How Obama can end Congo conflict

Conflict in CongoConflict in CongoConflict in CongoConflict in CongoConflict in CongoSTORY HIGHLIGHTSPresident Obama can help end the Congo conflict for good, says Vava TampaObama has asked Rwanda to end all support to armed groups in the CongoFDLR militia gang is a threat to stability and must leave CongoObama must push for change in Congolese government, argues TampaEditor's note: Vava Tampa is...

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Stars salute MusiCares honoree Bruce Springsteen

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Be it concert or charity auction, Bruce Springsteen can bring any event to a crescendo.Springsteen briefly took over auctioneering duties before being honored as MusiCares person of the year Friday night, exhorting the crowd to bid on a signed Fender electric guitar by amping up the deal. The 63-year-old rock ‘n’ roll star moved the bid north from $ 60,000 by offering a series of...

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Stocks end higher for sixth straight week, tech leads

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Nasdaq composite stock index closed at a 12-year high and the S&P 500 index at a five-year high, boosted by gains in technology shares and stronger overseas trade figures. The S&P 500 also posted a sixth straight week of gains for the first time since August. The technology sector led the day's gains, with the S&P 500 technology index...

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Norway's Svindal wins downhill at Alpine worlds

SCHLADMING, Austria (AP) — Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway won the men's downhill title at the Alpine skiing world championships Saturday after a powerful run down the Planai course that no one came close to matching.Watched by 33,000 spectators, Svindal kept a near-perfect line down the icy and bumpy 3.33-kilometer course despite foggy conditions that caused problems for several other skiers.The Norwegian...

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Why I dread Chinese New Year

Kids see Chinese New Year through rose-tinted glasses.STORY HIGHLIGHTSZoe Li: As an adult, Chinese New Year is an annual nightmareIt's a time when relatives have the right to be judgmentalSuperstitious Chinese New Year foods often aren't that tasty(CNN) -- For me, Chinese New Year used to be fun.When I was a kid, I was excited during Chinese New Year when I got lai see and I could stay up late. I...

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Second bank accuses singer Mary J. Blige of defaulting on loan

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – R&B star Mary J. Blige was hit with a lawsuit on Thursday alleging the Grammy-winning singer had defaulted on a $ 500,000 loan – the second such legal action against her in three months.According to the lawsuit filed by Bank of America in New York State Supreme Court, Blige took out the loan in 2005 and stopped making re-payments in June 2012.Bank of America said Blige,...

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Euro near two-week low, shares up on rekindled rate cut hopes

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares rose and the euro hovered near a two-week low on Friday after the European Central Bank rekindled expectations that it could cut interest rates again. Strong Chinese trade data also helped lift optimism about global growth prospects, boosting oil, copper and Asian shares, while the yen rose sharply after Japan's finance minister said the currency's recent...

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Illini buzzer-beater upsets No. 1 Hoosiers, 74-72

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — At this rate, no one will want to be No. 1.Indiana became the fifth straight top-ranked men's college basketball team to lose, falling to unranked Illinois 74-72 on a buzzer-beater by Tyler Griffey on Thursday night.The senior forward took an inbounds pass with 0.9 seconds to play and made a wide-open layup. And, just like that, the Hoosiers — who moved into the top spot by...

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Bring drones out of the shadows?

STORY HIGHLIGHTSJohn Brennan's confirmation hearing is a chance to ask about drone program, author saysSarah Holewinski: Brennan is one of a few officials who knows full story on dronesShe says senators need to ask about damage drone program does to civilians, U.S. reputationHolewinski: CIA should hand over drone program to Defense DepartmentEditor's note: Sarah Holewinski is executive director of...

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Unsigned singer tops MTV poll as artists call tunes

LONDON (Reuters) – Singer-songwriter Ebony Day has been named MTV‘s act to watch in 2013 before even signing a record deal, underlining how up-and-coming artists are increasingly using the internet and social networking sites to build a significant fan base.Inspired by the viral success of Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber, the 19-year-old Briton posted a series of online videos performing cover...

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Stock futures climb ahead of ECB, claims data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures advanced on Thursday, indicating the S&P 500 may rise for a third straight session ahead of a European Central Bank rate decision and data on the U.S. labor market. The central bank is expected to keep rates unchanged, and the market will give more attention to comments from ECB President Mario Draghi, who will give his views on the region's...

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Signing Day: Ole Miss muscles in on power programs

Alabama. Ohio State. Michigan. Florida. Notre Dame. Mississippi?Ole Miss muscled in on the powerhouses that usually dominate national signing day, landing some of the most sought-after prospects in the country on college football's annual first-Wednesday-in-February frenzy.The Rebels, coming off a promising 7-6 season in their first season under coach Hugh Freeze, had the experts swooning by signing...

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What follows N. Korea's nuclear test?

STORY HIGHLIGHTSLopez: Uranium-based blast would pose new challenge to U.N. Security CouncilIndicates Pyongyang has advanced centrifuge technologies and related systemsNorth Korea's young leader appears to care little about what U.N. or China thinkProduct-based sanctions may stifle the North's ability to continue nuclear programEditor's note: George A. Lopez holds the Hesburgh Chair in Peace Studies...

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Chris Pratt nabs lead in “Guardians of the Galaxy”

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Chris Pratt has scored one of the lead roles in Marvel Studios‘ “Guardians of the Galaxy.”The “Parks & Recreation” actor will play Star-Lord, the leader of a group of intergalactic heroes, an individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap. Marvel and parent company Disney hope that “Guardians” can be a comic book franchise to rival the $ 1.5 billion grossing “The...

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Stock futures edge higher with earnings in focus

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures rose on Wednesday, adding to the benchmark S&P 500's rally of more than 1 percent a day earlier, buoyed by solid corporate earnings and an optimistic outlook from Disney. Walt Disney Co beat estimates for quarterly adjusted earnings and said it expected the next few quarters to be better due to a stronger lineup of movies and rising attendance...

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Ligety provisionally wins super-G world title

SCHLADMING, Austria (AP) — Ted Ligety provisionally won the men's super-G at the world championships on Wednesday.The American timed 1 minute, 23.96 seconds on the Planai course to beat Gauthier De Tessieres of France by 0.20.Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway finished third, 0.02 back. Defending champion Christof Innerhofer of Italy finished 1.09 off the lead.It was Ligety's first victory in the discipline....

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Richard III still the criminal king

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