Pistorius granted bail pending murder trial

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A South African magistrate allowed Oscar Pistorius to go free on bail Friday, capping hearings that foreshadow a dramatic trial in the Valentine's Day killing of the star athlete's girlfriend.Pistorius' family members and supporters shouted "Yes!" when Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair made his decision after a more than 1 hour and 45 minute explanation of his ruling to a...

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Can Bersani-Monti work for Italy?

Austerity-hit Italy chooses new leaderAusterity-hit Italy chooses new leaderAusterity-hit Italy chooses new leaderAusterity-hit Italy chooses new leaderSTORY HIGHLIGHTSBersani wins he may be forced to form a coalition with incumbent PM Mario MontiCenter-left leader Bersani says he plans to make the property tax "more progressive"Berlusconi is using his showman charm to mount a comeback for his PDL...

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Cleotha Staples of Staple Singers siblings dies

CHICAGO (AP) — Cleotha Staples, the eldest sibling in the highly influential gospel group The Staple Singers, has died. She was 78.Staples’ family friend and music publicist Bill Carpenter says Staples died Thursday at her Chicago home after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the last decade.The Staple Singers began as a way for Roebuck “Pops” Staples to entertain his family, which included five...

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French blast ‘ignorant’ US tyre boss

21 February 2013 Last updated at 10:41 ETA French minister has responded angrily to the boss of US tyremaker Titan who said he would have to be “stupid” to invest in the country.Maurice Taylor made the claims in a letter to France’s minister for industrial recovery, Arnaud Montebourg.On Thursday, Mr Montebourg replied that Mr Taylor’s “extreme” comments showed a “perfect ignorance of what our country...

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Wall Street extends losses, Nasdaq down 1 percent

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, "Doug" (24), and I (22) have been in a long-distance relationship for a year, but we were friends for a couple of years before that. I had never had a serious relationship before and lacked experience. Doug has not only been in two other long-term relationships, but has had sex with more than 15 women. One of them is an amateur porn actress.I knew about this, but it didn't...

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Top detective appointed new Pistorius investigator

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — South Africa's top detective was appointed lead investigator in the Oscar Pistorius case Thursday, replacing a veteran policeman who was charged with attempted murder in the latest shock development to hit a case being watched closely by the nation.National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega promised that a team of "highly skilled and experienced" officers would investigate...

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Homebuilding takes a breather, wholesale prices up

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. builders broke ground on fewer homes last month but a jump in permits for future construction to a 4-1/2 year high indicated the housing market recovery remains on track.Another report on Wednesday showed wholesale prices rose for the first time in four months in January. However, the gain was smaller than expected and left scope for the Federal Reserve to keep buying bonds...

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SDTC Looking for Canada’s Next Cleantech Innovators

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Feb 20, 2013) – Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is looking for the next wave of innovative cleantech entrepreneurs with the announcement of our call for applications to the SD Tech Fund™ from February 20th to April 17th, 2013.“This is an exciting time for Canada”s cleantech industry, projected to grow to generate as much as $ 62 billion in revenues by...

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Wall Street dips after rally, energy shares weaker

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks dipped on Wednesday, with energy shares falling as investors found few reasons to buy following a rally that has held major indexes near five-year highs for three weeks. In addition, investors waited for the minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's January meeting due at 2 p.m. (1900 GMT) for clues to the interest rate outlook. Traders...

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Armstrong facing Wednesday deadline with USADA

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lance Armstrong is facing a Wednesday deadline to decide whether he will meet with U.S. Anti-Doping Agency officials and talk with them under oath about what he knows about performance-enhancing drug use in cycling.The agency has said Armstrong's cooperation in its cleanup effort is the only path open to Armstrong if his lifetime ban from sports is to be reduced.Armstrong has...

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