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| Bernanke: premature to say if 'mixed' data will delay bond taper Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:23 PM PDT By Alister Bull and Pedro da Costa WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday it was too soon to judge if recent "mixed" signals from the U.S. economy would prompt the central bank to delay plans to trim its bond buying later this year. In what could be his final appearance before Congress, the Fed chief was asked if a recent run of disappointing economic data could undermine the case to begin scaling back asset purchases in September, as financial markets currently expect. ... Full Story | Top |
| Syria's rebel commander expected to visit United States Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:17 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Syria's top rebel commander is likely to visit the United States next week, U.S.-based Syrian opposition representatives said on Thursday, and he is expected to make a plea for speedy U.S. arms shipments. General Salim Idriss, who leads the rebel Supreme Military Council, is expected to go to New York for meetings at the United Nations and will perhaps also visit Washington. His trip to the United States is not fully confirmed and details are still being worked out, said Elizabeth O'Bagy, political director for the Syrian Emergency Task Force advocacy group. ... Full Story | Top |
| Senate votes to move forward on Gina McCarthy EPA nomination Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:15 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted on Thursday to move toward confirmation of Gina McCarthy as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ending a months-long standoff on the issue. Senators voted 69-31 vote to close debate and move to a final confirmation vote for McCarthy, which could come later on Thursday. McCarthy, currently the EPA's top clean air official, was nominated for the agency's top job by President Barack Obama in early March. (Reporting by Ros Krasny; Editing by Gary Hill) Full Story | Top |
| Judge in U.S. WikiLeaks case declines to dismiss charge of aiding enemy Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:13 PM PDT  By Medina Roshan FORT MEADE, Maryland (Reuters) - The military judge hearing the court-martial of the U.S. soldier accused of the biggest leak of classified material in the nation's history refused on Thursday to dismiss the most severe charge the defendant faced, aiding the enemy. That is just one of the 21 counts that U.S. Army Private First Class, Bradley Manning faces but it carries the possibility of life in prison. "He was knowingly providing intelligence to the enemy," said Judge Colonel Denise Lind, in rejecting Manning's lawyer's motion to dismiss that charge. ... Full Story | Top |
| Detroit preparing for bankruptcy filing as early as Friday: report Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:11 PM PDT  (Reuters) - The city of Detroit is in final preparations to file for federal bankruptcy as early as Friday morning, the Detroit Free Press reported on Thursday, citing several unnamed sources. The filing would begin a 30-to-90-day period that will determine whether the city is eligible for Chapter 9 protection and define how many claimants might compete for the limited settlement resources that Detroit has to offer, the newspaper reported on its website. Bill Nowling, spokesman for the city's emergency manager Kevyn Orr, could not be reached immediately for comment on the Free Press report. ... Full Story | Top |
| Texas governor signs strict abortion law that sparked protests Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:09 PM PDT  By Karen Brooks AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texas Governor Rick Perry on Thursday signed into law tough new restrictions on abortion, including a ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy, marking one of the biggest victories in a decade for opponents of the procedure in the United States. Perry, a Republican, signed the measure flanked by invited political supporters and anti-abortion activists, who gave him a standing ovation as he entered the room. "It is a very happy and celebratory day," said Perry, who thanked anti-abortion activists for helping to "support the health of Texas women. ... Full Story | Top |
| Syria's Assad may cling on, Britain will not arm rebels: sources Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:07 PM PDT  By Andrew Osborn, Paul Taylor and Guy Faulconbridge LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has abandoned plans to arm Syrian rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad and believes he might survive in office for years, sources familiar with government thinking say. The sources also told Reuters that a peace conference to try to end the conflict - now in its third year - might not happen until next year if at all. "Britain is clearly not going to arm the rebels in any way, shape or form," said one source, pointing to a parliamentary motion passed last week urging prior consultation of ... Full Story | Top |
| Portugal government beats no-confidence vote, crisis talks go on Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:05 PM PDT  By Andrei Khalip and Shrikesh Laxmidas LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's center-right ruling coalition easily defeated a motion of no confidence in parliament on Thursday, demonstrating restored unity after an internal rift earlier this month set off a political crisis. The crisis is far from over as emergency talks continue between the three main parties in an effort to reach a broad agreement to keep an EU/IMF bailout on track, but the vote at least removes one element of uncertainty. ... Full Story | Top |
| Determined Mursi supporters plan rallies across Egypt Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 12:02 PM PDT  By Noah Browning and Crispian Balmer CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called for mass protests on Friday in its campaign to reverse the army's overthrow of the elected Islamist president, but it also gave a first sign of willingness to negotiate with its opponents. The rallies aim to show Mohamed Mursi's supporters are not ready to accept the new military-backed government. However, a Brotherhood official also told Reuters on Thursday that the movement had proposed a framework for talks mediated by the EU. ... Full Story | Top |
| Senators reach deal to move student loans to market rates Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:55 AM PDT  By Elvina Nawaguna and Mark Felsenthal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A coalition of Senate Democrats and Republicans have reached a tentative deal with President Barack Obama that would roll back a recent spike in interest rates on new federal loans for college students and instead move the loans to a market-based rate. Lawmakers are trying to secure a retroactive fix before the next educational year starts, after interest rates on millions of new federal student loans automatically doubled to 6.8 percent on July 1. Unless Congress agrees on a fix, about 7. ... Full Story | Top |
| Senate approves Perez as new labor secretary Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:49 AM PDT  By Rachelle Younglai WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday confirmed Thomas Perez as the Obama administration's new labor secretary, despite deep opposition from Republicans who accused him of bending the laws to advance a liberal agenda. Senators voted 54-46 along party lines to confirm Perez, who is currently assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's civil rights division and has long experience working on immigration and civil rights issues. President Barack Obama nominated Perez on March 18 to replace Hilda Solis, who resigned. ... Full Story | Top |
| Biden: U.S. ready to engage with North Korea if talks 'genuine' Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:47 AM PDT  By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is ready to engage in dialogue with North Korea, but only if Pyongyang is prepared for "genuine" negotiations and commits to giving up its nuclear ambitions, Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday. North Korea offered talks with the United States after tensions spiked earlier this year when North Korea threatened the United States and South Korea with a nuclear strike. Biden, who plays a leading role in U.S. foreign policy, chuckled about the offer during a speech on U.S. ... Full Story | Top |
| Tennessee lawmaker says DNA shows he is not father of "daughter" Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:46 AM PDT By Tim Ghianni NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Tennessee Representative Steve Cohen said on Thursday he was "stunned and dismayed" that a DNA test showed he was not the father of a woman he considered his daughter for years. Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, and Victoria Brink believed they were father and daughter for the last 3 1/2 years, according to the statement from Cohen. But CNN reported on Thursday that it had obtained DNA from Victoria Brink, Cohen and John Brink, the man who raised her, and tests confirmed John Brink was her father. ... Full Story | Top |
| Egypt's interim president set to give speech Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:44 AM PDT  CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's interim President Adli Mansour will address the nation on Thursday at 9 p.m. (3 p.m. ET), on the eve of planned mass protests by supporters and opponents of former President Mohamed Mursi who was ousted by the military on July 3. The report on state television did not say if Adli would appear on television or if his message would be read out. It will be Adli's first speech since July 4 when he was sworn in. (Reporting by Ali Abdelaty, Writing by Yasmine Saleh, Editing by Michael Roddy) Full Story | Top |
| India to probe school meal scheme after 23 children die Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:42 AM PDT  By Annie Banerji GANDAMAN, India (Reuters) - The Indian government announced on Thursday it would set up an inquiry into the quality of food given to school pupils in a nationwide free meal scheme after at least 23 children died in one of the deadliest outbreaks of mass poisoning in years. Within minutes of eating a meal of rice and potato curry in the eastern state of Bihar on Tuesday, the children began to fall ill, a cook at the school at the center of the outbreak told Reuters from her hospital bed. ... Full Story | Top |
| Factory, labor market data offer bright signs for economy Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:34 AM PDT  By Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New claims for jobless benefits fell last week and factory activity picked up in the Mid-Atlantic region in early July, signs of a stronger economy that could help push the Federal Reserve to ease its monetary stimulus. Thursday's data bolsters the view that economic growth could pick up after a dismal first half of the year in which consumers were smacked by tax hikes and deep cuts in the federal budget. ... Full Story | Top |
| Three manufacturers to plead guilty to price fixing: U.S. Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:33 AM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Panasonic Corp , its affiliate Sanyo Electric Co Ltd and LG Chem Ltd agreed to plead guilty to separate price-fixing allegations involving automotive parts and battery cells, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday. Panasonic agreed to pay about a $45.8 million criminal fine, Sanyo agreed to pay $10.7 million and LG Chem $1.1 million, the department said in a statement. (Reporting by David Ingram; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick) Full Story | Top |
| Bernanke sees need for backstop for mortgage market Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:30 AM PDT  By Margaret Chadbourn WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke weighed into the contentious debate over the future of the housing finance system on Thursday, saying some sort of backstop for mortgages was needed to protect the financial system in times of stress. However, he stopped short of explicitly endorsing a government role, which many Democrats see as the best approach. "I think a key issue is going to be ... ... Full Story | Top |
| Guinea counts dead, arrests suspects as calm returns to southeast Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:26 AM PDT CONAKRY (Reuters) - Authorities in Guinea on Thursday identified bodies of people hacked and burned to death and rounded up dozens of suspects after days of ethnic clashes that killed 58 people and injured at least 160 more, officials said. Residents said that towns in southeastern Guinea where the military has moved in to restore order were mostly calm after days of violence between rival communities. The violence erupted after a man accused of being a thief was lynched on Sunday. ... Full Story | Top |
| Portugal president: parties determined to reach deal in crisis talks Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:24 AM PDT  LISBON (Reuters) - Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva said on Thursday the main political parties involved in talks on his request are determined and "up to the challenge" to reach an agreement to keep an EU/IMF bailout on track and end a political crisis. "There is serious will and determined effort to achieve an understanding, although we cannot ignore that it is a complex, difficult negotiation," he said in televised remarks from a remote Portuguese island. "The parties' attitude has been of utmost responsibility," he added. ... Full Story | Top |
| Extortion victim of mob boss 'Whitey' Bulger found dead Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:19 AM PDT  By Richard Valdmanis and Scott Malone BOSTON (Reuters) - The dead body of a potential witness, who had hoped to testify about how mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger forced him at gunpoint to sell a liquor store, was found in a suburb of Boston, authorities said on Thursday. Stephen Rakes, who once sued the FBI for failing to protect him from one of Bulger's extortion schemes, was found on Wednesday afternoon in Lincoln, Massachusetts, about 16 miles northwest of Boston, according to the Middlesex Country District Attorney's office. ... Full Story | Top |
| Britain to limit funding for new power-only biomass plants Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:16 AM PDT By John McGarrity LONDON (Reuters) - New standalone biomass power plants in Britain will not be eligible for some subsidies unless they generate heat at the same time, under new government proposals, meaning many new plants could be cancelled, an industry lobby said. Britain's government said on Wednesday it aimed to deny public money via guaranteed minimum power prices to dedicated biomass plants that do not generate both heat and electricity. ... Full Story | Top |
| U.S. 'deeply disappointed' at Russian opposition leader conviction Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:15 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A White House spokesman said on Thursday the United States is "deeply disappointed and concerned" at the conviction of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and called on Russia to allow an appeal and cease pressure on anti-corruption activists. "Navalny's harsh prison sentence is the latest example of a disturbing trend aimed at suppressing dissent in civil society in Russia," White House spokesman Jay Carney said at a briefing. (Reporting By Mark Felsenthal; Editing by Sandra Maler) Full Story | Top |
| Ex-CIA man, convicted of kidnapping in Italy, held in Panama: sources Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:13 AM PDT ROME (Reuters) - Former CIA Milan station chief Robert Seldon Lady, convicted in Italy of kidnapping an Egyptian Muslim cleric, has been arrested in Panama, Italian judicial sources told Reuters on Thursday. Italy's highest court last year upheld a guilty verdict against Seldon Lady for the kidnapping of Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, who was snatched from a Milan street in 2003 and flown to Egypt for interrogation, where he says he was tortured for seven months. The imam, also known as Abu Omar, was a resident in Italy at the time of the abduction. ... Full Story | Top |
| Factbox: Court cases against Russian opposition, Kremlin critics Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 11:10 AM PDT MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to five years in jail for theft on Thursday at a trial he and supporters said was politically motivated. Here are some details on other cases against opposition activists and Kremlin critics. SERGEI UDALTSOV A prominent left-wing opposition activist, Udaltsov is under house arrest awaiting trial on charges of plotting mass disorder following violence at a protest in Moscow on May 6, 2012, the eve of President Vladimir Putin's inauguration to a third term. ... Full Story | Top |
| Hundreds protest against Kabila in eastern Congo city Goma Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:50 AM PDT GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Hundreds of people protested in Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern city of Goma on Thursday against President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of incompetence in efforts to neutralize rebels who have long plagued the region. Heavy fighting erupted between the army and the M23 rebel group on Sunday 12 km (7.5 miles) northeast of Goma, ending several weeks of relative calm and reviving memories of an attack in November when the Tutsi-led insurgents briefly seized the city of 1 million people. ... Full Story | Top |
| Retail sales rise in June, helped by department store discounts Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:45 AM PDT  LONDON (Reuters) - Retail sales rose in June, the latest sign of a recovery in the economy, helped by an unusually high level of discount sales at department stores. Retail sales volumes increased 0.2 percent on the month to show growth of 2.2 percent on the year, the Office for National Statistics said on Thursday. Economists had expected retail sales to rise 0.2 percent on the month, slowing after a very strong May when they jumped 2.1 percent, and for sales to be 1.7 percent higher on the year. ... Full Story | Top |
| Nigeria to pull many troops from U.N. Mali force: sources Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:44 AM PDT ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria plans to withdraw much of its 1,200-strong contingent from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali, saying the troops are needed to beef up security at home, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Nigeria is battling Islamist group Boko Haram but the move comes just 10 days before Mali's presidential election, which is meant to restore democracy after a coup and the occupation of the desert north by al Qaeda-linked rebels last year. The 12,600-man U.N. ... Full Story | Top |
| Obama steps in to push health plan as critical date draws near Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:35 AM PDT  By Mark Felsenthal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fending off delays and a barrage of political criticism of his signature healthcare law, President Barack Obama on Thursday touted benefits Americans already are reaping from the law and vowed to work through setbacks to fully implement it. "Generally speaking, what we've seen is that healthcare costs have slowed drastically in a lot of areas since we passed the Affordable Care Act," Obama said at a White House event, surrounded by individuals who have seen their health insurance costs drop. ... Full Story | Top |
| Turks find solace in virtual pilgrimage as Saudi cuts haj quotas Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:32 AM PDT  ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Hundreds of would-be pilgrims denied the chance to travel to Mecca made a virtual tour of the Muslim holy sites on Thursday after breaking their fasts next to an Ottoman mosque on Istanbul's Bosphorus shore. Saudi Arabia's religious authorities last month approved a request by the government to reduce the number of pilgrims, including those from abroad, permitted at the haj this year to allow expansion work at Mecca's Grand Mosque. ... Full Story | Top |
| Hamas urges new Egyptian rulers to keep tunnels open Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:28 AM PDT  GAZA (Reuters) - The Islamist group Hamas appealed to Egypt's new rulers on Thursday not to pursue its destruction of smuggling tunnels into the Gaza Strip, warning they risked throttling the small Palestinian territory. Palestinians say Egyptian forces have destroyed dozens of tunnels linking Gaza to Egypt since the ousting of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi earlier this month, severely hindering the inflow of vital goods, including fuel. Israel maintains a strict control of all imports into Gaza to prevent arms reaching Hamas, which refuses to recognize the Jewish state's right to exist. ... Full Story | Top |
| Treasury official rebuffs accusations in IRS targeting affair Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:18 AM PDT  By Kim Dixon WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Treasury Department official on Thursday rebuffed accusations from congressional Democrats who say he was biased in his investigation of the Internal Revenue Service's controversial scrutiny of Tea Party-linked political groups. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Russell George, made his comments in prepared testimony to a House of Representatives Committee, which was holding a series of hearings on whether the IRS unfairly targeted and scrutinized conservative groups applying for tax exempt status. ... Full Story | Top |
| Apple, Google, dozens of others urge surveillance disclosures Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:15 AM PDT  (Reuters) - Dozens of companies, non-profits and trade organizations including Apple Inc, Google Inc and Facebook Inc sent a letter Thursday pushing the Obama administration and Congress for more disclosures on the government's national security-related requests for user data. ... Full Story | Top |
| Italy court orders rail chief to stand trial over 2009 explosion Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:13 AM PDT  ROME (Reuters) - A judge on Thursday ordered 33 people, including the head of Italian railways, to stand trial over a 2009 explosion in the town of Viareggio in which 32 people were killed. The explosion was triggered after an axle buckled on a freight train carrying liquefied petroleum gas, derailing the train as it was passing through the seaside town north of Rome. Fire spread through nearby streets, destroying entire apartment blocks and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people. ... Full Story | Top |
| Europe's top court rejects sanctions against Saudi businessman Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:11 AM PDT By Justyna Pawlak BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe's highest court ruled on Thursday that EU sanctions on Saudi businessman Yassin Kadi were unjustified and that governments had failed to provide enough evidence that he was involved in terrorist activities. Kadi was put on a European Union blacklist after being included on a U.N. list of people suspected of supporting Osama bin Laden directly after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. He contested the EU decision that year. ... Full Story | Top |
| Angry Syrian refugees demand help from Kerry at camp Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:07 AM PDT  (This story contains material from a member of the pool of State Department correspondents in Jordan, of which Arshad Mohammed of Reuters is a member; adds detail from U.N. official) By Arshad Mohammed ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan (Reuters) - Syrian refugees angrily told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday that the United States should set up a no-fly zone and safe havens in Syria to protect their fellow citizens. ... Full Story | Top |
| Russia jails top opposition leader; Putin denounced as dictator Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:05 AM PDT  By Gabriela Baczynska KIROV, Russia (Reuters) - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to five years in jail for theft on Thursday, an unexpectedly tough punishment which supporters said proved President Vladimir Putin was a dictator ruling by repression. Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner who led the biggest protests against Putin since he took power in 2000, hugged his wife Yulia and his mother, shook his father's hand and then passed them his watch before being led him away in handcuffs. ... Full Story | Top |
| China hits U.S., South Korea with solar material duties, skirts EU decision Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:03 AM PDT By Michael Martina BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Commerce Ministry issued preliminary anti-dumping duties on imports of U.S. and South Korean solar-grade polysilicon on Thursday, but made no decision on tariffs on European Union exports of the raw material used to make solar panels. Beijing's move, a widely expected hit on U.S. and South Korean producers, coincides with difficult talks between the EU and China to defuse a conflict over alleged dumping of Chinese solar panels in Europe. ... Full Story | Top |
| Jailed Navalny embodies generation of rebellious Russians Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 10:02 AM PDT  By Timothy Heritage MOSCOW (Reuters) - If any single figure embodies the rebellious generation of young Russians who have taken to the streets to try to force out President Vladimir Putin, it is surely Alexei Navalny. The 37-year-old anti-corruption campaigner, who received a five-year jail sentence for theft on Thursday, was one of the first protest leaders arrested when demonstrations against Putin took off in December 2011. ... Full Story | Top |
| Abbas delays decision on renewing peace talks with Israel Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 09:58 AM PDT  By Ali Sawafta RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian leaders put off a decision on Thursday about restarting peace talks with Israel, with most saying Israel must first meet their terms before negotiations can start, a Palestinian official said. President Mahmoud Abbas had gathered fellow PLO leaders in Ramallah to discuss his meetings with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry this week. Kerry has extended his stay in the region in the hope that he would achieve a breakthrough in resuming the talks that stalled in 2010. ... Full Story | Top |
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