians are fighting a government lift of regulations on business operation hours, insisting that the move will eventually hurt the small shops and values that have long been the foundation of the Italian business community.The deregulation, put into effect January 2012, removes restrictions on business operating hours, including Sundays and holidays. It is intended to stimulate competition in what...

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UN envoy tries to revive Syria peace plan

• A daily summary of global reports on security issues.Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations special envoy to Syria, said today that he is in Damascus and Moscow this week to try to revive a peace plan for Syria that was shelved this summer. However, rebel gains on the ground make it unlikely that the plan will go anywhere without more concessions to the Syrian opposition.Russia is standing by its red...

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UN envoy, Moscow call for revival of Syria plan

 Russia and the U.N called Thursday for the resuscitation of a peace initiative for Syria that never got off the ground when it was proposed months ago because both parties to the conflict rejected it.The plan, unveiled by world powers at an international conference in Geneva in June, called for an open-ended cease-fire, a transitional government to run the country until elections, and the drafting...

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Pakistan: Bhutto's son launches political career

The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto launched his political career Thursday with a fiery speech before thousands of cheering supporters observing the fifth anniversary of his mother's assassination.Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's speech comes several months before national elections are expected to be held. He is too young to participate in the elections himself — the minimum...

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Syrian conflict threatens to fracture Iraq

In September, as the Iraqi government reached one of its lowest points in relations with Turkey in years, Ankara welcomed Iraqi Kurdistan's President Massoud Barzani as a guest of honor at a convention hosted by the ruling Justice and Development Party.The semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq and the federal government in Baghdad have not seen eye to eye for years,...

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David Benowitz Comments On Use Of High-Capacity Magazine By David Gregory On Meet The Press

The Sunday morning talk show host was attempting to make a point about gun control by using a type of ammunition magazine that is not legal in the District of Columbia, where the show is filmed(PRWEB) December 26, 2012According to the Washington Post, David Gregory, who hosts the NBC Sunday morning show "Meet The Press," is facing a potential criminal investigation after he used a large-capacity ammunition...

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Hermann Ford Partners with Carsforsale.com for Dealer Marketing Solutions

Hermann Ford has selected Carsforsale.com to launch their new custom dealer website, mobile site,dealer inventory listings, with additional access to a plethora of dealer marketing tools.Sioux Falls, SD (PRWEB) December 26, 2012 Hermann Ford, located in Hermann, MO, has a crisp online image and great brand visibility with their new site. Carsforsale.com offers...

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Superbreak Unveils New Theatre & Event Breaks for 2013

Short Breaks Specialist, Superbreak, Reveal Top West End & Concert Breaks for 2013, including The Book of Mormon and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Bruce Springsteen and Robbie Williams, and Chelsea Flower Show 100th Birthday(PRWEB UK) 27 December 2012Short breaks specialist, Superbreak, has unveiled its range of brand new theatre, concert and event packaged breaks for 2013, offering customers...

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Powder Metallurgy Industry Top 10 Companies Analysis in New Market Research Report at ReportsnReports.com

ReportsnReports.com adds “Top Ten Companies in Powder Metallurgy” new market research report to its store.Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) December 27, 2012The scope of this report is focused on a select 10 companies in the powder metals industry. This is in many ways a selected due diligence of the key companies and drivers in the PM marketplace. An attempt has been made to include top companies in metal powder...

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ListedBy and Revestor Enter Marketing Agreement

NAPA Calif. (PRWEB) December 26, 2012ListedBy (http://www.ListedBy.com), the first free online real estate marketplace and social network with live bidding public real estate auctions and ‘Best Offer’ functionality, and Revestor (http://www.revestor.com), a real estate platform that enables home buyers and investors to instantly evaluate a property’s likely returns, today announced a co-marketing...

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NFL-National Football League playoff picture

The National Football League playoff picture after Sunday's early games:Already qualified: (9) Atlanta Falcons (NFC South Division*) New England Patriots (AFC East*) Denver Broncos (AFC West*) Houston Texans (AFC South*) Cincinnati Bengals (AFC North) Indianapolis Colts (AFC South) Green Bay Packers (NFC North*) Baltimore Ravens (AFC North) San Francisco 49ers (NFC West) * Division championIn contention...

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Lions WR Johnson living up to $132 million deal

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have gotten quite a return on the $132 million, eight-year investment they made in Calvin Johnson nine months ago."He's not trying to live up to a contract," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said Sunday. "Personal records are great, and we certainly celebrate the season Calvin that has had, but it hasn't translated to enough wins."We need more help around him."That's...

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NFL: Bengals and Colts claim playoff berths

The Cincinnati Bengals edged the Pittsburgh Steelers to reach the NFL playoffs, and the Indianapolis Colts joined the postseason party by capping their remarkable turnaround in pressure-packed action on Sunday.The advancement of Cincinnati (9-6), 13-10 winners over their bitter AFC North rivals, and Indianapolis (10-5), who beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13, completed the playoff list in the American...

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UPDATE 1-NFL-Colts clinch playoff berth with win against Chiefs

* Indianapolis goes from 2-14 to postseason* Luck sets rookie record for passing yards in season (Adds details, quotes)Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Indianapolis Colts crowned their remarkable turnaround by clinching an AFC wild-card playoff berth with a 20-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.The Colts, who tied for the NFL's worst record last season at 2-14, improved to 10-5 with their win...

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NFL: Colts clinch playoff berth with win against Chiefs

The Indianapolis Colts crowned their remarkable turnaround by clinching an AFC wild-card playoff berth with a 20-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.The Colts, who tied for the NFL's worst record last season at 2-14, improved to 10-5 with their win over the 2-13 Chiefs.Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, who the Colts claimed with the top pick in the NFL Draft thanks to their woeful record,...

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Telepresence robots let employees 'beam' into work

 Engineer Dallas Goecker attends meetings, jokes with colleagues and roams the office building just like other employees at his company in Silicon Valley.But Goecker isn't in California. He's more than 2,300 miles away, working at home in Seymour, Indiana.It's all made possible by the Beam — a mobile video-conferencing machine that he can drive around the Palo Alto offices and workshops of Suitable...

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The Parenting App You'll Never Download

When the evening news anchor said "Big Brother is watching," little Jake thought that meant something totally different.[More from Mashable: Life-Size Lobster iPhone Case Helps You Stand Out From the Crowd]SEE ALSO: Parenting Hasn't Changed in 5,000 YearsComic written by Larry Lambert, illustrated by Jerry King[More from Mashable: What Facebook’s $1 Messages Mean for Journalists]Parenting Hasn't Changed...

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Tablet as teacher: Poor Ethiopian kids learn ABCs

The kids in this volcano-rim village wear filthy, ragged clothes. They sleep beside cows and sheep in huts made of sticks and mud. They don't go to school. Yet they all can chant the English alphabet, and some can spell words.The key to their success: 20 tablet computers dropped off in their Ethiopian village in February by a group called One Laptop Per Child.The goal is to find out whether children...

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How Ex-RIM Employees Are Fueling Ontario's Startup Scene

Mashable's Anita Li contributed to this report from Toronto.Research in Motion, maker of the once-treasured but now beleaguered BlackBerry, is in trouble. RIM cut 5,000 jobs -- 30% of its workforce -- this past summer. Its most recent earnings report beat expectations but still isn't much to celebrate, as subscriber numbers are down and the report shows nearly a 50% drop off in sales since the same...

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The Most Popular Scientific American Stories of 2012

The top 10 most popular stories published in 2012:1. Men and Women Can't Be "Just Friends"2. The World’s Last Worm: A Dreaded Disease Nears Eradication3. NASA Crushes 2012 Mayan Apocalypse Claims 4. How Hollywood Is Encouraging Online Piracy5. Scientists Discover Children’s Cells Livingin Mothers’ Brains6. Psychiatry's "Bible" Gets an Overhaul7. “Once in a Civilization” Comet to Zip Past Earth Next...

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Adele's "21" is top-selling U.S. iTunes album of 2012

 British singer Adele notched another accolade on Thursday as iTunes announced that her Grammy-winning album "21" was the top-selling record of 2012 in its U.S. store, extending the disc's successful run almost two years after it was released.Adele, 24, who last year became the first artist to secure three iTunes milestones with top-selling album, single and artist of the year, came in ahead...

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One Direction, Rihanna, Adele lead Billboard 2012 charts

Newcomer British boy band One Direction joined R&B diva Rihanna and British singer Adele to top Billboard's year-end music charts, released on Friday.One Direction, who topped the Billboard 200 album chart twice this year with their debut, "Up All Night" in March and their sophomore album "Take Me Home" in November, were named Billboard's top new artist/group, rounding off a stellar year of U.S....

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Pop star Kelly Clarkson announces engagement

Kelly Clarkson, who became the first contestant to win "American Idol" a decade ago and went on to several chart-topping successes, has gotten engaged to her boyfriend, the singer said in a Twitter message on Saturday.Clarkson, 30, previously revealed she had been dating talent manager Brandon Blackstock since early this year. Blackstock is the stepson of country singer Reba McEntire."I'M ENGAGED!"...

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Sirius XM to pay higher music royalty fees

Sirius XM Radio Inc will pay a bigger percentage of revenue toward music royalties for sound recordings, following a decision made by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board, the satellite radio provider said on Monday.Judges at the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board determined last Friday that Sirius should pay higher royalty rates over the next five years to SoundExchange, the non-profit group that collects...

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The top 10 songs and albums on the iTunes Store

iTunes' Official Music Charts for the week ending Dec. 17, 2012Top Songs:1. "Locked Out of Heaven," Bruno Mars2. "I Knew You Were Trouble," Taylor Swift3. "Ho Hey," The Lumineers4. "Stupid Boy," Cassadee Pope5. "Scream & Shout (feat. Britney Spears)," will.i.am6. "Diamonds," Rihanna7. "Beauty and a Beat (feat. Nicki Minaj)," Justin Bieber8. "Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz)," Ryan Lewis,Macklemore9. "Gangnam...

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