U.S. farmers will plant the most acres in a generation this year, led by the biggest corn crop since World War II, taking advantage of the highest agricultural prices in at least four decades. They will sow corn, soybeans and wheat on 226.9 million acres, the most since 1984, a Bloomberg survey of 36 farmers, bankers and analysts showed. The 2.5 percent gain means an expansion the size of New Jersey as growers target fields left fallow last year and land freed up from conservation programs. Read full article > >

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Farmers to plant most acres since 1984, prompted by higher crop prices

BRUSSELS Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has a lot on his mind these days, from cutting the defense budget to managing the drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan . But his biggest worry is the growing possibility that Israel will attack Iran militarily over the next few months. Read full article > >

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Is Israel preparing to attack Iran?

All but one household in Sodeto, Spain, held at least a piece of a winning ticket in the Christmas lottery’s huge first prize of $950 million, the biggest ever.

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Sodeto Journal: Tiny Village of Sodeto Wins Big in Spain’s Lottery

There was snowshoeing for the younger folks, and spectacular skiing for all. There was free booze and wine each night, courtesy of mega-corporations like Google, McKinsey, KPMG, Deloitte, and Ernst and Young. Perhaps the biggest hit: You could try driving an Audi on a sheet of ice and snow. Read full article > >

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What really happens in Davos

Applications are due to open for custom top-level domain names in what is the biggest change to the web address system in over two decades.

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Web domains face major overhaul

Metro proposes to increase bus and rail fares by about 5 percent, raise parking rates and eliminate a controversial rush-hour surcharge this summer to overcome a $116 million shortfall in its next operating budget. Riders who use paper Farecards would face the biggest change. Whether going two stops or 10, they would pay one-way flat fares: $6 during rush hour, $4 in off-peak times. For a group traveling together, hailing a taxi might quickly become more palatable. Read full article > >

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Metro proposes 5 percent fare increase

A regional breakdown of new car registrations has shown that sales in Northern Ireland fell 11.7% in 2011 – the biggest drop of any UK region.

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Car sales figures drop most in NI

When you’re named after one of the biggest constellations in the night sky, the pressure is on to display a little star power — and the young pianist Orion Weiss did exactly that in a high-powered and often ferocious recital Saturday afternoon at the Terrace Theater. Weiss has been racking up an impressive string of triumphs lately (he filled in at the last minute for an ailing Leon Fleischer last summer, turning in a raved-about performance with the Boston Symphony), and Saturday’s recital showed why. Just 30, the pianist has an exceptionally clean technique with virtuosity to spare. And although Saturday’s program — which revolved around a selection of demanding toccatas — sometimes fell a little flat emotionally, it showed Weiss to be a gifted musician well worth keeping an eye on. Read full article > >

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Orion Weiss at Terrace Theater

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — In what could be the biggest change in a decade in a relationship that has been a mainstay of U.S. military and counterterrorism policy since the 9/11 terror attacks, the United States and Pakistan are lowering expectations for what the two nations will do together and planning for a period of more limited contact. Read full article > >

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Redefined Pakistan-US relationship means less cooperation, lower expectations

You can watch “The Biggest Loser” on television. Or you can live it, at a resort where guests are prodded and pushed and left panting.

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My Week at the Biggest Loser Fat Camp

The presidential primaries are only now just about to start, but conservatives investing money in politics have already bet their capital on the biggest return: defeating President Obama in the general election. The shifting Republican nomination fight has been cheaper than a post-holiday sale compared with the 2008 race, but groups mobilizing against Obama are starting earlier than similar groups have in the past. Read full article > >

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GOP candidates’ ad spending down, but anti-Obama groups take to airwaves early

Some of the biggest events of 2011 as seen from space

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In pictures: 2011 as seen from space

The head of the British armed forces says the biggest strategic risk facing the UK is economic not military.

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Economy ‘UK’s biggest challenge’

The head of the British armed forces says the biggest strategic risk facing the UK is economic not military.

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Economy ‘UK’s biggest challenge’

Just 24 days before the Iowa caucuses, nearly 7.6 million people sat up and took notice of ABC News’s GOP presidential debate Saturday night from 9 to 11 p.m. — the biggest audience yet for a GOP presidential debate of the 2012 campaign season. “Your Voice, Your Vote” — starring Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos, co-starring candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul — ranked as Saturday night’s most watched program. Read full article > >

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GOP candidates draw a record crowd of debate viewers