Venezuela says U.S. "far-right" wants to kill Capriles

Vandalised campaign poster of opposition leader and presidential candidate Henrique Capriles is pictured in CaracasBy Daniel Wallis and Andrew Cawthorne CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela's acting president said on Wednesday that "far right" figures in the United States were plotting to kill opposition leader Henrique Capriles in an increasingly volatile atmosphere ahead of an April 14 election. Accusations are flying and emotions are running high in the South American nation of 29 million people since the death last week of former socialist leader Hugo Chavez. …

Tapeworm genome points way to better drug treatments

Researcher Magdalena ZarowieckiBy Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) – Scientists have for the first time mapped the genomes of tapeworms, shedding light on the evolution of one of humankind's oldest parasites and revealing new possibilities for drug treatments. DNA analysis of the tapeworms suggests that a number of existing medicines for cancer, viruses and other diseases may be able to fight serious illness caused by their larvae, which can spread through the body causing damaging cysts. …

Argentina’s pope a modest man focused on the poor

Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the VaticanBy Alejandro Lifschitz BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – The first Latin American pope, Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, is a theological conservative with a strong social conscience, and a modest man who declined the archbishop's luxurious residence to live in a simple apartment and travel by bus. He was also the runner-up in the 2005 conclave that elected German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to become Pope Benedict. He was not an obvious candidate, but moderate cardinals looking for an alternative to the then Vatican doctrinal chief backed him. …

Obama makes little headway with Republicans over deficit

Obama arrives at the Capitol in WashingtonBy David Lawder and Rachelle Younglai WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama met on Wednesday with his toughest critics in Washington – House of Representatives Republicans – and made little headway in convincing them to accept his demand for tax increases as part of a deficit-reduction deal. "If the president wants to let our unwillingness to raise taxes get in the way, then we're not going to be able to set differences aside and focus on what we agree on," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the No. …

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