Reuters: Top Global and Breaking News

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Will Sarah Palin use her Tea Party power to launch a run for president in 2012? Nobody knows, but her trip to Iowa on Friday may provide some clues.

Palin to make high-profile visit to Iowa

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Underlying inflation pressures were muted in August and consumer morale hit a 13-month low this month, keeping fears of deflation alive and spurring bets on further monetary easing.

Core CPI flat, deflation fears linger

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The rise of the conservative Tea Party movement will put pressure on the U.S. Congress to cut federal spending and the budget deficit if Republicans make strong gains in the November 2 congressional elections, a senior Republican said on Friday.

Tea Party seen pressuring Congress on spending

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist and his wife were charged with trying to sell nuclear weapons secrets to a person they believed was a Venezuelan government official, the Justice Department said on Friday.

U.S. scientist charged with peddling nuclear secrets

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UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations asked member states Friday for $2 billion to help Pakistan recover from massive floods that have displaced millions of people, the largest natural disaster appeal in U.N. history.

U.N. seeks $2 billion aid for Pakistan flood relief

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DES MOINES (Reuters) - Sarah Palin fed speculation that she might run for president in 2012 on Friday with a high-profile visit to Iowa and a call for unity between battling factions of Republicans ahead of November 2 congressional elections.

Palin in Iowa to test 2012 presidential waters?

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ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan showed the power of incumbency on Saturday, mustering the support of more than two thirds of powerful state governors for the launch of his re-election campaign.

Nigerian leader front-runner as election battle begins

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NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Mauritanian military forces killed at least 12 members of al Qaeda's North African wing and suffered several fatalities in fighting along the border with Mali, a Mauritanian security source said on Saturday.

At least 12 Qaeda fighters die in Mauritania clash

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MUSCAT (Reuters) - Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans held in Iran for more than a year on suspicion of spying, left Oman on Saturday on her way home to the United States.

U.S. woman held in Iran leaves Oman on way home

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KABUL (Reuters) - The top United Nations diplomat in Afghanistan said on Sunday it was too early to describe a parliamentary election as a success, with an expected 4,000 complaints to be heard and turnout figures not yet established.

Fraud and turnout weigh on "miracle" Afghan poll