Factbox: U.S. President Barack Obama

(Reuters) – As the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, 51, signed into law a revamp of the national healthcare system and authorized the raid that killed Osama bin Laden but struggled to revive the economy and create jobs.As the United States holds its presidential election on Tuesday, here are key facts about Obama, the nation’s first black...

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Fed’s Williams: Policies have aided growth without undue fallout

IRVINE, California (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Reserve‘s unconventional monetary policies have lowered borrowing costs and boosted growth without creating unwanted inflation, a top Fed official said on Monday, predicting the Fed’s latest round of asset-buying will exceed $ 600 billion.The Fed will want to see sustained jobs gains and a consistent drop...

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Methane warnings ignored before NZ mine disaster

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealand coal mining company ignored 21 warnings that methane gas had accumulated to explosive levels before an underground explosion killed 29 workers two years ago, an investigation concluded.The official report released Monday after 11 weeks of hearings on the disaster found broad safety problems in New Zealand workplaces...

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Everyday Objects Photographed as Childlike Adventures

1. Zesty Mower“It was so like Patty. Right idea. Wrong execution.” Image used with permission by Christopher BoffoliClick here to view this gallery. [More from Mashable: The Top 250 Movies of All Time in Less Than 3 Minutes [VIDEO]]Children let their imaginations run wild, turning everyday scenarios like breakfast at...

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Lucas plans ‘little personal films’ in future

NEW YORK (AP) — George Lucas is done with “Star Wars,” but not with filmmaking.The “Star Wars” creator says he’s looking forward to making his “own little personal films” that he doubts will be for the theater crowd. Lucas spoke Friday night at Ebony magazine‘s Power 100 Gala, days after announcing the sale of his storied...

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Angioplasty costs are higher at non-surgery hospitals

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Angioplasty to clear blocked arteries costs more at hospitals not equipped for emergency heart surgery, according to a study presented on Sunday at the American Heart Association scientific meeting.Elective angioplasty is becoming increasingly common at hospitals that do not conduct more complicated heart procedures. During angioplasty,...

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India’s Outsourcing Firms Must Boost Morale

India’s business-process-outsourcing (BPO) companies have a problem. The $ 50 billion industry has enjoyed phenomenal growth: The top 20 BPO companies’ employee base grew 12 percent in 2011, according to Dataquest, and the domestic market is expanding. Yet BPO companies are struggling to attract the right talent. Not...

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Newspaper discloses new Cameron text messages

LONDON (AP) — A British lawmaker says he’s asked the country’s media ethics inquiry to consider newly disclosed text messages sent between Prime Minister David Cameron and Rebekah Brooks, the ex-chief executive of Rupert Murdoch‘s British newspaper division.The Mail on Sunday newspaper on Sunday published two previously undisclosed messages exchanged between...

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Microsoft Testing Its Own Smartphone [REPORT]

affiliate marketing Microsoft is building its own smartphone, a new report suggests. It’s currently in the testing phase with Asian component suppliers, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cites “people familiar with the situation.”[More from Mashable: 5 Companies Making Change on #GivingTuesday] affiliate...

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George Lucas’ filmmaking rooted in rebellion

affiliate marketing LOS ANGELES (AP) — There’s no mistaking the similarities. A childhood on a dusty farm, a love of fast vehicles, a rebel who battles an overpowering empire — George Lucas is the hero he created, Luke Skywalker.His filmmaking outpost, Skywalker Ranch, is so far removed from the Hollywood moviemaking machine he once...

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