Reuters World News Highlights at 2115 GMT, Feb 07

Feb 7 (Reuters) - TOP STORIES

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TUNIS - Tunisia's governing Islamists rebuffed on Thursday a plan by their party chief and prime minister to replace the government after unrest erupted over the killing of an opposition leader, deepening the worst crisis since the country's 2011 revolution.

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AMMAN - Syrian government jets bombarded the Damascus ring road on Thursday in a bid to halt a rebel advance which threatens President Bashar al-Assad's hold on the capital, insurgent commanders and opposition activists said.

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DUBAI - Iran's highest authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday slapped down an offer of direct talks made by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden last week, saying they would not solve the problem between them.

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WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's nominee as CIA director, John Brennan, was expected to face tough questioning on Thursday about the use of drones to kill U.S. terrorism suspects, and his opening testimony was repeatedly interrupted by protesters.

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LEESBURG - President Barack Obama told congressional Democrats on Thursday he is willing to agree to a "big deal" with Congress on spending cuts and tax reforms to end uncertainty over the U.S. budget deficit, but insisted that new revenues be part of the package.

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FRANKFURT - The European Central Bank will monitor the economic impact of a strengthening euro, ECB President Mario Draghi said on Thursday, feeding expectations the climbing currency could open the door to an interest rate cut.

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SOCHI, Russia - Vladimir Putin fired a top Russian Olympic official on Thursday after publicly ridiculing him on a visit to half-finished sports complexes planned for a winter Olympics dogged by reports of corruption and construction delays.

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ABUJA - Nigeria's four main opposition movements announced a merger, posing the sternest threat in years to President Goodluck Jonathan's ruling party ahead of elections in 2015.

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WASHINGTON - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week and a trend reading hit a near five-year low, signs a grinding recovery in the labor market remains on track.

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WASHINGTON - Democrats in the House of Representatives will unveil a proposal on Thursday to combat gun violence, including a bid to ban assault weapons, party sources said.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/130207/reuters-world-news-highlights-at-2115-gmt-feb-07