Federal workers feel unease over potential layoffs, furloughs unleashed by ‘fiscal cliff’

Federal employees have been skeptical for months that the biggest cuts to government spending in history could really happen. But with the “fiscal cliff” a week away, workers are now growing increasingly alarmed that their jobs and their missions could be on the line. President Obama and members of Congress headed out of town late last week for a Christmas break without reaching a deal...

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1 dead, 11 hurt as Myanmar jet crash lands

YANGON: One person was killed and 11 others injured when a Myanmar plane carrying 65 passengers crash-landed near an airport in eastern Shan state on Tuesday, the airline said."One passenger who was missing was found dead inside the plane. We are still trying to identify who the dead passenger is," Air Bagan announced in a statement posted on its Facebook page. !-- Zone Tag : Channel...

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Virbhadra Singh takes oath as Himachal Pradesh chief minister

SHIMLA: Veteran Congress politician Virbhadra Singh was sworn in as Himachal Pradesh's chief minister for a record sixth term on Tuesday.Governor Urmila Singh administered the oath of office to the septuagenarian, who has been chief minister for more than 16 years, at the historic Ridge here.The 78-year-old took oath at 10.40 AM as the hill state's 13th chief minister in the presence of thousands...

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Photos: Humboldt Squid Have a Bad Day at the Beach

Photograph by Chris Elmenhurst, Surf the Spot Photography“Strandings have been taking place with increased frequency along the west coast over the past ten years,” noted NOAA’s Field, “as this population of squid seems to be expanding its range—likely a consequence of climate change—and can be very abundant at times.” (Learn about other jumbo squid strandings.)Humboldt squid are typically found in...

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Newtown Christmas: 'We Know They'll Feel Loved'

People drawn to Newtown to share in its mourning brought cards and handmade snowflakes to town Monday while residents prepared to observe Christmas less than two weeks after a gunman killed 20 children and six educators at an elementary school.On Christmas Eve, residents said they would light luminaries outside their homes in memory of the victims. Tiny empty Christmas stockings...

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Obama attends Inouye memorial in Hawaii

HONOLULU —President Obama came to a veterans cemetery here on Sunday to honor the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, less as the nation’s top politician and more as a native son of Hawaii paying tribute to his roots. The president had already formally memorialized Inouye (D-Hawaii), who died last week at age 88 after 50 years in the Senate, on Friday at the National Cathedral in Washington. But...

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Vietnam seeks economic boost with fresh rate cuts

HANOI: Vietnam on Monday cut its key interest rates for the sixth time in 2012 in an attempt to boost an economy growing at the weakest pace in more than a decade.The move comes as the communist-run economy struggles in the face of domestic banking sector turmoil, falling foreign direct investment and deepening financial troubles among state-owned companies.The State Bank of Vietnam cut...

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Sri Lankan navy arrests 27 Indian fishermen

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan navy has arrested 27 Indian fishermen and seized their four trawlers after accusing them of fishing inside the country's maritime area. Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya said that the Indians were arrested on Sunday night for "poaching inside Sri Lanka international maritime border limits (IMBL) off the eastern coast". The boats and the trawlers would be handed over to the...

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Pictures: Fungi Get Into the Holiday Spirit

Photograph courtesy Stephanie Mounaud, J. Craig Venter InstituteMounaud combined different fungi to create a Santa hat and spell out a holiday message.Different fungal grow at different rates, so Mounaud's artwork rarely lasts for long. There's only a short window of time when they actually look like what they're suppose to."You do have to keep that in perspective when you're making these creations,"...

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Get 'em While You Can? Gun Sales Soar

The National Rifle Association may still get its way and defeat the lawmakers calling for a ban on the sale of assault ridles, but some gun store owners say it seems their customers aren't taking any chances."We have never seen anything like this," said Larry Hyatt, who owns a gun shop in Charlotte, N.C. "We have the Christmas business, the hunting season business, and now we...

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