WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For the first time in U.S. history, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that individual Americans have the right to own guns for personal use, and struck down a strict gun control law in the U.S. capital.

The 5-4 ruling was the first ever to directly address the meaning of the Second Amendment?s ambiguous text, but the decision left open the possibility that less restrictive state laws were permissible.

North Korea took a big step toward re-integration into the world community by submitting the nuclear declaration. In response, the White House said that it would remove it from a list of terrorism sponsors.

Olafur Eliasson?s four ?New York City Waterfalls,? a $15.5 million public art project, opened Thursday after two years of planning.

The touch screens in New York cabs will now feature People.com, nightlife information and other listings.

When it comes to looking classy on a Vespa in Rome, no one did it better than Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday." But there's a Vespa tour that allows you to try.

Former champion Maria Sharapova was ousted in the second round by 154th-ranked Alla Kudryavtseva. It was her earliest exit from a Grand Slam event since 2003.

A series of attacks on pro-American targets in recent days are clearly intended to kill local Iraqi leaders.

Wall Street took a sharp plunge after a discouraging report on the prospects of the nation?s biggest brokerage firms.

The Chinese government is rebuked by the I.O.C. for politicizing the Olympics.