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| Egypt army moves in tanks, president isolated Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 11:37 AM PDT  By Tom Perry and Maggie Fick CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's army deployed tanks and troops close to the presidential palace in Cairo on Wednesday after a military deadline for Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to yield to street protests passed without any agreement. Mursi's national security adviser said a military coup was under way as armed forces commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met political, religious and youth leaders. ... Full Story | Top |
| Snowden still in Moscow despite Bolivian plane drama Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 12:03 PM PDT  By Angelika Gruber and Emma Farge VIENNA/GENEVA (Reuters) - Bolivia on Wednesday accused the United States of trying to "kidnap" its president, Evo Morales, after his plane was denied permission to fly over some European countries on suspicion he was taking fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden to Latin America. Snowden was not on the plane when it landed in Vienna, an Austrian official said. The United States has been trying to get its hands on Snowden since he revealed details of its secret surveillance programs last month. ... Full Story | Top |
| Senate bill would help cut illegal immigration: CBO Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 10:45 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate-passed immigration bill would significantly reduce the flow of illegal immigrants, but increased U.S.-Mexico border security costs would eat into projected budget savings, the Congressional Budget Office said on Wednesday. The CBO concluded that the bill, which would double the number of federal agents at the southern border and complete 700 miles of fencing, would reduce the flow of illegal immigrants by between one-third and one-half from current levels. ... Full Story | Top |
| Police, workers exhume Mandela's children Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 10:24 AM PDT  By Yvonne Bell MVEZO, South Africa (Reuters) - Workers armed with pick-axes and a court order broke into the compound of Nelson Mandela's grandson on Wednesday to exhume the remains of three of the anti-apartheid hero's children, a new twist in a row that has split South Africa's most famous family. Within hours of a ruling against Mandla Mandela by the high court in Mthatha, 700 km (450 miles) south of Johannesburg, police and hearses arrived at Mandla's complex in the nearby village of Mvezo, where the three Mandela offspring are buried. ... Full Story | Top |
| New Tunisian protest movement takes cue from Egypt Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 10:36 AM PDT  By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian opposition activists have launched their own version of Egypt's Tamarud protest movement, whose campaign to remove President Mohamed Mursi drew millions onto the streets and led to an army ultimatum for the Islamist leader to share power. The youthful, little known leaders of Tunisian Tamarud (Rebel) hope to galvanize opposition to their own Islamist-led government which, like Mursi, came to power after an uprising in 2011 swept an autocratic leader from office. ... Full Story | Top |
| With eye on election, India launches huge cheap food scheme Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 09:34 AM PDT  By Anurag Kotoky and Frank Jack Daniel NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Indian government launched a $22 billion welfare scheme on Wednesday to give cheap food to hundreds of millions of people, a centerpiece of the ruling Congress party's plan to win a third term in elections due by May 2014. The minority government sidestepped India's unruly parliament and resorted to an executive order to implement the program, hoping to take the credit for a vote-winning plan. "The union cabinet has approved the food security ordinance unanimously," Food Minister K.V. ... Full Story | Top |
| Analysis: Could the U.S. delay Obamacare's mandate for individuals, too? Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 11:56 AM PDT  By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama can expect mounting pressure to make new concessions on healthcare reform, especially the requirement that all Americans obtain insurance, after delaying penalties for businesses for the first year of his plan. The U.S. Treasury said late on Tuesday it would grant businesses with 50 or more workers a one-year reprieve from having to provide health coverage to full-time staff. The move appeared to ease the concerns of major companies about being ready in time for a January 1 deadline. ... Full Story | Top |
| Turkish court blocks disputed park project Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 10:10 AM PDT  By Ayla Jean Yackley (Reuters) - A Turkish court has canceled an Istanbul building project backed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan which provided the trigger for nationwide anti-government demonstrations last month, a copy of the court decision showed. Authorities may well appeal against cancellation of plans for a replica Ottoman-era barracks on Istanbul's Taksim Square. But the ruling marked a victory for a coalition of political forces and a blow for Erdogan, who stood fast against protests and riots he said were stoked by terrorists and looters. ... Full Story | Top |
| Belgian King Albert II to step down in favor of son Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 11:35 AM PDT  By Robert-Jan Bartunek BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium's King Albert II said on Wednesday he would abdicate on July 21 and leave the throne to his son, saying at 79 he felt too old to carry out his duties properly. Albert II, who has three children, ascended to the throne in 1993 when his childless brother Baudouin died. His 53-year-old heir, Philippe, studied at Trinity College, Oxford, and Stanford University, and has led trade delegations to countries such as the United States, China and Thailand. ... Full Story | Top |
| Zimmerman studied Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law: trial witness Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 12:31 PM PDT  By Barbara Liston SANFORD, Florida (Reuters) - Former neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was versed in Florida's self-defense laws before he shot and killed unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, despite his previous claim to the contrary, jurors were told at Zimmerman's trial on Wednesday. The contradiction came into evidence at Zimmerman's murder trial after the judge ruled it was relevant for jurors to hear about the defendant's criminal justice studies. ... Full Story | Top |
| Credit card donations to WikiLeaks flowing through Iceland again Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 07:36 AM PDT  STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - International credit card donations to WikiLeaks are flowing again after an Icelandic court ruling forced MasterCard's and Visa's local agent to process payments, the companies involved in processing the funds said. One of WikiLeaks' most important sources of funding - donations made from Visa and MasterCard users around the globe - was cut off in 2010 when the firms stopped processing donations to WikiLeaks' direct payment line in Iceland. Their move came after criticism by the United States of the anti-secrecy organization's release of thousands of sensitive U.S. ... Full Story | Top |
| Leaks like Snowden's put lives at risk: UK minister Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 08:49 AM PDT  By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Leaks of sensitive intelligence like those of fugitive U.S. analyst Edward Snowden put lives and national security at risk, potentially jeopardizing vital work to protect the public, Britain's security minister said on Wednesday. Revelations by Snowden, a former contractor with the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), published in Britain's Guardian newspaper last month, led to claims that British spies have been circumventing the law and have stirred concern among London's European allies. ... Full Story | Top |
| Egypt's army chief turns on the president who promoted him Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 07:54 AM PDT  By Maggie Fick CAIRO (Reuters) - When President Mohamed Mursi swept aside the ageing commanders of Egypt's military a year ago and named a soft-spoken, deeply religious younger general to head the armed forces, it was a demonstration that the military was now subordinate to Egypt's first freely elected leader. Fast forward one year, and now it is the general, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who appears poised to sweep aside the president. ... Full Story | Top |
| Accused kidnapper Castro may not see six-year-old daughter: judge Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 09:53 AM PDT  By Kim Palmer CLEVELAND (Reuters) - An Ohio judge on Wednesday rejected a surprise request from accused Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro to have visits in jail from his six-year-old daughter, fathered with a woman allegedly held captive in his house. With his head down and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, Castro was barely audible at a court hearing when asked the judge to see his daughter, appearing to catch his own lawyers off guard. ... Full Story | Top |
| Colombia peace possible by year's end, President says Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 06:47 AM PDT  By Robert Evans GENEVA (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday an agreement with the Marxist FARC rebels to end their 50-year-old insurgency could be reached by the end of this year if there were "sufficient political will". But he insisted that it was out of the question to postpone next year's presidential election, as demanded by the FARC at peace talks with the government currently under way in Havana. "If there is sufficient political will, we can achieve an agreement by the end of the year ... ... Full Story | Top |
| American jailed in North Korea asks U.S. for help: report Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 06:30 AM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Korean-American sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea is asking U.S. officials to help secure his release from prison and is seeking forgiveness from North Korean officials, according to a media report on Wednesday. In an edited interview obtained by CNN, Kenneth Bae, who was convicted by North Korea in April of trying to overthrow the state, said he was being patient and coping well despite poor health. The footage showed Bae wearing a dirty, blue-gray prison uniform and seeming thinner than before, according to the television network. ... Full Story | Top |
| St Petersburg blast blows off man's hand: Russian media Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 06:25 AM PDT MOSCOW (Reuters) - A package exploded in a man's hand outside a McDonald's restaurant on the main boulevard in the Russian city of St Petersburg on Wednesday, injuring him but causing no other casualties, Russian media reported. The man was hospitalized after the blast on the bustling Nevsky Prospekt blew his hand off at the wrist and injured his abdomen, RIA news agency quoted police as saying. Interfax cited police as saying the man told them he had just picked up the package from the ground. The nature of the explosive was not immediately known and the man's identity was not released. ... Full Story | Top |
| Ecuador says it found a hidden microphone at its London embassy Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 05:38 AM PDT  By Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) - Ecuador has found a hidden microphone inside its London embassy, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is living, and will disclose on Wednesday who controls the device, its foreign minister said. Ricardo Patino said the microphone was found inside the office of the Ecuadorean ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ana Alban, at the time of a visit to the embassy by Patino to meet with Assange on June 16. Assange lives and works in a different room within the embassy. ... Full Story | Top |
| Iran's Rouhani urges end to meddling in private lives Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 04:26 AM PDT  By Jon Hemming DUBAI (Reuters) - President-elect Hassan Rouhani called on Wednesday for the government and powerful clergy to end interference in the private lives of the Iranian people, free up Internet access and allow state media to be more open about Iran's problems. Rouhani's comments began to flesh out his message of moderation at home and better relations abroad that contributed to his surprise election victory last month. ... Full Story | Top |
| South American leaders to meet on Bolivian plane diversion Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 05:52 AM PDT  GENEVA (Reuters) - Latin American presidents plan an emergency meeting on Wednesday over the diversion to Austria of a plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales, the Bolivian ambassador to the United Nations said. The Bolivian plane, which was taking Morales home from Moscow, was stranded and searched in Vienna on suspicion that it might be carrying fugitive U.S. intelligence analyst Edward Snowden. A search determined that Snowden was not onboard and the plane eventually left Vienna about noon on Wednesday. ... Full Story | Top |
| Islamist rebel vows 'maximum force' to stop Sochi Olympics Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 10:20 AM PDT  By Thomas Grove MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Islamist rebel leaders urged their fighters on Wednesday to use "maximum force" to prevent President Vladimir Putin staging the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. In an online video recorded in a forest, Doku Umarov said an order not to attack Russian targets outside the North Caucasus had been cancelled and likened holding the Games in the Black Sea city to performing "Satanic dances" on the graves of Muslims killed fighting Russian forces there in the 19th century. ... Full Story | Top |
| Greece's lenders could delay aid for three months: official Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 02:45 AM PDT  BRUSSELS (Reuters) - International lenders may freeze emergency aid to Greece for three months unless Athens can convince them that the country is on track to meet its reform goals, a senior euro zone official said on Wednesday. "If we don't conclude this review, I don't see any disbursement to Greece over the next three months"," the official told reporters, referring to a health check of the country's progress by the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank. ... Full Story | Top |
| Analysis: Portugal, Greece risk reawakening euro zone beast Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 02:13 AM PDT  By Luke Baker BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A teetering Portuguese government has underlined the threat that the euro zone debt crisis, in hibernation for almost a year, may be about to reawaken. From Greece to Cyprus, Slovenia to Spain and Italy, and now most pressingly Portugal, where the finance and foreign ministers resigned in the space of two days, a host of problems is stirring after 10 months of relative calm imposed by the European Central Bank. ... Full Story | Top |
| Fed's word is its bond, now lost in translation Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 09:34 PM PDT  By Alister Bull and Jonathan Spicer WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - It probably seemed like a good idea to Federal Reserve officials at the time. But their decision to stick Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke out on live television two weeks ago to explain how the Fed aims to scale back and eventually end its massive economic stimulus program, without having the message in a well-parsed policy statement he could hide behind, backfired badly. ... Full Story | Top |
| Analysis: Sudan's Bashir plays to hardliners to stem succession debate Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 04:15 AM PDT  By Ulf Laessing KHARTOUM (Reuters) - When Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir returned a few weeks ago from a summit in Ethiopia with his South Sudanese counterpart and former civil war foe, many people here expected him to talk of peace. Instead, the 69-year-old ruler donned his officer's uniform, waved his trademark walking stick and - once again - threatened to cut off South Sudanese oil exports through Sudan, something the northern country's battered economy can ill afford. ... Full Story | Top |
| South African police investigating Mandela grandson in grave dispute Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 10:47 PM PDT  JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African police opened an investigation on Tuesday into Nelson Mandela's grandson on suspicion of illegally exhuming the bodies of three of the ailing anti-apartheid hero's children, a police spokesman said. The investigation is the latest twist in an unedifying family feud that has drawn global attention as the 94-year-old Mandela lies in a Pretoria hospital in a critical condition. ... Full Story | Top |
| Egypt's Armed Forces General Command holds crisis meeting: military source Wednesday, Jul 03, 2013 03:58 AM PDT  CAIRO (Reuters) - The general command of the Egyptian armed forces is currently holding a crisis meeting, a military source told Reuters on Wednesday. The meeting was being held hours before the expiry of a deadline set by the army for rival politicians to find a solution to the country's political crisis. (This story is corrected to show meeting of general command) (Reporting by Asma Alsharif; Editing by Tom Perry and Jon Boyle) Full Story | Top |
| U.S. to delay key health-reform provision to 2015 Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 08:16 PM PDT  By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration said on Tuesday it would not require employers to provide health insurance for their workers until 2015, delaying a key provision of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law by a year, to beyond the next election. The move raised questions about the future of other provisions of the law, including the mandate for individuals to obtain health coverage in 2014, and followed widespread complaints from businesses and their lobbyists about reporting requirements for employers with 50 or more full-time workers. ... Full Story | Top |
| On trip, Obama brings out the African in the American Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 08:49 PM PDT  By Jeff Mason DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Midway through a three-country trip to Africa and shortly after an emotional tour of his hero Nelson Mandela's Robben Island prison cell, Barack Obama was greeted by another revered African leader, Desmond Tutu, with the words: "Welcome home." America's first black president - 'the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas', as Obama describes himself - had returned to Africa for his first extended trip as the world's most powerful leader. ... Full Story | Top |
| Zimmerman's injuries 'insignificant,' medical examiner testifies Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 01:40 PM PDT  By Barbara Liston SANFORD, Florida (Reuters) - Volunteer watchman George Zimmerman suffered "insignificant" injuries in the fight in which he shot and killed unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, a medical examiner testified on Tuesday, as prosecutors attempted to undermine Zimmerman's claim he feared for his life. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder, saying he shot Martin in self-defense during their confrontation inside a gated community in the central Florida town of Sanford on February 26, 2012. ... Full Story | Top |
| Prosecution wraps up case in U.S. WikiLeaks court-martial Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 01:47 PM PDT  By Ian Simpson FORT MEADE, Maryland (Reuters) - Court-martial prosecutors wrapped up their case on Tuesday against the soldier charged with providing a trove of secret material to WikiLeaks in the biggest leak of classified files in U.S. history. Private First Class Bradley Manning, 25, faces 21 charges, including espionage, computer fraud and, most seriously, aiding the enemy. Manning could face life in prison without parole if convicted. ... Full Story | Top |
| Cities beef up security for Independence Day Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 02:20 PM PDT  By Richard Valdmanis BOSTON (Reuters) - Security will be tighter than ever in several U.S. cities during Independence Day celebrations this week, which will see some of the largest public gatherings in the country since the deadly Boston Marathon bombings in April. Security officials said they would deploy record numbers of police and install scores of new surveillance cameras and checkpoints around fireworks displays, concerts and other Fourth of July events in Boston, New York, Washington and Atlanta. ... Full Story | Top |
| Fugitive Snowden's options narrow as asylum requests spurned Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 01:34 PM PDT  By Alissa de Carbonnel and Alexei Anishchuk MOSCOW (Reuters) - Countries in Latin America, Asia and Europe spurned asylum requests by Edward Snowden on Tuesday, despite a call by Venezuela for the world to protect the former U.S. spy agency contractor wanted by Washington for espionage. Snowden, who revealed secret U.S. electronic surveillance programs, has applied for political asylum in more than a dozen countries in his search for safety from prosecution in the United States. ... Full Story | Top |
| Egypt's Mursi defies army as it plots future without him Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 04:05 PM PDT  By Yasmine Saleh and Asma Alsharif CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi vowed to stay in power and defend constitutional legitimacy on Wednesday as generals worked on plans to push the Islamist aside within the day and suspend the constitution. In a defiant midnight television address responding to military demands that he share power with his opponents or see the army impose its own solution, Mursi warned that any deviation from the democratic order approved in a series of votes last year would lead Egypt down a dangerous path. ... Full Story | Top |
| U.S. to delay key health-reform provision to 2015 Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013 04:06 PM PDT By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. administration on Tuesday said it will not require employers to provide health insurance for their workers until 2015, a move that delays a key provision of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law by a year. The delay, which could raise new questions about whether Obamacare will be implemented on time, comes in response to widespread complaints from businesses and their lobbyists about reporting requirements for employers with 50 or more full-time workers. ... Full Story | Top |
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