"Blade Runner" Pistorius charged with murdering girlfriend

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, was charged on Thursday with shooting dead his girlfriend at his upscale home in Pretoria. Police said they opened a murder case after a 30-year-old woman was found dead at the Paralympic and Olympic star's house in the Silverlakes gated complex...

Read More..

Wall Street flat, S&P 500 touches November 2007 high

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were little changed on Wednesday after the S&P 500 index hit a November 2007 intraday high, but volume was low and investors stayed cautious with indexes near multi-year closing highs. The benchmark index got a boost from Comcast Corp when the cable company said it will buy the rest of NBC Universal for $16.7 billion from General Electric Co . ...

Read More..

IOC President Rogge to meet with wrestling leader

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — IOC President Jacques Rogge will meet with the head of wrestling's governing body to discuss ways the sport can fight to save its place in the 2020 Olympics.The IOC executive board removed wrestling from the program of the 2020 Games on Tuesday, cutting it from the list of 26 sports at last year's London Olympics.The decision, which still must be ratified by the full IOC...

Read More..

Africa 'must think big for its children'

Children at school in the Mukuru kwa Njenga slum in Nairobi, Kenya.STORY HIGHLIGHTSNew report shows that policies across Africa are helping children's developmentBut laws must improve to help children reach potential, says Catherine MbengueScrapping fees in Malawi saw entry to primary school jump from under 50% to 99%At secondary level, education in much of the region is deeply limited, Mbengue saysEditor's...

Read More..

Illinois Lt. Gov. Simon won't seek re-election

Democratic Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon announced today that she will not run again next year, leaving Gov. Pat Quinn searching for...

Read More..

Pope confident his resignation will not hurt Church

ROME (Reuters) - A visibly moved Pope Benedict tried to assure his worldwide flock on Wednesday over his stunning decision to become the first pontiff in centuries to resign, saying he was confident that it would not hurt the Church. The Vatican, meanwhile, announced that a conclave to elect his successor would start sometime between March 15 and March 20, in keeping with Church rules...

Read More..

Wall Street pauses after gains, awaits Obama address

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were little changed on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 holding near multi-year highs ahead of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. The economy will be a major topic of Obama's speech before a joint session of Congress set for 9 p.m. (0200 GMT Wednesday). Investors will listen for any clues on a deal with Republicans to avert automatic spending...

Read More..

Wrestling body reacts to Olympic rejection

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The governing body of wrestling says the IOC's move to drop the sport is an "aberration" against a founding event of the Olympics.Known by its French initials FILA, the organization says it is "greatly astonished" by the IOC executive board decision.FILA says it will take "all necessary measures" to convince IOC members to maintain wrestling's Olympic status when they...

Read More..

Why pope will long be remembered

Tim Stanley says Pope Benedict will be seen as an important figure in church history.STORY HIGHLIGHTSTimothy Stanley: Benedict XVI's resignation is historic since popes usually serve for lifeHe says pope not so much conservative as asserting church's "living tradition" He backed traditionalists, but a conflicted flock, scandal, culture wars a trial to papacy, he saysStanley: Pope kept to principle,...

Read More..

Woman dead after falling from SUV; driver arrested after chase

Police say woman's body found on expressway was pushed from...

Read More..