Sahara hostage holders make new threat

ALGIERS (Reuters) - At least 22 foreign hostages were unaccounted for on Friday and their al-Qaeda-linked captors threatened to attack other energy installations after Algerian forces stormed a desert gas complex to free hundreds of captives, resulting in dozens of deaths. With Western leaders clamoring for details of the assault they said Algeria had launched on Thursday without consulting...

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PC titans take notes from tablets to regain customers

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Personal computer makers, trying to beat back a tablet mania that’s eating into their sales, are making what may be a last-ditch attempt to sway customers by mimicking the competition.Many of the laptops to be unveiled around the world in coming months will be hybrids or “convertibles” – morphing easily between portable tablets and full-powered laptops with a keyboard, industry...

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Despite Divorce, Bethenny Frankel 'Smiling' in Beverly Hills

Caught in the Act UPDATED 01/17/2013 at 06:00 AM EST • Originally published 01/17/2013 at 06:00 AM EST Bethenny Frankel David Tonnessen/Pacific Coast News ...

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Large study confirms flu vaccine safe in pregnancy

NEW YORK (AP) — A large study offers reassuring news for pregnant women: It's safe to get a flu shot.The research found no evidence that the vaccine increases the risk of losing a fetus, and may prevent some deaths. Getting the flu while pregnant makes fetal death more likely, the Norwegian research showed.The flu vaccine has long been considered safe for pregnant women and their fetus. U.S. health...

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Stock futures edge up as earnings, data awaited

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged up on Thursday, helped by better-than-expected results from online marketplace eBay , ahead of a busy day of corporate earnings and economic data. Among several financial companies due to release results, Bank of America reported its fourth-quarter profit fell from a year ago as it took more charges to clean up mortgage-related problems...

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Some hostages reported to escape Sahara siege

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Some hostages were reported to have escaped from a remote Algerian gas plant on Thursday, where dozens of foreigners and scores of Algerians were seized by Islamist gunmen demanding a halt to a French military campaign in neighboring Mali. Governments around the world were holding emergency meetings to respond to one of the biggest international hostage crises in decades,...

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“Banshee” head Greg Yaitanes: secrets galore, but hold the olives

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) – Like many TV creators, Greg Yaitanes isn’t crazy about the alternate identities people adopt online – and the Emmy-winning former “House” executive producer gets to explore anonymity and becoming someone else in the new Cinemax series “Banshee.”“I’ve been harassed by ‘House’ Twitter fans for years now. I’m always kind of surprised at people’s level of saying something that...

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GLAAD Award Nominees: Modern Family, Glee, The New Normal Make the Grade

By Stephen M. Silverman 01/16/2013 at 06:00 AM EST Adam Lambert (left) and Frank Ocean David Livingston/Getty; McCarten/PictureGroup Last July when emerging R&B star Frank Ocean published an emotional letter detailing an early love affair with a man, his "coming...

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ER visits tied to energy drinks double since 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A new government survey suggests the number of people seeking emergency treatment after consuming energy drinks has doubled nationwide during the past four years, the same period in which the supercharged drink industry has surged in popularity in convenience stores, bars and on college campuses.From 2007 to 2011, the government estimates the number of emergency room visits involving...

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Stock futures dip on growth concerns, bank earnings eyed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures slipped on Wednesday, pressured by low growth expectations and ahead of earnings from major financials including Goldman Sachs. JPMorgan Chase & Co reported an increase in fourth-quarter profits as the biggest U.S. bank made more home loans. Shares of Dow component Boeing fell 4.2 percent in premarket trading on concerns about...

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