AP – Vice President Joe Biden is wrapping up a trip to Israel with warm words of praise for the Jewish state, saying the U.S. has “no better friend.”

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Biden: US has ‘no better friend’ than Israel
(AP)

AP – Alex Rodriguez may soon be talking to federal authorities, and he hopes it will happen close to spring training.

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A-Rod: Lawyers are setting up interview with feds
(AP)

Reuters – Greek public and private sector workers went on strike on Thursday, grounding flights, shutting schools and halting public transport in the second nationwide walkout in a fortnight in protest against austerity plans.

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Greek workers strike as anger at austerity grows
(Reuters)

Reuters – The Palestinians said on Thursday the United States must put pressure on Israel to revoke a settlement expansion decision before indirect peace talks can get underway.

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Palestinians say no peace talks for now
(Reuters)

Reuters – Afghanistan does not want a proxy war between Pakistan and India or anybody else fought on its soil, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday during a visit to Pakistan.

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We don’t want proxy wars in Afghanistan, Karzai says
(Reuters)

Reuters – The controversial “Volcker rule” to curb risky trading by banks got a boost in the Senate on Wednesday, as two Democrats introduced a bill that would enact and expand the rule.

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Volcker rule gets lift in Senate amid reform talks
(Reuters)

Reuters – London-based oil major BP has agreed to buy Brazilian, Azeri and Gulf of Mexico assets from Devon Energy for $7 billion, as the U.S. producer refocuses on onshore U.S. fields

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BP to pay Devon $7 billion for oil fields
(Reuters)

Reuters – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Gulf countries on Thursday against the U.S. presence in the region, saying Washington aimed to dominate their energy resources in the name of fighting terrorism.

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Iran warns neighbors over U.S. presence in the Gulf
(Reuters)

AP – The Pashtun tribal leaders picked at the chocolate cake and fruit laid out for them at the conference table. Politely, they listened to speeches touting a new program to release detainees from Afghanistan’s largest U.S.-run military prison if community leaders vouch for them

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Complaints persist as US frees Afghan detainees
(AP)

AP – Toyota’s massive recalls are bringing new scrutiny to the government’s auto safety agency, prompting Congress to look at how federal safety officials have lived up to their mission of protecting motorists.

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Safety agency under spotlight in House hearing
(AP)