In Manhattan, for example, cable TV viewers were able by mid-afternoon to tune back in to their favorite soap operas on WABC.

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Latest twist in the ongoing soap opera: Janus founder Thomas Bailey announced in mid-June he's stepping down as the fund group's leader.

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Nor, despite Mr Berlusconi's protestations, are the Italians innocent of this sort of behaviour: they recently entertained the rest of the world with the soap opera featuring attempts by the governor of the Bank of Italy to prevent foreigners from buying two mid-sized Italian banks.

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