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More than 1,000 Dead Birds Fall from Sky in US

Wildlife officials are trying to determine what caused more than 1,000 blackbirds to die and fall from the sky over an Arkansas town.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said Saturday that it began receiving reports about the dead birds about 11:30 p.m. the previous night. The birds fell over a 1-mile (2-kilometer) area, and an aerial survey indicated that no other dead birds were found outside of that area.

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Blood Test to Spot Cancer Gets Big Boost from J&J

A blood test so sensitive that it can spot a single cancer cell lurking among a billion healthy ones is moving one step closer to being available at your doctor's office.

Boston scientists who invented the test and health care giant Johnson & Johnson will announce Monday that they are joining forces to bring it to market. Four big cancer centers also will start studies using the experimental test this year.

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Robinho Hurt After Camera Collision

AC Milan striker Robinho had to be replaced with a knee injury after colliding with a tevelvision camera near the sidelines during the Italian team's friendly against local club Al Ahli.

The Brazil forward had to be helped off the pitch in the 85th minute and didn't return in Milan's 2-1 victory on Sunday.

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Oil Rise Nears $92

Oil prices rose to near $92 a barrel Monday in Asia as traders mulled how high crude can go before it sparks inflation that slows demand and the global economic recovery.

Benchmark oil for February delivery rose 20 cents to $91.58 a barrel late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.54 to settle at $91.38 on Friday.

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Fiat Goes Solo

Fiat has spun off its industrial vehicle business from its auto making unit in a move aimed at giving birth to a global automotive company with Chrysler LLC.

The historic shift was completed with Fiat Industrial's debut Monday on the Milan Stock Exchange. It opened at €9 ($12.03). Fiat Industrial includes CNH agriculture and construction vehicles and Iveco trucks.

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Climate Change Makes Indian Tea Taste Different

Tea growers in northeastern India say climate change has hurt the country's tea crop, leading not just to a drop in production but also subtly altering the flavor of their brew.

Tropical Assam state, with its high humidity and lush greenery, is India's main tea growing region, producing nearly 55 percent of the country's enormous tea crop. Overall, India accounts for 31 percent of global tea production.

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Lead Actress in Broadway's 'Spider-Man' Drops Out

The long-delayed Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has suffered another blow with the departure of a lead actress, one of a number of performers injured in the costly production even before its official opening.

Natalie Mendoza, who recently had returned to the stunt-heavy show after suffering a concussion during its first preview performance last month, pulled out for good following several days of negotiations between lawyers for both sides. Producers Thursday evening broke the news to the cast before the 8 p.m. performance.

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Scientists Compile List of World's Plants

British and U.S. scientists say they've compiled the most comprehensive list of land plant species ever published — a 300,000-species strong compendium that they hope will boost conservation, trade and medicine.

The list, drawn up by researchers at Kew Gardens in London and the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, is intended to help resolve one of botany's most basic problems: Figuring out which plants go by what name.

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Chavez Dares U.S. to Cut Ties Over Ambassador Row

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dared the United States to expel his ambassador or cut off diplomatic ties in retaliation for his rejection of Washington's choice for ambassador to Caracas.

Tensions have been growing over Chavez's refusal to accept American diplomat Larry Palmer and also over U.S. criticisms of a legislative offensive by the president's congressional allies. Lawmakers have granted Chavez expanded powers to enact laws by decree for the next year and a half, a change that opponents condemn as antidemocratic.

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Inter Milan Fires Coach Benitez After 6 Months

Rafa Benitez's spell as Inter Milan coach ended after just six months on Thursday.

The Serie A champions announced that they have reached a "mutually satisfactory agreement" with Benitez to terminate his contract, which ran until the end of next season.

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