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| Polio outbreak in Syria threatens whole region, WHO says Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 12:51 PM PDT  By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - Polio has broken out among young children in northeast Syria after probably originating in Pakistan and poses a threat to millions of children across the Middle East, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. The crippling disease, which is caused by a virus transmitted via contaminated food and water, could spread especially fast in Syria, where civil war has led to falling vaccination rates. ... Full Story | Top |
| U.S. lays out strict limits on coal funding abroad Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 12:39 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said Tuesday it plans to use its leverage within global development banks to limit financing for coal-fired power plants abroad, part of Washington's international strategy to combat climate change. The U.S. Treasury said it would only support funding for coal plants in the world's poorest countries if they have no other efficient or economical alternative for their energy needs. ... Full Story | Top |
| In Syria outbreak, polio exploits conflict once more Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 12:24 PM PDT  By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent LONDON (Reuters) - With the world tantalizingly close to wiping out polio, conflict in Syria has allowed the crippling disease to take hold again, putting at risk the rest of the region as well as plans for global eradication. War, unrest and poverty have often hindered the long fight against polio, but experts say these obstacles can be overcome, even in Syria where the highly contagious virus has taken advantage of a fall in vaccination rates due to the fighting. ... Full Story | Top |
| Medtronic heart valve reduces death, stroke in study Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 12:02 PM PDT (Reuters) - Medtronic Inc's CoreValve heart valve implant lowered death and stroke rates in frail, elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis who were considered too ill for surgery, according to data from a late-stage clinical trial. Patients with aortic stenosis have decreased blood flow from the heart because the valve does not open properly and face a poor prognosis without treatment. ... Full Story | Top |
| Energy bosses blame politicians for price rises Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 11:59 AM PDT  By William James and Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - The six energy companies that dominate Britain's energy market defended steep price hikes on Tuesday, blaming rising costs and political interference as a panel of lawmakers accused them of abusing their market position at consumers' expense. Lawmakers summoned energy executives after four of Britain's "big six" energy suppliers raised charges for heating homes by more than three times the rate of inflation, stirring a political debate about the cost of living and angering voters on the eve of winter. ... Full Story | Top |
| Libya oil crisis deepens as protesters shun talks Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 11:55 AM PDT TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's oil crisis deepened on Tuesday after protesters blocking western fields shunned talks and locals denied that an eastern terminal would reopen, frustrating government efforts to end three months of disruptions. Libya's oil exports have dropped to less than 10 percent of capacity or 90,000 barrels per day, Reuters calculations show, as renewed protests this week halted operations at western ports and fields, supporting global oil prices. ... Full Story | Top |
| UK energy bosses blame politicians for price rises Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 11:55 AM PDT  By William James and Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - The six energy companies that dominate Britain's energy market defended steep price hikes on Tuesday, blaming rising costs and political interference as a panel of lawmakers accused them of abusing their market position at consumers' expense. Lawmakers summoned energy executives after four of Britain's "big six" energy suppliers raised charges for heating homes by more than three times the rate of inflation, stirring a political debate about the cost of living and angering voters on the eve of winter. ... Full Story | Top |
| Russia demands Ukraine payment, raising fears of new gas war Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 11:54 AM PDT  By Vladimir Soldatkin MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom demanded Ukraine pay an overdue gas bill urgently on Tuesday, raising fears of a new "gas war" and increasing pressure on Kiev as it tries to build ties with Europe. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev described the payment problems as critical, ahead of Kiev's signing next month of agreements with the European Union which would mark a historic shift away from former imperial master Moscow. ... Full Story | Top |
| Obamacare official apologizes for website glitches Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 11:44 AM PDT  By David Morgan and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. agency responsible for the troubled new government-run healthcare website apologized on Tuesday for the difficulty people are having in obtaining insurance, but blamed the portal's woes on contractors and high traffic. Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said the website faces "complex technical issues" four weeks after it opened for enrollment. "We know that consumers are eager to purchase this coverage. ... Full Story | Top |
| A year after Sandy, thousands still can't return home Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 11:43 AM PDT By Dave Warner and Victoria Cavaliere SEASIDE PARK, N.J./NEW YORK (Reuters) - A year after Superstorm Sandy inundated the East Coast with record flooding that left 159 people dead, residents of hard-hit New Jersey and New York shore communities still have a ways to go in rebuilding damaged homes. New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, began his day at the beach town of Seaside Park, where homes were flooded by two to three feet of water when the storm roared ashore. ... Full Story | Top |
| High-tech helps tradition to make Hungary's Tokaj wine Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 10:49 AM PDT By Krisztina Than TOKAJ, Hungary (Reuters) - The Hungarian tradition of plucking shriveled grapes, sometimes one-by-one, to make pricey, sweet white wine dates back centuries, but growers hope new technology will help them harvest the fruit at its rotten best. Tokaji Aszu wine, which retails in Britain for at least 20 pounds ($32) a bottle, is one of a handful of wines around the world made with fruit affected by "noble rot", induced by the "Botrytis" fungus that shrivels the grapes and concentrates their sugar. ... Full Story | Top |
| Sudan arrests seven university professors in crackdown on protests Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 10:41 AM PDT KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese authorities arrested seven university professors, a human rights lawyer said on Tuesday, extending a crackdown on opposition activists after fuel price increases touched off the country's worst unrest for years. The Khartoum government cut fuel subsidies to ease a financial crunch aggravated by the secession of oil-producing South Sudan in 2011. The move doubled pump prices overnight and triggered violent protests in which dozens of people were killed and more than 700 people arrested. ... Full Story | Top |
| Abyei, Sudan welcome U.N.-backed referendum in disputed region Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 10:01 AM PDT  By Ilya Gridneff ABYEI (Reuters) - Abyei and Sudanese officials welcomed a push by the African Union to involve the U.N. Security Council in helping plan a referendum to resolve a dispute in the remote border region. The AU last year promised Abyei a plebiscite in October 2013 but shied away from the proposal, and has since discouraged the unilateral referendum that ended on Tuesday, with some analysts saying the outcome could trigger violence. ... Full Story | Top |
| Smartphone shipments jump in third quarter on China demand: IDC Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 09:57 AM PDT  By Noel Randewich SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Global smartphone shipments jumped 39 percent in the quarter ended September 30, while brisk demand for low-priced Android devices in China eroded Apple's market share. With growth in smartphones slowing in the United States and Europe, attention has turned to technology-hungry consumers in developing countries, many of whom favor devices that are less expensive than Apple's iPhones. Apple's profit and margins slid despite selling 33. ... Full Story | Top |
| E.ON UK boss calls for competition probe into energy market Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013 09:34 AM PDT LONDON (Reuters) - The chief executive of one of Britain's "big six" energy suppliers called on MPs to launch a competition probe into the country's utility market. "I fundamentally believe that this market is competitive but we are not trusted and therefore I believe we need to have a very thorough Competition Commission investigation," E.ON's UK chief executive Tony Cocker told a cross-party committee on Tuesday. ... Full Story | Top |
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