The doubters still suspect Mr Netanyahu of making the right noises now only in order more plausibly to put the blame on the Palestinians if the talks fizzle out.

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Still, Mr Sharif is making the right noises.

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"I don't think I'll ever be able to leave hip hop entirely, I just feel like this is something that's necessary for right now for me to get my message across in the music that I'm making right now, " Mr. Broadus says.

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Mr Hollande is right that growth would transform Europe's prospects, by making debt more manageable, restoring banks and curtailing unemployment.

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In Mr Bauer's dogged campaign, America could be witnessing the making of a Jesse Jackson of the right.

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So much the better if they're right, but Mr. Romney is still entitled to some head-shaking about deal-making and political double standards.

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