Iran sitting prettier

John Bolton Iran, unfortunately, has grown stronger from the recent Israel-Hamas hostilities. Despite media concentration on last week’s cease-fire, the real focal point is still the invisible Middle Eastern struggle for strategic advantage. There, Iran was already gaining ground, as the International Atomic Energy Agency reported on...

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Shoppers welcome holiday sales by buying early, often — and online

Shoppers swooped into stores in droves on Thanksgiving weekend, topping last year’s sales, as more retailers opened their doors earlier than ever on Thursday, luring bargain hunters away from eating another plate of turkey.And now Cyber Monday is expected to set a record for online shopping this year, for those who prefer the Internet to the mall.Spending per shopper nationwide...

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Survivor of flea-market police shooting is charged

Two Miami men shot Sunday by Miami-Dade police outside a flea market were identified Monday, and the survivor was charged with battery.Michael Nathaniel Parks, 21, faces charges of battery on a law-enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence. The second man, who had been driving the van the pair had been in, and who died at the scene, was identified as LeBron...

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Ryan Guzman 'Steps Up' to the Plate as Dancer

Ryan Guzman had some pretty hefty dance shoes to fill as the lead of Step Up Revolution. Without any formal dance training, the model and MMA fighter joined a cast of professional dancers, including many So You Think You Can Dance alums.Producer Adam Shankman sure was fooled at the rookie actor's try-out. "We didn't know he was a non-dancer," he says blindsided. "He lied. He danced really well in...

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The ‘Demon’ guarding GOP principles

Rich Lowry Listening to Democrats and the media, you could be forgiven for thinking the point of a deal over the looming “fiscal cliff” wouldn’t be to reduce the deficit so much as to reduce the influence of one man — Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform.Known to one and all simply as Grover, he is the keeper of the Taxpayer Protection...

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Shifting tides of Panama real estate echo Miami trends

PANAMA CITY, Panama — As a real estate agent shows off a model apartment — white leather sectional, stainless steel appliances, open concept, ocean views — in the 59-story Yacht Club Tower, and touts its fitness center and pool deck designed to mimic a ship floating on the sea, he makes a telling statement:“We tried to emulate the Miami style in this building.”Approaching...

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More toll express lanes coming to South Florida

Motorists will find it more expensive to drive around South Florida roadways in coming years, as a new network of toll lanes takes shape.The network would extend from Florida City in southernmost Miami-Dade County to Interstate 595 in central Broward, and from Interstate 75 in western Broward to Interstate 95 in east Broward.“One of the main projects we foresee are the...

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Nokia imaging chief to quit

HELSINKI (Reuters) – Nokia‘s long-time imaging chief Damian Dinning has decided to leave the loss-making cellphone maker at the end of this month, the company said in a statement.The strong imaging capabilities of the new Lumia smartphone models are a key sales argument for the former market leader, which has been burning through cash while losing share in both high-end smartphones and cheaper handsets.Nokia’s...

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Barbara Eden Mourns Death of I Dream of Jeannie Co Star Larry Hagman

"I still cannot completely express the shock and impact from the news that Larry Hagman has passed," grieved the TV veteran's I Dream of Jeannie co-star Barbara Eden.Video: Larry Hagman Charms in Final ET Interview Hagman's untimely death on Friday hit Eden especially hard, and in an open letter via Facebook the 78-year-old star mourned the loss of her dear friend and fellow icon.As I received the...

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What tax hikes mean

It’s hard to imagine anything worse for America’s still-foundering economy than a hike in tax rates next year — whether for the “rich,” or anyone else.Yet President Obama and his fellow Democrats seem determined to inflict just that kind of pain on the nation. And never mind their supposedly promising talks with Republicans in Congress to avoid the fiscal...

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