As I noted earlier, better-than-expected jobless claims Thursday (hitting a three-and-a-half-year low) was just one of the positive economic numbers last week.

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But the wait endured by people seeking to clear immigration at Heathrow, the world's busiest airport for international visitors, topped two-and-a-half hours at one point last week.

ECONOMIST: Border security: Heathrow��s woes | The

Israel is just one of eight countries Kofi Annan is visiting to shore up a two and a half week old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

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Recently outperforming stocks from The Stock List roster include Comerica Inc. (NYSE: CMA), which shot higher by more than three and a half percent just one day after being targeted and tweeted from need2knowstocks last week.

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The basic literacy programme takes place over one and a half years, and is held for three hours per day for five days a week at the NFE centres, usually housed in local schools.

UNESCO: Non-Formal and Continuing Education Programme

American children also have one of the shortest school days, six-and-a-half hours, adding up to 32 hours a week.

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The announcement on Thursday follows the launch of NHS Direct Online earlier this week, which lets web users check medical symptoms and receive advice and boasted one and a half million hits in its first day of existence.

BBC: More promised @ gov.uk