Reuters: World News

Virus sickens 200 at Yellowstone, Grand Teton parks

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:21:02 GMT

REUTERS - Two of America's premier national parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, warned visitors on Wednesday about a gastrointestinal illness that has sickened at least 200 people at the start of the summer tourist season.

New U.S. climate strategy coming within weeks - Obama adviser

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:03:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will target carbon emissions from power plants as part of a second-term climate change agenda expected to be rolled out in the next few weeks, his top energy and climate adviser said on Wednesday.

Singapore demands action from Indonesia on haze

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:52:47 GMT

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore called on Thursday for "definitive action" from Indonesia as air quality stuck at very unhealthy levels for a second day because of forest fires in its neighbour, disrupting businesses in the prosperous city-state.

Obama challenges Russia to agree to deeper nuclear weapon cuts

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:57:39 GMT

BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama used a speech in Berlin on Wednesday to call on Russia to revive the push for a world without nuclear weapons, offering to cut deployed nuclear arsenals by a third, but Moscow immediately poured scorn on his proposal.

Afghan government to shun U.S. talks with Taliban

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:44:31 GMT

KABUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Revived Afghan peace talks hit their first roadblock on Wednesday, a day after they were announced, as Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his government would not join U.S. talks with the Taliban and would halt negotiations with Washington on a post-2014 troop pact.

North Korea repeats offer for nuclear talks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:28:59 GMT

BEIJING (Reuters) - A top North Korean diplomat repeated an offer for international talks on his country's disputed nuclear programme during a meeting in China on Wednesday, saying the denuclearisation of the peninsula was the "dying wish" of North Korea's founder.

Sao Paulo, Rio revoke transport fare hikes as protests continue

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:21:24 GMT

SAO PAULO/FORTALEZA, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil's two biggest cities agreed on Wednesday to revoke an increase in public transportation fares that set off demonstrations that have grown into nationwide protests against poor public services, inflation and corruption.

U.S. cites Russia, China among worst in human trafficking - report

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:20:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An annual U.S. State Department report on Wednesday cited Russia and China among the world's worst offenders in fighting forced labor and sex trafficking, which could lead to U.S. sanctions.

Myanmar constitution likely to dash Suu Kyi's presidential hopes

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:12:25 GMT

YANGON (Reuters) - Her adoring compatriots believe democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi is destined to become Myanmar's next president. But don't bet on it.

Afghan government to shun U.S. talks with Taliban

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:38:52 GMT

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Wednesday his government would not join U.S. peace talks with the Taliban and halted negotiations with Washington on a troop pact, underscoring the fragile nature of hopes for a negotiated peace in Afghanistan.

Brazil's protests: Not quite a 'Tropical Spring'

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:42:16 GMT

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's blossoming protest movement is a coming-of-age for what had been one of Latin America's most politically disengaged youth populations, but does not appear to constitute a major threat to governability or established political parties.

Deadly new coronavirus a "serious risk" in hospitals-Saudi study

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:39:40 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - The new Middle East coronavirus that has killed 38 people after emerging late last year is a serious risk in hospitals because it is easily transmitted in healthcare environments, infectious disease experts said on Wednesday.

Greek coalition signals state TV deal near, to meet again

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:36:19 GMT

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's ruling party leaders have signalled they are moving towards a compromise on the restart of state TV broadcasts and pledged to resolve a political standoff by Thursday.

Iran says appeals for "jihad" in Syria fuel radicalism

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:16:23 GMT

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Calls by Sunni Muslim clerics for a holy war against the Syrian government and its Shi'ite allies are fuelling radicalism in the region, a senior Iranian official said on Wednesday.

ANALYSIS - Putin basks in isolation over Syria as Obama's charm falls flat

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:12:53 GMT

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland/MOSCOW (Reuters) - At the end of a tense two-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama - slumped over and serious - tried to lighten the mood with a joke about their favourite sports.

Gyula Horn, the man who tore the Iron Curtain, dies at 80

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:10:59 GMT

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Gyula Horn, who as Hungary's last communist foreign minister ripped a hole in the Iron Curtain in 1989, has died at the age of 80 after long illness, the government said on Wednesday.

Iraqi Shi'ites flock to Assad's side as sectarian split widens

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:57:21 GMT

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Among the Iranian pilgrims, foreign executives and tourists in the departure lounge at Baghdad airport, a group of young Iraqis prepare to wage religious war in Syria - not for the rebels trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad but against them.

Singapore's air turns "hazardous" as Indonesian fires rage

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:50:44 GMT

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's air quality deteriorated to "hazardous" levels late on Wednesday as smoke from slash-and-burn land clearing in Indonesia enveloped the city-state, inflaming tensions between the Southeast Asian neighbours.

Obama challenges Russia to agree to deeper nuclear weapon cuts

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:11:07 GMT

BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama used a speech in Berlin on Wednesday to call on Russia to revive the push for a world without nuclear arms by agreeing to target further reductions of up to one third of deployed nuclear weapons.

Somali Islamist rebels attack U.N. base, 22 dead

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:06:43 GMT

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Islamist militants carried out a deadly assault on the main U.N. compound in the Somali capital on Wednesday, dealing a blow to fragile security gains that have allowed a slow return of foreign aid workers and diplomats.

Taliban confirms talks with U.S. in Qatar on Thursday

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:41:54 GMT

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Taliban's spokesman in Qatar said representatives of the Afghan insurgency would meet U.S. officials for preliminary peace talks on Thursday but no time had been set.

China threatens death penalty for serious polluters

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:31:39 GMT

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese authorities have given courts the powers to hand down the death penalty in serious pollution cases, state media said, as the government tries to assuage growing public anger at environmental desecration.

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood digs in for trouble ahead

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:28:25 GMT

CAIRO (Reuters) - For the Muslim Brotherhood, running Egypt has been like crossing a minefield. As President Mohamed Mursi ends his first year in office, fortifications being erected at his group's headquarters suggest a looming war.

Singapore air pollution soars to "very unhealthy" levels

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:04:08 GMT

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's air pollution level rose to "very unhealthy" levels late on Wednesday, with the main pollution index hitting the highest on record, as smoke from Indonesian forest fires enveloped the city-state.

Russia signals nuclear arms cuts will not come easy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:58:04 GMT

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Russia voiced concern on Wednesday about U.S. missile defences and high-precision conventional weapons, signalling that nuclear arms cuts proposed by President Barack Obama are likely to face obstacles.