Romanian cinema triumphs again with top Berlin award

BERLIN (Reuters) – Romania claimed another major scalp on the European film festival circuit this weekend when “Child’s Pose” won the Golden Bear in Berlin, underlining the country’s emergence as a powerhouse of hard-hitting cinema in the post-Communist era.The film, directed by Calin Peter Netzer, tells the story of Cornelia, an obsessive mother who uses every trick in the book to prevent her son...

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Stock futures edge higher after seven-week rally

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged higher on Tuesday, indicating the S&P 500 will build on its seven-week winning streak ahead of data on the housing market. * The S&P 500 <.spx> has risen for seven straight weeks, its longest streak since January 2011, and is up 6.6 percent for the year. * The strong start to the year was fueled by legislators in...

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Pistorius says no intentions to kill girlfriend

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Oscar Pistorius told a packed courtroom Tuesday that he shot his girlfriend to death by mistake, thinking she was a robber. The prosecutor called it premeditated murder.The double amputee said in an affidavit read by his lawyer at his bail hearing that he felt vulnerable because he did not have on his prosthetic legs when he pumped bullets into the locked bathroom door....

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Model: Getting what I don't deserve

STORY HIGHLIGHTSModel Cameron Russell's TED Talk has been viewed more than a million timesShe says, as winner of "genetic lottery," she has been able to have a modeling careerHer looks fit a narrow definition of beauty, she saysRussell: I work hard but my modeling career gives my views undeserved attentionEditor's note: Cameron Russell has been a model for brands such as Victoria's Secret, Calvin...

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Bulgari will showcase Elizabeth Taylor’s gems in Oscar-week exhibit

(Reuters) – Famed jeweler Bulgari said on Sunday it would put eight pieces of the late actress Elizabeth Taylor‘s jewels on display at its Beverly Hills boutique, more than a year after the Hollywood star’s world-class collection fetched record prices at auction.The exhibition of pieces from that sale will include jewels Taylor obtained and wore during well-documented times in her storied life, including...

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Euro, dollar up after G20, stocks ease on growth concern

LONDON (Reuters) - The euro and the dollar rose against the yen on Monday after the G20 decided not to criticize Japan for its expansionist policies, but shares eased as Europe's weak growth outlook weighed on sentiment. Financial leaders from the world's 20 biggest economies promised on Saturday not to devalue their currencies to boost exports, aiming to defuse talk of currency wars...

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Danica Patrick wins pole for NASCAR's Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Danica Patrick is at her best in the spotlight.Good thing, too, because she's going to be there all week.Patrick won the Daytona 500 pole Sunday, becoming the first woman to secure the top spot for any race in NASCAR's premier circuit. It's by far the biggest achievement of her stock-car career. She's braced for the attention that will follow."I think when pressure's on...

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Afghanistan's future: Five questions

STORY HIGHLIGHTSPresident Obama has revealed new details about the troop withdrawal in AfghanistanBut there are several key issues that still must be resolved in the coming monthsThe Afghan military has its critics, but the U.S. has praised its progressThere are fears that Afghanistan's advancements might be at risk after 2014(CNN) -- In his State of the Union address, President Obama reaffirmed that...

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Romanian film “Child’s Pose” wins Berlin Golden Bear

BERLIN (Reuters) – “Child’s Pose”, a Romanian drama about a domineering mother using her social position to try to save her son from jail, won the Golden Bear for best picture at the Berlin film festival on Saturday.The movie, directed by Calin Peter Netzer and starring Luminita Gheorghiu in the central role, had been among the favorites for the coveted prize, which extends the remarkable success...

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Millionaires Say They’re Better Off Than in 2007

The good old days for the wealthy are now back.A survey from Northern Trust found that three quarters of millionaires surveyed said they are better off, or as well off, as they were in 2007 – the peak for both wealth and sheer numbers of America’s millionaires. Most cited improved investment returns as their reason for feeling better off.(Read More: US Will Add Five Million Millionaires By 2017)That...

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