Four new cases of SARS-like virus found in Saudi, Qatar

LONDON (Reuters) – A new virus from the same family as SARS which sparked a global alert in September has now killed two people in Saudi Arabia, and total cases there and in Qatar have reached six, the World Health Organisation said.The U.N. health agency issued an international alert in late September saying a virus previously unknown in humans had infected a Qatari man who had recently been in Saudi...

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Nine arrests in Walmart protest, business still brisk

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Nine people were arrested near a Walmart store in California on Friday as part of national protests for the rights of hourly workers, even as the world’s largest retailer enjoyed what it said was its best ever start to the holiday shopping rush.Hundreds of protesters, including some Walmart workers who skipped their shifts on the retail industry’s busiest day, spoke, chanted and...

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Bank of Canada keeps “over time” condition on rate hike

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Tim Lane repeated on Wednesday the central bank‘s message that interest rate increases will likely be needed, but only over time.The “over time” phrase was introduced in the bank’s key guidance in its rate statement on October 23 as a way of signaling that while the next rate move is likely to be up, such...

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Chevy Chase is leaving NBC’s sitcom ‘Community’

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NBC series “Community” will finish the season without Chevy Chase.Sony Pictures Television said Wednesday that the actor is leaving the sitcom by mutual agreement with producers. His immediate departure means he won’t be included in the last episode or two of the show’s 13-episode season, which...

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Infections linked to tainted steroid injections nears 500 cases

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) – A deadly outbreak of infections linked to tainted steroid injections is approaching 500 cases nearly two months after it began, and health experts said on Wednesday it was unclear whether the epidemic had peaked amid new risks facing patients.Many patients initially stricken with fungal meningitis are developing secondary...

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Global shares rally on brighter global economic outlook

LONDON (Reuters) – World share markets extended a week-long rally on Thursday as manufacturing surveys in China and the United States boosted confidence over the growth outlook and euro zone data was not as weak as some had feared.The single currency also touched a two-week high against the dollar, despite data indicating the euro zone’s economy is on...

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Greek PM presses for deal on loan

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece has reacted with dismay to the European Union‘s failure to agree to release vital rescue loan funds for the debt-ridden country, with the prime minister warning it was not just Greece’s future that hangs in the balance.The delay prolongs uncertainty over the future of Greece, which faces a messy default that would threaten...

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Republic Wireless Now Offering $19/Month Unlimited Smartphone Service to All

Prepaid wireless carrier Republic Wireless has been offering its $ 19 per month, unlimited everything, prepaid smartphone plan since about this time last year. At the time, though, there were a few catches; you had to buy a very low-end smartphone from them, you had to use its Hybrid Calling technology for most of your calls, and you could only get in...

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“Rise of the Guardians” Review: Magic, but you’d better believe in Santa Claus

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – There’s a really cool idea afoot in “Rise of the Guardians,” namely that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the Sandman aren’t merely responsible for their little corner of children’s lives but are actually a super-team of “Avengers” proportions. Taking their cues from the unseen Man in the Moon, they protect...

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In HP-Autonomy debacle, many advisers but little good advice

(Reuters) – When Hewlett Packard acquired Autonomy last year for $ 11.1 billion, some 15 different financial, legal and accounting firms were involved in the transaction — and none raised a flag about what HP said Tuesday was a major accounting fraud.HP stunned Wall Street with the allegations about its British software unit and took an $ 8.8 billion...

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