Medicare paid billions to sub-par nursing homes: HHS

SAN FRANCISCO Medicare paid billions in taxpayer dollars to nursing homes nationwide that were not meeting basic requirements to look after their residents, government investigators have found. The report, released Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general, said Medicare paid about $5.1 billion for patients to stay in skilled nursing facilities that failed to meet...

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Benedict Pledges 'Obedience' to New Pope

In his farewell remarks to his colleagues in the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his eventual successor.Benedict, in a morning meeting at the Vatican, urged the cardinals to act "like an orchestra" to find "harmony" moving forward.Benedict, 85, is spending a quiet final...

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Yahoo CEO right to cut remote work?

STORY HIGHLIGHTSRaymond Fisman: Marissa Mayer needs to revive Yahoo, and face time at the office is keyFisman: Granted, this goes against Utopian vision of everyone working from cafes Fisman: In-person work means innovations, avoids misunderstood directivesHe says more jobs will get done and it'll encourage those who work in a half-empty officeEditor's note: Raymond Fisman is the Lambert Family professor...

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China overtakes Japan on IT spending: German trade body

BERLIN: China has overtaken Japan in terms of its share of global IT spending, German IT industry organisation BITKOM said on Wednesday, ahead of the CeBIT, the world's biggest high-tech trade fair.Global IT spending is poised to rise by 5.1 per cent to 2.7 trillion euros (US$3.5 trillion), said BITKOM in a new survey, with India (+13.9 per cent), Brazil (+9.6 per cent) and China (+8.9...

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Peru: 'Missing' U.S. couple found, but family wants proof

STORY HIGHLIGHTSPeru's tourism minister say Jamie Neal and Garrett Hand were found in the AmazonHand's mother says she won't believe the news until she hears directly from her sonFamily and friends have not been able to reach the couple since January Some areas they planned to visit are out of cell phone and Internet reach(CNN) -- An American couple that went missing on a bike trek through Peru has...

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Gun control fight entering final round in Senate

Senate lawmakers this week are beginning what appears to be their final push to pass gun control legislation in response to the deadly massacre at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school in December. On Wednesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is chairing a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013," which she introduced last month. The following day, the Judiciary Committee...

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What's Next for Pope Benedict XVI?

The party for the world's most prominent soon-to-be retiree began today when Pope Benedict XVI hosted his final audience as pontiff in St. Peter's Square.More than 50,000 tickets were requested for the event, according to the Vatican, while the city of Rome planned for 250,000 people to flood the streets.FULL COVERAGE: Pope Benedict XVI ResignationWith his belongings packed...

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Vatican 'Gay lobby'? Probably not

STORY HIGHLIGHTSBenedict XVI not stepping down under pressure from 'gay lobby,' Allen saysAllen: Benedict is a man who prefers the life of the mind to the nuts and bolts of government However, he says, much of the pope's time has been spent putting out firesEditor's note: John L. Allen Jr. is CNN's senior Vatican analyst and senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.(CNN) -- Suffice...

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Fatah-linked militants claim Gaza rocket after inmate death

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Gaza militants from Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades fired a rocket at Israel on Tuesday as a "preliminary response" after one of its members died in an Israeli jail.It was the first time a Gaza rocket had struck southern Israel in more than three months, and stoked fears that the mass protests in the West Bank over the fate of prisoners held in Israeli...

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Hot air balloon carrying tourists explodes in Egypt

By Saad Abedine and Holly Yan, CNN updated 6:45 AM EST, Tue February 26, 2013STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: The provincial governor bans hot air balloon flights until further notice14 people are dead and four remain missing after the accidentForeign tourists are from Hong Kong, Japan, Britain, France and HungaryA gas explosion caused the balloon to fall about 300 meters (almost 1,000 feet) Were you there? Have...

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