(Reuters) – Office Depot Inc said on Wednesday that it had reached a deal to buy smaller rival OfficeMax Inc for $1.17 billion in stock to get more clout with suppliers and better compete against Staples Inc and Amazon.com Inc. Office Depot will issue 2.69 new shar es of common stock for each outstanding common share of OfficeMax. At Tuesday's closing prices, the deal is valued at $13.50 per share, or $1.17 billion, based on 86.7 million shares outstanding as of October 26. … Pope may change conclave rules before abdication: Vatican
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict may change Church rules governing the conclave where cardinals from around the world will meet next month to secretly elect his successor, the Vatican said on Wednesday. Benedict was studying the possibility of making changes to laws established by his predecessor Pope John Paul before he abdicates on February 28, a spokesman said. The changes may affect the timing of the start of the conclave. Current Church rules call for the conclave to start around March 15 but there have been indications that it could be held earlier if the rules are changed. … Germany charges 2 with selling Iran drone motors
BERLIN (AP) -- Two Iranian men have been charged with allegedly smuggling dozens of German-made aircraft motors to Iran to be used in its Ababil III surveillance and attack drone, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Body of Canadian tourist found wedged in rooftop water tank of Los Angeles hotel
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Police say the body of a woman found wedged in a water tank on the roof of a Los Angeles hotel is that of a missing Canadian guest.
Analysis: Israel's Livni faces rough road in peace push with Palestinians
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Tzipi Livni& #039;s coalition pact with right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu speaks volumes about the obstacles ahead for the moderate former Israeli foreign minister in her new task of pursuing peace with the Palestinians. Expectations of a new peacemaking initiative have been raised by a planned visit to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan next month by U.S. President Barack Obama, who has clashed with Netanyahu over the prime minister's policy of expanding settlements on occupied land Palestinians want for a state. … Lawyer: Israel won't free Palestinian on strike
JERUSALEM (AP) -- A lawyer for a Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike says Israel's supreme court has rejected a petition to release his client. Short trip to Timbuktu reveals long road ahead for Mali
For a moment the lieutenant searched for words. The French column was rolling through the town of Tonka, three weeks ago in northern Mali, on the heels of retreating Islamists. It was not long after sunrise and already there were crowds along the road, cheering and waving French and Malian flags.
Anne Hathaway honoured for on-set collaborations at Costume Designers Guild Awards
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Anne Hathaway was deemed best dressed -- by people who dress her for work.
N.S. community feels 'deep sadness' as search for N.S. fishermen ends: pastor
WOODS HARBOUR, N.S. – A Baptist pastor said today that people in his community in southwestern Nova Scotia are feeling a “deep sadness,” as they cope with news that the search for five fishermen has been called off.
Boom in quinoa demand stresses Bolivia highlands
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- The growing global demand for quinoa by health food enthusiasts isn't just raising prices for the Andean "super grain" and living standards among Bolivian farmers. Quinoa fever is running up against physical limits. Let parliament function, Indian PM implores opposition
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pleaded with opposition parties on Wednesday to allow parliament to function during a session that begins this week, when the government pla ns to present the annual budget and legislation on economic reform. The last two sessions of India's federal parliament have been disrupted by opposition members protesting against corruption, reforms and affirmative action policies, although the winter session in December finally managed to conduct business for a few days. … Greeks strike, march in protest against austerity
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Tens of thousands of anti-austerity demonstrators took to the streets of Athens on Wednesday as unions staged a general strike to protest government spending cuts and tax hikes, which some predict will push unemployment to an alarming 30 percent. EU executive gets national budget vetting powers
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission will check euro zone countries' draft budgets to verify if they are in line with EU rules and will ask for changes if they are not, under a deal struck on Wednesday with the European Parliament. After months of wrangling, EU lawmakers backed the new powers for the Commission, the EU executive, to further strengthen euro zone budget discipline and prevent another sovereign debt crisis. … 
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