Reuters: Top News

Apple CEO makes no apology for company's tax strategy

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:37:09 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook made no apology on Tuesday for the iPad maker saving billions of dollars in U.S. taxes through Irish subsidiaries and told lawmakers that his company backs corporate tax reform, even though it may end up paying more.

Whole neighborhoods razed by Oklahoma tornado that killed 24

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:30:35 GMT

MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - Rescuers went building to building in search of victims and thousands of survivors were homeless on Tuesday, a day after a massive tornado tore through a suburb of Oklahoma City, wiping out whole blocks of homes and killing at least 24 people.

Attacks in Iraq kill over 40, sectarian tensions high

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:21:53 GMT

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - A series of bomb and gun attacks across Iraq killed more than 40 people on Tuesday, a day after over 70 died in violence targeting majority Shi'ites that has stoked fears of all-out sectarian war with minority Sunnis.

With wary eye on the U.S., China courts India

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:17:06 GMT

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, smiling and effusive, was out to smooth ruffled feathers in India this week, promising to ease tensions and increase trade between Asia's fastest growing economies in his first trip overseas since taking office.

Prosecutors' subpoena of SAC's Cohen puzzles defense lawyers

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:09:46 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The decision by prosecutors to compel Steven A. Cohen to testify before a federal grand jury about allegations of insider trading at his $15 billion hedge fund is leaving many criminal defense lawyers scratching their heads.

Jodi Arias now asks Arizona jury to spare her death penalty

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:00:14 GMT

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Convicted killer Jodi Arias asked jurors on Tuesday to spare her the death penalty and sentence her to life in prison for killing her ex-boyfriend, reversing statements she made after her sentencing that she preferred death to incarceration.

China's bird flu outbreak cost $6.5 billion

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:55:00 GMT

GENEVA (Reuters) - The H7N9 virus appears to have been brought under control in China largely due to restrictions at bird markets, but caused some $6.5 billion in losses to the economy, U.N. experts said on Tuesday.

Fed officials dampen talk of imminent bond buying cutback

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:43:00 GMT

NEW YORK/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Two senior Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday played down the chances that the U.S. central bank would signal a readiness to reduce its bond buying at its meeting next month, dampening speculation the Fed's ultra-easy monetary policy might end soon.

Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad ally barred from Iran election

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:43:12 GMT

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian authorities on Tuesday barred former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a relative moderate, from running in the June 14 election, along with a protégé of the current president, leaving mainly hardliners left to contest the vote.

Intel CEO shakes up units, creates 'new devices' group

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:19:43 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp's new chief executive, Brian Krzanich, has launched a sweeping company reorganization and created a unit aimed at growing its market share in mobile technology.

Dimon keeps JPMorgan chairman title after bruising battle

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:11:54 GMT

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase & Co's outspoken chairman and chief executive, won a vote of confidence on Tuesday as shareholders recommended that he keep his chairman title, giving him a greater margin of approval than last year.

Syrian foes move towards talks but fighting rages

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:09:49 GMT

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's opposition and the government of President Bashar al-Assad seem to be preparing to take part in an international peace conference against a background of some of the worst fighting this year.

World Bank boosts funds for Syria refugees, Africa

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:48:37 GMT

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Bank plans substantial new funds to help Jordan cope with the influx of refugees from the civil war in Syria, and hopes new funds for central Africa will cement a peace deal there, the bank's President Jim Yong Kim said on Tuesday.

IRS officials deny misleading Congress on targeting

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:30:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Internal Revenue Service officials told Congress on Tuesday they were unaware of the agency's targeting of conservative groups for extra tax scrutiny until recently and did not deliberately mislead lawmakers last year when they did not reveal the practice.

Court rules bin Laden death photos can stay secret

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:44:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that the U.S. government had properly classified top secret more than 50 images of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden taken after his death, and that the government did not need to release them.

Syria, Israel exchange fire on Golan Heights

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:39:34 GMT

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria said its troops destroyed an Israeli vehicle that crossed into its territory from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday and warned that any attempt to violate its sovereignty would meet "immediate and firm retaliation".

Best Buy sees investments squeezing near-term profits

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:36 GMT

(Reuters) - Best Buy Co Inc reported lackluster sales in the first quarter and warned that efforts to entice shoppers could squeeze profits in the near term.

Israel fires back at Syria after gunshots at its troops

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:39:22 GMT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot at a target across the Syrian frontier on Tuesday in response to gunfire that struck its forces in the Golan Heights, the Israeli military said.

Former IRS chief tells lawmakers "dismayed" by targeting

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:32:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The former head of the Internal Revenue Service told U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday he was "dismayed" to learn that the tax agency had subjected conservative groups to extra scrutiny under his watch.

UK's Cameron committed to ruling in coalition until 2015: spokesman

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:05:16 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron is committed to governing as part of a two-party coalition until the next national election in 2015, his spokesman said on Tuesday, days after Cameron raised the prospect of the alliance breaking apart.

Peace debate exposes deep rifts in Israeli government

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:03:58 GMT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's coalition government presented a divided front on Palestinian statehood on Tuesday as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry prepared a new mission to revive long-defunct peace talks.

Ireland rejects blame for Apple's low tax rate

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:36:18 GMT

CORK/DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland said on Tuesday it was not to blame for Apple Inc's low global tax payments and had no special rate deal with the company after the U.S. Senate said it paid little or no tax on tens of billions of dollars in profits stashed in Irish subsidiaries.

Russia says kills senior Islamist insurgent

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:01:15 GMT

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The right-hand man of Russia's most wanted insurgent was killed by security forces on Tuesday, officials said, as Moscow tries to contain militancy in its Caucasus region before it hosts the Winter Olympics near there next February.

Kerry visits Oman for arms deal, talks on Syria, Mideast

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:47:06 GMT

MUSCAT (Reuters) - Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Oman on Tuesday for Raytheon Co's signing of an estimated $2.1 billion arms deal and to consult on Syria and Iran, U.S. officials said.

EU mission seeks to rebuild Mali army after U.S. faltered

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:31:23 GMT

KOULIKORO, Mali (Reuters) - Under a blazing sun and the critical gaze of British and Irish instructors, a line of 11 Malian soldiers lie prone in the dust firing AK-47 rounds at targets, one-by-one.