France must 'stay the course' after Moody's downgrade: Hollande

PARIS: French President Francois Hollande warned the country Tuesday that it must "stay the course" and stick with a policy of straightening out the public accounts after Moody's stripped France of its coveted "Aaa" rating."We must take account (of the decision), pursue our policy, stay the course and understand that it is in our interest to correct our public accounts," Hollande told...

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Naveen Jindal's chopper makes emergency landing, Congress MP safe

CHANDIGARH: Congress MP from Kurukshetra Naveen Jindal's helicopter made an emergency landing due to a technical snag on Monday evening at the airport here."The chopper made an emergency landing at the airport. A Jet Airways flight that was on the runway could not take off while we had to divert a GoAir flight. Other flights scheduled to take off from here could not do so," a senior official at...

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EU drug regulator OKs Novartis' meningitis B shot

LONDON (AP) — Europe's top drug regulator has recommended approval for the first vaccine against meningitis B, made by Novartis AG.There are five types of bacterial meningitis. While vaccines exist to protect against the other four, none has previously been licensed for type B meningitis. In Europe, type B is the most common, causing 3,000 to 5,000 cases every year.Meningitis mainly affects infants...

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Israeli Airstrike Kills Top Islamic Jihad Commander

An Israeli strike on a Gaza City high-rise today has killed one of the top militant leaders of Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian militant group said.The second strike in two days on the downtown Gaza City building that houses the Hamas TV station, Al Aqsa, has killed Ramez Harb, who is a leading figure in Al Quds Brigades militant wing, according to a text message Islamic Jihad...

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Israel says prefers diplomacy but ready to invade Gaza

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel bombed dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday and said that while it was prepared to step up its offensive by sending in troops, it preferred a diplomatic solution that would end Palestinian rocket fire. Mediator Egypt said a deal for a truce to end the fighting could be close. The leader of Hamas said it was up to Israel to end the new conflict...

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Hollande slams countries seeking rebates in EU budget

PARIS: French President Francois Hollande on Monday slammed countries seeking rebates and discounts in the European Union's next budget, ahead of a key summit this week in Brussels.Criticising those calling for a decrease in the budget "at the exact moment we are calling for solidarity and mobilisation for growth," Hollande decried countries who "come to get their cheques, their rebates,...

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets Singapore, Philippines leaders in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday held bilateral meetings with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Philippines President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to discuss various issues including maritime piracy and the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) agreement. Officials said the prime minister discussed ways to deepen India's engagement with the Asean nations...

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EU drug regulator OKs Novartis' meningitis B shot

LONDON (AP) — Europe's top drug regulator has recommended approval for the first vaccine against meningitis B, made by Novartis AG.There are five types of bacterial meningitis. While vaccines exist to protect against the other four, none has previously been licensed for type B meningitis. In Europe, type B is the most common, causing 3,000 to 5,000 cases every year.Meningitis mainly affects infants...

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Obama Backs 'Israel's Right to Defend Itself'

Nov 18, 2012 8:45am AP Photo/Pablo Martinez MonsivaisBANGKOK, Thailand — President Obama today fully backed Israel’s right to defend itself and warned that the escalating violence in the Middle East threatens the prospect for a lasting peace process.Speaking at a joint press conference with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Obama called for an end to the firing...

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Israeli air strike kills 11 civilians in Gaza: Hamas

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli missile killed at least 11 Palestinian civilians including four children in Gaza on Sunday, medical officials said, in an apparent attack on a top militant that brought a three-storey home crashing down. International pressure for a ceasefire seemed certain to mount in response to the deadliest single incident in five days of Palestinian rocket attacks...

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